The Witches Ritual Tools

In Ritual Magic and in Witchcraft there are many tools that we may employ to aid us in our work and to help us focus. All of them are symbols that we use to tap into our higher self and connect with our magic. They are not magical in and of themselves but they can certainly become imbued with our own magical energies and intent, helping us to work in a magical way and directing our energies accordingly.

When deciding to obtain a magical tool it is important that you choose the piece you are most drawn to. Once that has been done it is important to cleanse and consecrate your tool dedicating it to the service of the Gods. Always remember, however, that it is not absolutely necessary to have any of these items to practice your Craft. What is important is that which is in your heart and mind and you intent. With practice and a great deal of experience one should be able to work without these items bringing in your magic with the power of you mind and intent alone!

Athame

The Athame or Ritual Blade is a common magical tool in many Occult practices. In many traditions the Athame is black handled and often carved with magical symbols. These symbols may vary from tradition to tradition and are used to empower the blade with magical intent. The Athame is used for drawing the magical circle and for the controlling and banishing of spirits.

The Athame is usually associated with the element of Air and with the direction of the East and symbolises the Intellect and the Will. The Athame is the tool that directs the Will in the form of magical energy. It can also be used as the symbol of the phallus when used in conjunction with the chalice (the vagina) to bless the wine in the symbolic enactment of The Great Rite

There are many traditions concerning the Athame and these can differ from witch to witch, coven to coven, depending on which magical path one follows. Many say that the handle should be black and that the edge of the blade should be blunted so that it cannot be used to cut on the physical plane, but only on the magical. Some say that the point of the blade should be snapped off so that it is safe to use in circle around others. Others will not allow the blade to be made of metal, but insist on it being fashioned from a natural material like wood, slate or even antler. They suggest that carrying metal into a circle will interfere with the energies within the sacred space and that the metal is anathema to the Fey Folk. Some traditions say that the magical knife should be used both to cast the circle and to cut in the belief that the knifes power increases with use. Whatever your choice and Path, the Athame is often one of the first of the magical tools that many of us buy, and I believe that it should be one of personal choice. It is important that when you hold this tool in your hands it “feels” right.

Early man created his first blades from copper then later bronze and finally iron. The process was considered a magical one and the maker, the black smith, was honoured as a magical person. Hence knives were seen a magical items from the earliest times. The use of a magical blade is ancient and can be traced back to the Classical world where the magical use of the sword is depicted on art work and pottery from both Greece and Rome . It is perhaps from the sword that the magical knife evolved.

Once you have found your Athame you must remember that it is a magical working tool and should always be used in accordance with your particular tradition. It is for you to use and no other and should be consecrated and dedicated properly before use. No one but yourself should be permitted to hold it or use it as it your own energy that imbues it with your intent and this energy should not be mingled with another. The knife should be kept safe at all times and cleaned from time to time to prevent rust if it is made from a metal. Oiling it with a light oil or beeswax is ideal and will keep the blade protected.

Sword

The Sword is the cousin to the Athame and can be used in much the same way. Many who use a Sword will employ it in the act of casting circle. Not all Witches use a Sword however, but often a coven will have a Sword as part of its magical regalia. It can be employed in acts of oath taking and used as a symbol of justice and judgement.

Wand

The Wand is another common magical tool in many traditions. Some of these traditions say that the Wand should be made of a particular wood but the most common is hazel, ash, rowan and willow. Many people have different wands made from different woods to suit all kinds of magical workings. Wands can also be marked with magical symbols, again depending upon the tradition of the practitioner. Some are tipped with a quartz crystal and others are left bare and natural looking. Again, it is up to the individual to decide what feels right. The practitioner uses their Wand for the channelling of energy and as such the Wand serves a similar purpose to the Athame although the two have their distinct uses. While an Athame is generally used to command, a Wand is seen as more gentle and is used to invite or encourage.

The Wand is usually associated with the element of Fire and with the direction of the South and symbolises the life force within the witch. It is a tool of invocation of spirits, and can also be used as the tool that directs and delivers the magical energy from the practitioner to the spell or magical working.

Much care should be taken when cutting you own Wand. Usually, you should spend some time thinking about the wood you would like to use for your Wand. Then you have to select your tree. Over a period of time, from spring when the sap is rising, until the Summer Solstice, you should spend time with your selected tree. Maybe picnic under its branches, meditate sat beneath it, or simply “be” with it. This helps it to begin to absorb your energy. Near the Solstice, select your branch and tie a coloured ribbon around it so you will recognise it. At dawn of the Summer Solstice, just as the sun rises, take a sharp knife, hold it to the branch and ask the trees permission to cut, explaining why you are doing what you do. When you feel permission has been given, cut with one fluid, clean cut. Thank the tree and leave a small offering at its roots. The branch should be left standing upright by your alter until it has dried out. Then it may be cut to size. Some say that a wands length should be from the crook of your elbow to the tips of your fingers. If you cannot wait until the Summer Solstice then you can also cut your wand when the moon is waxing or full.

Like the Athame, the history of the Wand is long and dates back to mans earliest magical endeavours. Magical Wands and the staff, the Wands cousin, are mentioned in the Bible and indeed the caduceus carried by the Greek God Hermes is a Wand encircled by snakes. Many of the Bibles leading character carry staffs and use them in a magical way – Moses parts the red sea by raising his. Wands and staffs have been carried by the Egyptian Kings and Queens as marks of office and status.

Once your Wand has found its way to you it should be consecrated and kept separate from the mundane world. Like the Athame, and indeed any magical tool, no one but you should handle it. Remember to oil it once in awhile – linseed oil is ideal. This will keep your wand clean and in good condition.

Pentagram

This is an important Altar piece and can be made from copper, silver, wood, earthenware – in fact any natural material. Some are inscribed with craft symbols, others left relatively plain. The Pentacle is usually associated with the female energy and the element of Earth. It is used to ground energy, as a base upon which you can bless and consecrate your other ritual tool and it can also be used to serve the ritual food shared by a coven at the end of a working session, most typically the blessed cake or bread.

As a five pointed star, the Pentacle has many meanings. It has become an important Pagan symbol, worn by many as a cross is worn by Christians. Within the five points are represented all the Elements of Witchcraft, Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit, sometimes contained within a circle.

Pentagrams are also used when calling the Elements at the four quarters. The ways of drawing the pentagram in the air at each quarter are varied according to purpose; for example and invoking pentagram is different from a banishing one and each elemental pentagram also has its own precise way of being drawn. Within magic and Witchcraft this symbol is seen as a positive force and is used to control the Elements.

Chalice

The Chalice is of the Element of Water, its gender is Feminine and its direction is the West amd as such it is linked with feeling and emotion. There are many types of Chalice ranging from the elaborate to the very simple, from ornate silver to simple turned wood. As with any magical tool the choice is yours – although there is a school of thought that says you should not buy your own Chalice but be given one as a gift.

The function of the Chalice is primarily to hold the ritual wine. Once the wine has been blessed it is shared around the Coven female to male and passed with a kiss. This is part of the grounding ritual after any magical work and would be accompanied by the sharing of blessed cake and is known as the Cake and Wine Ceremony. The Chalice should be topped up and never allowed to run dry. At the end the last of the wine and cake is left outside as a libation of thanks.

The Chalice also represents the female Divine within the symbolic Great Rite. The great Rite is the sexual union between Man and Woman, and can be symbolised using the Chalice (female) and Athame (male). The Priest takes the Athame and the Priestess takes the Chalice filled with the blessed wine. The priest plunges the Athame into the Chalice. The Great Rite symbolises creation in the union of Goddess and God, man and woman and is thus a Rite of Fertility. This Rite can take place whenever it is felt needed, but more especially it is a Rite of Beltane

Cauldron

This is perhaps one of my personal favourites. Like the Chalice the Cauldron is Female, West and Water and is to do with emotions. However, it can be argued that the cauldron can represent all the elements - fire with which to heat its contents, air to fan the fire, water within it and the earth represented by the herbs etc used in mixing the potions. Its shape, the pot belly, represents the fullness of the Mother Goddess and the three legs represent the three phases of the Goddess, of Woman, of the Moon and to three as a magical number – that which was, is and will be. The cauldron is also a symbol of transformation, enlightenment and wisdom.

It is a representation of the Goddess and the feminine. Cerridwen is a Goddess with whom the cauldron is inextricably linked. She is a Goddess that represents all aspects of Womanhood – Maiden, Mother and Crone, and she is an important Deity when working Initiatory and Mystery Rites. It is within her Cauldron that she brewed a potion from many ingredients with which to transform her dower and ugly son. The potion was to brew for a year and a day and was tended by an old blind man and a young boy, Gwion. Towards the end of this time three drops flew from the cauldron and landed on Gwions finger. He put his finger to his mouth to sooth the burning and immediately took in the potions power, causing what was left to turn to poison and the great Cauldron to crack. The potion bestowed great powers on Gwion and he used these to shape shift into different animals to avoid capture by Cerridwen who was furious with him. Eventually he turned himself into a grain of wheat, and Cerridwen, in the guise of a hen, devoured him. Nine months later she gave birth to a baby boy whom she abandoned. After many adventures this boy became the great bard Taliesin. Indeed, there are many legends associated with the Cauldron, many to do with the idea of transformation.

I think that the Cauldron is sadly overlooked today and is mainly used as a decorative item and for its symbolical reference only. It still has a wonderful magical roll to play and it is a tool that I use often. It is the perfect item within which you can place a spell for its allotted time. By placing your spell inside the cauldron and closing the lid firmly on it you are leaving it to “cook” and by doing so allowing the spell to “transform” into your desired outcome. A Cauldron is also a good scrying tool. Simply fill with spring water and stand it under a full moon, un-focus your eyes and gaze into it much the same as you would a Dark Mirror or Crystal Ball. I have a friend who keeps a Cauldron purely for her magical cooking using it to mix her Sabbat cake mixture in and other ceremonial goodies. This versatile magical tool is also ideal for your need fire if working indoors. Simply put a few twigs in it and burn, taking care that the cauldron is set firmly on a flat safe surface. Placing a candle in it is just as good and is in fact ideal for candle magic ceremonies especially if you have wishes etc to burn in the flame. Simply touch the paper to the flame and let drop into the Cauldron where it can burn out safely. When the ashes have cooled take outside and scatter to the four winds, releasing the spell.

Take care to keep your Cauldron clean and dry – especially if it a traditional cast iron one as these will rust. I clean mine and dry it on a low heat in the oven!

Stang

The Stang is an old piece of kit that is quite popular here in the West Country. It is usually (but not always) a piece if sturdy ash roughly 6 foot long, which forks into two at the top end. The Stang is usually representative of the Horned One and its purposes are many. It can be placed outside the Magic Circle in the Northern Quarter where it acts as a guardian and as a focal point for the God. It can also be used as an Altar and in this capacity the Stang can be dressed appropriately for the ritual. The Stang is also dressed for each of the 8 Sabbats. At these times it is dressed with the particular Sabbat in mind and is used as a focus for the celebrations. Often the libations of food and wine are left at the foot of the Stang with the wine being poured down the shaft of the Stang. The Stang can also represent the Goddess, God (the two forks) and mankind (the shaft). Another representation can be the fork as the vagina and the shaft as the penis, and as such the Stang is representative of the Great Rite, the sacred union of God and Goddess, man and woman. It can also be used as a staff and a wand. So its uses are varied, but within these variations we have an alternative to each of the usual ritual tools and a representative of the four elements. It can replace the Athame and Chalice in the Great Rite (air and water), it can be used as a wand (fire) and it is trust into the ground (earth). So, one tool does all and a useful bit of kit!

The Stang can be kept plain until it is dressed for ritual or is often decorated with symbols personal to the user or group. My own Stang has a crow’s skull on the shaft, crows feathers tied to it and the forks are tipped with small roe deer antlers. As is common, there are also crossed arrows on the shaft to represent the compass; mine are set in copper. There are many traditions that also say the Stang should be shod in iron by fixing an iron nail in the bottom of it. The theory behind this come from the old superstition that power cannot cross iron, so by shodding the Stang in this way the power within it cannot run into the earth, but remains in the body of the Stang making it a highly charged magical tool.

The ash tree is the most commonly used as it is often seen as the World Tree which has its roots in the Underworld, its branches in the Upper and the trunk connecting the two via the Middle World. Thus it connects all three and works with all energies. The name Stang comes from the Old Norse word “stong” and the Middle English “stange” meaning “pole”.

Censor

The censor or Incense burner is used to burn loose incense upon with the use of a charcoal block. Incense is important to rituals because it helps to create and atmosphere conducive to the ritual being performed. Incense itself can be made with a magical intent and by burning it in a sacred way one is releasing that intent to the Universe.

Book of Shadows

There is no one Book of Shadows but many. This Book is an important tool for the Witch and it is used so that he/she can keep a record of all that they do. It contains all that is important to the person writing it and no two will be exactly the same. It is a record of ritual, spells, magical lore, dreams, omens, anything in fact that the owner deems should be recorded within its pages. It becomes a Magical Journal in effect, of all that a Witch does; a dairy of their journey along their Path and a record for future reference. Some Covens will have a Coven Book of Shadows from which new Witches will copy from into their own Book, but then the rest is up to them to add as they progress and the Book will grow as they do. As the years go by it is interesting to look back at ones Book of Shadows to see how much one has changed along the way and how your magic has developed

Ritual of Consecration

This is an adaptation of a Consecrating Ritual passed down to me by my Teacher, Victa Corvo. It is very simple.

Cast your circle in the usual way, having placed the item/s you wish to consecrate on your Altar. Make sure you have incense topped up and your salt water to hand. When ready lay the item to be consecrated on to your Pentacle and hold your right hand over it and say:

“Lord and Lady, deign to bless and to consecrate this (………) that it may obtain the necessary virtue through you for all acts of love and beauty.”  

Sprinkle the object with the salt water and pass it through the smoke of the incense and say:

“Lord and Lady, bless this instrument prepared in your honour.”  

Then take the object around the circle stopping at each quarter and ask the Elementals to also bestow their blessings upon it. Place back on the Altar when done.

The ritual of consecrating a Sword or Athame is a little different. Place the Athame/Sword over the Pentacle and sprinkle with salt water and pass through the incense. Place it back on the pentacle and place your right hand on it , pressing down firmly, and say:

“I conjure thee, O Athame/Sword, by the names of the most powerful God and Goddess, that thou servest me for a strength and defence in all magical operations against all mine enemies, visible and invisible. I conjure thee anew by the Holy names of my Lord and my Lady; I conjure thee O Athame/Sword that thou servest me for a protection in all adversities, so aid me know!”  

Sprinkle with the slat water and pass through the incense again and say:

“I conjure thee O Athame/Sword of steel, by the Great God and Gentle Goddess, by virtue of the Heavens, of the stars and of the Spirits who preside over them, that thou mayest receive such virtue that I may obtain the end that I desire in all things, wherein I shall use thee by the power of the God and Goddess.”  

Take the item around the circle and stop at each on the quarters asking the Elementals to bless the tool also.

These small rituals are traditional and the words are quite old fashioned. You can follow the same principals and change the words for those of your own; it will not change the energy at all.