Tools

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Tools

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-THE TOOLS

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Tools Athame- magickal knife used to direct energy such as casting and releasing a cirlcle and cutting a door, also used to cut herbs, usually dull and double edged (some use a black handled athame for the circle and a white handled athame for herbs) Broom- also known as besom, sacred to both God and Goddess, made of any material, used to sweep space so it may be used in a sacred way Bell- any noisemaker works, feminine symbol used to invoke the Goddess, also to ward off unwanted spirits, halt storms, evoke postitve energy, mark various sections of ritual or to signal beginning and end of spell Bowl- used to hold needful items during ritual such as salt or herbs Book of Shadows- any compilation of personal rituals, spells, invocations, and magiacal information. You don't need just one, if you feel the need for more, have more. Cauldron- heavy iron pot used to hold fire, water and all manner of Magicks, may be used for water scrying, primary tool of Wicca Censer- container to hold incense, the shape will depend on the type of incense used Chalice- cup to represent the Goddess and to hold any necessary liquid for ritual Directional markers- Candles of corresponding colors may be placed in each direction, objects may also be used God- masculine energy, may be a statue of any male form, gold candle or God symbol Goddess- feminine engergy, may be a statue of any female form, silver candle or Goddess symbol Means of starting a fire- matches are said to work best, lighter or flint is okay to use as well Pentacle- piece of metal, wood, wax or clay inscribed with a circle containing a five-pointed star, symbol for the element of earth Salt- used to purify space and objects Wand- instrument of invocation, used to direct energy, to draw magickal symbols or to cast a circle ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Directial markers should be placed first Besom stands in the northern quarter or is placed near it Athame is south Bell is in the east Book of Shadows is under the altar unless being used, then where ever it is convenient Bowl is in the northern quarter if it contains salt, west quarter if it contains water, and center right if it contains cakes for cakes and ale Cauldron is in the northern quarter Censer is east or south (usually east as it represents air but could be used as fire element as well) Chalice is center left God is center right Goddess is center left Means of starting fire is south Pentacle is center Salt is north Wand is east Various cloths or other altar decorations may be used Left and right are as you face the altar. The Pentagram Many religions, even those involving a variety of symbols, hold one above all others to represent the religion. For Jews it is the star of David. For Christians it is the cross, although they employ dozens of variations of the basic design. For Wiccans, it is the pentagram. The pentagram has existed for thousands of years through a variety of cultures. It has been ascribed numerous meanings, but mostly it has been a symbol of protection and invocation. As a symbol of our religion, the pentagram is always depicted point-up, and many Wiccans will rabidly insist it is only used in this orientation, thus further distancing ourselves from Satanists, who identify themselves was a point-down pentagram. However, there are in fact some Wiccans, who use pentagrams oriented in both directions. Point-up represents the Goddess, point-down represents the God as a "horned pentagram". While I find nothing wrong in an inverted pentagram (it's still just a symbol. It's not going to suck in your soul, I promise), using one in a non-Wiccan setting is just asking for unnecessary trouble. Modern Symbolism The pentagram symbolizes the union of the five basic elements. Spirit is ascribed to the uppermost point, with the implication that Spirit surmounts the physical elements. When the pentagram is inverted, the physical world supplants the Spirit as supreme, hence its association with Satanism. Personally, it seems to me a certain point is lost when you focus on the position of any one element among a unity. Others ascribe the upper three points as relating to the Maid, Mother, and Crone aspects of the Goddess, and the lower two points to the God of Light and God of Darkness. However, the Light God and Dark God are generally only mentioned in connection with the Wheel of the Year, so this association becomes a little forced. "The Satanists stole our emblem!" Actually, we both largely borrowed the pentagram from ceremonial magic, where it has existed for centuries before the advent of Satanism or Wicca, which are both fairly new movements. "The Christians perverted our emblem!" See above. This claim presumes the pentagram was first associated with Satanism due to claims of the Christian church, during its persecution of pagans. But no mention of the pentagram oriented in either direction can be found in witch-hunt documents. But the symbol was not unknown in those times. Arthurian legends describe Sir Gawain as bearing a pentagram quite benignly upon his shield. More importantly though is the fact that Christianity at one time used the pentagram to represent the five wounds of Christ. Wherever they got it from, it wasn't from "us". By Linda Seekins -THE TOOLS Wiccan practice there is a set of tools commonly used in Ritual. Substitutions are encouraged, so next time you're bummed out about not being able to afford that obsidian Athamé at "Ritual Stuff is Us," remember the First Witches and think, "ya know, what did they have?" I've listed the tools from most often used to most obscure, with common synonyms and easy pronunciation. -Athamé: "Eth-uh-may" spelled with or without an accent also called the Right-handed knife, Black-hilted knife, Sorcerer's knife, the Blade, Dagger, air dagger, skytooth, excalibur (meaning sword of quality, I am told,) and probably a couple hundred other names. This is the "mule" of Ritual items, the most commonly used item that can be used as a substitute for many others. It is a dagger that is usually triangular and double bladed (in places where double-bladed knives are illegal, many Wiccans leave one side of the blade "thick" or unsharpened, since the knife is not used as a weapon, and usually isn't sharpened completely anyway, why bother with a court case when neglecting a whetstone makes it legal?) It is almost always made of metal, different trads call for iron, copper, steel or silver, but since Universal Eclectic Wicca operates on a belief of personal divine aspects, the M/Patron Gods, it would depend on personal attunement. For a follower dedicated to Diana the best knives are probably silver, for Thor, probably steel. (one Thor sect I know uses a hammer instead of a knife...big surprise.) Some Gods won't be that obvious, feel free to experiment. Size varies from about 8-16 inches. The Athamé is never used as a weapon, although some speak of "Traitors" to the craft being slain by their own blade. I find this very unlikely since most of the older trads speak of "Nemesis taking her own," or another form of "karmic" retribution. Used instead of : wand, hand, sickle, sword, bolline, staff -Hand: located on the side of your wrist opposite your arm, usually used in ritual with the first two fingers extended and the thumb holding the other two, I've included "hand" as a tool because it's used so often and is considered to be "different" when used this way. When using your hand instead of an Athamé or wand, visualize it as a focus point for all of your energy. The hand has the unique benefit of being the one tool you probably already have. Used instead of: Athamé, wand, sword, cord, goblet, anointing stick, staff. -Wand: a length of wood, either 13 inches long (the number of full moons in a year) or the length from the user's elbow to the tip of his/her longest finger. A wand should always be made of wood, although whether that wood is stripped of its bark or shaped in any way is up to its crafter. Ash, Yew, Oak, White Pine, Apple, Hawthorne, Blackthorn, Birch, Willow and Rowan are the most common woods used in wand creation, and a wand of lightning struck wood is supposed to be exceptional. Used instead of: Athamé, hand, sword, staff. A unique wand, the Priapic Wand, is used in the fertility festivals and Handfastings of some trads. Its use seems to have greatly declined in the past ten years or so, but it still is the standby at Handfastings. Its use is included in the rituals of many eclectic groups across the country. Named for Priapus, the Roman God of Procreation, the wand is "The length of a man's arm with the last bit the size and shape of a male member (phallus)", for this reason it is sometimes referred to as the Phallic Wand. Other forms of the Priapic wand end with an acorn or pine cone, and are used as symbolic phalluses. Feminist Wicca seems to prefer these alternate forms. Also called the Maypole Wand or the Male or God's Wand. -Sword: The Wiccan Sword is a larger version of the Athamé, and it used for many of the same purposes. There are two types of Wiccan Swords, the Coven Sword, which is used in group rituals by a leader or priest(ess), and a personal sword, which is usually used instead of an Athamé for drawing solitary circles. It is never used as a weapon, although in older times a person's own battle sword was their sacred weapon, and since they were ALREADY killing with it, often defensively, they considered those deaths to be sacred. Evidence of sword rituals range from the way a Marine polishes a sabre to a Knighting, and the sword has always symbolized more than metal...it is the sword of justice, or peace, or vengeance. It is used to draw a circle in the earth to protect those within and to break the handfasting cord, and the "giving" of the coven sword to a leader or priestess is a profound act of love and trust. Many feel that the only sword used in ritual should be a "Wiccan Sword" crafted according to their tradition and using certain metals and symbols. Unfortunately, finding a "Wiccan Sword" is near impossible. I know of three Smiths who craft them, and NONE of them are easy to find. I assume that there are many others out there, and that a few words asked at renaissance faires may help you find one. A "regular" sword will also do, and one of the most beautiful I've ever seen was a Civil War-era sabre etched with symbols for freedom, including a portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Don't be afraid to include Christian heroes in your practice, or to experiment. Remember...All religion is eclectic by design. Your personal sword should represent yourself. Unlike the Athamé, which can easily be created or altered into existence, I've always felt that the sword will "come to you," either as a gift or as a "karmic occurrence" (like finding it at a flea market or garage sale just when you have the money.) I also feel that there is NOTHING wrong with helping Karma along (you can't find it if you don't look,) but don't obsess on finding a sword, patience is a Wiccan virtue too. -Staff: Like the Sword, the Staff is essentially a larger version of another tool, the wand. It is sometimes used to draw the circle in the earth, but it seems more important as a walking stick than anything else. In at least one bardic tradition, the staff is a mark of level, with the larger staff a mark of a high rank. In some Native American-flavored trads, the staff is the Speaking Stick, passed around the circle so each member may speak without interruption, coupled with eagle, falcon, or seagull feathers (depends on area), the staff is a Prayer Stick, and the animal spirits deliver the messages to the sky. (As long as a Wiccan incorporating Native aspects into his/her rituals is not claiming to practice an indigenous religion, most people have no arguments against them. In North America, the power of indigenous religion cannot be put aside. For most of us, the spirits of the land are coming alive, and if those spirits are those of Elk, Eagle, Buffalo and Coyote, maybe it's because we've listened hard enough.) Used instead of: Wand, Sword, Athamé -Censer: The censer is a container in which incense is burned. The censer sits on the Altar, but is walked around the circle, for this reason, many prefer Hanging Censers. A simple hanging censer can be made with a brass planter (preferably one with "feet," if you can't find a footed one, double the sand.) Take the planter, and use a hammer and a sharp nail (a long carpet tack works best) to place 3,4, or 5 holes evenly spaced around the lip. Use open brass rings, available at hardware and craft stores, to connect the holes to lengths of 1/4-1/2 inch thick brass chain. Gather the equal lengths into a slightly larger ring, and connect that to an additional loop of brass chain. Fill the planter with 1/4 inch of sand, and burn cone incense or charcoal and resin incense in it. The burning of the incense purifies the air and helps to bring on the correct mental state for circle casting. Used instead of: Smudge -Robe: The robes worn for ritual in Universal Eclectic Wicca circles are almost always white or offwhite, and made of cotton or other natural fibers. Black robes invite too much negative publicity, but are fine for private circles. Our use of white is symbolic of our belief that we incorporate all the aspects into one whole, like white light is, in reality, all colors. In the Third Circle, some people choose to wear a special colored robe to identify them immediately as a master of a path. Although considered "outmoded," the colors still stand at festivals and larger gatherings, they are: =Artisan: Brown =Bard: Sky Blue =Scribe: Black =Seeker: Red (Rust for Seeker/Druidic or "Geomancer") =Councelor: Dark Blue =Teacher: Green =Priest(ess): either Violet or one of the other path colors with bands For certain festivals, like Beltane, people dress in brightly colored robes, with ribbons and flowers everywhere. This is widely different from coven to coven. -Skyclad, which means "clad only in the sky," is another way of dressing (or non-dressing) for rituals. Although fundamental to Wicca in the eyes of some trads, for many people, Skyclad is not an option. Going around unclothed is a state we should find natural, but our culture, and its mistreatment of every person who looks different, has destroyed the ease we should have nude. A few well-intentioned people feel that the way to fix a person's discomfort is to "shock" them, or make Skyclad mandatory, so they have to choose between being Wiccan or going in the buff. The kind of trauma this causes to the student needs to constantly be "undone" by other Wiccan teachers, and frankly, we don't need the additional stress. The following is from a letter to members of Religion: Other, which does not admit groups where going skyclad is mandatory: It is as difficult for a survivor of sexual or similar abuse to go skyclad as it is for a deaf person to hear....If a coven CANNOT make itself available to those with different needs, we cannot make ourselves available to that coven. We are BY NO MEANS saying that those covens are to suddenly CEASE to act skyclad, only that it should be on a member by member basis, with no explanation needed. It is not right that society has made it difficult for so many to be comfortable nude....but it is still a fact, and ignoring it does no good. For many, the "state" achieved by removing clothing is not a positive state, and making that a requirement is a good way to make an enemy. If the person's problem is SO bad that the idea of OTHERS being nude causes trauma, we will do our best to find another coven for that person. Our recommendation is that group rituals be robed, and personal rituals be skyclad. If even the idea of being nude ALONE bothers you, you should probably re- evaluate why, and go robed until such time as you feel comfortable. In groups where skyclad rituals are preferred, there should be no special attention paid to those who are not skyclad, just as one would pay no attention to a birthmark or scar. Acceptance helps healing. -Cord: The use of the cord in Wiccan rituals has become so uncommon that it is listed here only because of its inclusion in many other books on Wicca. Most cord ceremonies are Magickal, and non-religious in nature, although some of these magickal rites are added to rituals. Like Tarot cards and astrology, use in a ritual does not make the cord innately religious. While it's use in Magickal practices is widely known, in religious practice the chief property of the cord seems to be as a nifty belt. In my family, my lover and I have two cords which we use to belt our robes, when we are handfasted, these cords will bind us. We've tied them into floral wreathes on our door for Beltane, hung them on our "Chankayulmas" tree and about a million other things. They are a deep symbol of our faith, and help to make the act of dressing for ritual into a holy act unto itself. The cord is supposed to be the user's height, although some traditions say 63 inches. -Bolline or Boline: also known as the white-handled knife or Goddess knife. Generally used for cutting herbs, cords, sacred cakes, etc. I admit a lack of knowledge of this tool, we always used the Athamé for most of these things. In the traditions I know, a sickle was used to cut herbs, however, in Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft, a similar tool is called a Boleen. In the same book, a Burin is said to be sometimes be called a white-handled knife, and I've heard this too, even though the burin isn't really a knife, but a tool (sometimes made of bone) for engraving. Many ceremonial magicians call their "Magick" knife an Athamé, and many ceremonial magicians who are ALSO Wiccan call their (ritual) Athamé a Bolline. This is an example of how the necessary eclecticism of Wicca can produce differing results, each one just as legitimate. Used instead of: Athamé, sickle. -Salt: The salt used in ritual represents both Earth and, when mixed with water "The seed of life" or semen. It is purifying, male and grounding in this form. HOWEVER, (didn't ya just expect a however?) in some trads, salt, or salted water, represents the tears of the birthing goddess, which were shed and became the sea. I prefer to think of salt in scientific terms, as the chief component, along with water, of our body. It is also a natural crystal, as beautiful as quartz (you may need a microscope to fully grasp that.) Another common Wiccan belief: Salted water is the union of male and female into wholeness...the blood. OR The sea is the blood of Gaia, thus salt water is sacred....this list goes on. For every trad that gives a unique reason for the use of salt, there are 4 or 5 that give no reason at all, I prefer to tell people to find their own...Consider it "a Wiccan Mystery." Note: Sea Salt is the preferential vehicle here, although in certain parts of the world "Lake" or "Earth" salts are probably better. -Oil: Anointing oils are usually vegetable based, and are charged with energy and used to convey that energy to something else. In one rite, for instance, Clary Sage is used to anoint the head of a Priest that he may think his way through a difficult scenario. Oils for clear thought are commonly used on the forehead of members of a circle. Sage, Jasmine and Pine are common. Used instead of: Smudge (ash). -Cauldron: Although relics point to the use of heavily sculpted bowl-like cauldrons by The Ancient Druids, its use in Wicca has dubious beginnings. Most non-Druidic traditions and Fam-Trads do not use Cauldrons, and most of the Magickal traditions that Wicca shares roots with use a wooden bowl or a flat scrying dish (filled with water) on a tripod. If the cauldron was used in early traditions, it was used because it was a big household implement, not a great metaphysical tool. A cauldron is bulky and seems to be a sharp turn from the idea that the Wiccan circle is a portable church. Apart from being a really cool way to brew herbal concoctions, and for cooking those big feasts and doing your laundry, the huge iron cauldron is rarely used in Wicca these days. If a cauldron is present in a ritual, it is usually an 8-12 inch diameter "replica" from a mail order catalog or New Age store. When you examine Rituals calling for caldrons they are often used only as a place to light fires without burning your house down or a place to put candles so they won't blow out. Other uses such as holding water or items to be "charged" with energy can be done by the chalice or atop a pentacle (easily made out of clay or carved from wood) I won't say that a cauldron is useless, but because they seem to be a leftover of a bygone "shock- thepublic" form of Wicca, they seem better sent off to the Local High School for their next production of Macbeth than used in a ritual. When lighting a small fire indoors a cauldron can be vital, but good cauldrons are SO hard to find that I feel a necessary substitution should be made in advance. Those same brass planters previously mentioned often appear in larger versions, holding about 2-3 cups of liquid, many of which are shaped like small cauldrons. For an instant cauldron fire that won't set off smoke detectors, place a small piece of stiff (wired) candle wicking in the center of a cauldron-planter filled 3/4 of the way with wax crystals or pellets (these are tiny spheres of wax used instead of block wax by some candle makers, these are widely available at craft stores at reasonable prices. There is no need to melt the wax, just sprinkle a little scented oil or powdered herb near the wick and light...a caldron candle. If you have the time, you could use block wax and regular candlewicking, too. For rituals calling for a cauldron full of water, seeds or flowers, use a your chalice, a big bowl or pot, or (if you just must have that "witchy" look) one of those awful black plastic cauldron thingys that people put in the middle of their lawns as planters. Improvise! Used instead of: Chalice, Pentacle, Firepit, Censer. -Chalice or Goblet: Sometimes called a grail, the goblet holds the sacred wine or water, or salted water. I saw a beautiful ritual where the priest and priestess of a coven poured took two goblets full of wine from a big plastic cauldron and poured all but some of the wine into the goblets of two coveners who kept some and poured the rest into the next person's, who kept some and poured the rest into another, so that the two streams went around to meet in the middle with the coven's newest member, who offered a toast to the gods and was welcomed by the circle. The benefit of this, I was told, as opposed to the more usual drinking from one mug, was that no germs were passed. On a day without a newcomer, the streams would continue until a small bit was poured to the priest and priestess. I've never seen a coven since that could do it without spilling all over the place, but it was still beautiful. Of course, apple juice or anything else can be used in the ritual instead of wine. -Sickle: (see Bolline, above) The sickle is used to cut sacred herbs at certain moonphases. It represents "Cronehood" and is often given to a menopausal covener as a recognition of a new life phase. I think the modern usage of the sickle as the "Grim Reaper's" tool makes this a bit too morbid, but many feminist Wiccans disagree. Used instead of: Bolline, Athamé. -Smudge: In European practices, herbs were thrown on the fire to produce clouds of scented smoke. Smudge, which is either a bundle of herbs for burning or the ash of sacred herbs used for anointing, is borrowed from Native American Practices and can usually be held in the hand instead of thrown on a fire. For a nice change, burn rosemary instead of the traditional sage or sweetgrass. Stick incense can be used as burning smudge, it'll do in a pinch, but the ash is fairly worthless. Used instead of :Censer, oil. -Pentacle: A piece of clay, wood or metal used on the altar as a decoration and a place to put items to be "Charged" with power or purified. Purists often use wax pentacles which are broken or thrown in a fire afterwards to honor those who had to hide their religion. Many own and use metal or clay molds to make these pentacles, which seems to defeat the purpose. Used instead of: Cauldron. -Crown of Stars and Horned Helm: The Crown of Stars is worn by the priestess in a ceremony invoking the Goddess, the Horned Helm is the masculine form. They often represent Herne or Pan, and Diana, and are omitted by trads using other gods. A Crown of Stars shows the crescent moons and the moon full, or a horned moon, often with stars around the band. A horned helm is usually what could be called a "Viking" helm, or the "Helm of Herne" which uses a deer's head and neck. Anti-hunting and/or vegetarian Wiccans tend to frown on this. -God(dess) figures: Representations of the deities of choice of the solitary, these range from statues to tarot cards. Any personal object that represents one's deities or belief can be placed on an altar to lend it's power to the proceedings. In group situations, we recommend only a pair of candles, so that the personal gods of the coveners aren't in any way suppressed. -Anointing stick: A piece of greenwood, with one end mashed, used to apply oil to things. -Book of Shadows: Also called "The great tome." A Wiccan's private book of rituals and other such things. I call mine a "Book of Light" because what I do is "out there", open for anyone to see. In the Burning times, it would not have been so. I've included the Book of Shadows as a ritual tool because some use it in the rituals. A Book of Shadows is like a journal of the sacred aspects of life, rituals, the names of coveners, the laws of Wicca. -Beloved Dead, Photographs: Many cultures honor the ancestors or beloved dead as part of regular spiritual practice. Having photographs or representations of deceased family or pets as part of an altar is common practice throughout paganism. -Besom: A broom; most frequently used to sweep a circle clear of unwanted energy. Usually stored Bristles pointed up to prevent damage. -Candles: Candles can symbolize many things on an altar besides sacred fire. Candle color selection is often based on the type of ritual and form of energy being represented. -Crystals/Gems: Gemstones can act as a representation of any element, or as energy sources in their own right on an altar. -Incense, Scent: Many cultures believe that the smoke from sacred incense carries the prayers of man to the realm of the gods. Stick incense, small cones, or coal and powder incense may be used as you prefer. For those who cannot burn incense, essential oil sprays are a good substitute. The area, person or object to be cleansed can be misted lightly. -Mirror: Sometimes acts as a stand-in for a water element in an altar layout. Black mirrors are often used for scrying. -Bell: A bell is used to invoke directional energies, to ring in the sunrise on a Sabbat, or to fright away faeries and baneful spirits. This is a common list of what numbers of rings mean: 1-Begins a Spell 3-Pause for clearing negativity 4-Seal of a magickal act 5-Invoke quarter energies 7 or 21-Call the dead 9- Invoke Deity