Altar Tools

These are the Tools that you may need during Ritual. If buying them, remember to shop around for
prices, and to buy wisely, for some of them will be used over and over again throughout your lifetime! Don't
forget to Cleanse and Dedicate them, as shown in the Ritual at the bottom of the page or however you see fit!

Altar Cloths

(Recommended)
These are used to dress the Altar, can be specially bought or just any fabric that you like and come in a
variety of shapes and colours. It's traditional to use different colours for different purposes and festivals.

Amulets

Natural objects used to hold spells, usually for protection.

Athame

(Recommended)
An Athame is a double edged Ceremonial Knife. It can be sharp or blunt (depending upon your tradition and
preference, ours is blunt, cos we don't want Paramedics attending our Rites!) Some say it should be white
handled, others black handled, but as long as you are happy with it's form, then that's Ok! Ours is a Horn
Handled Silver Blade, made by a local Pagan cooperative, and called to us both when we walked into the
shop! Yours could be any type of knife, as long as once it's been dedicated to Ritual / Magick use you reserve
it for that use alone! Do not use it for actual cutting, but for directing Energy, especially when casting the
Circle, most use another knife (Bolline) for cutting. The Athame is considered a Male 'tool', with the Chalice being
it's partner Female Tool. (A-thar-mee, A-THame)

Bell

Used in Rituals by many for signalling beginnings, calling in
the Elements and at the end of the Ritual to signal that all is now complete.

Bolline

Traditionally the working knife, used for cutting
herbs, cords and candles whilst doing Ritual. (BOW-Line, Bolin)

Book of Shadows

(Recommended)
Your Magickal Journal, containing info and a diary of Rituals/ Magick that you've done. You may
well want to refer to it during Ritual, and to note down everything that happened before you forget!

Bowls

(Recommended)
To hold the Salt and Water upon your Altar. These can be specially
purchased ones, or just household ones that are reserved for this use.

Besom

Otherwise known as a Broomstick! Unfortunately not used for Flying
(though it'd sure be fun!) but for Ritual Cleansing and Symbolism. Couples leap a Besom when getting
Handfasted (hence the term 'living across the Broom' for those not wed that live together), and it's also
traditional to leap a Besom during Fertility Rites to show the Corn in the fields how high to grow! The
one pictured above is the one we made, that hangs in the Lair (see Silver Wolf's Lair) when not in use! (BE-sum, BESOOM)

Candles

(Recommended)
To represent the Goddess and God's presence, and for the Fire Element.
Various colours may be used, see the Correspondances page for more details!

Candle Snuffer

To extinguish Candles, as to blow the candle out is to insult both
the Fire and Air Elements, as you are dissipating the energy of one with another.

Cauldron

(Recommended)
For Scrying, mixing, burning things in. The Cauldron is a female Goddess representation.

Chalice

(Recommended)
The counterpart to the Athame, the Goddess symbol, used during the Great Rite to lower the
Athame into, symbolizing the union of the Goddess and God. Usually holds the Ritual Goddess Wine.

Censer

A non-flammable container for burning incense in. Can be
any item you feel is appropriate, often a seashell is used.

Crystals

These can be used in Magick, Healing, Ritual and Divination.

Crystal Ball

Usually quite expensive to buy, these are used for drawing in energy
and in Scrying. An alternative is to use a modified Snowglobe, removing the insides and refilling
with water after painting any colour you feel drawn to.

Divination Tools

Runes, Tarot, Crystals, Pendulums, and anything else that you
may want to use for Divination and to aid in decision making. It is best to learn more than one
type of Divination, so as to be able to ensure you get multiple answers to your questions.

Mortar and Pestle

Used to grind herbs to a fine paste for Magickal workings and in making your own incense.

Music

(Recommended)
The correct choice of Music can enhance the Ritual experience by a massive amount! Soft and
relaxing music can help with relaxing in the Ritual Bath, and for work such as guided visualizations. More
rowdy 'beat' filled music (such as Tribal, some Dance, etc) or even drumming yourself can be used
when you want to raise energy! One note of caution, don't bring your tape/CD player into the Circle, the
energies that will be raised within the Circle may adversely affect it's performance! It's far better to set it
to repeat outside the Circle.

Pendulums

Pendulums can be used in Divination and also away
from Ritual for identifying areas of Power and the ilk (such as ley-lines).

Pentagram

(Recommended)
An Earth symbol usually placed upon the Altar for protection during Rituals. It is also a favoured
jewellery item amongst Pagans. You can buy Silver Pentagrams (or Pentacles, a Pentagram enclosed
within a Circle) at festivals or from your local Pagan shop, or alternatively make your own (one
method we use when celebrating away from home is to make one from twigs, or even just scribe one
upon a suitable rock or stone!) If you are really desperate, you could even draw one on a piece of
paper and use that in an emergency!

Scrying Mirror

A Black glass mirror (one whose silver backing has been removed and
replaced with a black surface), used for Scrying and Divination.

Statues

(Recommended)
Can be any representation of the Goddess and God that you find draws you. From actual
statues of the Deities down to two rocks scribed with the Goddess and God symbols, whatever you feel
right for yourself. On our work Altar (the downstairs one) we have a lion and a unicorn, whereas upstairs
we have 2 rocks scribed with the Goddess and God symbols in Silver Ink, which reside on two cut off tree trunks.

Talismans

Man made articles that have Magickal intent within them. This could
be your Ritual Jewellery or any other object that you are using for Magickal / Ritual workings.

Wand

Female tool used for much the same uses as the Athame, can be made
from many different materials, from just a twig through to a crystal mounted on another material. We
have a matching Wand to our Athame, made from Laser Quartz and the same Horn as our Athame, inscribed
with the Elemental symbols and our Deity names carved in Runes. I find it a useful tool for healing use, especially
for divining what is wrong with others and to transmute energy to help heal their ailments.

Wooden Spoons

Used to stir Magickal Notions, Potions and Powders. As they are
made from wood they are not likely to taint the work in progress with any contamination.
Keep in mind these tools are not particularly necessary for magick to happen, the most important tool of all is you!!


Altar Tools  |  Altar Info  |  Altar Supplies and Sundries  |  Tool Cleansing Ritual

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