Tools of the Witch

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The only witch's tool you need

Witches like stuff. There is something about lighting a candle, burning incense, or writing words using dragon's blood ink on parchment paper that just brings a spell together.

None of these items is magical in and of itself. Energy used to create magic and spellcasting comes from everywhere. The moulding and focusing of that energy to create magic comes from within. Tools aid to focus the mind. They can contain magical energies, but only what we put in them ourself.




Look in the mirror and you will see,
The only tool you'll ever need.



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Bio of a witch 

in two paragraphs

I have been a practicing witch for over 15 years. I started off as a solitary practitioner and still fall back on that for most work. I was part of a Wiccan coven for a number of years as well and was raised to the rank of Priestess before hiving off with my husband to create our own coven group.

Together, he and I run "Circle of the Southern Wind". We do not consider ourselves to be Wiccan, we are Pagan and we are witches. Ours is a first-generation family tradition coven.

The Altar Itself 

An altar is an area that has been set aside to hold something that is special or sacred to you. It an be as simple or as elaborate as you want.

The altar can be anything at all. You can have a dedicated shelf or table, or make do with what is on hand at the moment. I've used the hearth in front of the fireplace, a small table, the ground, and the floor.

Cover the altar with a cloth if you desire. This doesn't have to be anything fancy. I've gotten most of my altar cloths from the remnant rack at the fabric store. This is because they serve a second purpose of protecting wooden tables from wax spills. If you have a bit of talent for sewing you can put a hem round the edge and possibly sew a few symbols on the cloth, but this certainly isn't necessary.

Any table can work as an altar 

I like wood myself, but any sort of table can work. Just make sure that it will be at a comfortable height for you if you are sitting or kneeling.

UK link
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Hindu Gods Altar

Athame 

pronounced Knife

Many years ago, someone around me asked "How do you pronounce athame?" The response given by another witch I know was "I pronounce it "knife."

I liked her response so much, I've used it ever since.

The athame is used to focus and direct energy.

It is associated with the element of air and the direction East.

If you don't have an athame, use a pointed finger.

My Athame 

I keep my ritual knife sharp. I just don't see the point of having a knife without an edge. Mine is made using 5,000 year old bog oak for the hilt.

This athame was made by the craftsman at
Re-enactment and Pagan supplies, knives, daggers, bolines, athames
Rod Matless is someone still working very much in that age-old, sole proprietor, artisan, craftsman tradition.
Rod is renowned throughout the European historical re-enactment world for the consummate skill and craftsmanship that he brings.

Find Your Athame 

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Wand 

I have two wands that I use, one more than others. Both are single pieces of wood, found while walking along a beach. No sparklies, no dangly bits. But they resonate within me when I use them.

Like the athame, the wand is used to direct energy.

A wand should be around the length of your forearm from inner elbow to wrist, or thereabouts. My wands are smaller than this, but that doesn't matter to me.

The wand is a symbol of Fire and the direction South.

If you don't have a wand, use your arm.

Find a new wand 

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Cabinet where spellcasting supplies are kept

Chalice 

and cauldron

The chalice is very much a symbol of the Goddess. The Holy Grail holding the sacred waters of birth and life. The Cauldron of Cerridwen.

Mine was found in a small airport shop while on a stop over in Bahrain on our way home from a holiday in Goa, India 8 years ago. It's made from onyx.

This one is used for more casual spellcasting and ritual. Our favourite tipple of choice to fill the chalice is mead.

The chalice is a symbol of water. It's direction is West.

If you don't have a chalice, any cup will do. Or you can use your cupped hands.

Besom 

The Besom is a simple broom made of natural fibers. They can be made of straw or wood or other fibers.

It is used during some Pagan rituals to sweep negative energies from the circe area. During our formal rituals the broom is taken around the room by me, or a younger woman if one is present.

The ritual area should be physically cleaned before starting a ritual, and after finishing. The besom itself is used not so much for physical cleansing but psychic. In the tradition as I learned it, after sweeping the brush is left facing upwards until the broom has been taken outside and shaken clear of any negative energies. This way none of the negative energies can fall out again.

Wanting a hand made besom? 

The Besom Binder, Robert Aborn, left a message for me on Museum of Witchcraft and I liked his brooms so much I wanted to feature him here. Go check him out, and let him know I sent you.
Besom Binder
Handmade colonial besoms and brushes from Connecticut.

More Besoms and Brooms 

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Music to do magic by 

A good series of chants for conducting magic start out softly, build up in intensity as the magic builds within you, then ends suddenly at the height as you release the spell, continuing after with something soothing as you ground.

Some, like me, prefer to work without music or sounds, but others like to incorporate chants and other forms of music within their work.

Pentacle 

A pentacle can be anything. It's a 5-pointed star which represents the 4 Elements plus the Ether. This is actually a symbol found in ceremonial magic, and was introduced into the European Pagan beliefs in the 20th century.

Even so, I do like to use it at times. It's a matter of taking and using what works for me.

In place of a pentacle, I will use a rock, or a piece of clay.

The pentacle is a symbol of Earth. It is the direction North.

If you don't have a pentacle, you can use your entire body.

Find a pentacle 

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Drawing of my formal altar set up

Altar set up 

I drew up the above to explain to others how we set up our altar for ritual when we are celebrating and not necessarily doing spellcasting.
  1. Source candle

    This candle sits in the middle of our altar. It is the source from which all things come, including the Gods and the Goddesses. All things are contained within the source and all things will return to the source. The source is not "God", it is beyond that. The God's understanding of the Source is like our understanding of the Gods. However much we may learn, we will never be able to fully understand the Gods. The source candle is lit before or as soon as it is placed on the altar, before the ritual starts.
  2. God symbol

    Place something on the altar which represents either The God or one particular God. Right now we have a crystal point on the altar to symbolize The God and a statue of Herne.

    2a - The God candle

    This candle is lit during the opening ritual when the God is invited to the circle. It's colour corresponds to the season or the Sabbat being celebrated.
  3. Goddess symbol

    Place something on the altar which represents either The Goddess or one particular Goddess. Right now we have a crystal point on the altar to symbolize The Goddess and a Mother Goddess statue.

    3b - The Goddess candle

    This candle is lit during the opening ritual when the Goddess is invited to the circle. It's colour corresponds to the season or the Sabbat being celebrated.
  4. Bell

    Used to represent the element of Air. It may be rung at each direction when the Priestess is inviting those elemental spirits to join the circle.
  5. Red Candle

    Used to represent the element of Fire. It is lit from the source candle before the start of the ritual.
  6. Water Bowl

    Used to represent the element of water. Fill it with water which is special to you. While water direct from the tap will work, somehow knowing that you have gone to some sort of efforct to obtain it makes it all the better.

    Some ideas to try: melted snow collected from a snowfall on the night of a full moon, rain water collected on the night of a full moon, or ocean water.
  7. Pentacle

    Used to represent the element of earth. This can be as simple or elaborate as you wish. We have used pentacles made from wire, clay, wax, paper drawings, and wood.
  8. Wand

    Represents either fire or air depending upon which tradition you subscribe to.We see it as holding the qualities of fire. Used while creating the circle.
  9. Athame

    Represents either fire or air depending upon which tradition you subscribe to. We see it as holding the qualities of air. Used while cleansing and blessing the water and salt.
  10. Taper candle

    Generally also red. It is lit from the south candle and used when lighting the God and Goddess candles.
  11. Chalice

    Filled with wine or water or milk or whatever other liquid you are using. Symbol of the Goddess during the closing ritual.
  12. Salt

    We like to use coarse sea salt which we keep on the altar in a thick clam shell. This placement on the altar combines the elements of earth (the salt) with water (the shell).
  13. Plant

    A small flower or a small plant, a leaf, or perhaps a small feather. This placement on the altar combines the elements of earth and air.
  14. Censor with incense

    Use an insense appropriate for the season or the Sabbat. Use cone, stick or loose form, whichever is your preference. This placement on the altar combines the elements of air and fire.
  15. Paten

    This is the plate of cakes used in the "wine and cakes" ceremony during the closing of the circle. Place it under the altar on the northwest side before the start of the ritual.
  16. Sword or Athame

    This is the Priest's sword and represents the element of air in this placement. My husband uses the sword during the opening ritual to assist me in inviting the God and Goddess into the circle. It is used during the closing ritual as the symbol of the God to the Goddess's chalice.
  17. Small chalices

    During the closing ritual, the wine from the chalice is poured into these smaller cups so that all may drink more easily. Of course, this is optional, many do prefer to have all coven members drink from the same chalice. We have a large mead sharing cup with 4 handles that can just hold a full bottle of mead that we use for those occasions.

Further information 

writings from other lensmasters

Favorite Witches Sayings
Getting to know the Wicca world? This lens helps you understand what other witches are saying. In the process you will understand how wicca rituals are built up a bit better as well.

Don't forget to say hi.  

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