I’m no authority and you should steer clear of anyone who claims to be so. This is not a list that must be slavishly followed, but these are tools that I have found help greatly.
- Knowledge of runes. I prefer the elder futhark because with 24 runes I feel it’s more versatile than the younger futhark. This is all up to personal preference, really.
- A knife and a tablespoon that you don’t mind getting dirty. Keep the knife sharp and good for cutting plants. The tablespoon is ideal for digging up plant roots. You can have silver tools for this, but it’s not really worth the cost when you can buy something from a thrift shop and get the same effect. Unless it’s specifically stated you need something made from a specific metal, it’s generally not worth the effort or money.
- A herbal. Some kind of book on the plants in your local area is always good, not just because you’ll learn interesting things about the plants around you and learn to identify the ones that might be useful in your craft. You can also go foraging for free food.
Long as you don’t take too many of one plant. Always leave most of them behind unscathed. We don’t want any more plants to go the way of silphium, after all.
- A solid pair of boots.
Yeah. Self-explanatory, really. Get yourself a good pair of walkin’ shoes or boots, because you’ll be doing a lot walking.
You don’t really need a broom, because there are a great many ways to protect yourself from evil. However, if you do wish to make yourself one, I recommend hazelwood for the handle. Hazel HATES evil and curses, and will be very efficient at sweeping out anything bad that might enter your home. If you wish to cut a branch of hazel for your broomstick, you must remember that you may only take from the second hazeltree you see. Once the branch has been cut from the tree, pour a libation of water or wine over the tree, and say a thank you to satisfy the tree.
As for the bristles, as far as I know it’s free game. You can use thin twigs from trees, common broom, or straw and so on. I have used common broom to make a broomstick of my own, and I’ve no complaints so far lol
