Altars (Harrow, Horg)

You will be hard pressed to find a religion or a spiritual path that in one form or another does not make use of an altar of some type. Usually a flat surface that is used solely for religious purposes or magickal workings, it may be set up almost anywhere. In the Asatru path, the outdoor alter (Harrow or Horg) is usually made with stones. With purposes that range from a shrine to a specific deity, to honoring a loved one or a place to perform ritual and devotions, your alter can be as personal or specific as you deem it to be. An altar can also be adorned with specific cloths for each season, holiday or devotional days. Utilizing color, symbolic markings or magickal words, the variety of decoration and usage is endless. Altar cloths are a good way to add color or symbolic meaning to a ritual.

Amulets

Amulets are a favorite tool for many a witch. They can be empowered for a wide variety of uses, from defense to drawing power. Creation of amulets can be done in an extraordinary variety of materials, and imbued with many various energies and powers. Mostly carried or worn, some amulets are formulated specifically to be placed in or on the area they are meant to protect or cure.

Asperger (Aspergillum)

This tool is used to sprinkle water or disperse smoke for rites of purification. There is a wide variety of things that are natural that can be used for asperging water or smoke, personally for water, I use a pinecone and for sage smoke purification of space, I use a very large peacock feather. The Asartu use an evergreen twig or other tree branch called a "blot-tine" as an Asperger.

Athame (Air Dagger, Seax, Yag-dirk)

This is your ceremonial magick knife, more symbolic as opposed to practical. It is a personification of the elements of fire or air, depending upon the tradition (such as the Golden Dawn, represents air). An athame is used inside the circle, sometimes used to create the circle itself, store and direct enery and never used for cutting. Within ritual, it is mainly used to raise and direct energy and power. It is a tool of manipulation, as it can direct or raise power for many purposes. More often than not, the blade will be dull and double-edged. The handle is preferable of a dark color so that it may absorb power. Color and markings will vary from tradition to tradition, but the athame is usually of dual edge and made of steel. Although it would be desirable create the athame yourself, it would be advisable to at least do something personal such as markings or decorations on the handle to imbue it with something of yourself. Thoughts on decoration vary, for instance Ray Buckland recommends writing your magical name on either the hilt or blade. Any magical alphabet and even runes may be used for the inscribing. But then again, in Scott Cunningham’s opinion, no markings are necessary. Every individual witch should and will know what is right for them, depending on their tradition or own personal feelings, and that is the way it should be.

Bells and Chimes (Gongs)

Bells come in a festive variety of materials and sounds. Brass, crystal, or gong, they are used in ceremony to signify the start or end of a ritual and are often used to "bring back" the attentions of either participants. Bells and chimes are also used to summon deities, elementals, spirits or wandering souls. They can also be used to make specific times within a ritual or service, along with being used to ward off negativity as sound is considered to have an effect as a purifying tool. In Wiccan magick, it is a symbol of the feminine. In Italy, to this day, bells are usually attached to pets and farm animals for protection.

Bell Branch

A staple tool in druidism, usually this silver branch hosts multiple golden bells. It is said that the sound that emanates from the bells is extremely pleasing to the gods and very offensive to the negative spirits. It is used to summon spirits and deities as well as for purification of space.

Bolline (Boline, Burin)

This is the working witches utility knife. Usually a white handled knife with a curved blade, this is the "cutting tool" used most by witches in ritual and spell work. It is mainly used to cut things that will be used in ritual, but can also be the tool that is used to carve other ritual tools. The many uses of this tool can’t be counted, it can be used to harvest and prepare herbs and spices, cut ropes, string or other items for use in spell work, and even used to harvest branches from a tree to create a wand.

Book of Shadow (Black Book, Grimoire, Grammar)

A must have for every witch. This book holds everything from spells and rituals, to a witches most personal thoughts and experiences not only during ritual, but also throughout life. The things recorded in a personal BOS are varies and numerous. For instance, my personal BOS has dreams, spells, thoughts that have come to me in meditations, visions I have seen during crystal staring, chants, poems, recipes and little drawings of amulets and charms that I eventually hope I will create. In traditional witchcraft, it is never called a Book of Shadows; it is referred to as a Grimoire or a "Grammar". Sometimes it is written in magickal code, be it runes or other magickal writing, and is kept secret. In most traditions and in most families, it is passed on from generation to generation. Many covens have a communal Book of Shadows, and when someone new becomes a member of the coven, they are sometimes allowed to copy passages and pages from the coven’s full book. The Book of Shadows is your personal collection of rituals, spells, ideas and thoughts about your path. Traditionally, it is supposed to be handwritten and many Wiccans may suggest strict adherence to that. As with keeping with my personal beliefs, the most comfortable thing for you is what you should practice. With the advent of computers, there are many digital witches out there, and almost half of my personal Book of Shadows is embedded in my hard drive.

Bowl

Used in Wicca, Asatru, Hindi, and Shinto paths, this tool can either be carved or naturally occurring (such as a shell or a rock). Used as a container, it can hold offerings or be the holder of the salt that represents earth (along with sand or dirt) or to hold the water that represents (surprise!) water.

Broom (Besom)

The broom often is used to purify space before a circle is cast. It is related to the element of Water and is used in many water spells involving cleansing. It also historically has been used to protect the home by laying it across the door. To make a magick broom, it is suggested that you use an ash staff, birch twigs and a willow binding.(ash is protective, birch cleansing and willow sacred to the Goddess). Gypsies and other cultures would use the broom in their marriage rites. A broom can be used as a talisman over a door for protection, or used in ceremony to cleanse the space that ritual will be performed.

Candles

A staple of magickal tools, candles can be used to not only represent deities, elements and ideas, but can also be used to raise energy and just plain light up space! Symbolic of fire, candles of different color are used to represent different things. An example of this would be blue for water or for healing. With certain exceptions, when a candle is called for in a spell or in candle magick, if the right color is not available, white is the "cover all" of colors. Silver candles are representative of the Goddess, while gold candles represent the god. For elemental work, blue is water, green earth, yellow air and red fire. In the catholic faith, the pure flesh of Christ is symbolized by the pure beeswax, the wick denotes his soul, and his divinity is represented by the flame. Here is a short listing of candle color correspondences:

white - spiritual blessings, purity, healing, rest
light blue - peace, harmony, joy, kindly intentions
dark blue - moodiness, depression, unfortunate circumstances
green - money spells, gambling luck, business, steady work, good crops
yellow - devotion, prayer, money (gold), cheerfulness, attraction
red - love spells, affection, passion, bodily vigor
pink - attraction, romance, clean living
purple - mastery, power, ambition, control, command
orange - change of plans, opening the way, prophetic dreams
brown - court case spells, neutrality
black - repulsion, dark thoughts, sorrow, freedom from evil


Candle Snuffer

The preferred tool for putting out a candle as opposed to just "blowing" out the flame as more graceful way to put out candles than by spitting on your fingers and pinching. This also reduces objectionable smoke from the snuffed candle. Decorative candlesnuffers are often made of brass or brass and wood and they make elegant altar tools for spiritual workers whose practice involves regular candle burning. There are many magickal and superstitious reasons for using a tool instead of blowing out the candles, such as "Never blow the flame out as this will blow away the magic". Some traditions regard blowing out the flame, as an abuse of the "Breath of Life", but this too is a choice you will have to make.

Cauldron

Who does not remember the image of the cauldron, witch standing over it reciting "Bubble, bubble toil and trouble"? Nothing other than the pointed hat and the wart on the nose, can conjure up the image of a witch more than a cauldron. In most traditions, the cauldron is a Goddess symbol and corresponds to the element of Water. Used in ritual as a container, magickal transformations occur here and it is often a central tool of a ritual. There are many uses of the cauldron, from scrying to usage in spell working to mix or burn ingredients. The basic construction of a cauldron is three legged and made of cast iron. The size range on your cauldron is a personal choice, as they can be purchased in all sized from few inches in diameter to several feet.

Censer (Thurible)

A censer is an incense burner and yet another tool that represents the element of air. A censer can take many forms. I have several that range from the ones that I can remember as a child attending catholic services, to the box type that holds stick incense, to lidded brass dishes. As with all things, use what you feel most comfortable with. You can also use a bowl filled with sand or sea salt if that is your desire. The sand will absorb the heat from the charcoal if you are partial to using the charcoal tabs, or if you use sticks or cones, they can safely be pushed into the sand or salt, and will be safely extinguished when the end is reached. For most practitioners, incense can be helpful during meditations. It is also a very wonderful offering to the goddess or god when you are giving thanks, and can also be used to invoke a specific thought or feeling when working with spells and any special deity that you are calling upon during that spell.

Chalice

The chalice is symbolic of the Goddess and fertility, related to the element of water. Although the chalice is generally used to hold the ritual drink that is consumed at the end of a ritual or rite, it can also be used for other purposes such as scrying. Made from many substances, they can be class, silver, brass or even wood. As with all other tools and implements of your magick, you will be the only one who can choose what feels right for you. It took me almost three years to find the right chalice for myself, and I found it in a dollar store! It is made of purple glass with a "knob" at the point where the stem meets the cup and another where the stem meets the bottom disk. I knew it was the right one when I saw its color, as it is smoky purple, perfect for me!

Charcoal

Charcoal tablets are most often used to place raw incense upon. Always make sure that you are using them in a fireproof bowl or container.

Cords (Cingulum, Cable Tow, Girdle)

Cords are used in many forms of magick to bind, catch or release energy. Used in magick they are sometimes used to capture the energies of the four phases of the moon to be used in workings when the moon is not quite at the proper phase, but the magickal work is needed. They are also used to perform knot work (magick knots). As an addition to robes and finery, they are used to show degrees of accomplishment, and can be used in initiation ceremonies.

Crystal Ball

This is a tool used for divination through gazing and scrying. Thought to be of Romani origins, there is much history fact and fiction concerning this particular tool. When a crystal is used, the method is called crystallomancy. It seems that the reason crystals specifically were important tools for scrying. Lay in the fact of their inherent characteristic of transparency and symmetry. Furthermore, the energy fields of crystals and gemstones can influence what the seer can see on a very delicate and arcane plane. There is a plentiful history of using crystals (and gemstones) in the process of making important decisions by leaders in history. It is said that King Arthur, sought out the advice and prophecies of Merlin the Magician, who used his crystal ball for scrying. As one of the earliest forms of divining, it originated because people believed the reflective surface was conducive to gaining knowledge of the future. The druids used beryl for scrying, while the Scottish called them "stones of power". The earliest crystal balls were made from beryl, later being replaces by rock crystal. A major tool used in the middle ages, a scryer often passed them on to their apprentices. It is an incredible realization to see that crystals have always been used in communications, and still are today, as they are an integral part of radios, telephones, satellites and computers.

Dorje and Bell (Vajra, Thunderbolt and Bell)

In Tantric Buddhism, these are used together and help to harmonize imbalances. The bell, which is held in the left hand, represents the feminine in the universe (path and wisdom), while the dorje which is held in the right, represents the male (creation and action). They are used in ritual and meditation.

Dowsing Rod (Dowsing Stick, Doodlebug, Divining Rod)

These are sticks or rods used to locate water or oil. A traditional dowsing rod would be a forked branch from a tree, although now a day one may be made of metal, two sticks, or various other materials.

Drums

Primarily used in Shamanism, the drum is gaining a completely new fan base in magickal workings. An excellent way to raise energy or enter trance, whole new generations are taking their drumming experiences to higher levels. Many new age shops are sponsoring drumming circles, and resurgence is occurring among those who enjoy the symmetry between sound, trance and energy.

I Ching (Book of Changes)

These coins of Chinese origin are marked with symbols that represent the "Yin" and "Yang". A method of divination that involves the throwing of the coins and the interpretation of the patterns that are created by the way the coins fall. There are 64 symbols that are called Hexagrams. They consist of broken (yin) lines and unbroken (yang) lines in various permutations. The thought behind the method is that yin and yang can explain everything in being, and the world is in a constant state of change.

Icons

These can be images of deities or the representation of practically anything, either in the abstract or the literal. Icons are oft times places upon alters and are parts of shrines, and in many traditions the icons are of the Goddess and God. These can be represented by candles, statues, pictures, drawings, or objects that personify the personalities or qualities of the deity/element being represented.

Incense

Incense is yet another staple as far as supplies for the modern and historic witch (and amazingly enough the Catholics too). Incense has many uses from purification by smudging, to offerings to deity, to enticing deities, elementals or spirits, to making use of the magickal properties that the incense used imparts. Symbolic of the element air, incense can be composed of various things including loose or crushed herbs, resins, or powdered substances. Commercially incense can be found in almost any grocery or mainstream general store in the form of cones or sticks.

Llech (Stone)

Sometimes used as a foundational platform to place an alter upon, or used to stand upon.

Mani Wheel or Mani Stone

Used in Tibetan Buddhism or Bon, the Mani Wheel is a wheel that holds within it a scroll of prayers. The wheel is said to throw off spiritual blessings and broad overall well-being. For the Tibetans, the wheel is always spun in a clockwise rotation, for the Bons it is used counterclockwise. The Mani Stone is carved with the prayer (mantra) "Om Mani Padme Hum" and is placed in strategic positions where people will see them. For the Buddhists, these particular mantras spoken internally or externally (or even just viewed) summon the attentions and blessings of the divine.

Mirror

In divination, a symbol of water, this item is a gateway between the planes of existence, or the presence of the gods. Used for divinatory purposes, it denotes and icon or a method of communication with spirits or divine beings. For scrying, mirrors are said best black, while some hold with silver being just as conducive.

Mortar and Pestle

This is a tool that consists of a bowl and a blunt ended object that is used for crushing, grinding and powdering herbs, stones, and resins which are then used in magick, incense, brews, or cooking.

Oils

Used to anoint candles, consecrate tools, consecration of self, as incense and used in spells for the properties of those materials from which the oils were acquired. Essential oils are pure oils that are most often used in aromatherapy and spell work, while fragrance oils are most times used in preparing a space or raising a specific emotional state for ritual.

Pendulum

Another means of divination, the pendulum has a scrying history that goes back to the late 300’s or even earlier. Early scrying methods would use a ring attached to a silk thread which in turn had been attached to a living laurel branch. While the branch was held steady, the pendulum would proceed to swing within a metal bowl which had letters written inside or on it. The letters that were touched upon by the pendulum would in turn be used to spell a verse which would predict any number of future events. Today, most questions are phrased so that an answer can be gained by the clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of the pendulum. There are also cloths that are sold as tools to use under the pendulum, which have specific things written on them, such as "yes", "no", and "possible" amongst other things.

Pentacle

A five pointed star, sometimes within a circle. A pentacle is most often is used a talisman of protection. Utilization of a pentacle comes in many forms, hung as a decoration, worn as a piece of jewelry, used as an amulet for protection either worn or hung over a door. The five points on the pentacle represent each of the five elements; Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. In ritual, a pentacle can be used to consecrate and bless other ritual tools and items of magickal usage. Made out of various materials, we have seen them constructed out of brass, gold, play doh, silver, wood, branches, dried flower stems, clay or my grand daughter’s favorite material – mud. Each point of the pentacle represents an element as said before. I was taught this point representation in my youth. Earth - represents stability and physical endurance (the bottom left point). Fire - represents courage and daring (the bottom right point). Water - represents emotions and intuition (the upper right point). Air - represents intelligence and the arts (top left point). And most importantly Spirit - represents the All and the Divine (the top point of course!). It is also a reminder of the human body, with the points representing the head, the two arms and the two legs.

Rattles

Another wonderful tool used in the Shamanistic path that is starting to gain more popularity in other paths as well, they are used to raise energy and power. Helpful to ward off negative spirits and excellent to help induce the trancelike state needed for meditation or shamanic journeying.

Robes

When not working Skyclad (naked), many witches employ a variety of colorful robes. Depending upon the magickal workings, the color of the robe may be specific or may just be a "coven" color. There are endless variations of robes with and without hoods, with and without cords or sashes, and specific robes can also depict the specific standing of a witch in the coven.

Runes

Another form of divination, runes are traditionally made of stone or wood, marked with 24 symbols that hold specific meaning. Although today there is in almost every rune set a rune named "wyrd" that is blank, it is not one of the original 24 runes that have been handed down through the Norse tradition. The Norse tribes of Europe from 2000 year ago are believed to have used this runic alphabet. Magick powers were attributed to the symbols, and were used to adorn armor, jewels, and tombstones. The earliest form of the word "rune" meant "mystery" or "secret" in the Old Norse language. The name of these Norse alphabet was "Futhark". These 24 runes are separated into three distinct groups called "aetts", each named for a specific god in the Norse tradition. The first eight are called "Frey’s Aetts" – Frey being the god of fertility. The second eight are known as "Hagal’s Aett", he being the weather god. And the last set being "Tyr’s Aett", with Tyr being the god of war. Each set deals with specific circumstances. Frey’s Aett deals with happiness, love, life and sexual fulfillment. Hagal’s Aett denotes the material, power and progress, and opportunity and advancement. The last set, Tyr’s Aett are those which deal with the spiritual and emotions, and the development of those. The 25th rune which was historically speaking added recently, would be interpreted to represent fate.
Sacred Blade

As opposed to the athame, and like the boline, the sacred blade is used as a functional tool. Usually double-edged blade, it is used to move and direct energy in a very focused manner, and for the purposes of cutting or bloodletting.

Sacred Pipe

In Native American traditions, the pipe is not only the agent of all things holy, it is the sacred, made substance. It is utilized in shared smoking, ritual ceremonies and to proffer smoke of the sacred tobacco plant to the Spirit. It should be disassembled before storage and always treated with veneration. In some tribes, myth unites the Sacred Pipe, representing the world in total, with the White Buffalo Woman.

Scourge

In some paths, the scourge is a tool of discipline. By using a scourge to generate energy through the flogging of the back and buttocks, it simulates the blood flow and the Miladhara chakra. It is also a symbol of mental discipline.

Sickle (Kerfan, Scyth, Curved Blade)

A common Druid tool, it was used as a cutting implement, with the ability to release trapped energy. When used to harvest a plant or crop, the energy was released and sent out to the gods, or directed to the assembly for distribution. Although mythos tells us that the sickle was made of gold; gold is too soft to have been of much use, and was probably only used in ritual or symbolism.

Singing Bowls

When struck or "tuned" with a puja stick (running the stick around the edge of the bowl), it creates a resonating sound which is used in meditation, relaxation, and the purification or cleansing negativity.

Smudge Sticks

Tied off bundles of herbs (most commonly sage, although also cedar, lavender, sweet grass and others) burned to purify an area, person, or tools. The smoke is often spread with an asperger.

Staff (Stang)

The staff has two basic forms - the staff or stang and the scarecrow. The staff is sometimes but not always crowned with animal horns. The scarecrow, is most often used within a sacred area, and has a crosspiece, topped with a horned animal skull and adorned a white shirt. The staff can work as a boundary marker, and is used for and symbolizes the connection to the home of the Gods (the Homeland).

Sword

The Sword can also be used to direct energy during rituals in the same manner as the athame. The sword is also used to either create the circle by being walked around the circle space, or by being pointed while the HP turns around in place to create the circle.

Tarot

A deck of cards used as an in depth and intricate tool for divinatory purposes. The Sword, Cup and Wand symbols that appear upon three of the four tarot suits also appear in the hands of various and sundry Hindi Icons, which may suggest that India is a possible place of origination for the Tarot. A deck consists of 78 cards divided into the major and minor arcana. The major arcana’s 22 cards are pictorals which represent specific characteristics or archetypes and are numbered with the Roman numerals 0 through XXI, although in some decks the 0 card (The Fool) is not numbered at all. The minor arcana consists of 56 cards which resemble an ordinary deck of cards other than the fact that along with the King, Queen and Knight (the jack in a normal deck of cards) there is an additional card that represents the page.

Tingshas

Used mostly for meditations, tingshas are small cymbals.

Wand

The wand is an apparatus of incantation. In most traditions, it will correspond to the element of Air. Used as a tool of direction quite like the athame, it is often used to draw magickal symbols in the ground or the air, and can be used to stir the contents of a cauldron. More importantly, it is used to focus magick, power and energy. The wand is a masculine symbol made of a wide variety of substances depending up their eventual usage – you can find them made of wood or metals. Traditionally, woods such as willow, elder, oak, hazel and apple are used, with each type representing a various specialization in spell work. Symbols may be carved into the wood, along with stones embedded into the wand, feathers used to decorate it, leatherwork used to decorate the handle, and many more variations on usage of natural materials to adorn the wand itself.