The Athame, wand, staff, chalice, cauldron, censor. And on and on and on. The tools of the trade. The things you just HAVE to have to work Magick. Or do you? Well..... no. But then again perhaps yes. Now before you decide I've been hitting the Mishma smoke again, let me explain.

First and foremost, all magick comes from within you. It is the product of your will and consciousness acting upon events and affecting the outcomes. Magick is the power of the earth, of the universe itself, channeled through you, shaped by the force of your visualization, blessed by the deities, and released back into the universe. The only tool you require to work magick is yourself. The witches of ages past couldn't and didn't go out and spend a couple thousand dollars on an athame that glows in the dark, or some fancily carved wand adorned with precious gems. You don't have to either.

It might be a hard task to convince some pagans, but the one with the biggest staff isn't the one that makes the biggest magick. I've seen too many aspiring witches waving around 400 dollar swords and grinding herbs in a silver plated mortar and pestle, and thinking they were working powerful mojo. Mostly they were just being annoying. Ceremonial magick and all its trappings has its place and its followers. But the magick doesn't come because of the tools. It comes from you.

That said, tools CAN be helpful. Many practitioners are only able to shift into the proper frame of consciousness needed to work effective magick by donning their ceremonial robes(or doffing their clothes to go skyclad, as the case may be). Dressing (or undressing) for a ritual occassion is like stepping into that other self. You know-the witch within as opposed to the everyday self. Of course, many experienced witches feel no need for such a physical transformation. With practice, they have learned to make the shift in thinking with ease. And even those that don't NEED to dress for ritual to get the magick right often enjoy doing so anyway. As in all things Pagan, what feels and works for you is what you should do.

In the same vein, the only tool needed to focus your energies is your mind. The athame, the wand, or the staff are merely a prop to help you to focus that energy if you need them. Personally, I find the feel of my athame in my hand during ritual comforting, like holding the hand of an old friend that's been through so much with me. When you use your tools during magick workings and rituals, they become imbued with your power and essence, making them an extension of yourself. You might not NEED to use your sword to cut a doorway, but often it just feels right doing so.

Aromatherapy is becoming the new age rage these days. But the effect aromas can have on you is something those that work magick have known for a very long time. Even the Catholic church uses incense in its masses. Lighting incense helps you set the mood, and put you in a proper frame of mind. And increasingly, even the stubborn minds of science are forced to acknowledge the very real effect certain aromas have on the human psyche. Using incense, scented candles and warmed essential oils can be extremely helpful in helping you create the strong visualization needed to work effective magick.

Though the tools of magick are numerous and varied, it is the wielder that makes them work. Use what tools you feel you want and need, but never forget that the magick comes from within you, not from them. Your tools can be as simple or elaborate as you choose, as long as they feel right in your hand and are truly a help and not a hindrance. In short, you are an artist, with magick as your craft. Create from within yourself, and make use if needed of whatever tools you need to make something truly magickal.

Niamh Mahal
January, 2002