There are Many ritual tools, and here I will give explinations to their uses, and a picture so you can take a look if you've never seen them before.
ATHAME-
-The Athame is a double edged ritual knife. It can be likened to a dagger. That link shows the most 100% origional basic Athame. Most Athame's have a black handle, and for good reason. The on in the picture does not that that isn't that big of a deal. The athame is used much like the wand, to cast the circle.It is also used to direct energies, invoke and banish energies. The black handle is used to ground, it pulls in all the wondering energies and concumes them. This knife is NEVER EVER EVER EVER used to harm anything. It is not used to cut anything physical. If even 1/16 drop of blood touches the blade, it is tained. Some believe if that happenes, you can just re-bless, concencrate and dedicate it again, but others believe it is forever tainted and that it won't be able to used.
BOOK OF SHADOWS- (BOS)
-That is an example of a BOS. A BOS is basicly just a book you handwrite yourself that has spells and rituals and recipies and potions in it. It could also have charts and inportant info you don't want to foget. You can make one, or just simply go by one of those lineless sketchbooks or journals at a book store and use that. It dosn't have to be black, it can even be a notebook. Its up to you.
Chalice-
- chalice is basicly a ritual cup, used mainly for liberation to the God and Goddess. It is also used sometimes, to gather, hold and disperse energies.
Wand-
- wand is a ritual tool, that can be made or bought. Many perfer to make their own because of the whole energy and personality with it. Most wands are made to be the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. Most beginners build their wands from Willow, but any tree is fine. Most people, when making a wand look at the MC of trees, which will come later. The wand is used to cast the circle, and direct energies. Personally I think the Athame is better because it goes one step farther then the wand and banishes and invokes energies.
Sword-
-I'm sure you know what those look like so I don't have to post a link. The sword is a mix between the staff and the athame. It isn't usually used for solitaries. It is mainly used in coven settings, and then it is used only by the high priest/ess. It can do the same as the wand and the athame.
Staff-
-The staff is used mainly in Shamanistic traditions. When the staff is forked, or has an antler on one end, it is often called a 'stag'. If you chose to use this, it is mainly used for outside rituals.
Cauldron -
-The cauldron as I said in an eariler post can represent the womb of the Goddess, where all magick flows from, or as the element water. the cauldron in modern day setting is used much differently. A solitary would normally have a small cauldron, instead of a large one used in coven settings. This cauldron would be used as an insence burner or used to place a tea candle of certian rituals/spells. The cauldron is most always in the center of the circle or the center of the alter, b/c as I said, it is where all magick flows, so it is the center of creation.
THE RITUAL PENTACLE-
-the ritual pentacle is often a flat piece of wood or metal with a pentacle on it, that sits at the center of the alter. The chalice and often bread sit on it for liberation.
THE BLACK MIRROR-
-The black mirror is a tool used only for diviation. i'm not teaching a class on divination so ask someone else about it, lol. It is also called a scrying mirror, as is a scrying bowl, a black bowl used for scrying.
THE BESOM-
-Or also called the broom is rarely used during rituals. Its peak is during the Imbolc celebration when the circle is symbolically sweeped. Other then that, the broom is rarely used.
The WHITE-HANDLED KNIFE
-Also called a Bolline. It is a kinfe used to inscribe candles and harvest herbs. It can be something such as a discarded almost dull kitchen knife, that you use for herb harvesting and candle inscribing. But the bolline is only used for magick, you can't use it to harvest the herbs and then use it to clean the dirt out of your fingernails. Its used for magick only.
ATHAME-
-The Athame is a double edged ritual knife. It can be likened to a dagger. That link shows the most 100% origional basic Athame. Most Athame's have a black handle, and for good reason. The on in the picture does not that that isn't that big of a deal. The athame is used much like the wand, to cast the circle.It is also used to direct energies, invoke and banish energies. The black handle is used to ground, it pulls in all the wondering energies and concumes them. This knife is NEVER EVER EVER EVER used to harm anything. It is not used to cut anything physical. If even 1/16 drop of blood touches the blade, it is tained. Some believe if that happenes, you can just re-bless, concencrate and dedicate it again, but others believe it is forever tainted and that it won't be able to used.
BOOK OF SHADOWS- (BOS)
-That is an example of a BOS. A BOS is basicly just a book you handwrite yourself that has spells and rituals and recipies and potions in it. It could also have charts and inportant info you don't want to foget. You can make one, or just simply go by one of those lineless sketchbooks or journals at a book store and use that. It dosn't have to be black, it can even be a notebook. Its up to you.
Chalice-
- chalice is basicly a ritual cup, used mainly for liberation to the God and Goddess. It is also used sometimes, to gather, hold and disperse energies.
Wand-
- wand is a ritual tool, that can be made or bought. Many perfer to make their own because of the whole energy and personality with it. Most wands are made to be the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. Most beginners build their wands from Willow, but any tree is fine. Most people, when making a wand look at the MC of trees, which will come later. The wand is used to cast the circle, and direct energies. Personally I think the Athame is better because it goes one step farther then the wand and banishes and invokes energies.
Sword-
-I'm sure you know what those look like so I don't have to post a link. The sword is a mix between the staff and the athame. It isn't usually used for solitaries. It is mainly used in coven settings, and then it is used only by the high priest/ess. It can do the same as the wand and the athame.
Staff-
-The staff is used mainly in Shamanistic traditions. When the staff is forked, or has an antler on one end, it is often called a 'stag'. If you chose to use this, it is mainly used for outside rituals.
Cauldron -
-The cauldron as I said in an eariler post can represent the womb of the Goddess, where all magick flows from, or as the element water. the cauldron in modern day setting is used much differently. A solitary would normally have a small cauldron, instead of a large one used in coven settings. This cauldron would be used as an insence burner or used to place a tea candle of certian rituals/spells. The cauldron is most always in the center of the circle or the center of the alter, b/c as I said, it is where all magick flows, so it is the center of creation.
THE RITUAL PENTACLE-
-the ritual pentacle is often a flat piece of wood or metal with a pentacle on it, that sits at the center of the alter. The chalice and often bread sit on it for liberation.
THE BLACK MIRROR-
-The black mirror is a tool used only for diviation. i'm not teaching a class on divination so ask someone else about it, lol. It is also called a scrying mirror, as is a scrying bowl, a black bowl used for scrying.
THE BESOM-
-Or also called the broom is rarely used during rituals. Its peak is during the Imbolc celebration when the circle is symbolically sweeped. Other then that, the broom is rarely used.
The WHITE-HANDLED KNIFE
-Also called a Bolline. It is a kinfe used to inscribe candles and harvest herbs. It can be something such as a discarded almost dull kitchen knife, that you use for herb harvesting and candle inscribing. But the bolline is only used for magick, you can't use it to harvest the herbs and then use it to clean the dirt out of your fingernails. Its used for magick only.
