Tools of a Witch

Although this section is called Tools of a Witch it is very important to highlight that none of the tools here are in any way a mandatory requirement for the practise of Witchcraft. Many witches craft with nothing but their own hands and achieve spectacular results in doing so.The tools listed below are things you may choose to incorporate into your practise.

I'd also point out that tools tend to belong more to the Wiccan religion than to Witchcraft itself.

Chalice

Sometimes used to hold the element of water, sometimes to honour the Goddess (on an altar for example) and often used for drinking during ritual ceremonies.

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Wand

A tool for directing energy, invoking the elements or casting a circle/compass.

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Athame

The witch's ritual knife. Rarely used for practical "cutting work" but, like the wand, used more as a director of energy.

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Ouija board

Tool for communicating with the spirit world. Simple method of asking spirits to spell out messages from the Otherworld. (A basic piece of paper with yes/no on it works as well as any fancy store bought board.)

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Cauldron

Traditional cooking pot of the witch. Modern use is normally involved in making potions or working with fire if the cauldron is sturdy enough. The cauldron represents the female, the womb                                             from which magic is given birth.

                                          http://www.sxc.hu/photo/901792

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Broomstick

Traditional and modern use both involve cleaning though modern witches use the broom for cleaning atmosphere more than physical dirt. Brooms can be used to sweep negativity from a home and also retain their link to fertility rituals. The broom is a phallic symbol representing the male. 

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Crystals

Crystals have many different properties that can be put to use in magical work and are probably most often employed for magic involving healing. Crystals can also be used to represent the                                                  element of earth in a circle or a                                                ritual.

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Bell

Bells are used for breaking up the vibes of an atmosphere and also for signalling the start and the end of ritual. Bells can be used to request the presence of the Goddess for ritual work.

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Jars

Never underestimate how many jars a witch needs! Save every jar you wash out. Its useful to store things as you come across them as you never know what might be needed for a working.

Pendulum

Divinatory tool. Used to aid in decision making and/or future divining. Usually swung between a yes and no outcome or two different choice/options.

Boline

The name for the witch's practical knife used to cut herbs and the like. Very often this will be a white bone handled knife. This knife will not be used for ceremonial or ritual work.

Staff

Often used to conduct energy - from the sun or the moon for example. Can also be used to mark out a ritual area or for drawing energy into a circle.

Pestle and Mortar

Used for grinding herbs and resins to pastes and powders.

Statues

Statues are used to honour deities, spirits or elements and are often kept on altars and shrines. Sometimes a statue can be utilised to call down the power the image represents.

Tarot

Divinatory tool (though historical usage has little to do with magic/occult or fortune telling). Used both for looking into the future and for revealing clarification and understanding of current events in the querant's life.

Runes

Divinatory system of symbols with each symbol having an individual meaning which can be read alone or as part of a spread. The Elder Futhark runes can also be used in spell casting and many witches will carve into candles for example to lend the power of the rune to the spell.