Appendix F

Necessary Magical Tools and Alternatives

Element	Tool	Description
Air	Wand	The wand is usually a length of wood (traditionally willow for a woman’s wand and oak for a man’s wand) that a Witch uses to summon spiritual energies. Witches also use the wand in lunar rituals and in rituals that involve drawing down the Goddess or God into a priest or priestess. Witches sometimes “load” the wand by carving out a hole in the top and the bottom and filling these holes with specific air-aligned herbs and magical stones.
Fire	Athame	The athame is a double-edged, dark-handled knife. Witches use the athame as their main tool to cast and to summon magical energies. Traditionally, a Witch might magnetize the steel blade of the athame using a lodestone. Magical folk believe that this practice ensures that the athame will draw to it whatever a Witch desires. You should only use the athame for ritual purposes and never for mundane activities, including the cutting of herbs. (Herb harvesting is best done with the boline. Witches typically use the white-handled knife for mundane tasks such as cutting cords, scraping candle wax from surfaces, and sometimes for inscribing candles during a ceremony.)
Water	Chalice	The chalice is traditionally a stemmed cup. The chalice can be of any material; however, since the chalice aligns with the energies of the Goddess, Witches give preference to cups made of silver (or silver metals). Witches use the cup in making potions and in fertility rites.
Earth	Pentacle	The pentacle is a disk that has a five-pointed star engraved upon it. The disk can be made of any “earthy” material. Traditionally, Witches make the pentacle from wood, wax, clay, or copper. The pentacle is a tool of fertility rites and blessing rites and of summoning the Goddess.
Air	Boline	The boline is small knife with a sickle-shaped blade. Witches use this tool to harvest ritual/magical herbs. While there is no specific instruction to use a boline to harvest herbs during this year and a day, this can be a useful tool to have.
Element	Tool	Description
Fire	White-Handled Knife	The white-handled knife is usually a single-edged knife with a white (or light-colored) handle. Witches use the white-handled knife to chop herbs, to inscribe candles, and to serve as a tool for all mundane purposes within a magic circle.
Air	Bell	Witches use the bell to start and finish ceremonies, and also to summon energies and entities. They also use the bell in initiatory rites.
Fire	Sword	Magical swords are usually double-edged. They are only used in ritual. The sword represents a coven’s collective link to fire and the collective will. This tool is used in summoning the God and in casting a coven’s magic circle.
Fire	Thurible	The thurible is a metallic dish or bowl that Witches use to burn incense, herbs, and other small ritual items. The thurible is usually made of iron.
Water	Scourge	Usually British Traditional Wiccans are the only ones who use the scourge in initiatory rites. They use this tool to purify an initiate’s chakra system by stimulating the root chakra. None of the rituals in this volume require the use of a scourge, but you might make one if you simply want to try it out as a magical tool. (See the fourth lunation for a more detailed description of this tool and its history and uses.)
Water	Cauldron	The cauldron is usually a deep-set iron pot that Witches use in a ritual context. The cauldron represents a coven’s collective link to water and their collective power to dare. It also represents the Goddess’s womb. There are a few rituals that call for a cauldron during this year and a day of study. If you do not have one, you can always use any deep, heat-resistant pot that you have in the kitchen. I would recommend that you reserve the pot you use as a substitute for the cauldron for only magical workings after you use it the first time. It can be a magical distraction if you’re using the same pot for cooking and for spellcasting.
Element	Tool	Description
Earth	Cords	Witches use the cords to cinch their robes. They also use the cords in initiatory rites. In various traditions of Witchcraft, the cord color that a Witch wears can represent his or her level of attainment, or “degree,” within a system of study. In British Traditional practice, the white cord represents the First Degree, while the red cord represents the Second Degree. Cords also symbolize the umbilical cord and therefore represent an individual Witch’s connection to earth and/or to a spiritual community.
Spirit	Book of Shadows	A Book of Shadows traditionally is a handwritten book that contains the spellwork and rituals that relate to some particular Wiccan tradition. Each tradition has its own Book of Shadows. Some Witches develop their own. Witches call a personal (non-traditional) book of spells and rituals a grimoire. While this year and a day of study does not require a grimoire or Book of Shadows, you may wish to begin creating one for your own reference and magical use.

Alternatives to the Traditional Tools

It is common for Witches of all degrees in the Craft to own the magical tools. If procuring these becomes financially burdensome, you can try using the “natural” tool alternatives as described here.

Element	Tool	Alternative
Air	Wand	Outstretched arm with index finger extended
Fire	Athame	Outstretched hand with index and middle fingers side by side
Water	Cup	Hands held together to form a natural “bowl”
Earth	Pentacle	The whole body, particularly when the arms and legs are outstretched to accentuate the “five points,” which include the extremities and the head

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