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All
About Tools |
As stated in the altar and sacred
space section, we tend to put a lot of emphasis on tools. While tools
help direct energy to use in a ritual, the energy comes not from the tool,
but from within one's own body. To me, tools work as a mental trigger.
If I feel I need a certain color candle, then I won't be in the "right"
state of mind without it. It's like how a child can't sleep until s/he
gets a last juice before going to bed. Tools are part of the ritual to
satisfy ourselves. By using tools, we set our minds into the right personal
state of mind to get the job done. You can work just as easily without
these tools, but if you're going to have them, you should at least have
the right associations to go with them (though I think the associations
aren't ultimately static). With this stated, we will now continue to tools,
their meanings, and how to obtain them.
Pentacle: The Pentacle is a flat disc upon which a pentagram (5-pointed star) is inscribed, along with any other symbols particular to a certain tradition. The pentacle represents the element of Earth, the Northern Quarter, and the Archangel Uriel (or Ariel). Items are placed upon a pentacle to be charged and consecrated. You can buy pentacles made of porcelain to use as trivets (heat-proof tiles), metal pentacles (Though many Wiccans choose to keep as much metal out of their circles as possible...there is scientific proof that the energy you draw is electromagnetic based, and metal can throw that energy off.), or even simple wooden pentacles with the pentagam engraved. Also, if you so choose, I have seen altar cloths sold with a pentacle printed directly on the cloth so you don't need a separate disc. I prefer the separate disc because when I consecrate salt to mix with the water, I pick up the disc to get as much into the chalice as possible without spills.
Obtaining a pentacle can be difficult if you're on a tight budget. If you have access to an occult shop, they may sell plain wooden ones that you can paint. Otherwise, they can be upwards of $60 if you're not careful! While having a pentacle trivet is a good thing, it's not always necessary for the pentacle to be elaborate. My first pentacle was a paper plate that I cut the rim off of, drew in the symbols I planned to use, and consecrated carefully. To me, it was appropriate because it was paper, from trees, and trees are from the Earth. Simple, useful, and could be disposed of and remade if it became smeared. I also cross-stitched a pentacle and I plan to get it "framed" in a circular frame. It will be delicate, but useful. Afterwards, it can be used as a nice wall hanging! Crafts from PAN has some really great cross-stitching patterns and kits for those who would like to go that route.
Wand: Many traditions choose the Wand as representing the South and Fire, but I use it to represent Air and the East, so I'm placing it in this position. The Archangel of the East is Raphael. The wand is perhaps the most important tool a Wiccan can have. It can replace the athame and the sword quite easily. I use my wand to cast the circle, direct my energy into items that I consecrate, invoke the Quarters, and many other actions. My wand is so important to me that I hardly ever allow anyone else to touch it!
You can buy wands with crystals and other semi-precious items on it, if you wish. These, too, can become expensive. Some places will sell particular wands for different elements or different purposes (such as "Love Wands" and "Psychic Ability-Invoking Wands") but whatever you use it for works as well.
You can make a wand by gluing stones to a dowel rod, branch, or piece of driftwood that is about 6"-12" long and about the width of your finger. You can add beads, feathers, ribbons, or whatever you feel works well with you. Be creative as you want! If you take a branch from a living tree, be sure to thank the tree for giving you a piece of itself for your wand. However, I think driftwood works best for wands. It's been toughened by the salt water and you don't have to cut a part of a tree for it. Check How to Make a Basic Wand for further instructions.
My own wand is made from two raven feathers I found on the same day. They matched up in length, back-to-back, so I sewed them together. Later, I superglued small polished stones in the order of the chakras along the length of the feather. At the base, or quill, part of the feather, I bound it with suede lanyard lacing and then hung from the lacings some hematite and mother of pearl beads and two moon-shaped agate charms. It works for me because it's from Raven feathers which symbolize everything the Air element could ever mean to me.
Athame and Sword: To me, the blades represent Fire and the South. The Archangel is Michael. The first thing to know about the blades is that they are NEVER used for cutting! Like the wand, they are used for directing energy. The sword is generally used for casting the circle and in handfasting rituals (Jumping the Sword and Broom) and the athame is used for consecrating items and invoking the quarters. Most people keep their blades dull to avoid the "random impaling" of a participant in a rite. Swords tend to be far too expensive for a college student, but an athame can be $6 or less for the most simplistic item. You can get an athame with a wooden handle so you can carve in magickal symbols or paint it (most athames have black handles).
The blades are probably the only items that you'll have to buy for the sole purpose of ritual and can be hard to find (though appropriate daggers can be found at Renaissance Festivals). I only recently obtained a blade, but it was given as a gift. But they are not usually necessary to have as a Wiccan, depending on which tradition you wish to follow. Alexandrian Covens may require them, for example, but as solitaries on a college campus, they are not needed. The other problem with having a blade is that state laws may require it to be within a certain size. Anything above that size would be illegal if you decided to bring it with you to do an outdoor ritual. Check your state's regulations on blades. You may also have to be 18 or older to purchase a blade.
My suggestion on having a blade in college is this: Don't worry about it! Swords will take up too much room in your dorm and athames may be considered illegal as a dangerous weapon. Save up and if you STILL want one, celebrate your graduation by purchasing one to reward yourself!
Chalice and Cauldron: The Chalice and Cauldron both represent the West, the element Water, and the Archangel Gabriel. The Chalice, or Cup, is what you would use for the Simple Feast. The Cauldron may be used to hold Holy Water or even charcoal cylinders to burn incense. In turn, many Wiccans also keep a separate bowl for the Holy Water and use the Cauldron as an incense burner or for other elements.
The Chalice is pretty easy to obtain. I use a large $5 wine glass. I almost bought one from the Art School's sale when they were selling student's glass and pottery work, but I didn't have the money. In short, any interesting cup to hold your wine (I use grape juice, though. No sense in being drunk and trying to close a circle!!) works really well. If you have access to an art class, you can try to make your own.
A water bowl or Cauldron can also be anything that works for you. If you want to use a cauldron for incense, though, I suggest you get a cast-iron cauldron with a lid. They shouldn't be too hard to find at occult shops, but you can never tell. When I wish to burn a small piece of paper for a spell, I will simply light the paper and drop it into a votive candle holder that I'm not using. Keep an eye on things that you are burning in that way! You don't want a glass holder to crack and leave shards all over your floor! If you choose to use a separate water bowl, anything simple will work. I use a large flower vase that I got when I received a dozen roses for my birthday. It's pretty and it's simple. You can probably purchase a flower vase like that on its own from a florist or a floral department at a grocery store. Make sure you have enough room to put your arm into it, though! As a water bowl, it is used to cast water to cleanse your circle.
Broom: The Broom, or Besom, is used to symbolically sweep all negative energy from the area where you will cast your circle before you begin your ritual. This can be a regular broom, and you can use it to sweep your room, or you can get something and decorate it for the sole purpose of cleansing. If you want something special, I have seen cinnamon brooms on sale at drug stores for about $5 around the Winter Holidays. You can decorate it with ribbons or anything that you think will have meaning to you. A special broom for the sole purpose of ritual work is also not necessary in college, as it just takes up space. If you choose to use a regular broom and also use it for cleaning your dorm, make sure you purify it before using it in ritual.
Other Items: Other items include Incense, Candles and candle holders, and whatever else you choose to use. Basically, use what you can get for cheap. I use votive candles ($8.99/dozen) for the corners and spell candles. Votive candle holders go for about $2-$3. Tapers can be used for the God and Goddess candles and a basic altar candle from which you light everything else. I use red, yellow, or gold candles for the God candle and white, silver, or light blue for the Goddess candle. For the altar candle, I use whatever fits the mood. This will often be a blue or purple candle...something that represents the spirit to me. The cost of taper holders can vary. Mine are simple and I bought them on sale. Brass ones can be expensive, but they may also last you for a long time if your tastes don't change like mine.
Lighting other candles from the altar taper can be a pain, so I have a box of white birthday candles to use as go-betweens. I also have a candle snuffer (mine cost about $3) because many people think that blowing out candles is blasphemy. I don't really worry about it, but having the snuffer adds a nice touch. You can even get them with the wicks in the handle to light the candles. These are a little more expensive, but you may find them worth it.
For incense, I simply use joss sticks and one of those plain, long joss stick holders. You can get the holders with designs or little statues that hold the incense, but they can also get to be expensive if you're not careful. I do have a cauldron and occasionally burn incense in there on charcoal cylinders. You may have ot shop on-line or go to an occult store to find some of these, though. Joss sticks are simply easier to find.
If you want to grow your own herbs, you can get one of those small window garden boxes. I bought one that had three different types of basil for about $14. You can always buy seeds for different herbs. Just make sure you don't over-plant or plant seeds that will grow too big for your box!
I also bought a mortar and pestle so I can grind my herbs. I found mine in an occult-type store (though it's more New Age), but you can also get them in a housewares store. You may also find simple trivets at such a store.
Candle stores also sell essential oils and candle-making kits if that interests you at all. Essential oils may be used for anything from blessing yourself to dressing a candle for spell work. They're also nice for aromatherapy and for scenting candles if you want to purchase kits.
I hope these suggestions are helpful in keeping the costs of your items down! Good luck on finding what you need!
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WICCA INFORMATION
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Pagans tend to be crafty people (no pun intended!) and I really think making your owntools makes them that much more personal and powerful. Check out these books for further ideas:
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