The Modern Guide to Witchcraft (14 page)

The wand corresponds to the element of fire. In the tarot, it appears as the suit of wands (sometimes called rods or staves). Therefore, you might select adornments that resonate with a fiery nature such as carnelians, red ribbons, or touches of gold or iron.

As mentioned previously, a pentagram is a five-pointed star with a circle around it. The correct way to display it is with one point upright, two points down, and two out to the sides to represent the human body. Magicians use the pentagram for protection. You can wear one for personal safety. Hang one on your front door to guard your home, or place one in your glove compartment to protect your car. You can even put one on your pet’s collar to shield her from harm. Some witches like to decorate their pentagrams with gemstones and crystals, or to combine it with other symbols, whereas others choose to keep it simple.

In rituals, a magician might draw pentagrams in the air as part of the circle-casting process. With a wand or athame he traces the symbol at each of the four directions to provide protection. Sometimes participants in a ritual mark pentagrams on their foreheads with essential oils (amber, basil, and pine are good choices) as additional safeguards. You can inscribe pentagrams on candles, paint them on stones, embroider them on mojo pouches and clothing—just about anyplace. You might even want to get a pentagram tattoo.

The pentagram corresponds to the element of earth. In the tarot, it appears as the suit of pentacles (sometimes called coins or discs). Thus, you may wish to decorate your pentagram with earthy gems: onyx, aventurine, turquoise, jade, or tiger’s eye. (We’ll talk more about gemstones and magick in
Chapter 12
.)

This ritual dagger is never used for practical purposes (such as chopping vegetables) and certainly not to harm someone. Rather, a witch symbolically slices away negative energy or cuts through psychic obstacles with this magick tool. You can also cast a protective circle with it instead of a wand.

An athame is usually a double-sided knife about 4–6" long (although some witches and Wiccans prefer athames shaped like a crescent moon). It doesn’t have to be sharp, however, because you probably won’t cut anything physical with it. You can decorate your dagger with gemstones and crystals or other adornments if you like. Some people engrave or paint magick symbols on their athames. The choice is yours. Remember, however, that your athame is a weapon of the “spiritual warrior” and tradition says you shouldn’t work with a knife that has drawn blood.

The athame corresponds to the element of air. In the tarot, it appears as the suit of swords (sometimes called daggers). Therefore, you might like to decorate your athame with air symbolism: aquamarine or fluorite, feathers, yellow ribbons, or the glyphs for Gemini, Libra, and/or Aquarius.

The most famous chalice of all is the legendary Holy Grail. As you might suspect, a chalice is used for drinking beverages—but not your everyday kind, such as a Coke with lunch. Your chalice should only hold ritual brews and magick potions. In some rituals a ceremonial drink is passed among participants, which is why chalices often have long stems that are easy to grasp.

A chalice may be made of any material: metal, crystal, glass, ceramic, even wood. Some people like to decorate their chalices with gemstones and crystals, or other adornments. You might choose to add symbols, words, and images that hold meaning for you. Ritual or high magicians traditionally paint their chalices to look like a crocus with eight petals, in blue and orange.

The chalice corresponds to the element of water. In the tarot, it appears as the suit of cups (sometimes called chalices or bowls). Consider inscribing your chalice with the astrological symbols for the water signs Pisces, Cancer, or Scorpio, or adorning it with “watery” gems: pearls, aquamarines, sapphires, or coral.

Candles are essential ingredients in many spells. They symbolize the fire element and spirit, the energizing force that activates spells and rituals. In addition, they provide a focal point for your attention, helping you to still your mind. Their soft, flickering light creates an ambiance that shifts you out of your ordinary existence.

Witches usually keep on hand a supply of candles in a range of colors. Colors hold symbolic meanings and affect us psychologically and emotionally, so not surprisingly witches use them in lots of spells. If you’re doing a love spell, for example, burn a red or pink candle that represents passion, affection, and the heart. Prosperity spells call for green, gold, or silver candles, the colors of money. Some formal rituals involve carefully placing candles in specific spots and moving them according to prescribed patterns.

For thousands of years, aromatic oils, gums, and resins have been used for both medicinal and cosmetic purposes, as well as in sacred rituals. Scents affect the limbic system, the portion of the brain associated with memory, emotions, and sexuality, which is why certain smells reawaken memories or stimulate the libido. Take a whiff of a certain perfume, of sea air, or of fresh-baked apple pie and, instantly, memories unfold. Because aromas immediately trigger moods, impressions, and associations, they can be assets in spells and rituals.

Essential oils are extracted from plants rather than concocted from synthetic substances, as is the case with most modern perfumes. From the perspective of magick, essential oils are preferable to other scents because they contain the life energy of herbs and flowers.

Magicians use essential oils in many ways. Dressing candles is one popular practice. To dress a candle, choose an oil that relates to your intention. Pour a little oil in your palm and rub it over the waxy surface to add the properties of the scent to the candle. When the candle burns, the essence is released into the atmosphere to help manifest your intent. If you choose to make your own candles, you can incorporate essential oils into the mix.

Some essential oils can irritate skin or cause allergic reactions. A few oils are toxic. Research the oils you want to use before applying them to your skin or adding them to a ritual bath. Don’t ingest the toxic ones!

Essential oils can also heighten the power of an amulet or talisman. Rub a little oil onto the charm or put a drop on a piece of paper and place it inside the charm. Magicians sometimes anoint their tools with essential oils to charge them. Of course, wearing fragrant oils is probably the most common way to enjoy them. You can even draw symbols on your body with essential oils to provide protection or to attract desired energies—and of course, for seduction.

In Latin,
incense
means “to burn.” For centuries, churches and temples have used incense to clear the air and to send prayers to the deities. In Buddhist belief, burning an offering of incense invokes the Buddha into a statue of the holy being. The best incense is made from pure gums and resins, without synthetic binders.

Witches use incense to purify sacred space. Sage is the most popular herb for this purpose, but you can burn pine, frankincense, or eucalyptus if you prefer. As we discussed earlier, a witch may cast a protective circle by lighting a stick of incense and walking around the area in a clockwise direction, allowing the smoke to mark the space. You can also charge charms with incense by holding the amulet or talisman in the smoke for a few moments.

Over time you may add to your magickal collection. Some of the spells in the following chapters use various tools for special purposes. Brooms sweep unwanted energies from a ritual space. Bells, gongs, drums, and rattles raise positive energy and disperse bad vibes. Magicians also use them to signal the steps in rituals. Swords, like athames, banish harmful forces and slice through obstacles. Staffs (or staves), like wands, direct energy.

“Double, double, toil and trouble; / Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” Probably the best-known image of the witch’s cauldron comes from Shakespeare’s play
Macbeth
, in which three crones stir into a cauldron all sorts of ghastly ingredients to brew up a magick potion. Contemporary witches still brew potions in cauldrons, but they don’t use fillet of a fenny snake, lizard’s leg, or howlet’s wing to create a hell-broth, as the Bard’s witches did.

A cauldron is a handy tool, especially if you don’t have a fireplace, balefire pit, or barbecue grill, because you can build a small ritual fire in a cauldron. (Don’t use regular barbecue charcoal if you’re building a fire inside—the carbon monoxide can be deadly!) You can also concoct magick brews or cook ceremonial meals in it. Some people put flowers, water, crystals, or other objects in a cauldron during rituals. Because the cauldron represents the womb, it can nurture your intentions—write a wish on a slip of paper and drop it in the cauldron to slowly develop. A traditional cauldron is made of iron, but yours might be fashioned from ceramic, copper, stainless steel, stone, or another fireproof material.

Oracles let you gaze into the future or to see things that lie beyond your ordinary range of vision. Pendulums and crystal balls provide glimpses into the unknown. Beautifully illustrated tarot cards are the most popular tools for reading the future—artists have created literally tens of thousands of different decks over the years. But divination isn’t the tarot’s only purpose. Some of the spells in
Part II
of this book use these cards in talismans, visualizations, and lots of other ways, as you’ll soon see. (If you want to learn more about the tarot, see my book
The Everything
®
Tarot Book
.) Runes, too, can guide your path into the future; they also play roles in many spells. As you gain skill in working with these oracles, you may discover new applications for them in your magickal work.

Before you use a tool for magickal purposes, it’s a good idea to clean and purify it. This removes unwanted energies, as well as dust and dirt. In most cases the easiest way to do this is to wash the item with mild soap and water. Some people like to cleanse their tools in a running stream or sacred pool, but when that’s not available ordinary tap water will suffice. If you prefer, you can “smudge” your tools by holding them in the smoke from burning sage for a few moments.

The next step is called “charging.” A magick ritual in itself, charging consecrates your tools for your purposes and transforms that stick of wood or wineglass into a magickal object. One popular method for doing this involves the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Mix a little sea salt in water (or use ocean water, if available) and sprinkle it on the tool as you say to it: “With earth and water I charge you to do my will.” Then, light incense and hold the tool in the smoke for a few moments while you say: “With fire and air I charge you to do my will.” (Make sure to dry and rub down metal tools after sprinkling them with salt water so they don’t tarnish or corrode.)

Another technique calls for anointing your tools with essential oils. Rub a little essential oil—a single oil or a blend of several—on the tool while you say: “With this oil I charge you to do my will.” The following table suggests appropriate oils for charging each tool.