SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 8 TOOLS OF THE CRAFT:
The most common misconception witches have when they begin their journey is that they need to obtain all the tools of the crafted so often listed in rituals and books. When I began I know I was one of those who felt the need to rush out and try and find these items. However in the area where I live, those tools weren’t as available as they maybe in a place that has occult or Wicca shops. I began to make my own with things I had lying around or that were easily available to me, worried that they weren’t going to be as potent as the actual tools purchased. As my studies went on however I came to learn that making your tools actually is the better thing, however there will always be certain ones you will not be able to buy, but can use other meaningful things in place of something you purchase.
While many tools exist in a witch’s cabinet, the real tools exist within the witch themselves. Knowing, Visualization, and Will. However the equipment that almost every witch has can be as important, though truthfully the tools of the trade are merely objects until you supply the power.
These tools, once bonded to you, can be a valuable commodity; however a witch should never race out and start buying the first tools they see. THE TOOLS WILL FIND YOU WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT. As you look for the tools you think you need, the universe shall send you the tools that you Actually need. There are some who quite literally, will buy everything they see, as they feel the more tools they have the better and more skilled they will be. This is not the case, there are some witches who have no tools, minimal, tools or more than they will ever use. As for this last description this can be both a good and a bad thing, for if the witch has been drawn to these tools, without real reason for need, it could very well mean that the witch was suppose to have these in their possession to pass along to a fellow witch at some point in time.
Though it is easiest to buy your tools, and there are numerous shops, catalogs and websites available for this very purpose, it is more personal, and therefore more powerful, to make your own tools. Many people say they are not the crafty type and can’t make anything, so they elect to shop instead. Some people are extremely crafty and choose to make EVERYTHING they need, and even still there are those who choose to fall in the middle, making what they know they can and buying what they can’t. Truthfully there is no right or wrong way.
While having tools can help to better connect to the mentality needed to perform magic, it is not vital to start collecting from the start. BUT, once you have accelerated your study and are ready to begin, or furthermore, have started your second degree, a witch is expected to have at least their basic tool chest, not only for themselves, but for those whom they will be teaching. Having your tools at hand is for your and your student’s benefit, because to teach the craft you must have a working knowledge of the tools and how they work, to be able to teach about them. If you are a part of a coven it may be a requirement also to have your own tools at this point to be able to lead ritual as part of your work study, or completion of your second degree.
Ok so let us get to the tools of the craft.
1. YOU. You are the most valuable tool you will ever have. You are the magic and you are the reason. The tools will serve purpose in time, but it is you that will use these tools, give them power and give them purpose. It is from you the magic flows, the tools only direct it and help you to control and focus it.
2. BOOK OF SHADOWS. This I would argue is the second most important tool you need. The Book of Shadows is a critical part of a witch’s tool box. This serves as your journal, diary and reference book. In a witch’s BOS, is kept a record of your workings. Rituals for the Sabbats and Esbats, the rules and laws of your practice. You should have a section for spells, and perhaps potions, a section for dreams and perhaps divination readings. Along with this you may want to keep notes about the spells you have done, as to what worked what didn’t. What you may try differently next time. Your book is fundamental for being able to track your progress and growth as a witch. While many wonderfully crafted tomes exist for a witches BOS, I personally use a three ring binder, because the pages can be added easily and also removed, you can ad print outs if you chose, or hand write it. As it is a learning aid I recommend this to most people in the beginning reminding them they can always upgrade to one of the leather bound versions later on when they have fine toned their studies. (however the leather bound volumes can be quite pricey but ultimately it’s the witches call)
3. ALTAR: no matter if it is a table, the floor, a rock the ground, a book shelf, no matter the surface or shape an altar is a place where most of your magic and rituals will take place. (For more information regarding the altar and to know the difference between an Altar and a Shrine, see the lesson on Altars)
The following are in no particular order and some will have more of a description than others as is necessary.
4. ALTAR CLOTHES: Tapestries, to scraps of fabrics to pre done altar or table clothes, these are merely to decorate the altar for spell or ritual but also to ad a mind set for ritual while aiding to protect your altar surface from ash, liquid or candle wax (to the best of their ability) I use scraps of fabric that I have left over from projects or raid the remnant bend at places that sell fabric. Also my personal altar has an altar cloth which is what is left of an old shirt that belonged to my great grandfather, it was something sentimental and personal to me which is why I opted to use it.
5. CANDLES: candles are a thing that there are several different opinions on. From taper, or chime, votive or jar, scented or not… And it goes on. I like to use candles for many different things, and different sizes and styles depending on the working. I like tea lights for luminaries, extra light, or for prayer requests. Votives are great for spell working as are tapers. Jar candles can easily be painted on the outside and used for your elements and God and Goddess representation on your altar and in your circle. I do not use scented candles as many experts will say and many books will say, the scented candles can interfere with the spell work. If you wish to make a magic candle or a scented candle dressing it with an oil works best. (See later lesson on Candle magic) Whatever kind of candle you decide on, you want to have a variety of colors, or solid white as it can stand for any color during workings. Candles are quite useful for light for spells and for representation. NEVER leave candles unattended, and always use caution and common sense when working with candles to prevent fires and dangerous situations.
6. CANDLE HOLDERS: If you have candles you’ll need candle holders, and you don’t need anything fancy or special. I have an eclectic taste so my candle holders are all different; they range from jars, to cups, to brass stick holders to glass. They can be of any shape or size you need, so long as your candles fit safely within. Also if you buy second hand or from a flea market or thrift store besure to cleanse them before use (See the lesson on cleansing)
7. ATHAME: The ceremonial dagger. Usually it has a black hilt and it double sided, but is dull bladed. The athame is used to direct and cut energy and energy only. It is for ceremonial purposes and is usually present in most all rituals to help raise the circle and cut it to release it. NOW some argue it HAS TO BE BLACK HANDLED, while others say it doesn’t. Mine is a rose wood handled narrow blade that belonged to a relative, it almost resembles a letter opener. The look isn’t so important as its ceremonial and magical purposes.
8. WAND: This is a tricky one. The wand can be solid wood, glass, crystal, fancy or simple. Thin or large. Some are tipped with stones, others just wooden. The wand is used to direct energy and is often used to direct the energy of the circle when casting it.
9. BOWLS: Glass or a natural material is best. Plastic is ok if that is all you have but isn’t preferred as plastic often contains chemicals and breaks down over time. You will use bowls to hold salt and water during ritual, or other items, such as herbs or stones, there is an endless use for bowls, you may eve use a bowl to substitute for the cauldron
10. CAULRON: A cauldron is a pot, usually cast iron, however the cauldron can be a simple cooking pot. Some witches still use cauldrons to cook or brew in, others use them to burn in. I recommend if you want to use your cauldron to burn in but want to also use it to brew, get two separate pots. I have a smaller one I picked up at a thrift store I burn in, and I have a nice pot if I want to make any type of potion or anything like that (the cooking one isn’t a cauldron as in a traditional cast iron pot, but it works nicely)
11. INCENSE AND INCENSE BURNER: Incense is used as part of ritual to serve as an offering, to cleanse the air and space, to represent the element of Air or simply to make the place smell nice. There are two different types of incense the type that you light that’s already processed (combustible) such as stick or cone form, and the type you have to burn on a charcoal block (non-combustible) The second being one of raw herb, resin and oils that you smolder on a special charcoal disc, (don’t use the kind of charcoal that goes into a grill, that’s not the same and is highly toxic) It is also wise to make sure that the room or area is well ventilated as the charcoal bricks can be quite potent as can the herbs and such which is burned on them. Even with regular incense. You want to be sure that incense is burned with care, due to allergies and fire risk. Make sure you have a safe incense burner. A heat proof container with sand or salt in it, can work well to absorb the heat of the coal, or the cone, or to help hold the stick of the incense stick. I have a candy dish that is filled with pebbles that I place my sticks in to burn them. There are several great incense burners out there designed for the different types, like simple wooden slats with a hole for the stick to stand in, or intricately carved statues to place cones in and then watch the smoke twirl out of it, and always the brass braziers with the mesh top to rest your coal on to burn your raw incense. Whatever type you do decide to use, be sure to be safe as incense will get very hot and can burn you, or things around it. Left unattended, it could be dangerous. So handle incense with care, much like candles.
12. BESOM: The Witches Broom, a broom is used for ritual cleansing, to sweep the sacred space to remove negative and or unwanted energies from the area. It can be a regular broom, or a traditional witches broom bought at Halloween. The Besom never really sweeps the ground, or so some people say. I do however and I also sweep the air around the space too, to make sure I get it all.
There are other tools that witches own, that may get used later in the advancement of the craft. Some are quite common others not, some for magical uses others more for ceremonial use. Below I will list these but only go into details for some. Remember you can find tools listed and explained in more detail or variances in many books and online. You don’t have to go just by what I have listed in this lesson.
1. SWORD: For ceremonial purposes, much like the athame it is often used to mark the circle.
3. MORTAR AND PESTLE: Used to grind herbs and ingredients for different recipes, for potions, teas, powders and such. They can also represent Man and Woman and the Great Rite. I also recommend here to have two mortar and pestles. One for herbs you know are safe for ingestion and one for things that are not safe for ingestion.
4. ROBES: Robes or a ritual outfit, these will help to set your mind to thinking “its time for magic, time for ritual” You can always wear every day clothes, but some people prefer and some covens require, you to put on a ceremonial garb to better attune yourself to the universal energies.
5. CORDS: For cord magic, or binding spells. Often in covens or self initiation rituals, a cord is assigned for each degree and tied around the waist often worn with the ceremonial robe.
6. STONES: From plane every day stones to different crystals which have magical properties and powers. Stones can be used to mark your circle, represent Earths Element, they can be used in spells, or for other purposes. Gem stones are absolutely amazing and offer many different properties, but are not a requisite and can get pricy.
7. HERBS: So many herbs so little thyme. (get it, bad joke) Herbs are used to make incense, powders, teas, and for other purposes as well. There are a variety of different herbs and places to find them, both locally as well as in bulk. Herbs, much like stones and oils, are primarily used in magical workings.
8. BOLINE: A white handled knife, sharp, used for cutting. Generally for harvesting herbs or for cutting up herbs, never to harm yourself or another living thing though.
9. OILS: Used for magical purposes. They can smell amazing, but can become really expensive quickly.
10. DIVINATION TOOLS: Tarot cards, crystal balls, runes I-Ching , scrying mirrors. There are so many different types, but divination tools have become synonymous with the craft. These are all tools for the craft, they do not substitute doing ritual, or count as doing magic, or performing something spiritual. Divination is merely asking for guidance. I also have to put my two cents in here and say, you have, HAVE to take everything you read in divination with a grain of salt. If you put whole hearted faith and stock into the readings and use divination alone to rule your life and make choices, then you’re really going to be missing out on a lot.
11. FEATHERS: Used in spells, or to represent the element of Air
12. SHELLS: Used in spells or used to represent the element of Water
13. BOTTLES: To hold water, oils potions teas. You want to again try and use glass where you can. You can also use them to make spell bottles or spell jars.
14. JARS: used Like bottles. Also for holding herbs. You want to be sure to use glass for herbs because the plastic will contaminate them as it breaks down over time and this can weaken the power of your herbs.
So in short there is a brief rundown of the tools that most witches have. Like I said you don’t have to race out and get them all at once. Make them, find them as the universe deems fit. But if you’re planning to teach, or lead a coven, then you should have at least the basics, and a working knowledge of what and how they are used.
NEVER use your tools for anything other than ritual purposes; otherwise it loses its purpose and magic. ALWAYS, keep an eye on candles and incense and again, read, do more research on the different tools, and never settle for anything that doesn’t feel right to you, be it information or the tools themselves.
And remember this last thing, you are the greatest tool you will ever possess, you are the magic, without you those material items, have no power.
