| Tools Used In Wicca | | | | and fertility. It is the main focal point during a |
| Just like most other religions, there are various tools | | | | ritual.The cauldron is used for burning, fertility magic, |
| and objects used for ritual purposes. They are used | | | | lunar magic, brewing herbs and potions. |
| to invoke Deities, get rid of negativity and directing | | | | Cauldrons can be found in all sizes from a few inches |
| energy with our touch or intentions. | | | | to three feet across. Ideally, it would be made of |
| Most people will already associate a broom, cauldron | | | | iron with three legs. Most Wiccans today, who live in |
| and a magic wand with witches. While these do have | | | | the city, use their own pots and pans and their |
| there place within the Wiccan world, only Wiccans | | | | kitchen. Don't look too hard for a cauldron, they are |
| understand the real power associated with each. If | | | | quite hard to find, but if you need one, be patient |
| you are just starting out, there is no need to spend | | | | and the Goddess and God might ensure it will come |
| great amounts of money on specialist items. These | | | | to you. |
| tools are symbolic so you can use what ever you | | | | Athame |
| like. You will find by making some of your own tools, | | | | An athame represents the element Fire or Air |
| you would feel more comfortable with the energy in | | | | depending on tradition. It is used for ceremonial |
| you and your tool. That tool would be designed | | | | purposes with male energy and symbolizes animus. |
| purposely for its use and for you. | | | | The most important tool of the witches collection |
| Working with these tools and familiarizing yourself | | | | and should be sought after with conviction. It would |
| with their powers whilst adding your own energies | | | | be better to find or acquire it rather than buying |
| into them, you will find that they become obvious | | | | unless you spotted it at a flea market etc and you |
| and second nature. It can be quite difficult to acquire | | | | knew you just had to have it. There are some nice |
| them but you will. | | | | letter openers out there which will do the trick. The |
| As you acquire each tool, clean it thoroughly to | | | | athame is used for mixing, inscribing, charging, |
| remove all associations and energies. Dry the tool and | | | | consecrating, empowering, drawing lines, making |
| then bury it for a few days to remove any energies | | | | choices. |
| which were left. Dig it back p and wipe clean. It is | | | | White Handled Knife |
| now ready for your magic. You may choose to have | | | | This knife is purely practical and not a ritualistic knife. |
| a consecration ceremony for each tool if you desire. | | | | It is used for cutting wands, herbs, cords and |
| The Broom | | | | inscribing into candles or wood etc. It must be kept |
| The broom is used in magic and ritual. Sacred to both | | | | apart from the rest of the household and used only |
| the Goddess and God. Obviously Witches can't fly | | | | in preparation for rituals. |
| around on broomsticks. Witch persecutors invented | | | | Crystal Sphere |
| this tale to show their alliance to dark powers. If this | | | | The crystal quartz sphere is an ancient magical tool |
| could be performed, it would be supernatural and | | | | and is very expensive depending on the size. There |
| regarded as the Devil in the eyes of Witches. | | | | are plenty of cheaper glass and leaded glass ones on |
| The broom is used today in Wicca. Before a ritual, | | | | the market today. The crystal is used in |
| the area either inside or out, may be swept with the | | | | contemplative divination where the diviner gazes into |
| magical broom before setting up the altar. The | | | | the ball until images are revealed either in the mind or |
| sweeping is more of a physical cleansing. The broom | | | | projected to the depths of the crystal. |
| doesn't even need to touch the ground. Just by | | | | Sometimes, in Wiccan ritual, the crystal sphere is |
| visualizing, the broom removes the astral buildup to | | | | placed on the altar to represent the Goddess. The |
| purify the area before a ritual. | | | | crystal may be used to store energy raised in ritual |
| The broom is a purifier and is therefore linked with | | | | or even receive messages from the Gods. Some |
| the element Water. It can be used in all water spells | | | | Wiccans scry in the crystal to call up images of past |
| including love and psychic workings. | | | | lives and of the Goddess. It is a magical object which |
| The old magical formula for making a broom is an ash | | | | must be closely guarded. |
| (protective) staff, birch (purifying) twigs with a willow | | | | Exposure to moonlight, rubbing the crystal with |
| (sacred to the Goddess) binding. It doesn't really | | | | mugwort, will increase its ability for our psychic |
| matter what kind of tree or bush you use. It can be | | | | powers. It may also be the center of Full Moon |
| as small or as large as you like. Just remember to | | | | rituals. |
| thank the tree for its sacrifice to you! | | | | The Chalice / The Cup |
| Wiccan and pagan handfastings often include leaping | | | | Simply a cauldron with a stem. May contain the ritual |
| over the broom during the ceremony. | | | | beverage or just water. You could sit it on your altar |
| The Wand | | | | to remind you of your blessings, washing and refilling |
| Utilized for thousands of years, the wand is used to | | | | it periodically as the water evaporates. |
| direct energy, to draw magical symbols on the | | | | The Pentacle |
| ground, to point towards danger and stirring the | | | | Usually a flat piece of brass, gold, silver, wood, wax, |
| cauldron. The wand is one of the prime magical tools. | | | | clay or even glass inscribed with symbols. The most |
| Traditionally wands were made from various woods | | | | common and the only necessary is the five pointed |
| such as willow, elder, oak, apple, peach, hazel, cherry | | | | star which has been used for magic for millenia. The |
| and more. Some Wiccans measure from the elbow | | | | pentacle represents the element Earth, and can be |
| to the tip of the forefinger and cut back their wand | | | | used to place items upon it ready for consecration. It |
| to that size. You could even use dowel, but I | | | | can be used to summon the Goddesses and Gods. |
| recommend you find and create one rather than | | | | Pentacles can be hung with the star pointing upwards |
| buying. A wand will come to you as will most of your | | | | over doors and windows for protection. |
| tools. | | | | The five points represent any of the following: |
| | | | - birth, initiation, consummation, repose, death |
| The Censer | | | | - love, wisdom, knowledge, law, power |
| The censer is an incense burner. During a Wiccan rite | | | | - spirit, air, water, earth, fire |
| the censer hold the smoldering incense. When no | | | | - spirit, water, fire, earth, air |
| particular incense has been requested for a certain | | | | The Book of Shadows |
| ritual or spell, then pick your own. Most Wiccans | | | | The Wiccan workbook contains invocations, rituals, |
| favor the granulated incense but sticks and cones will | | | | spells, runes and notes. Some Books of Shadows are |
| be fine. Spirits are sometimes asked to appear visible | | | | passed on but most are composed by each individual. |
| in the smoke from the censer during ceremonial | | | | Traditionally, a Book of Shadows is hand written but |
| magic, not in Wicca though. Wiccans often reports | | | | nowadays computer written is fine. Use a Book of |
| seeing the Goddess and God in the rising smoke. | | | | Shadows as a collection of notes you wish to keep |
| When performing a Wiccan ritual indoors, you must | | | | for reference as you progress through life. Never feel |
| use incense, whereas outside you may use a fire. | | | | tied down to other Books of Shadows, they are not |
| The censer represents the element Air. The censer | | | | "holy writ". You are free to use and change anything |
| can be used for fumigating and smudging, purifying, | | | | you like. |
| raising power, trance like states, banishing evil spirits, | | | | The Bell |
| encouraging and welcoming spirits. | | | | The ringing of the bell has powerful effects |
| The Cauldron | | | | depending on its volume, tone and construction |
| The cauldron is an ancient vessel of cooking and | | | | material. The bell is often used to invoke the |
| brew making. The cauldron is highly mysterious and | | | | Goddess during ritual. The bell can be used to ward |
| steeped in magical tradition. Wicca sees the cauldron | | | | off evil and evoke good energies. Hanging a bell |
| as a symbol for the womb of the Goddess. Its | | | | above a door guards the home. Sometimes bells are |
| symbolic of the element Water, reincarnation, | | | | rung during rituals to mark the beginning or the end |
| immortality, inspiration and the essence of femininity | | | | of a spell. |