Every witch uses tools in one way or another. Whether you are using a bell to sound cleanse, a candle for flame, or even a broom with the right intention, we are always using tools in our craft. Below, I’m going to discuss some basic tools ideas, some every day items that can be tools of your practice, and some alternatives.
A small ritual blade. These are often leather handled and made from bone, stone, or wood instead of metal, since it’s not meant to cut anything physical. Its purpose is to cast or recall spells or circles, as well as cutting emotional ties (among other things.)
Bells have so many uses in the craft. They are used in sound cleansing rituals, sending out bad energy with the sound of the bell. Some people also use them to call upon some deities and spirit guides, especially brass bells. You can also attach spells to a bell to charge the spell every time you ring it.
This is your map to your craft, so to speak. If you didn’t have anything else, you would have all the important information to practice your craft. This can include things like important dates and correspondences, pages dedicated to your deities, regular spells and rituals, etc. This can be as structured or chaotic as you feel comfortable for you.
This is a small, handheld broom usually made out of straw or twigs. It is used to cleanse away energy from your altar, or used quite literally for debris like herbs and incense ash.
These are a universal tool. They can be used for meditation, divination, color magic, fire magic, and so much more. White candles can be universal, but colored ones can have more specialized energy.
A vessel to mix herbs, potions, incense, and more. It’s often made of cast iron, since it’s common to use your cauldron to burn spells inside. These can be any size, from a cast iron bowl that fits in the palm of your hand, to a large, multiple-quart-sized cauldron that could be used for cooking.
This is a ritual cup. It can be made of glass, wood, stone or bone. Can be used to hold drink rituals, offerings, or simply water for cleansing.
This category is a large one that encompasses a whole umbrella of things. Tarot, Oracle, pendulum, crystal balls, dowsing rods, runes, bones, tea leaves, or even mirrors. These are all tools that help you commune with energies beyond the physical world.
Each of these things can bring different intentions to your altar, depending on the correspondences. You can use dried herbs or flowers in spells or incense, or teas. Fresh herbs or flowers can be used to decorate your altar, the options or endless!
These are a great way to cleanse your space as well as involve the element of air in your work. These also serve to help you get into a meditative state, as well as being used for smoke cleansing
These are used to grind herbs, flowers, incense, and whatever you may need for a spell or ritual. There are many options for these on the market, but be advised that if you are going to use it for edible and nonedible herbs, it should be made out of a less porous material so you don’t cross contaminate and make anyone sick.
These only really matter if you work with deities, or spirits, or fairfolk, etc. This is a small bowl that has one purpose, and that’s to hold the things you are offering to your otherworldly guests. Often a very ornate bowl, in association with the deities whose offerings are inside.
Just likes herbs, each stone has difference meanings and purposes to your altar, but can be a great way to add specific energy to your space, or can be used as offerings.
This is the 5 pointed star within a circle. Each point represents Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Physic elements, in a circle of protection. Not all witches have them on their altars, but it is a simple, easy form of protection when needed.
Everyday Objects as Tools:
Sometimes you will see rituals or spells that tell you to call upon “The four corners” or the “four watchtowers”. This is done by calling upon each element through the cardinal directions, so have a simple compass on your altar to help you know where those directions are can be helpful!
Self-love spells, glamour spells, protection, purifying, calling upon the psychic realm can all be done with mirrors, depending on the need. I like to keep a small compact mirror in my altar, so that I can use it when I need, but that it’s fully covered when not in use.
This can be used in the same way a besom is used, and is a great alternative to smoke or sound cleansing. While using the broom to sweep the floor, imagine it dusting away the stagnant, negative energy, most often coupled with an open door or window to give said bad energy a place to go
Potentially some of the most important tools a witch can have, things like pins and needles are both practical and metaphysical. Whether you are mending clothes or bags, or altar clothes, or using them as in place of an anthame or a wand in a ritual, they can be used pretty universally.
Rope magic and knot magic is a pretty simple, easy way to get started in the craft, it’s pretty easy to learn, travels well, and is easily hidden if you are not an open witch. Some witches use twine or hemp rope, some use embroidery thread, or you could even use climbing rope, but you never know when you might want it or need it knitting or embroidering in a meditative state is an excellent way to make a wearable or displayable spell!
The most important thing in most kitchens, it can always be one of the most important things to your craft. Used for protection, circle casting, cleansing, and charging, it is one of the most universal tools you can keep in your arsenal
I’ve never met a witch that didn’t have an addiction to jars in some way or another. They can hold herbs and crystals, they can be used for spell jars, made into offering bowls, or in a pinch used as a cauldron or chalice. And bonus points! It’s recycling!
No fire? No problem! If you live in a place where you can’t burn candles or incense, there are ways to work around that. Things like ritual candles made for spells, using a candle warmer in place of fire is just as good, as long as the intention is there, that’s all that matters.
Another way to work around that with incense is to grind up and incense to powder, and use it in place of the ash can be used in spells. For cleansing without smoke, you can sound cleanse with music or bells, or with charged water.
White is universal. If you are working on a spell or ritual, and it asks for certain colors, say in candles or thread, white is always an acceptable alternative. Many witches simply have a stockpile of white tea lights instead of specialized colors for specific spells.
A pen and paper can replace a ton of tools! A simple drawing of a flower, drawn sigils, pictures of deities, the list goes on and on. You don’t need big ornate figures and statues on your altar if you don't have the space, or the money, or whatever reason, pictures and drawings can be just as fulfilling.
No space? No problem. Just because you don’t have the space for a big altar on a desk in your house, doesn’t mean you can’t have an altar! There are so many options for shoebox altars, mint tin altars, or even online altars that when used right can be just as good as any other altar. In a later post, I’m going to discuss how to curate a travelling altar, or shoebox altar!
Now, this is the very, very, very basics of what could be on one’s altar. But your altar is so uniquely you, so anything at all can be added to make it more yours. Pictures of family, pets, deities, friends. Trinkets that remind you of your craft, from vacations that brought you joy, or simply other utilitarian tools that you think make sense for your craft. I, personally, try to make sure the things I use in my craft, stay only in my altar. I have pens, scissors, needles, etc that all stay where they are in my altar, so I only have to bless them once, but if you are trying to conserve space, using tools around your home works just as well. When it comes to your altar, it’s all about what you want close by, and what brings you joy and comfort.
