Tools and Equipment To perform rites and rituals, you will need a few basic tools. If you work in a group, they can be kept by different group members or in one secret place and brought to meetings. It is not at all necessary that they

Tools We are witches and we practice the Craft. And like any good craftsman, many of us use tools to help us do our work. Of course, in our case, the work and most of the tools are magical, but that’s not what we’re talking about. Is it possible to do without

How to use the tools A sign can be difficult to understand because we do not always recognize the principle behind its appearance in our lives. In this case, logic becomes our help. To understand this principle, we must use the power of logic and reasoning. This means,

Magical tools

Tools are very important for a witch, because... they help you switch to a different level of consciousness. But it would be wrong to think that intrumets are magical only because of their mental power. They have their own power when they are highly charged with a part of the magical universe and they are just as beautiful. Of course, you can cast spells and even rituals with almost no tools or ingredients if you are very strong at visualization. But using tools helps you, strengthens your faith, surrounds you with reminders of who you are and what you do.

Atam -magic knife with black handle. It is never used to cut material things, only to cut "reality". The athame is used to build a circle, to consecrate, to summon Guardians (see below), to channel the witch's mental energy, to channel power into any spell. It is associated with Air and the Eastern Quarter.

Magic wand – This tool (usually made of wood or metal) is associated with the element of Fire, perhaps due to the ancient people's belief in the ability of wood to support fire within itself. The athame and the rod are both phallic and associated with the positive, active masculine principle, while Earth and Water are considered the feminine elements. The wand is a tool for visualization, inspiration, and the creation of magical energy. It is used when invoking the Goddess.

Pentacle - This is a flat disk, on one side of which a pentagram (five-pointed star) is depicted; it is a symbol of the Earth. The pentacle can be made of metal, stone or wood. If you cannot obtain the pentacle, a specially chosen stone can take its place on the altar. The pentacle is not often used in spells, but you may want to place spell ingredients on it to increase their power.

Bowl – is a symbol of the element of Water. It is used for water, wine or juice in rituals, which witches drink in honor of the Goddess. The cup represents the womb of the Goddess, associated with the waters of life; as well as the truth, the inner wisdom of the Goddess that we seek.

Boiler - like the cup, the cauldron personifies the womb of the Goddess, but is also her transformative power. During seasonal festivals, the cauldron is filled with water and flowers are placed there, sometimes a candle is inserted inside. The cauldron is also associated with the dark side of the Goddess and the Spirit. Some ingredients for spells are burned in it, and also used for divination, filled with water. The cauldron is usually iron, round in shape and on three legs (but sometimes without them).

Incense burner – sometimes used in spells or in consecration, when the witch carries an object through incense smoke to attract Air energy; to cleanse the magic circle - walk around the incense burner clockwise. The incense burner must be handled very carefully, because... its contents are usually very hot, you can get burned. If you find it difficult to get the incense burner, use a ceramic pot, first covering its bottom with a layer of sand or salt. This will slow down excessive heat and prevent the pan from cracking. Now you can put a charcoal tablet on top, on which mixtures of herbs are usually burned, for example, rosemary, thyme and others. Or you can use smoking sticks, which will require a slightly different incense burner, which is practically safe. The incense burner is associated with the element of Air.

Bollin – a magic knife with a white handle, which is used to carve runes on wooden tablets or candles, cut flowers and herbs for witchcraft work, and carve a magic wand. Sometimes they use it to scrape the ashes from the incense burner. Not used in rituals.

Broom – used to symbolically sweep the space inside the circle, to expel negative energies through visualization. The broom should have a straight handle and a branch ending arranged in the form of a cylinder. This type of broom represents fertility. Most often, birch is used for its manufacture, because it symbolizes purification. It is not directly associated with any element.

Water and Salt - This is the personification of the elements of Water and Earth, usually used to cleanse the magic circle. Salt is dissolved in water and then sprinkled around the boundaries of the circle. Salt was sacred to Aphrodite and was a very valuable substance before the invention of the refrigerator. You can take a salt bath before the ritual for cleansing.

Bell/bell – is the magical value of sound, because it creates vibration and brings change. The bell can be rung a certain number of times to indicate the stages of the ritual.

1 – a new beginning;

2 – number of God, unity;

3 – creativity, number of the Goddess;

4 – grounding and balance;

5 - inspiration;

6 – harmony;

7 – gaining wisdom;

8 - achievement;

9 – transition to a new level;

You can also ring it because you like it, as well as at the beginning and end of the ritual. The bell is associated with the Goddess and is an instrument of Air.

Music – Not only is it good to dance to drums, but with their help you can switch to a different level of consciousness. You can also play a suitable disc during the ritual, for example, music Blackmore’ s Night, Enya, Loreena McKennitt, Ametistium, Nightwish or something similar.

Ritual clothing - you can easily make it yourself so that you can always wear it during rituals. To do this, take an old sheet, cut a hole for the head and sew the edges, shortening where necessary. Or you can simply dress in plain clothes. For more information on the colors of ritual clothing, see S. Cunningham's "Textbook of Witchcraft" (or "Wicca for Beginners").

God figures – if you have trouble finding suitable figurines, simply replace the Goddess figurine with a stone with a natural hole, and the God figurine with a pine cone or acorn.

© Hechisera ’ s Lare 2004

ABOUT THE CAMPFIRE

If you want to make a fire during a ritual held in nature, it is recommended to make it from the following tree species:
Oak
Cedar
Dogwood
mesquite tree
Juniper
Rowan
Pine
Poplar
Apple

If this is not possible, use the tree species that grow in your area. Ceremonies carried out on the seashore can be carried out by the light of a fire made from dry fish fins.

ABOUT THE MAGIC CIRCLE

Magical plants growing near the house in pots and boxes can be brought into the house for the duration of the ritual and placed along the magic circle. If you are working in the main room, then stop at an odd number of sacred plants and grow them in your ritual area. If they need a lot sun, then leave them outside and bring them into the house only for the duration of the ritual. Give them energy and love, and they will become your helpers in worshiping the gods and in magic.
You can use any plants except poisonous ones, but the following types are especially recommended:

Wax ivy
Hyssop
cacti
Cordyline (previously classified as Dracaena)
Red geranium (pelargonium)
Holly (holly)
Palm trees (all types)
Ferns (all types)
Rose
Rosemary
Pink geranium (pelargonium)
Usambara violet (Saintpaulia)

The magic circle can be covered with garlands of plants dedicated to the Goddess and God. Also, the perimeter of the circle can be indicated by appropriate colors.

Standing stones can be surrounded by plants corresponding to the elements:
North - corn, cypress, male fern, honeysuckle, wheat, verbena.
East - acacia, bergamot, clover, dandelion, lavender, lemon, asparagus, mint, mistletoe, parsley, pine.
South - basil, cloves, cedar, chrysanthemum, dill, ginger, heliotrope, holly, juniper, marigold, peppermint..
West - apple blossoms, lemon balm, camellia, catnip, daffodil, elderberry, gardenia, grape, heather, hibiscus, jasmine, orchid.
Fresh flowers or, if this is not possible, a male fern can be placed on the altar.
When a circle is created near a tree, you can use its fruits, leaves, nuts or flowers.
All of these can be used in addition to rocks and rope.
Bonfire
If you wanted to light a fire while performing a ritual outside, you can make it from various combinations of firewood from the following trees:
Rowan, mesquite, oak, pine, apple, dogwood, poplar, juniper, cedar.
If this is not possible, use the firewood that is available to you. The ritual, held on the seashore, can be illuminated by a fire made from dry wood collected here and thrown out by the sea.

Home magic circle

Magical plants growing in nature can be transplanted into pots and placed around the altar during a home ritual. If you usually work at home, then move wild plants in pots, each to its own ritual place. If they need more light, simply take them outside and bring them back in for the duration of the ritual. Give them energy and love and they will give you their magic and magic.
To avoid using poisonous plants, I recommend the following:
African violet, cactus (all types), male fern (all types), holly, hyssop, palms (all types), rose geranium, rose, red geranium, rosemary.
Holidays
Wear fresh flowers on your head or body during rituals. Wreaths of fresh flowers are always appropriate for spring and summer rituals. Make them from oak and pine branches in winter and autumn.
You can make yourself a necklace from herbs and seeds such as bean seeds, whole nutmegs, anise seeds, wheat and other seeds and nuts, strung with natural fibers. You can also use small pine cones.
For full moon rituals, use fragrant flowers that bloom at night. They will help you tune in appropriately to the lunar energies.

MAGICAL TOOLS

Here are tips for dedicating instruments before first use or formal consecration. This should be done with directed visualization and for ritual purposes.
MAGICAL DAGGER OR SWORD
Rub the blade with fresh basil, rosemary, or oak leaves. This should be done at dawn, on the street, in a place where no one will see or disturb you. Place the sword or dagger on the ground with the tip facing South. Go around it three times clockwise, showering it with bay leaves, preferably fresh ones. Take a dagger or sword, face the East, hold the sword in your lowered hands, but with the tip up, call on God and ask Him to infuse His power into your dagger. Raise it to the sky and call on the Goddess to fill the blade of the sword with her love and power.
Wrap the sword or dagger in red cloth and take it home. It should also be stored wrapped in red cloth.

WHITE DAGGER
Early in the morning, go to the forest, park or garden. Choose the most beautiful and energetically strong plant. Gently touch the tip of all its leaves in turn, achieving complete connection between the dagger and the plant, and accordingly with the Earth.
Sit on the ground, provide yourself with complete solitude. Draw a pentagram on the ground with the tip of the dagger. The ritual is over.

ROD
If the wand is wooden, take it outside at sunset and rub it with fresh lavender, eucalyptus or mint leaves. Raise it in the east direction (or towards the Moon if it is visible) and call upon the Goddess. At sunrise, take it outside again and rub it with fresh, fragrant leaves, and, pointing it to the East, call on God.

PENTACLE
Place it on the bare ground. Sprinkle dried parsley leaves, patchouli or mistletoe, or fresh jasmine or honeysuckle on top. Sit in front of it facing the North for a few seconds, visualizing the pentacle absorbing earthly energies. Then raise the pentacle and scatter the leaves in four directions, starting and ending with the North.
If you are doing this at home, place the pentacle on a small plate of fresh soil. Do all other steps as indicated above. Save the herbs so that later you can scatter them on the street in the same order as during magical actions.

CENSER
Light a mixture of pure rosemary, frankincense, or copal in an incense burner before first use. The herbs should burn within an hour.

BOILER
Go out to a river, stream, sea or ocean. Collect the leaves of plants growing nearby (on the banks of the sea (this could be seaweed). Immerse the cauldron in the water and, having filled it, put the leaves in the cauldron and place it at the very edge of the water. Place your hands in it and dedicate its contents to the Goddess in any words that will seem appropriate to you.
Pour out the water and dry the boiler, then return home. The cauldron was filled with magical power.
If you are worshiping at home, fill a large container or bathtub with water, after lighting the bathroom with candles. Add a little salt to the water (the water should be cold). Do everything else as described above.
Salt water corrodes metal, so be sure to wash the boiler after it.

BOWL
Rub the base of the bowl with gardenia, rose or violet oil and fill it with clean rain or snow water. Place a sprig of ivy, a small rose, a fresh gardenia, or another appropriate flower or plant on the surface of the water. Peering into the cup, call on the Goddess to consecrate it. You can also take the bowl outside at night and try to catch the reflection of the lunar disk in it.

BROOM
It can be made from ash, birch or willow branches. Line the broom with willow, lemon, or elderberry and mallow branches, then bury them with due solemnity. You can cut a crescent moon on the handle.

CRYSTAL
On the night of the full moon, rub the crystal ball with fresh or dry wormwood and go outside. Lift the ball up so that it absorbs the energy of the moonlight. Gaze at the Moon through the crystal, holding it before your eyes. Repeat this three times a year to maintain the magical properties of the crystal.

BOOK OF SPIRITS
Sew leaves of sacred plants - verbena, fragrant rue, laurel, willow and others - into the cover of the Book of Spirits. The leaves should be well dried, you should also secretly put them under the moonlight for a while. For this purpose, the cover of the Book of Spirits must be made of fabric.

MANTLE
If you decide to use a mantle, then while you are not putting it on, insert sachets filled with sprigs of lavender, verbena and cedar into its folds. Sew some rosemary or frankincense into the hem when you sew it, if you want to prevent it from staining when washed.

Sabbat Plants
Used to decorate the altar, circle or home during rituals.
SAMHAIN
Chrysanthemums, wormwood, apples, pears, hazelnuts, thistles, pomegranates, all grains, fruits and nuts of the last harvest, pumpkin, corn.
YULE
Holly, mistletoe, ivy, cedar, laurel, juniper, rosemary, pine. Hang offerings of apples, oranges, nutmegs, lemons, and whole cinnamon pods on the Yule tree.
IMBOLC Snowdrops, rowan, first flowers.
OSTARA
Pale yellow daffodil, woodruff, violet, gorse, olive, peon, iris, narcissus, all spring flowers.
BELTAIN
Hawthorn, honeysuckle, sweet woodruff, all flowers.
MIDSUMMER
Wormwood, verbena, rose, lily, oak, lavender, ivy, yarrow, male fern, elderberry, wild thyme, pope, cloves.
LUGNASAD
All grains, pears, heather, blackberries, sloes, wild apples and pears.
MABON
Hazelnuts, corn, aspen, wheat, acorns, autumn leaves, wheat stalks, cypress and pine cones, fruits and spikelets picked up in the field after harvesting.
Herbs and plants for the full moon ritual
Place on the altar any night, white or five-petalled flowers such as white roses, night jasmine, carnations, gardenias, lilies, irises. Also suitable are all pleasant-smelling flowers, which with their aroma enhance your appeal to the Goddess. You can also add camphor.

Magical tools

Basic working magical tools: witchcraft knife, also known as Athame, or Bolline; witchcraft cord, known under different names: waist cord or cingulum (singulum); witch censer: a censer or rubbing dish, also called a censer; a witch's cup, also called a chalice.

The sorcerer (witch) must also have his own witchcraft book of spells, also called the Witchcraft Bible, Workbook, Liber spirituum or Book of Shadows.

To make his own cup, the magician must first buy, without haggling (there is no haggling at all when buying witchcraft attributes), a metal goblet from three to five inches in diameter (7.5-12.5 cm). The bowl can be made of any non-porous material that can hold liquid. The process of consecration is simple. During the period of the month when the moon becomes full, take a little salted water into a pot and brew the following herbs, ground into dust: vervain (vervain), mint, basil, rosemary, hyssop, lavender, sage, valerian, sweet dill.

They sprinkle a little incense on a piece of charcoal and charge the fire and water with the appropriate spells, mentally straining all their will and strength, putting all their faith and imagination into them, contemplating this equivalent of the Holy Gifts as a blazing bright cleansing light. Having done this, the cup is sprinkled with water, then it is dipped in incense smoke while chanting the morning spell.

Having done this, the edges of the bowl are painted with runes, for which they use a new brush and fresh paint. Black or white enamel works best for this. For this ritual, you can also mix herbal powder, verbena, etc. into the paint.

To make Atem, you need to buy a steel knife with a black handle; its blade should be approximately five or six inches (12.5-15 cm) long. When the moon

will decline, prepare an infusion of magical herbs. A few drops of blood are added to the infusion - the sorcerer’s own or (which is also quite traditional) a black cat. In principle, blood from a fresh steak, chicken or lamb chop from the nearest supermarket is also suitable. However, your own blood is still preferable.

The knife is rinsed with water from the bowl. Incense mixed with certain herbs is burned in a censer; when the blade is well warmed up, it is immersed in the brew of anticipation, chanting a spell and visualizing in one’s imagination the knife glowing with renewed vigor after each immersion.

Then the handle of the knife is painted with runes with white paint.

After performing the ritual, Atem must be temporarily buried for three days and three nights, burying him in the ground with the tip down. After this time, you can dig up Atem and, wrapping it in thick cloth, put it far enough away - it will always be ready for use in the future.

The fourth of the working tools is magic cord, otherwise known as the girdle, cingulum, or magic wire. The latter name comes from its use in various initiation rituals. The cord is mainly used to measure the radius of circles, for some obligatory rituals and even, in some cases, to secure various things!

To make a cord, the sorcerer must spin his own yarn from flax, all the while imagining the flow of a fast river. If you don’t have a spindle and a spinning loom, it doesn’t matter; some, mostly city witches, simply buy a skein of red yarn. From this you will need to measure three six-foot (180 cm) lengths. When the moon is waxing, you need to cleanse and consecrate the twine with water and fire and, tying the three ends together in a knot, begin to weave them in the moonlight. When finishing weaving, they make a large strong knot with freely hanging ends to prevent them from unraveling, and repeat the sealing spell: “So be it!” Then another large knot is tied three feet and six inches from the first, the next one at four feet and six inches, and the fifth five feet and six inches from the first knot.

These knots will help measure radii when the cord is used as a compass for the magic circle. Using these measured knots, two different triple circles can be made: a larger one for teamwork and a smaller one for solo spellcasting or small group ritual.

The Sorcerer's Workbook - Book of Shadows. In this book, the sorcerer writes down all the magical recipes, magical actions and rituals before he begins to use them. It must be written legibly, with a clean hand, by candlelight and in neat handwriting. A good quality thick notebook with pages of thick white paper, the size of a large notebook, is suitable for this book. When the moon is rising, you need to make the binding (its front and back sheets) from any material of your own choice. Some prefer velvet or moire, others prefer leather, often reptile skin. The choice of colors is great: from black or white to red and green, perhaps even a random splash of silver or gold! Then this book should be consecrated and cleansed using the same method as the chalice and censer. On the title page of the book they draw a magic pentacle according to the attached sample. In it you need to write your own witchcraft name in runes in the center of the pentacle, pronouncing the name of each rune clearly, charging each symbol as you do it in the usual way, and sealing these words with the spell: “So be it!”

All witches and wizards usually possess a number of items, which are often known to adherents of occult rituals as jewelry. The main decorations and signs of identification of sorcerers and witches are: necklace, bracelet, ring and pendant, cord-belt and garter.

Necklace worn by all female witches and not only on the holiday of Sabbaths and Esbashs. This is a fairly old tradition, established much earlier than wearing a belt or garter. Some witches say that this custom is associated with Brisingaman, a magical necklace of the elves that was owned by the Norse love goddess Freya. Others believe that the beginning was the accidental use of acorns as beads, and this comes from the worship of the Temple of Diana of Ephesus, whose fans suddenly saw the head of their goddess, decorated with beads made from acorns. The number of beads on a necklace is often a multiple of 9 or 13. Although, in addition to acorns, beads can be made from any material you like: metal, stone or wood. The only condition is that they be quite large and thick.

Amber is a clear favorite, as are turquoise and jet (black amber). Many witches (sorcerers) like to string beads themselves after first expelling evil spirits from the beads with fire and water and charging them with their own witch's name at the end, like any other magical instrument. (For instructions on general rules for exorcism by fire and water, as well as magical “charging,” see later in this chapter.)

Bracelet usually made of copper or silver. It is worn by sorcerers of any gender, again as a type of distinctive sign. However, unlike a necklace, a bracelet is engraved with the name of the sorcerer (witch) wearing it, the symbol of the coven (which often depicts an animal such as an owl, cat or snake) and his rank in this business. Typically, rank can be one of two degrees: the triangle degree and the higher pentagram (pentacle) degree.

Similar to a bracelet ring And pendant. Besides the necklace, they are usually the only witch's (sorcerer's) jewelry that actually contains gemstones or is set in stones. These items are the main decorations of the "spell", and the more interesting and unusual the decoration, the better it fulfills its purpose. Its composition and material value depend entirely on the personal preferences and financial capabilities of the owner. The best magic stones for a witch (sorcerer) are sapphire and opal. However, most precious and semi-precious stones work just as well, especially those traditionally considered effective against the evil eye and spells! They are, in fact, great accumulators of witchcraft power, and if you have ever worn them as symbols of good luck, they have provided you, although perhaps unintentionally, with equal and opposite means of attracting other people or freeing yourself from the evil eye. The metal from which the ring or pendant is made can be anything you want.

Cord-belt. The waist cord, often red in color, is used for several practical purposes, the least of which is to pin up your cloak or witch's ritual robe. The waist cord has a prescribed length with several knots tied on it and is also used to measure the diameter of your magic circle while tracing it.

Garter, is perhaps the most unusual element of the insignia worn by witches (sorcerers), and as such is hidden and worn openly only at Sabbaths. Other jewelry may look like regular jewelry to the uninitiated and is also usually worn openly. By now, there are many styles of witchcraft garters. The traditional color is bright red, although black, blue, and green garters are also noted. It is not uncommon for a practicing witch to wear a garter of velvet with a silk lining; the male version is made of snake, crocodile or other soft leather, lined with blue silk. The garters are secured with gold or gold-plated silver clasps. Sometimes they are also embroidered with tiny gold or silver bells, reminiscent of the bells worn by performers of the traditional English dance of the heroes of the Robin Hood legend. On the outer surface of the garter is embroidered the name of the witch or sorcerer, the symbol of the coven, and (if any) rank in the coven. Sometimes the same signs that are written on Atame are also added.

Garters are always worn over the left knee and only at the Sabbath or when casting spells.