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Tools of The Craft
Alter ~ Athame
~ Incense ~ Candles
~ Bell ~ Figurines
~ Chalice ~ Two
Bowls
Broom ~ Wand
~ Pentacle ~ Robes
~ Censer ~ Charcoal
~ Cauldron ~ Sword
The use of tools in ritual and magic has been documented
since the ice age.
Neopagans, ceremonial magicians, and even Christians still use
various tools in
ritual today. In these pages, we will discuss commonly used tools
in Wicca and
what they symbolize.
Tools are an important part of any religion or magickal
practice. It is
often thought that religion inspires art, and tools are an art
form in their
own right. The tools of religion inspire us and help us channel
the energies
raised in ritual.
First, I want to mention a few things. Tools are
nice to have, however, don't run
out and buy a cauldron because you need one to work magic or use
in ritual. If you
don't want to work with a tool, or can't find/afford/make it,
don't worry. The
power is inside you. Tools just help to focus and store energy.
Also, feel free to add
or create tools that work for you if the traditional set leave
a gap.
When collecting tools, consider a few things. It
is always best to try to make or
customize a purchased tool yourself. No one expects you to forge
a knife blade, but
why not inscribe in the blade with an engraver or acid? Tools
that are handmade or
customized have part of your energy stored in them from the creation
process, and
make them "in tune" to you. Most Wiccans prefer natural
materials like clay and
wood and natural cloths.
You can buy tools from mail order, thrift shops,
and anyplace else you can think
of. When buying a tool, please wait until you feel you have found
"the one"; just
don't grab the first thing you see because you "need it".
Look around your house! A
cooking pot is a great cauldron; if you notice most of the tools
are household
objects, helpful when trying to hide them during the burning times!
One more point,
just because some of the below descriptions state certain specifications
doesn't
mean your tool can't be different.
A magickal or ritual tool is any item that has been
cleansed, consecrated
and empowered for ritual purposes. At first, tools were simple,
natural
items that were used by primitive wo/man to provide a sense of
identity
and connection with unseen spirits. Often, these objects were
small fetishes
or totems, and were usually made of materials associated with
the spirit(s)
with which they wished to commune. As the concept of priesthood
solidified, tools became highly specialized. These tools were
elaborate
works of beauty and power which were often passed down through
the
ages. Ritual tools are found in almost all religions and magickal
practices.
They range in size from small hand held items and pieces of jewelry,
to
immovable objects such as idols and stone megaliths. Although
the
appearances of tools may differ culturally, their functions are
basically the
same. As the student examines the tools of several different cultures,
they
will notice that these ritual items are each associated with the
different
elements.
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