Introduction to Magick: Lesson IV Magickal Tools and How to Use Them
Wiccan tools are the implements used to work magick. Some traditions require a great number of tools while others are much more simplistic. Different spells will require the use of specific tools. Regardless of the tradition or spell, there are five tools considered sacred and should always be present upon the altar. These tools include: athame; wand; chalice; salt; and pentacle.
All Wiccan tools should be cleansed and consecrated before the first use and cleansed before each use thereafter. Cleansing can be accomplished in a number of ways: smudging, sprinkling with blessed (moon) water, burying in the earth, or set out under the full moon. However, one of the simplest ways to cleanse an object that will also serve in building one’s “magick muscles” is through visualization, motion, and intent.
Hold the tool to be cleansed in your non-dominant hand. With the dominant hand, make three circles in the widdershins (counter-clockwise) direction around the tool while visualizing a bright “golden light” filling the object. As you circle the tool, you’ll repeat the following three times:
“Behold, I exorcise thee, casting out all inner impurities!”
Next you will consecrate the tool by making three circles in a deosil (clockwise) motion while visualizing a bright “white” light filling the object. As you circle the tool, you’ll repeat the following three times:
“Behold, I bless and consecrate thee for sacred work to be!”
Your magickal tool is now sacred and should be handled with reverence.
The following is a list of magical tools that are commonly incorporated into spellwork. While the list may seem extensive, it is not all inclusive and most items may be acquired gradually as your experience in the Craft grows.
Altar Cloth: An altar cloth denotes a sacred space and will enhance energy work. The altar cloth corresponds to the element of Earth. Many years ago before the mass production of textiles, an altar cloth would have been hand-woven and embroidered, making it a very valuable item. Today, some Wiccans (and Witches) may purchase cloth material to hand paint and decorate themselves. Or they may simply choose to purchase a pre-made altar cloth. Either way, the design, symbols, and colors of your altar cloth are a personal choice, so go with what feels right for you. You may even choose to go with multiple altar cloths in different colors, and use the color correspondence for the spellwork to be performed.
Anointing Oils: Anointing oils are one of the most frequently used tools of the Wiccan. They correspond to the elements of Earth and Water. Anointing oils are used for dressing candles and infusing energy into objects and people. The herbs and essential oils used in anointing oils are mainly very specific and correspond to the spell being performed.
Athame: One of the five sacred tools for the Wiccan is the athame. An athame is a ceremonial knife that represents phallic energy and in most traditions, corresponds to the element of Air (Fire in others). In some traditions, the ceremonial athame must have a “black” handle and an athame used to harvest herbs must have a “white” handle. However, unless you follow a specific tradition, you may choose most any type of athame to your liking so long as the knife has “never drawn blood”.
Bell: A ceremonial bell, gong, or singing bowl, are tools often kept upon the altar. Ceremonially, sound is often used to indicate the beginning and ending of rituals. Sound is also used to cleanse energies, banish spirits and clear negativity.
Besom: No witch’s arsenal is complete without a magickal broom. The broom symbolizes the male (broomstick) joined with the female (bristles). Because of this, brooms have long been used in handfastings (irregular marriages), as well as in blessing the fertility of crops. Brooms are also used for cleansing spaces from negative energies and evil spirits, and small besoms are used for cleansing the negative energies attached to people.
Book of Shadows: A Book of Shadows (also known as a Grimoire), is a very powerful Wiccan artifact as it serves as a repository of knowledge and magick. It will contain all the information a Wiccan/Witch will have learned along their path of enlightenment including: elemental correspondences, incantations, charms, spells, rituals and other countless knowledge. Although in tradition it is meant to be a handwritten document, today’s technological applications may allow one to create their Grimoire in a countless number of styles, font, colors and design. You can choose any type of journal you wish but simply keep in mind it should be large enough to accommodate your learning. You may also want to choose a Grimoire that doesn’t have a fixed binding so that you may reorganize, add, or remove pages without damaging the book.
Burning Dish: There are a multitude of spells that require a Witch to burn slips of paper (or small materials) with requests and desires written or marked upon them. For these types of spells, you will need a burning dish. Obviously, a burning dish must be fireproof and large enough to accommodate the materials to be burned. You may even consider something with a lid for added safety (like a miniature cauldron).
Candles: Candles obviously represent the element of Fire and their direction is South. Candles provide an immense amount of energy to all spellwork as the lighting of the candle itself represents the act of creation (as in: when the Goddess created the God in an explosion of fire and light). The specific colors of a candle too; add an extra degree of energy and should be chosen appropriately to correspond to the spell. Some traditions will light candles when calling the Elementals to the Circle (yellow: East, red: South, blue: West, green: North) as well as lighting a silver or black candle for the Goddess, and a white or gold candle for the God.
Cauldron: The cauldron represents the womb of the Goddess, inspiration and resurrection. Its element is Water and traditionally, they are made of cast iron and have three legs. Cauldrons have a multitude of applications including: brewing potions and herbs, scrying, burning materials and performing fertility spells.
Censer/Incense: A censer is a vessel, usually made of metal, in which incense, herbs, resins, and seeds are burned. It corresponds to the elements of Air and Fire, and its directions are East and South. Censers are used for smudging, purifying, raising power, achieving trance states, banishing negativity and welcoming good spirits.
Chalice: One of the five sacred tools, the chalice is a vessel of the Goddess. Water is its element and its direction is West. A chalice is used for mixing potions, pouring libations and drinking ritual water or wine.
Cords/Ribbons: Although not regularly used, cords and ribbons may be incorporated into binding spells and knot magic.
Divination Tools: Divination is an important part of the Wiccan path. Scrying Bowls, Scrying Mirrors, Crystal Balls, Tarot Cards, Runes, and Dowsing Rods are only a few of the tools a Wiccan uses to communicate with Spirit.
Dybbuk Box: A dybbuk box is a blessed and charmed container used to keep magical tools and sacred artifacts protected from external energies. A dybbuk box can be a number of things including: a trunk, a chest of drawers, a wine cabinet, or even a series of small boxes. Dybbuk boxes are also used to imprison extremely evil and malignant spirits! Such boxes are typically sealed with wax and bound with ropes or cords. These boxes should never be purchased or opened as the spirit in the box will attach itself to whoever shall open it. Such dybbuk boxes should be buried deep in the earth in a secluded location.
Earth Pot: Some witches may choose to add extra stabilizing energy to indoor altars by adding an Earth Pot. Typically, an Earth Pot will contain soil from hallowed ground but it may also contain Juniper ash, soil from your birth place, or soil collected from favorite locations.
Found Objects: Found objects are symbolic messages from the Goddess that “speak” to you. These objects have a particularly strong power and are excellent to incorporate into magical spells.
Garb: Garb are sacred vestments “only” worn during ritual ceremonies. Robes are the most common, and as one progresses in the Craft, additional garments will be added. These include the tabard, the stole, and the garter.
Herbs: Herbs are one of the most common ingredients in Wiccan spells. They may be brewed, burned, eaten, used to make anointing oils and salves, placed in mojo bags, or even used to decorate an altar.
Images: Frequently, altars of Wiccans and Witches include images (and statues) of the Goddess and the God, or tokens representing them. Images and statues of specific Goddesses, countless types of spirits and elements (like fairies, dragons and mermaids) may also be included upon the altar, as well as pictures of ancestors. A recent picture of an individual for whom a healing or cleansing spell is being performed (with consent) may also be present on the altar.
Jewelry: Many spells, ceremonies, and rituals may utilize jewelry to act as energy generators. Some pieces will only be worn during rituals, others are charmed into talismans to be worn for a period of time to help manifest a desired goal or protect the wearer. These can be all manner of necklaces, bracelets, charms or rings. Wreaths and headbands too; are incorporated into ritual ceremonies as are coronets and tiaras.
Libation Dish: A libation dish is used during indoor rituals to make liquid offerings to the Goddess, the God, spirits, and ancestors. Wine, juice, or water is poured from the chalice into the libation dish during the ceremony, and after the ritual is over, the libation dish is typically emptied outdoors to return the energy to Mother Earth.
Mortar & Pestle: The mortar represents the womb of the Goddess; the pestle is phallic and represents the God. These items are often used in spellwork to crush herbs (and/or stones) and crystals into a fine powder used to place inside witches spell bottles.
Offering Dish: Much like the libation dish, an offering dish is a plate or bowl in which food offerings are placed and dedicated to the Goddess and God, spirits or ancestors during a ritual. Food offerings often include: bread, fruit, cheese, corn, flour, rice, or types of dessert like baked sweets or cake.
Pentacle: One of the five sacred tools, the pentacle (also called a pentagram or pentalpha), is a five-pointed star within a circle. The pentacle was created by Pythagoreans and represents the “matter in union with Spirit,” and is always placed in the center of the altar. A properly charged pentacle has immense power and can open doorways into “alternate realms.”
Poppets: A poppet is a humanoid figure that symbolically becomes the person you are performing magic on (or for), when that person is not present and at a distance from you.
Salt: One of the five sacred tools, salt represents Earth and its direction is North. Salt is used in numerous applications including: cleansing and purification, banishing negative energies and entities, creating boundaries, blessing, and consecrating. Salt is commonly tossed into the flames to bless the hearth or bonfire. A little salt placed on the tongue will “ground” excess energy after spell work!
Seasonal Elements: Seasonal elements like: leaves, flowers, pinecones, acorns and etcetera; can honor the Goddess and God, commemorate the Wheel of the Year and aid the shift in consciousness.
Sigils: A sigil is a magickal symbol representing deity, spirit, or a concept in picture form. Sigils can be self-created (or pre-existing), and are an extremely powerful way to boost energy for all spellwork.
Stones and Crystals: Stones and crystals represent the element of Earth, and their direction is North. Stones and crystals have different uses based upon the energy they generate and have a variety of applications in spell work.
Sword: The sword is used in the same context as the athame, except it’s generally reserved for large groups and outdoor ceremonies.
Wand: One of the five sacred tools, the wand represents Fire energy, and its direction is South. Traditionally, wands were made from wood the most common was oak or willow. Priests often carried a large wand called a staff. Today, many Wiccans will purchase crystal wands and as previously explained different crystals will have different spell specifications.
– The Goddess Kingdom© 2022
