Ritual Tools and How You Can Use Them
Wiccan altar tools and how to use them
Altar tools don't have to be complicated or costly. You don't really need anything other than what you have on hand, You can even make your own or buy with a cheap price without going to a specific store, you can just hop into the dollar store and go looking around in there.
Ritual tools are as individual as the witch who uses them. But it helps to know what the basic tools are and how to use them.
It's your own heart that helps you best to know what you need on your altar. But since you need to know the rules before you can break them, read on . . .
What are the altar tools and what can you use them for?
Athame: The ritual knife or Athame is one of the main Wiccan altar tools. It's basically a small dagger which isn't used to cut through things which are physical and is normally used to direct energy, especially when used to cast circles and when recalling the circles too. Most people like to have their Athame to have a black handle because it's traditional but you can choose any color for your handle. Your athame does not have to be made out of metal and can simply be made out of wood, clay or even stone. Most Wiccans who have children don't actually like the idea of having a small dagger in the house so they prefer to have a wand instead.
Bell: you don't have to have a bell but it can be useful to cleanse a specific area or thing and can also be used to attract the divine's attention if you ring one. Bells with a lovely tone can carry healing energy and can be useful to end a ritual to which will be a good time to do so.
Broom: This tool isn't something which you will really need but it is useful to cleanse a sacred space like your altar. I advise having a small broom as it would be easier to place on your altar.
Book of shadows: the book of shadows is basically a diary of your spiritual journey and can also carry information about you and what you have learned in magick. You can add spells and other info in there too but this book must only be seen by your eyes not others.
Candles: candles can be used in rituals and spells and are one of the many tools which a witch or Wiccan would need. Down below is a color guide on what candles represent what.
Chalice: the Wiccan chalice is one of the main Wiccan altar tools and is used for ceremonial drink, offering libations to the Divine, or holding the salt-water solution. The Chalice doesn't have to be fancy and it could just be a normal wine glass or cup.
Deities: a statue or image of your God or Goddess who you are honoring is great for your altar to show the divine that you are honoring them. When putting your symbol of your god or goddess the goddess will be on the left and the god on the right.
Wand: a wand is can be used for divination and channeling magickal energy. They can be used to cast and recall circles, in place of the athame. A wand can be made out of any material but it's best for it to be made out of wood and to be natural. You can even use a simple pencil or chopstick for a wand or you can just find a stick you like which you might have found discarded on the ground.
Libation Dish: It is probably not necessary to point out that offerings should not be anything that could harm anything. For one thing, the Divine lives in all things, anything you harm is an injury to the Divine so its best not to hurt on injure anything. And pragmatically, you'll be giving the offerings to the Earth later. This dish is used to give offerings to the divine.
Pentacle: The pentacle is a circle with a star inside it, and this tool is normally placed in the center of the altar. This tool is known to be one of the most important tools of the altar as it offers protection and power in magickal work.
Song Book: you might not need this but this can be useful to have around to keep your chants in for rituals and spells.
Spellcasting Materials: These are tools which you normally use for spells, its best to keep these materials under your altar or in a drawer near it.
Color guide
Colours
| Directions
| colour meanings
|
|---|---|---|
Black, Green and Brown
| North
| Black: asorbing energy, banishing, breaking things like hexes, bad habits, ect, protection and self defence. Green: growth, fertility, harmony, health, prosperity, and wealth. Brown: abundance, family, friends, gardening, grounding, pets, and stability.
|
Yellow and White
| East
| Yellow: attractiveness, clarity, happiness, intelligence, persusasiveness, and travel. White: all purpose ( can be a subsitute for any colour), cleansing, purfication, truth, reflecting energy.
|
Red or Orange
| South
| Red: assertiveness, courage, creativity, energy, passionate, love and sex. Orange: ambition, concentration, sucess, eloquence, legal issues and intellectual pursuits.
|
Blue or aqua
| West
| Blue and aqua: dreamwork, healing, intuation, loyalty, peace, spirituality
|
White, silver or gold
| Center
| use this when not using god or goddess candles
|
One white, red or black
| Goddess and God
| These candles must be tall
|
So what about now?
If you decided to make the tools yourself instead of buying them there are many articles online and on this website. You don't have to have all the tools which are shown above and you don't have to spend a lot of money buying these tools either. I give you best wishes on your journey in Wicca and Blessed Be.
