Like skilled practitioners in any other line of work, magicians employ various tools to help focus, strengthen, and otherwise aid their endeavors. Strictly speaking, none of these tools are necessary to perform magick spells or rituals. But they can help “set the stage” and create an atmosphere that's conducive to working magick. In this sense, magick is a little like lovemaking: mood and environment do count and can influence the experience as well as the outcome.
You can fabricate your own magick implements or purchase them in occult/New Age stores or online. In either case, you'll need to cleanse, consecrate, and charge your tools before you use them. The process is a magickal act, and it should be undertaken with reverence within a sacred space.
Each time you perform magick with your tools, their powers increase. Treat them with the care you'd give your best jewelry or your favorite kitchen knives. When they're not in use, your tools should be carefully stored to protect them from dust and unwanted ambient vibrations. Metaphysical shops sell ready-made pouches of various sizes and materials that are designed for this purpose. I wrap mine in silk and then place them in a special wooden cabinet.
It's not a good idea to let other people handle or work with your magick tools because these sensitive objects retain the vibrations of everything—and everyone—they come in contact with. Somebody else's energy could potentially impact your magickal workings.
The four principal tools are the wand, the athame, the pentagram, and the chalice. Most magicians also use other equipment too, such as candles, incense, cauldrons, pendulums, runes, gemstones and crystals, bells, besoms, cords and ribbons, crystal balls and magick mirrors, herbs, oils, and a grimoire or book of shadows. Choose whatever tools you feel will assist you in your magick work.
The magick wand is the most familiar tool in the magician's toolbox. Contrary to depictions in movies and fairy tales, it is not used to turn people into toads or to make them disappear. You use a wand to direct energy. You can cast a circle with it or draw down power from the heavens into the manifest world during rituals and spellcasting. You can also send your own energy to another place or person with your wand, perhaps to protect or offer healing to another individual.
The wand represents the fire element, signifying will, creativity, action, desire, spirit, individuality, and courage. It's associated with masculine power (its phallic symbolism is obvious), summer, and the south. Astrology's fire signs and the sun, Mars, and Jupiter have connections to the wand, as does the suit of wands in the tarot.
You can purchase a wand or make your own. A wand should be about six to twelve inches in length, or as long and thick as you can comfortably handle. If you decide to fabricate it yourself, work when the sun and/or moon are in fire signs: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Also choose a day and hour that correspond to the sun, Mars, or Jupiter (see Chapter 13). The spring equinox and Lughnasadh are ideal times to fashion a magick wand too (see Chapter 9). Decorate your wand in a manner that bespeaks fire energy:
I encourage you to use your imagination. The most important thing is to make the wand yours in whatever way speaks to you and your intentions.
The next step is to charge your wand. This infuses it with personal power and elemental energy, and transforms it from an ordinary stick of wood (or other material) into a magick tool. After casting a circle in which to work, cleanse the wand physically by holding it in the smoke of burning sage. Mentally cleanse it too by envisioning it surrounded and suffused with pure white light.
Then, anoint your wand with a fiery essential oil, such as frankincense, almond, sandalwood, or cinnamon. When you've finished, walk to the south corner of your room or property, hold the wand up toward the sun, and state aloud an affirmation: “I now consecrate this wand to do the work of the God/dess and charge it to assist me in my magickal practice, in harmony with Divine Will, my own true will, and for the good of all concerned.”
You may wish to perform a more elaborate charging ritual. I hung my wand from an apple tree in the south corner of my yard for the solar month of Leo. Then I walked through my labyrinth with it each day for a lunar month while chanting an affirmation and visualizing the sun's power permeating it. Finally, I charged it with my own blood, sweat, and tears. (Semen may also be used to charge a magick wand, in keeping with the tool's creative, masculine nature.)
The most important factor in creating, cleansing, consecrating, and charging your wand is your intention. Employ whatever ceremony or procedure will enable you to direct your mental powers for your purposes.
The athame, or double-edged ritual dagger, corresponds to the element of air, representing thought, communication, the breath of life, and the power of light over darkness. It is connected with masculine power (like the wand, its phallic symbolism is obvious), spring, the east, and the planets Mercury and Uranus. Astrology's air signs—Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius—have connections to the athame, as does the suit of swords in the tarot.
Magicians consider the athame a banishing tool—don't use it to cut food or for other mundane purposes. You may, however, use the tip to carve symbols or words into candles you'll use for magick spells. Before performing a ritual, clear away harmful, disruptive, or unbalanced energies from your sacred space by symbolically slicing through the air with your athame. Some people cast circles with their athames. It can also disperse negativity and aid you in working protection or banishing spells.
Some magicians prefer to use antique athames. However, you should know how a tool was used in the past before you employ it yourself, for it retains the energies generated by previous owners and acts. Some magick workers believe the blade should never have drawn blood or caused harm.
Unless you possess blacksmith skills, you'll probably purchase an athame from a New Age/occult store. If you decide to make your own ritual dagger, do it when the sun and/or moon are in air signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius. Also consider the days and hours that correspond to Mercury and Uranus (see chapter 13). Imbolc and the autumnal equinox are ideal times to fashion this magick tool too.
The blade of an athame is typically about four to six inches long and fitted into a hilt that rests comfortably in your hand. The blade may be straight or curved, though some Wiccans prefer a curved blade that represents the crescent moon. Usually, the hilt is made of wood, leather, or metal. You may want to decorate the hilt in ways that represent the air element:
Before you use your dagger to work magick, you'll want to charge it to infuse it with personal and elemental energy in order to transform it from an ordinary knife into a magickal implement. After casting a circle in which to work, cleanse your athame physically with water and mentally by envisioning it surrounded and suffused with pure white light. If you like, you may also purify it by holding it in incense smoke.
Then, anoint your athame with essential oil—clove, lavender, anise, and lemon are good choices. When you've finished, walk to the east corner of your room or property, hold the athame up toward the sky, and state aloud an affirmation: “I now consecrate this athame to do the work of the God/dess and charge it to assist me in my magickal practice, in harmony with Divine Will, my own true will, and for the good of all concerned.”
You may design a more elaborate ritual to consecrate and charge your dagger if you wish or refer to other books on magick for suggestions.
Representative of the earth element, the five-pointed star with a circle around it is known as a pentagram. Magick workers associate it with feminine power, winter, and the north. It also symbolizes the human body—its five points correspond to the head, arms, and legs. The earth element is connected with fertility, stability, endurance, practical matters, the material world, and the embodiment of spirit within the manifest realm. Astrology's earth signs—Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn—have connections to the pentagram, as does the suit of pentacles in the tarot.
The tool most often associated with witches, the pentagram is a symbol of protection. You can wear one to safeguard you in the ordinary world as well as during magick rituals and while working between the worlds. Magicians frequently sign pentagrams in the air when casting a circle or in rituals. You can even get one tattooed on your body for ongoing protection.
I live in Texas and see pentagrams—known here as Texas stars—everywhere: hung on houses and public buildings, wrought into metal fences and gates, laid out in stone in city squares and parks. The lawmen called the Texas Rangers wore pentagram-shaped badges, which I suspect helped to protect them.
Unless you are skilled in jewelry making, you'll probably purchase your pentagram from an occult/New Age store or online. Some pentagrams are decorated with other magickal imagery, including spirals, circles, infinity symbols, and planetary glyphs. You can add these yourself if you wish. Because I am of Irish ancestry, I chose one that is encircled with Celtic knots. You may prefer a pentagram set with gemstones appropriate to the earth element: emerald, star sapphire, turquoise, jade, onyx, jet, smoky quartz, or malachite, for example.
Before you begin wearing your pentagram, you'll want to charge it to infuse it with personal and elemental energy in order to transform it from a decorative object into a magickal tool. Do this when the sun and/or moon are in earth signs: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. If possible, choose a day and hour that correspond to Venus (see Chapter 13). Beltane and the winter solstice are ideal times to prepare your pentagram too. After casting a circle, cleanse your pentagram physically with water and mentally by envisioning it surrounded and suffused with pure white light. You may also want to purify it with smoke from burning sage.
Then, anoint your pentagram with essential oil, such as basil, fennel, or pine. When you've finished, walk to the north corner of your room or property, hold the pentagram in your outstretched hand, and state aloud an affirmation: “I now consecrate this pentagram to do the work of the God/dess and charge it to assist me in my magickal practice, in harmony with Divine Will, my own true will, and for the good of all concerned.”
If you prefer, you may design a more elaborate ritual to consecrate and charge your pentagram or refer to other books on magick for suggestions.
The chalice or cup is a symbol of the water element, representing the emotions, love and relationships, intuition, fertility, nurturing, and compassion. Magicians associate it with feminine power (its womb-like symbolism is obvious), autumn, and the west. Astrology's water signs—Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces—have connections to the chalice, as does the suit of cups in the tarot.
In the tradition of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the bowl of the chalice is painted to resemble a crocus flower, with eight bright blue petals edged with orange. Divine names are written in orange on the petals.
Chalices hold libations during rituals; however, you should not drink from your chalice except for magickal purposes. Your chalice may be glass, metal, ceramic, or wood. I prefer silver because it's linked with the moon. If you wish, you can decorate your chalice; here are some suggestions:
Before you use your chalice, you'll want to charge it to infuse it with personal and elemental energy in order to transform it from an ordinary cup into a magick tool. It's best to do this when the sun and/or moon are in water signs and, if possible, during the days and hours that correspond to the moon (see Chapter 13). The summer solstice and Samhain, when the sun occupies water signs, are also good times to charge your chalice. After casting a circle, cleanse your chalice physically with water and mentally by envisioning it surrounded and suffused with pure white light.
Then, anoint your chalice with essential oil of rose, lily of the valley, jasmine, or ylang-ylang. (Don't put the oil near the rim of the bowl.) When you've finished, walk to the west corner of your room or property, hold the chalice in your outstretched hand, and state aloud an affirmation: “I now consecrate this chalice to do the work of the God/dess and charge it to assist me in my magickal practice, in harmony with Divine Will, my own true will, and for the good of all concerned.”
You may prefer to design a more elaborate ritual to consecrate and charge your chalice. For example, before rubbing my chalice with jasmine and rose oils, I submerge it in a body of water that's special to me for one lunar month.
PROSPERITY POTION
Perform this spell while the moon is waxing, preferably on Thursday or Friday. Depending on your time frame, you may also want to choose a day when Venus is in Taurus.
What you'll need:
You'll probably make this potion in your kitchen, so begin by smudging the space to cleanse it of any unwanted energies. Cast a circle. Then wash your chalice and pat it dry.
Brew a cup of peppermint tea and allow it to cool to room temperature.
Wash the aventurine, clear quartz crystal, and dime and pat dry.
Place the stone, crystal, and dime in your chalice, and pour the tea over them.
Grate some fresh ginger (to speed up your spell) and add it to the tea.
Stir the potion three times in a clockwise direction to charge it while you say an incantation: “This magick potion brings to me / blessings and prosperity / with good to all, so mote it be.”
Sip the tea, being careful not to swallow the stones or dime, while you envision abundance coming to you. Imagine receiving whatever represents abundance to you.
When you've finished, open the circle. Wash the chalice, stones, and dime to use at a later time.
Magicians often utilize other tools in their work too. The following list describes some of the many magick implements that may find their way into your practice. Anything can become a magick tool, if you see it that way. A kitchen knife can serve as an athame; a stick of wood can be a wand. In the beginning, select the tools that fit into your own practice—and budget—and then add others as you progress on your path.
Bells represent feminine energy. You can use them to punctuate meditation, prayers, or chanting; to mark turning points in rituals; and to attract the attention of deities. They also break up stagnant energy and thus aid in clearing sacred space.
Besoms (or brooms) are used to sweep sacred space clean in preparation for a spell or ritual. No, witches don't ride on them.
Candles are the most versatile and popular tools. Candles symbolize the light of spirit, truth, and wisdom shining through the darkness of ignorance and fear. Obviously, they relate to the fire element. Putting candles on a birthday cake for the purpose of making a wish is a simple form of candle magick. Choose colors that correspond to your intention: pink for love, green for prosperity, and so on.
MOVING CANDLES IN SPELLS
Some candle spells call for positioning candles for the purpose of attraction or repulsion. Designate a candle to represent you; select another to represent something or someone you wish to attract or repel. Set the candles on your altar or another place where they can burn safely. Light the candles and let them burn for a while, and then snuff them out. Over a period of days, gradually move the candles closer together to attract what you desire or farther apart to push away what you don't want. The movement symbolizes your intent.
Cauldrons are convenient for holding water, herbal mixtures, or magick brews during rituals. You can cook ritual meals in a cauldron too, which adds a festive touch during the sabbats (see Chapter 9). Like the chalice, the cauldron is considered a feminine tool—its shape symbolizes the womb.
Cords and ribbons may be knotted during spells to contain energy until you're ready to release it. They also play a role in binding spells by tying up unwanted energies to prevent harm.
Crystal balls and magick mirrors are used for scrying. Gazing into them allows you to see beyond the limits of ordinary sight.
Crystals and gemstones have many uses in magick work. You can add them to talismans and amulets, put them in magick potions, place them on the body to facilitate healing, wear them for protection or to enhance desired qualities, and more. Chapter 12 discusses them in greater depth.
A grimoire, or book of shadows, is your personal collection of spells. It contains your secret recipes along with information about the purposes for which you employed these spells, what you experienced in the process, and the results you obtained. I also record the dates when I performed certain spells and relevant astrological data (lunar phases, solar positions, planetary patterns), as well as explanations of how celestial energies contributed to the spellworking.
Some people believe you should not allow anyone else to read your grimoire. I think it's okay to share secrets with a magickal partner, members of a group with whom you do spellwork, or someone you trust. I include spells and rituals in my books because I consider the exchange of occult knowledge—when done responsibly and selectively—to be healthy, and because one of my goals as a teacher is to share what I've learned with others, in the hope that they may benefit from my experience. Don't make your grimoire accessible to people who might misuse or misconstrue its contents, however. Early grimoires were often written in code so they wouldn't be understood if they fell into the wrong hands.
As you progress in your magickal work, you may amend some of your earlier methods or ingredients. Most likely, you'll gain greater understanding of the spells you did in the beginning stages and why they were—or were not—successful. Remember to include “mistakes” or “failures,” as these can be helpful too. For more information, see my book The Modern Witchcraft Grimoire.
Botanicals have both physical and symbolic characteristics that you can use in magick work. Herbs, flowers, and plant material can be put in talismans and amulets, added to potions and lotions, burned in ritual fires, planted in magickal gardens, and more. Many herbs possess medicinal properties that can aid magickal healing. Chapter 11 discusses botanicals in greater depth.
Incense is another common magick tool, but don't let its unassuming form fool you—it can be very powerful. Incense combines the elements of fire and air and can be included in virtually any ritual or spell. Magicians burn incense to purify sacred space and to carry messages or prayers to deities in the higher realms. Its aromatic properties also help stimulate the senses and the brain to enhance concentration.
This divination tool allows you to “dowse” answers to questions. Usually a pendulum consists of a small weight or “bob” made of stone, metal, wood, or another material suspended from a short chain or cord. When you hold it, the pendulum responds to your queries by moving of its own accord in a prescribed direction.
Runes are letters that serve as symbols and divination tools. Each letter holds a secret meaning. In spellwork, you can inscribe them on candles, add them to talismans and amulets, draw them in sigils, wear them for protection, or use them in other ways to facilitate your intentions. You can also do readings with runes, in much the same way as you would do a tarot reading.
The sword is a fire weapon used to banish harmful or disruptive influences from a sacred space. This powerful masculine symbol is frequently associated with the avenging angel Michael and is wielded in ceremonies or rituals.
Many astrologers and magick workers use the tarot for divination, personal growth, guidance, and spellwork. If you look at a typical tarot deck, you'll notice numerous correspondences between the cards, astrology, and magick. As I've already mentioned, the four suits in the minor arcana relate to the four elements:
Wands: Fire
Pentacles: Earth
Swords: Air
Cups: Water
The major arcana also contain a wealth of astrological and magickal symbolism. Card number 1, for instance, is usually called The Magician (although various decks use different names). In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck—the most popular deck and the most influential in modern times—The Magician stands behind a table with three of the principal magick tools: the athame, the pentagram, and the chalice. He holds the fourth, the wand, in his right hand and points it toward the heavens.
The Rider-Waite-Smith tarot was created by Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith, two members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Waite became the Grand Master of the mystical order. William Rider & Son in London first published the deck in 1910, and it has never been out of print since.
Card 17 is called The Star; card 18, The Moon; and card 19, The Sun. The last card in the major arcana, The World, features images at its corners that represent the four fixed signs of the zodiac: a human (Aquarius), a bull (Taurus), a lion (Leo), and an eagle (Scorpio).
Throughout the tarot, you'll spot plenty of other astrological and magickal symbols. For example, the glyph for Venus appears on The Empress card (number 3). Justice, card number 11, holds a set of scales, the symbol for Libra. Temperance, card 14, shows an angel pouring water from one chalice to another. The Devil, card 15, has an upside-down five-pointed star above his head. And on and on. The tarot provides a wealth of information and imagery that can augment your magick work as well as aid your personal and spiritual journey.