Even though it's purely will power and sheer emotional intent that the witch uses in casting spells, certain equipment are traditionally utilized by the practitioner in the performance of spellwork, the purpose of these items being to subconsciously "program" the mind with symbolism, making the spell that much more effective. Just remember that it is the practitioner that empowers the object, not the other way around. These are the basic items you will need to practice Witchcraft:
2) Athame...This is a name for a ritual dagger. A sword can be used instead or in addition, though swords are usually far more expensive. Daggers aren't too hard to find, and you don't need to purchase one of the many fancy and expensive ones on sale. A simple hunting knife or steak knife will do, as long as its blade is double-edged. The athame is utilized by the witch for summoning, directing and banishing mystical energy. It is never intended to be used as a stabbing weapon; instead, it's a sacred weapon used for strictly magickal purposes. It is symbolic of the element of Fire, though some traditions consider it symbolic of Air. I prefer the former.
3) Cauldron...These three legged iron bowls are a powerful feminine symbol, used to hold candles, or brew and burn herbs and scrolls of paper. Cauldrons can be expensive, particularly bigger ones, but a simple metal mixing bowl can do the trick if you're strapped for cash.
5) Chalice...This item is used for holding water, and is symbolic of the element of Water. You can get a chalice of any substance, including somewhat expensive metallic ones, but a simple glass normally used for wine will do the job perfectly. You will sometimes need an additional one for holding wine.
6) Pentacle...As all practitioners of magick know, the pentacle is a five-pointed star set within a disc. It is a powerful protective symbol, and is very good at consecrating your chalice and censer just by placing them on top of the pentacle. It is representative of the Mother Goddess, and is also symbolic of the element of Earth. You can get a small one normally used as a necklace, or a large one made of wood or metal. You can also use a plack of wood with the star etched in it.
7) Bowl of Salt...Also representative of the element of Earth, you should have a bowl of sodium on your altar. Sodium is a powerful substance for purification, and it can expel negative vibes from your ritual area.
8) Candles...You will need to stock some candles. Usually a white one is used on the altar simply for light, but I prefer to use one of a color corresponding to a particular deity or effect that I am calling upon. Refer to the section on candle magick to see which color candles are appropriate for which type of spellwork, and you should have a variety of candles. You will need four candles specifically to line the four corners of your magick circle, which will represent one of the four elements. You will need a yellow one in the east for Air, a red one in the south for Fire, a blue one in the west for Water and a green (or brown) one in the north for Earth. The candle(s) on your altar represent Spirit. There will be a separate section here dealing with the elements of antiquity. It is best to use taper candles for spellwork, as they are the easiest and least expensive to acquire, though any shape or type will do (votive candles are sometimes scented, for those interested in using scents for spellwork, or aromatherapy).
9) Candle Holders...These are readily available, and you will need several of them, for the obvious purpose of holding your candles. They are most often available in glass, brass or iron. Try to avoid those made of wood.
10) Wand...Yes, witches really do use a magick wand. You can use a simple stick for this, or if you prefer, purchase one of the fancy and expensive ones available. It is used for directing mystical energy, and is really a modern addition to the witch's equipment, taken from the Ceremonial Magicians. Oak wood is perfect for your wand, though other types of wood can be used. It is symbolic of the element of Air, though some traditions use it as a symbol of Fire. I've been taught the former.
Wiccans also traditionally compose what they refer to as their Book of Shadows, which is a tome including original spells that they have written, but often includes other things such as personal observations about all aspects of magick and Witchcraft, as well as all personal discoveries and insights obtained while walking the path of the Craft. The Book of Shadows is intended to be used as a personal reference source for spellwork, a journal of one's magickal experience and the accumulated sum total of all of the Wiccan's insights to be left to those who may read it in the future. The Book of Shadows was obviously handwritten in the past and left in notebook form, though today it can be typed on a computer and printed out and stored in binder form, or even completely stored on a computer floppy disk. The Book of Shadows may be kept personal while you are alive, or freely shared with others; a few Wiccans have even published their Book of Shadows.
Each of the previous items are completely up
to the individual practitioner.
Here is a sample ritual of spellwork utilizing your equipment. I wish
to
thank Pagan author D.J. Conway for this part of the section, as this is
a
slightly modified version of the ritual she wrote in her books Celtic
Magic
and Norse Magic. I'm simply switching a few sentences around to make
it
non-tradition specific.
Sit in front of your altar and take a few deep breaths. Have soft music
playing in the background. Try to pick instrumental music only, as
vocals
tend to be too distracting. Concentrate on your spellwork at hand, and
get
yourself in a relaxed state. Face the north. Take your athame in your
power hand, and beginning in the east, project a line of silver-blue
personal energy from the tip of the athame. Only gifted psychics or
longtime practitioners can actually see this energy, and they describe
it as
silvery-blue in color.
Walk in a circular clockwise motion (called
deosil)
until the circle overlaps the point in which it began. The circle will
automatically form itself into a protective sphere around your ritual
area.
Everything you use will be inside the circle...this magick circle will
both
contain your built up energy until the moment you release it, as well
as
keeping negativity and astral entities out. Remember, your spellwork
will
attract such entities to your ritual area, so the casting of the circle
is
important. Try not to break the circle until the end of the ritual
(see
below).
As you cast the circle, say:
"I consecrate this circle of power to the Goddess and God; here may
they
manifest and bless their child."
Stand in front of the altar, hold up your arms in greeting to the Goddess and God, and say:
"This is a time that is not a time, in a place that is not a place, on a day that is not a day. I stand at the threshold between the worlds before the gates of Infinity [or Avalon, Asgard, Heliopolis, Olympus, or any other realm of the gods your tradition may worship]. May the Ancient Ones guide and protect me on my magickal journey."
This helps shift your consciousness into a state conducive for ritual and magick.
Take the chalice, filled with spring water, and place it upon the
pentacle.
Hold your athame over it and say:
"Great Goddess [insert your goddess name], I bless this creature of
water to
your service. May we always remember the cauldron waters of rebirth."
Place your athame over the bowl of salt, saying:
"Great Goddess, I bless this creature of earth to your service. May we
always honor the blessed earth, its many forms and beings."
Take a pinch of salt in your fingers and drop it in the chalice.
Lift the chalice in the air and say:
"Great Goddess, be you adored!"
Walk the chalice around the circle counterclockwise (called
widdershins, a
direction used for banishing), sprinkling droplets of salt-laden water
around the perimeter of the circle to banish negativity. Place the
chalice
back on the altar and place your athame over the flames of the lit
candle.
Say:
"Great God [insert your God name here], bless this creature of fire to
your
service. May we always remember the sacred flames which dance within
the
form of every creation."
Take the censer with the lit incense and place it on the pentacle.
Place
your athame over it and say:
"Great God, I bless this creature of air to your service. May we
always
listen to the spirit winds which bring us the voices of the Ancient
Ones."
Take the censer and walk the incense around the circle
counterclockwise,
banishing more negativity.
Next, it's time to summon the elementals to witness the rite and to
guard
the corners of the circle from unwelcome astral influences.
Your four element candles should be in the appropriate directions, and
just
inside the magick circle.
Walk over to the yellow candle in the east
and
light it, saying:
"I call upon you, powers of Air, to witness this rite and to guard this
circle."
Imagine a spinning vortex of air suddenly whirling outside your circle.
Little diaphanous faerie-like elementals called Sylphs (and zephyrs)
can be
seen dancing in the vortex.
Walk over to the red candle in the south
and
light it, saying:
"I call upon you, powers of Fire, to witness this rite and to guard
this
circle."
Imagine a large plume of flame blazing just outside your circle. Long,
snake-like and glowing elementals called salamanders can be seen
writhing
about in the flames.
Walk over to the blue candle in the west and
light it,
saying:
"I call upon you, powers of Water, to witness this rite and to guard
this
circle."
Imagine a large fountain of water erupting just outside the circle.
Small
mermaid-like elementals called undines can be seen swimming and playing
in
the fountain.
Walk over to the green candle in the north and light it,
saying:
"I call upon you, powers of Earth, to witness this rite and to guard
this
circle."
Imagine a large tree suddenly materializing outside your circle. Tiny
elf-like elementals called gnomes can be seen walking in and out of the
roots of the tree. Know that these four types of beings are here to
protect
your circle.
Walk to the center of the altar and say:
"This circle is bound with power all around; within it I stand with
protection at hand."
Return to the center of the circle and
begin
your spellwork. You can use spells already written, and found in the
numerous books on Witchcraft available, or you can write your own.
Walk
around the circle clockwise for positive spellwork, and
counterclockwise for
negative. Use your wand to direct the energy that you summon. When
the
energy is built up to its maximum point, say:
"By the power of the God and Goddess, I bind all power within this
circle
into this spell. So mote it be!"
Upon saying this, release the energy. The circle will automatically
open
and release it into the biosphere and astral realms, where it will
eventually manifest on the physical plane. You may also want to ground
the
extraneous mystical energy left over, so it does not remain in your
temple
area. Use your wand to direct it into the bowels of the Earth, where
it can
then be utilized by Mother Earth for her own purposes, such as the
healing
of the planet.
When you are done, you will then dismiss the elementals
you
have summoned. Do not forget this part! And do it before breaking the
circle. [Try never to break the circle during spellwork except in an
emergency. Remember to keep all pets except for cats out of the room
during
spellwork. For some reason, cats can walk through the circle without
breaking it.]
Walk to the yellow candle in the east and snuff it,
saying:
"Depart in peace, O powers of Air. My thanks and blessings."
Imagine the vortex of air collapsing in upon itself and vanishing.
Walk to
the red candle in the south and snuff it, saying:
"Depart in peace, O powers of Fire. My thanks and blessings."
Imagine the plume of flame extinguishing itself.
Walk to the blue
candle in
the west and snuff it, saying:
"Depart in peace, O powers of Water. My thanks and blessings."
Imagine the fountain trickling out and disappearing into the ground.
Walk
to the green candle in the north and snuff it, saying:
"Depart in peace, O powers of Earth. My thanks and blessings."
Imagine the tree outside the circle dematerializing.
Walk to the
candle(s)
on your altar in the center of the circle to dismiss the element of
Spirit.
Snuff the candle(s) and then raise your arms above your head, saying:
"To all powers and beings of the visible and the invisible, depart in
peace.
May there always be harmony between us. My thanks and blessings."
Imagine the God and Goddess, or any deity and beings you invited into
your
circle to conduct the spellwork with, vanishing from this plane of
reality.
Now, take your athame and walk to the edge of the circle. With a quick
swipe of your hand, break the circle. Say:
"Though the circle is broken, ever it remains a circle. Around and
through
me always flows its magickal power."
This will finalize the ritual in your subconscious. Be sure to place
any
offerings, such as cookies and milk, outside to the little ones if you
called upon the faerie folk for assistance. Your ritual is done.
