Tools In Traditional Witchcraft

Author: Pagan Sanctuary

What is left on the altar or used by the practitioner are tools. These
Can be anything such as candles, incense, oils, poppets, an athame,
Cords, herbs, chalice, bowls water salt, crystals, glyph, runes --
Indeed anything that the practitioner can use to aid in focusing on
His/her purpose -- along with the items that are needed to complete
The spell. Remember that part of the ability to create a desired
Manifestation is that you need to be able to visualize the completion
Of the spell.

When one uses the tools they are creating not only a visual and
Psychological link of the caster to the energy, but a tool also acts
As a means of directing more energy into the spell, without draining
The caster. This energy, along with the ritual that binds the energy
Into a spell, is what is known as Magick and this is what creates the
Desired manifestation.

The very essence of magick is difficult to explain in one single
Article, essay or even book. We, the practitioners of magick, may have
Problems explaining it in simple terms but we not only know that there
Is such a thing as magick but we know we can control and use that
Energy that makes up what magick is.

Casters do this through various means: mental control, use of oral
Recitation and music to create vibrations and resonances that mirror
Or mimic the energy that makes up Magick, the use of various
Artifacts, to the use of hand gestures, and finally, tools.

These use of tools along with other means as stated earlier, all act
Upon the Subconscious Mind to aid the practitioner in achieving the
Alpha State and forcing our will upon the energy that we are tapping into.

Some people, especially the `Playgans', will try and tell people that
The bigger and more expensive the tool is the more power that tool
Has. Thus a wand that you buy from their shop for fifty dollars is
More powerful than any that you make. This is not only wrong but is
Actually a means of defrauding you, the buyer.

In Traditional Witchcraft the practitioner should make as many of
His/her tools as possible. Your wand, staff, incense and other tools
Are better and more powerful if you make them since it is your energy
That you are putting into them as you transform them from a generic
Item to a mystical tool. Your tools will become a part of you, so if
You can make them, do so.

The more you work at creating the tool, the more that tool becomes an
Extension of your will and spirit.

As stated earlier, it is not a sign of success for you to have the
Most expensive and exquisite of tools for a spell to work. The true
Means of insuring success is belief, the emotion you put into the
Spell and the discipline that you show. You cannot play at being a
Witch. If you feel that you cannot dedicate your life to the religion
Then you should look elsewhere. This religion is not for the faint of
Heart.

Knowing that your tools are a representation of and an extension of
Your will you now need to know what tools are as a means of storing
Energy.

All tools, regardless of what they are, have been created as a means
Of not only storing energy but many are also used for a set purpose
And as such may be a one time thing, such as a candle, poppet or even
Incense.

So you should know that tools are either constantly used or for one
Use. Some are used over and over again, not for just healing or
Baneful acts, but more as a storehouse of the energy that you put into
The tool. Other tools will be used once per spell and then will be
Destroyed in the process of the spell casting, I.e. Candles, incense,
Parchment, or as part of the spell, bottle, poppet, foo powder and
Coffins.

All tools act as set reminder of your ability to cast spells and as a
Means of massing energy into the spell.

The tools have inherent powers -- such as certain potions, herbs and
Oils, which have the energy of the herb -- and the combining of two or
More tools together may create a third. But tools also act as a
Storehouse for the energy that you are generating and as a means of
Projecting the energy outwards to create the desired manifestation.

Tools act on the mental preparation of the caster, as through the use
Of the tools, you are then forcing the Subconscious mind forward to
Reach and maintain the Alpha State that is required to cast a spell
Effectively.

The energy pf the tool and the frequency of that energy combine with
That of the caster to increase the power of the spell. Thus a simple
Spell that has only a few simple tools does not have as much energy
generated and maintained than say when the High Priest and High
Priestess cast the Cone Of Power. All others pale by comparison.

You have a simple spell being like a bullet whereas a spell that is
done with Power Words and as High Magick is likened to a missile. Both
will hit a target but what one is more powerful then the other?

Tools are both a visual and auditory aid along with a manual aid that
all act to help in achieve the Alpha State. Tools are the Magickal
implements that are the extension and the expression of the will of
the caster.

Anytime that a spell is done it is best to gather as many symbols,
tools, artifacts, and any other items that will act as a physical
links to the spell and thus will enhance energy.

These items and symbols of your desire can take the form of physical
items: various colors, statues or artifacts, incense, pictures, herbs,
crystals and stones, or items linked to a person.

Here are some of the basic tools used in witchcraft:

Altar
POWER: Fixed

Representation of the Void; used for workplace and as a link to the
God/dess becomes the focal point of the energy.

Candles
POWER: Non-fixed

These are tools that are a one-time use. They can be used for all
types of spell work and represent the Fire Elemental.

Cords
POWER: Both

Cords can be used as a single or repetitive use. Single use such as
binding and curses where they are destroyed in a means according to
the spell. Also they can be reused such as for healing, marriage, and
as a means of measuring.

MEASURING- or taking ones measure is used in Traditional Witchcraft
covens. This is a way of ensuring the oath that one attests to. The
Measure is meant as a physical representation of the severity of the
Oath to the Five Laws of the Magi. The reason for this as a symbol is
the fact that during the Spanish Inquisition those who were
practitioners of the Craft and those that were Cowens would be tied or
chained and dragged to their deaths.

In the Neo-pagan groups, these Measures are returned as a sign of
trust and many do not even do the Measures Ritual.

Incense
POWER: Non-fixed

This represents the Elemental of Air and as such is a single use tool.
This can be used to heighten psi abilities, for purification, for
protection. The incense can be used for baneful and beneficial spell
work, depending on the desire of the caster and the herbs that are used.

You need to remember that some herbs must be cautiously used due to
the fact that certain herbs act upon the human body in various ways.
They can be hallucinogenic, a nervine, a sedative or even very vile
smelling and/or lethal if inhaled.

Cauldron
POWER: Fixed

Representation of the Water elemental and as such is used in a
majority of rituals. The cauldron can be used for creation of herbal
remedies, oils, potions and poisons, and can be used for the cooking
of feasts dedicated to the God/dess.

If you are using one to create herbal remedies that one should be used
only for that. These are made out of iron and can have a lid. Their
size can vary.

If you desire one, you can go to a cooking section in a large store or
warehouse and buy what they call a Dutch oven, which is nothing more
then a cauldron with a lid.

Personally I have a total of four of these tools. One is used solely
for lighting the Beltane Fire and the rest of them are used for
cooking or brewing.

Wand
POWER: Fixed

This is a representation of the God. It is in essence the phallus of
the God. The wand, athame, sword and staff are all reminders and
representations of the God. This is also the symbol of the Strength
Within The Male Polarity.

Athame
POWER: Fixed

This is a representation of the God. The wand, athame, sword and staff
are all reminders and representation of the God.

Sword
POWER: Fixed

This is a representation of the God. The wand, athame, sword and staff
are all reminders and representation of the God. This is also the
symbol of the Strength Within The Male Polarity.

Knife
POWER: Fixed

This is a representation of the God.

Staff
POWER: Fixed

This is a representation of the God.

Chalice/cup
POWER: Fixed

This is the physical representation of The Goddess and the Womb held
within. Through Her comes the Water of Life and we can honor Her
through the use of this tool. The Cup/Chalice is the symbol of the
Water Elemental.

Bowl
POWER: Fixed

This is the symbol of the Water Elemental and is used not only in the
honoring The God/dess but also in various rites and rituals. The bowl
is used to hold liquids, offerings, and ashes.

Incense burner
POWER: Fixed

This is the physical representation of the Air Elemental. This is
solely used to burn incense.

Herbs
POWER: Special

These are used in both rituals for spell work and for healing. Their
powers and abilities come from the Earth and as such are the physical
representations of the Earth Elemental.

Stones/Crystals
POWERS: Special

These are the physical representation of the Earth Elemental and gain
their powers through the frequency of the energy that they give off.

Crystals that are straight and have a dual point are the
representation of the God whereas those that have a cluster are the
aspect of the bounty and fertility of the Goddess.

The energy retained within the stones or crystals are excellent
mediums for storing energy, as through their own physical property
they are a natural generator of energy.

Pentagram/pentacle
POWERS: Fixed and Special

The Pentagram is the physical representation of the Goddess, not so
much like what the neopagans say, but due to the fact that this is the
representation of Her Power on Earth. The Planet Sacred to the Goddess
is the Planet that bears Her name, Venus. Venus once every 4 years
will create a sign of Her Presence by forming a Perfect Pentagram in
the heavens.

The Ancient Greeks saw this and understood this and had set up the
Olympic Games so that they would fall upon the end of Her Cycle. This
is known as the Cyclonic Movement.

Each of the Points represents the Five Elementals, The Five Laws of
the Magi and the power of PHI.

Either worn or on a disk or drawn upon the ground, this is the Sacred
Link to the Practitioner and the Goddess and a constant reminder that
She is Ever Present.

Ring/Talismans
POWER: Special and Fixed

The use of rings and other forms of talismans are used by the
practitioner to store energy into and then through the use of an
incantation or rite they can draw the energy out of the tool.

The talismans/rings can also be empowered to act as a means of
physical protection. The talismans and rings can be made of any
natural occurring material. (NO MAN MADE MATERIALS CAN BE USED)

The designs of these can be varied according to the maker's desires
and what they are being used for. They can be engraved with script,
runes or symbols, again depending upon the makers' desires and what
the item will be used for. When the Witch makes his/her own tools
he/she is enduing these items with his/her own spirit and these can be
as plain or artistically designed as the person wants. The only
limitation is that the maker of the tool and the witch focus upon the
desire of what the tool will be used for.

Ale/wine/mead
POWER: Special

The use of alcohol in Pagan Religions dates back to the earliest of
religions. This is offered to the God and Goddess. Once empowered all
members of the Coven drink of this.

The most famous of the Pagan Cults that used alcohol well before the
Christians were the followers of Bacchus/Diansis. The Christians had
taken this idea of the use of alcohol to convert those who followed
the ancient religions.

Sacrifice
POWER: Special

The very word Sacrifice comes from the ancient Latin word meaning `to
make sacred'. Since the God and Goddess would have to sacrifice of
themselves to give aid to their followers, They had also demanded
sacrifices from Their followers. Blood sacrifices were also demanded,
but not as many of the neopagans and Christians think. Many of the
ancient religions did not sacrifice humans but did spill the blood of
the sacred animals. Later this animal would be cooked and consumed by
the followers. The consumption of the meat brought the spirit of the
God and Goddess closer to Their followers.