The Athame is a black-handled dull-bladed knife that is used by the Witch for symbolic cutting and for the directing of energy. When a ritual circle is created, the athame is used to focus where the boundaries of the circle will be, as well as to "cut" an opening in the circle if any particpant finds that they need to leave or if a latecomer needs to be admitted (though not all circles will allow this -- in some groups, if you are late, you are out of luck). The Athame should NEVER be used for cutting anything physical. The Athame represents the element of fire and of the male aspect of Divinity.
An adjunct to the Athame is the Boline, a white-handled, curved-bladed knife that looks something like a small sicle. This knife is traditionally made of a non-iron containing metal, such as copper, and is used only to harvest and cut herbs for ritual use.
Broom. What would a Witch be without her broom, right? While we don't actually FLY on brooms, they are a tool used to help cleanse and purify an area of any negative energy (as well as any dust or dirt on the floor). This is done to help prepare sacred space where a circle is to be called. Brooms can also be used to help mark a boundary (for example, each witch in a circle can lay his or her broom on the floor behind them to create a visible image of where the circle's boundary is.
Candles are among the most popular of a Witches tools, and while hand-made candles are certainly nice, ANY candle will work. Until you focus your own energy into a candle, it's just wax. Once you've done that, it's a magickal tool. Candles also represent the element of fire and the male aspect of divinity.
Candles are used for both magickal purposes and for simple lighting. In addition, typically, a candle of the appropriate colour is put at the appropriate direction for each element when casting a circle.
Candles used for magickal purposes are ones that have had energy focused into them, and are usually inscribed with symbols that go along with the purpose of the spell being cast. Candle spells can be used for just about any purpose, and are among the easiest of magicks to learn.
Cauldrons also function as multi-purpose tools. Often they hold water for the ritual or serve solely as the representative of the element of water and the feminine aspect of divinity. Other times, they can be used as a place to put a burning piece of paper (if you are doing a spell that calls for such) or they can be filled part-way with sand and used to burn incense. Only cast iron cauldrons should be used as any kind of fire holder - other materials might melt.
Cauldrons come in a variety of sizes, from smaller than your average cereal bowl, to big enough to have hung in a castle kitchen's fireplace, holding stew for the King and all his knights.
Chalices are very similar to cauldrons -- in fact they are often viewed as a "small cauldron on a stem", and they serve the same primary purpose of being a holder for water (or for a beverage such as wine, fruit juice, milk or air that might be drunk as part of the ritual) and representing the element of water and the feminine aspect of divinity.
The pentacle represents the element of earth and the female aspect of divinity. It also represents the five elements - Spirit at the top point (as spirit is the most important element, to be balanced by the other four), Earth, Air, Fire and Water.
Generally, the pentacle, when used as a tool, is carved, burned or otherwise inscribed on a piece of wood, metal, ceramic or other hard material and placed on the altar.
As a symbol, it is one of the most misunderstod. One important thing to remember is that Witches use the Pentacle as you see it here -- one point up - the point representing spirit. Satanists, however, use the pentacle facing the other direction - so that the single point is down, and two points are up. This is quite similar to how they also use an upside-down cross. Wicca uses neither of these symbols.
The wand is another well known Witches tool. It, like the Athame, is used to direct energy, though the wand is not used for cutting. It represents the element of air, and the male aspect of divinity.
Wands can be made from any material - there are some beautiful crystal and metal ones available - my personal one is wood and crystal. Some Witches choose to use a small branch from a tree (be sure to thank the tree for the wand if you cut one from a living tree -- it may be better to find a branch lying on the ground to take wand from).
Book of Shadows (BOS): This is a Witches personal spell book, and book of collected wisdom that he or she has gathered from reading and from experience. While it is certainly nice to have a big, leather bound, parchment paged book, it's not necessary. A spiral notebook from K-Mart will do just fine. The important thing is that it is a place where you can find the information you need in order to do the your work. Some BOS's will have information passed down from other Witches in the family, or gathered by a coven, others may be only what that particular Witch has found to put in it.
Cords: Coloured cords are sometimes used in magickal workings. Energy is focused into a cord of the appropriate colour for the working being done, and a knot is tied to hold the energy in until it is needed. One common cord spell is to create a spell to ask for rain (or to "catch" the energy of a rainstorm in the cord) and then until the knots one-by-one throughout the growing season if not enough rain has been falling.
Morter and Pestle: This is the old-fashioned deep cup with a "smashing" handle-thingy (I don't know how else to describe it) - you often see them used as a symbol for an pharmacy. Anyway, it's a thing that lets you grind up herbs or other such things, so that you can use them in incense or potions, etc.
Scrying Mirror/Crystal Ball: This is a reflective crystal or black glass mirror that is used by a Witch as a focus to allow the Divine pass messages through to the Witch. It is very much like meditating, but often help make the intense focus needed for meditation somewhat easier.
Home The Altar Willows Book Of Shadows Image Gallery Quotes Fan fiction Fan Art Awards KeeperMythology Webrings Info Links
