Tools of the Trade
 

As with any religion, wicca has it's physical trappings. These tools are not necessary to practice the wiccan magic or religion, but are excellent in helping to focus your energy and intent. You should be able to do all your magic with just your mind and body, but if any or all of these tools help you to visualise the power flowing through you or the deity (and other powers) being present, by all means use them, I do. Remember that you are the most important tool that you bring to the circle, and that everything is based on your intent and the ability to focus your internal power.

Athame

An athame is defined as a black handled knife typically used to carve out sacred space during ritual and to direct energy raised during rites and spells. Athames are considered a symbol of the element fire and of the god; it's phallic shape makes it a perfect symbol of the masculine. Some say that it should be very sharp as a physical reminder of the power it wields, others say it should be dull for safety reasons. It's really up to you because the magic comes from you, as with all magickal tools, an athame is just a tool to focus your power. I use my athame to cast the ritual circle and while in the circle to open (or close) a door from the circle to the outside, as well as focusing energy raised during spells. My athame is a beautiful black handled knife which I purchased specially for ritual, but you can use any knife. If the knife has been used before, make sure to cleanse it of any residual energy from the previous owner. If you prefer, you might even make your athame, in the book "Complete Book of Witchcraft", by Raymond Buckland he describes how to make one. Many kitchen witches use a regular kitchen knife which has been cleansed and consecrated, believing that everyday life should be magickal.

Bell

Bells are feminine symbols used to ward off evil and negativity, they evoke "good vibrations" (no pun intended). In ritual a hand bell or chime is typically used, and most often made of brass or crystal. A bell can be used to summon the elemental, to signal the beginning or end of a ritual or even to summon a particular entity. I usually don't use a bell in ritual, preferring to call the elemental vocally, but I do like to wear an anklet of bells. After presenting a friend of mine (who incidentally is a doctor) with one of these anklets she mentioned that she might start prescribing these anklets for her patrons because the sound just makes you feel so good, "good vibrations". I also have bells on my front and back doors which ring every time the door is opened. Along with creating a wonderful sound, it warns me if a door has been opened without my knowledge, and when my cats used to go out, they learned to ring the bells to let me know that they wanted to go outside. Next time you hear bells ringing, think about how the sound makes you feel and then decide if this is a tool that you want to use in ritual or in everyday life.

Besom (Broom):

Brooms and witches seem to be forever linked in the hearts and minds of both the pagan and non-pagan communities. In ancient times it is believed that brooms were used in crop fertility rites, the local wise woman would run, jumping as high as possible, through the fields while "riding" a broom to promote growth of the crops. Most likely this is the imagery from which the idea the witches ride broom arose. Today brooms are used to symbolically cleanse the ritual area before the circle is cast. The bristles don't need to touch the ground; while making the sweeping motions you should visualise the area being cleansed of all negative energy. Like many witches, I collect brooms. I like the old-fashion round ones better than the flat Shaker-style brooms for ritual and decoration, although I do use the flat style in regular house work since it is more effective in collecting physical dirt (dust and cat hair). During spring cleaning, you might want to clean physically with a flat broom and then clean ritually with your round broom, ridding the house of both real and etheral dust and decay. I like hanging brooms over doorways, it's not only a very attractive addition to my decor, it also helps to prevent negativity from entering the house. You don't have to purchase a special broom for ritual; you can make them or even use a branch from a tree or bush.

In the book "Spell Crafts", by Scott Cunningham and David Harrington, you will find step by step instructions on how to make a purification broom. Basically you will need a tree branch (preferably a fallen tree branch) cut to the length desired, fresh bunches of one or more plant like broom straw, fennel, lavender, rosemary, mint, pine, and sage, and raffia, scissors and a bowl of water. After collecting the materials, systematically bind the plant stems to the tree branch, layering them as you go and making sure that the raffia is tied tightly. Once done, consecrate the broom and then sprinkle the sweeps of the broom with water. Go through the house making clockwise motions, sweeping away all negativity. The book goes on to say that when you are finished to raise the broom, vigorously shake it three times and then lay it before the front door for nine minutes. Once done, take the broom apart and bury the materials outside.

How to Make a Broom at Home at The Broommaker's Page
How to make a Cobweb Broom at Friendswood Brooms

Bolline

The bolline is a practical working knife. Wiccan and Witch lore describe it as a white handled knife with a scythe (crescent moon) shaped blade. I usually use just a regular kitchen knife for my bolline, since I have yet to find a blade of that particular shape. The bolline is used for tasks such as harvesting herbs, carving symbols in candles, and any other cutting or carving required in your magical circle. By using a bolline to do the mundane work, you are providing your athame the special significance of being only used for directing energy.

 

Candles

I doubt that I need to describe candles to you, but they are probably the most used Wiccan tool. Keep a good supply in stock of all different colours or make your own. You don't have to use ultra-expensive candles, in fact, any household candle will in fact do but its up to the individual as to whether a "special" looking candle is used.  I usually shy away from the ones with religious symbols on them, but there are quite a few available that are just coloured wax in clear glass. Don't forget to keep the old wax and recycle it by using it to make new candles.

Chalice

The chalice is a cup used in ritual; it can be a very elaborate brass cup with pagan symbols adorning it, or it can be a plain glass goblet or even a coffee mug. It symbolises the water element and of the goddess. Libations are typically offered to the god or goddess from a chalice and it is used to hold the wine (or water) that is taken during the grounding part of the ritual. You may have several chalices on your altar, since you wouldn't want to use the same one for grounding wine and libations for the deity. I also use a chalice to hold salted-water for cleansing at the beginning of the ritual. A chalice can be a substitute for a cauldron or vice-versa.

Cauldron

A cauldrons is traditionally a three-legged cast-iron pot whose opening is smaller than its belly. It is a symbol of the primal goddess and of water; with its round belly the cauldron evokes powerful images of the feminine creative energy and of the maternal energy. The cauldron is also a symbol of magical transformation, as is so vividly portrayed in the story of Cerridwen's cauldron. In ancient times, cauldrons were used in everyday life for cooking and brewing as well as magickal practices, thus it is the perfect symbol for modern kitchen witches. Today cauldrons are used for everything from ritual fires to scrying. Once a cauldron has been filled with liquid, it becomes the perfect place to scry. I sometimes fill my cauldron with earth or use it to hold a candle during ritual, relative to what intent lies behind the ritual. In some fertility rituals, the athame is lowered into the water filled cauldron as a symbol of consummation of the great marriage. You don't have to use a purchased cast iron cauldron to achieve the same effect. Any type of pot or bowl which brings to mind these elements of ritual will work. In fact if you have a favourite bowl or pot that reminds you of your mother or grandmother, that might be the best possible choice. You might also consecrate a potpourri bowl, one that you can leave out on a table without arousing a lot of questions or for that matter without anyone suspecting it is a magical symbol. You can fill it with simmering potpourri which when you smell its aroma filling your space will remind you of your magical side. Use your imagination, because if something spurs your imagination it will aid in your magical practice since the magic is inside of you.

Censure (Incense Burner)

Incense burners come in an infinite number of variations. Choose one that is pleasing to you, because you will most likely use it in ever ritual being that incense is an integral tool of a ritual. You might purchase several different types (e.g., one for stick incense, one for cone incense, and one for holding the charcoals needed for the powder).

Incense

Incense is a symbol of air and comes in many, many scents. The scent that you use should be carefully considered when doing your ritual preparation; Cunningham's book "Magical Herbalism" is an excellent source of information on the correspondence between a scent and its affect on the participants of the ritual. Incense comes in many different forms, the most common is stick, cone, or loose powder. The stick and cone types are usually created so that they will burn on their own (once lit), while the powder incense requires charcoals which you can purchase at your local pagan-friendly shop. If you use the charcoals, make sure that you fill the incense burner with sand to keep the heat from breaking the ceramic of the burner. The smoke rising off of an incense stick or from incense burning on a coal is often used for scrying.

Pentacle

On the altar, a pentacle is a five pointed star (pentagram) inscribed on a circular disk of brass, gold, silver, wood, wax, ceramic, or clay. The points of the star represent the five elements (earth, air, fire, water, and spirit) thereby making it a symbol of the culmination of the five elements. In ritual and on the altar it represents the element of earth and provides a grounding of any stray energy released within the circle.

Outside the circle pentacles are worn by most pagans to symbolise their connection with the earth and their religion. Pagans wear pentacles for the same reason that Christians wear crosses; although I have to admit that (to me personally) crosses are kinda' creepy because they represent the death of the christian god, while (again to me) the pentacle represents the union of all the fractions that make up life, the joining of the five elements to create life.

Robes (Magical Clothing)

If you work "sky-clad" you can skip this section. Otherwise, magical clothing is exactly that, clothing that you wear during ritual, clothing set aside for that reason only, not to be worn in every day use. If you can sew, it is wonderful to create your own, but if you can't then by all means purchase some. I love the big flowing "dracula-like" robes, but magical clothing can be of any type as long as it is used only for magical practices, such as ritual and spell working.

Sword

Some covens use swords along with a athame, but usually one or the other is employed. The sword serves the same purpose as the athame, to direct energy.

Wand

Like the athame, a wand can be used to carve out sacred space or direct energy. The wand is a symbol of the air element and of the masculine (again due to its phallic shape). With wands you have a much greater range in which to be creative since a wand is basically a stick. I found my wand at a women's celebration, it was actually a knotted root laying across the path. With its thirteen knots, nearly evenly spaced, it called out to me as the perfect piece of wood to create a wand. If you want to make your wand, research the type of wood best used for your intent. You can decorate your wand with crystals, stones, leather, feathers, shells, metal or any number of things. Basically you can even leave it unadorned, allowing the beauty of the wood to show itself. You can choose to have multiple wands, made of different types of wood, for different uses. Many ceremonial magicians use a specific wand dedicated for a particular purpose, such as calling or banishing an elemental. Finally if you want to have a little fun during your ritual or if you want to involve your kids in the ritual, you might even use one of those kiddie wands with the glitter inside. Remember the magick is in you; you direct the power with these tools.