Tools of Magick
Jul 14, 2016 9:43:58 GMT -5
Post by E'theriel V on Jul 14, 2016 9:43:58 GMT -5
There are many tools and accessories used in magick, not all is absolutely necessary to practice magick although there are few that I would highly recommended.
Without further ado, the following are tools you find in wiccan practices: Listed in alphabetical order
Athame: Dagger
A small dagger used ONLY for rituals. It has a black or dark coloured handle, double-edged but usually dull. It may have symbols carved into it, but not necessary. It is used in rituals and magick to direct energy for blessing, and drawing circles, drawing quarters. The phallic nature of the dagger is used to symbolise the male energy, it represents the male God and often associated with the element fire. The Athame is used to bless the water in the Chalice which represents the water of life and the female energy in the Great Rite.
Besom: Broom
A broom used to symbolically sweep away negative energies from sacred places, circles etc. Don't try to fly with this broom.
Boline: Dagger
A small white handled knife, but this one for practical purposes. When in magick you need to physically cut something eg. herbs or ropes, or when carving symbols, this is the knife to use. It is not necessarily a tool for rituals, therefore it can be used anytime for the purpose of magick, but again it must only be used for magick.
Book of Shadows: or Grimoire
A book/journal kept by practitioners to record spells, rituals, prayers, notes on herbs, crystals and progress in magick. It is a way to record your journey in magick and it is highly personal so its the done the way you want. Traditionally everything is recorded physically with paper and pen but nowadays digital books of shadow prove to be very useful especially in sharing knowledge and experience with members of the community.
Candles:
This one is so commonly used in magick, I'm sure most of you are aware of it purpose and representations. It is very versatile, different colours and scented candles may hold different purposes in ritual and spell work.
Cauldron:
Multipurpose use, if you need a container for something. It is often used in rituals but can also be used for any other magical purposes (however it would be best to have a separate cauldron). Represents the female energies, associated with the water element but can also be used to represent fire. Traditionally the cauldron is made from cast iron and has 3 legs.
Censer: or Incense holder
A hanging incense burner used in rituals by walking it around the circle (a hanging censer is preferable), however any incense burner that serves its purpose can be used in rituals or for burning incenses on the alter to a deity. It is used for purification and associated with the element of air
Chalice:
Symbolically it is similar to the cauldron and it serves a similar purpose, but on a smaller scale and easier to use in rituals. It represents the Goddess.
Crystals:
Crystals hold so much energy and very unique energy that can be harnessed by the user making it a very valuable and incredible versatile tool in magick, it comes in many forms and also with other tools, such as a pendulum made of a specific crystal, or you can carry a small piece on you where you go to provide you with energy. They can be used for and serve many different purposes in magick, from ritual work to healing. Good idea to keep a section just for crystals in your book of Shadows.
Herbs and spices:
Again it is used to so often in magick, I'm sure most of you know what can be used for, from rituals to spells, to healing and even just for cooking, just the sheer number of different herbs and spices reflects how versatile it is and its very important to keep a herbs section in your book of shadows to record your knowledge on them.
Oils:
Used in ritual to anoint people with, or in spells and can be used for healing. To use oils in potions please do careful research to understand whether they are in anyways toxic. They are usually plant based, common ones being: lavender (or any flower oil), pine, sage, olive, almond oil.
Pentacles:
Circular disc with pentagram engraved (5 pointed star), it is an ancient symbol used in magick it represents the 5 elements, water, fire, earth and air. Traditionally it can be made from many materials. It can be used as decoration for its protective purposes or used in rituals as it is often considered the portal between the spirit world and the physical world.
Salt:
This is not exactly a tool but an ingredient, I'm including this in my list of tools because be prepared to use a lot of salt in all parts of magick. Generally used for cleansing but can be used to draw symbols with and be symbolic for many things.
Wand:
Used for directing energy and can be used in rituals similarly to the athame. It also represents the male energy, but associated with the element air. The material of the wand is traditionally made from some sort of sacred wood that has been stripped of its bark and then carved, from yew, ash, oak, willow etc. The length of the wand may vary, but some choose to use the number 13 to determine the length. Wands can also be created out of other material since its purpose is to direct energy, there are wands also crafted from crystals, metals or a combination of matieral. Some argue that wands made from those materials work better than wood, because the material is better at directing energy, but... arguable.
When the tools are not being used, they are carefully stored usually on an alter table or a designated area that has been cleansed and consecrated regularly. Some important tools can also be wrapped in silk as silk is believed to reflect negative energy
This is my brief list of tools found in Wiccan practices, obviously there are more tools when you become more advanced in an area of magick for example divination, but these are the tools that are fundamentally important. And if you practice paths different to Wicca, you may realise there are similarities between your tools and what you practice as well as interesting differences.
The tools that I have mentioned above although important to one's practice is not an absolute necessity. It is understandable due to countless reasons why one may have none or limited access to these tools. A witch's tool is in the large part symbolic therefore not the exact description I've given or the ones you see sold in occult shops are necessary, for example if you can't find or cannot afford a Boline, you can use another suitable knife. This knife must now only be used for magick and nothing else. However although some tools are replaceable, tools used in rituals are harder to replace for example the Athame and the Chalice. The tools of the Witch is about its function not its aesthetics, you don't need to splurge on expensive but gorgeous tools to perform successful rituals.
I briefly touched on each tools, and hopefully in the future when we have more hands on applications, I can go more in depth into each tool and what they can be used for and branch into other areas of magick.
E'theriel
Priestess
If you feel like I've missed out on an important tool, or if you find any mistakes please let me know so I can correct that.
Without further ado, the following are tools you find in wiccan practices: Listed in alphabetical order
Athame: Dagger
A small dagger used ONLY for rituals. It has a black or dark coloured handle, double-edged but usually dull. It may have symbols carved into it, but not necessary. It is used in rituals and magick to direct energy for blessing, and drawing circles, drawing quarters. The phallic nature of the dagger is used to symbolise the male energy, it represents the male God and often associated with the element fire. The Athame is used to bless the water in the Chalice which represents the water of life and the female energy in the Great Rite.
Besom: Broom
A broom used to symbolically sweep away negative energies from sacred places, circles etc. Don't try to fly with this broom.
Boline: Dagger
A small white handled knife, but this one for practical purposes. When in magick you need to physically cut something eg. herbs or ropes, or when carving symbols, this is the knife to use. It is not necessarily a tool for rituals, therefore it can be used anytime for the purpose of magick, but again it must only be used for magick.
Book of Shadows: or Grimoire
A book/journal kept by practitioners to record spells, rituals, prayers, notes on herbs, crystals and progress in magick. It is a way to record your journey in magick and it is highly personal so its the done the way you want. Traditionally everything is recorded physically with paper and pen but nowadays digital books of shadow prove to be very useful especially in sharing knowledge and experience with members of the community.
Candles:
This one is so commonly used in magick, I'm sure most of you are aware of it purpose and representations. It is very versatile, different colours and scented candles may hold different purposes in ritual and spell work.
Cauldron:
Multipurpose use, if you need a container for something. It is often used in rituals but can also be used for any other magical purposes (however it would be best to have a separate cauldron). Represents the female energies, associated with the water element but can also be used to represent fire. Traditionally the cauldron is made from cast iron and has 3 legs.
Censer: or Incense holder
A hanging incense burner used in rituals by walking it around the circle (a hanging censer is preferable), however any incense burner that serves its purpose can be used in rituals or for burning incenses on the alter to a deity. It is used for purification and associated with the element of air
Chalice:
Symbolically it is similar to the cauldron and it serves a similar purpose, but on a smaller scale and easier to use in rituals. It represents the Goddess.
Crystals:
Crystals hold so much energy and very unique energy that can be harnessed by the user making it a very valuable and incredible versatile tool in magick, it comes in many forms and also with other tools, such as a pendulum made of a specific crystal, or you can carry a small piece on you where you go to provide you with energy. They can be used for and serve many different purposes in magick, from ritual work to healing. Good idea to keep a section just for crystals in your book of Shadows.
Herbs and spices:
Again it is used to so often in magick, I'm sure most of you know what can be used for, from rituals to spells, to healing and even just for cooking, just the sheer number of different herbs and spices reflects how versatile it is and its very important to keep a herbs section in your book of shadows to record your knowledge on them.
Oils:
Used in ritual to anoint people with, or in spells and can be used for healing. To use oils in potions please do careful research to understand whether they are in anyways toxic. They are usually plant based, common ones being: lavender (or any flower oil), pine, sage, olive, almond oil.
Pentacles:
Circular disc with pentagram engraved (5 pointed star), it is an ancient symbol used in magick it represents the 5 elements, water, fire, earth and air. Traditionally it can be made from many materials. It can be used as decoration for its protective purposes or used in rituals as it is often considered the portal between the spirit world and the physical world.
Salt:
This is not exactly a tool but an ingredient, I'm including this in my list of tools because be prepared to use a lot of salt in all parts of magick. Generally used for cleansing but can be used to draw symbols with and be symbolic for many things.
Wand:
Used for directing energy and can be used in rituals similarly to the athame. It also represents the male energy, but associated with the element air. The material of the wand is traditionally made from some sort of sacred wood that has been stripped of its bark and then carved, from yew, ash, oak, willow etc. The length of the wand may vary, but some choose to use the number 13 to determine the length. Wands can also be created out of other material since its purpose is to direct energy, there are wands also crafted from crystals, metals or a combination of matieral. Some argue that wands made from those materials work better than wood, because the material is better at directing energy, but... arguable.
When the tools are not being used, they are carefully stored usually on an alter table or a designated area that has been cleansed and consecrated regularly. Some important tools can also be wrapped in silk as silk is believed to reflect negative energy
This is my brief list of tools found in Wiccan practices, obviously there are more tools when you become more advanced in an area of magick for example divination, but these are the tools that are fundamentally important. And if you practice paths different to Wicca, you may realise there are similarities between your tools and what you practice as well as interesting differences.
The tools that I have mentioned above although important to one's practice is not an absolute necessity. It is understandable due to countless reasons why one may have none or limited access to these tools. A witch's tool is in the large part symbolic therefore not the exact description I've given or the ones you see sold in occult shops are necessary, for example if you can't find or cannot afford a Boline, you can use another suitable knife. This knife must now only be used for magick and nothing else. However although some tools are replaceable, tools used in rituals are harder to replace for example the Athame and the Chalice. The tools of the Witch is about its function not its aesthetics, you don't need to splurge on expensive but gorgeous tools to perform successful rituals.
I briefly touched on each tools, and hopefully in the future when we have more hands on applications, I can go more in depth into each tool and what they can be used for and branch into other areas of magick.
E'theriel
Priestess
If you feel like I've missed out on an important tool, or if you find any mistakes please let me know so I can correct that.