Done? Good. Despite what everyone may say, there is only one, and one only, essential tool that you need in the craft. That tool is YOU, and the mindset you bring into it. It is your will that will empower every other tool. It is your will that creates the magick.
But other tools have their place as well. Through the use of tools, we help bring about the change in mindset that prepares us for ritual, for magick, for reverence. But the tools only work if you have faith in their purpose, if you empower them with your intent.
If you feel foolish waving a "knife" around and saying words to raise a circle, well, sorry to say it but the "knife" is only a knife and not an athame. If you don’t believe in what you are doing, if you don’t feel the connection with the tool in question, nothing will happen.
So, having said that, let’s move onto what I believe are the basic tools that every Wiccan needs. You can always have more, but I believe these are the basic necessities.
Altar. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, nor does it have to be a separate piece of furniture. It can be the top of a dresser or bookcase. It can be a night stand or a trunk lid. It can be shelf on the wall or a tree stump in your backyard. It can even be a clear section of the floor if that’s all you have available. It can be permanent or temporary. It is your choice depending upon the circumstances in your life. For me, I use a small night stand with a drawer and a bottom shelf so that I can store things when not in use.
Athame. I’m not going to get into a discussion about the type of "knife" you MUST use for an athame. My personal opinion for the athame, as well as for any tool, is that it must speak to you on some level. If an antique butter knife from grandma’s silver service calls you then it is no less magickal than the hand-crafted athame with inlaid crystals made by the witch next door. As for me, for the longest time I just used my hand (two fingers) because I hadn’t found something that spoke to me. Until last fall. It’s a double edged dagger with a rainbow-hued hilt. No black handle, and I keep mine razor sharp.
Book of Shadows (BOS). A Book of Shadows should be your reference resource to the things and rituals in the Craft that are important to you. What should be in it is up to you. You should include the charges, rituals and spellwork, correspondences, and information on the Sabbats. Some people keep their BOS in handwritten journals while others use loose leaf paper in a three ring binder. And some even keep it as computer files. A number of people have told me this website is like a book of shadows because such information is here. But I must admit that while I have owned the book that will one day be my BOS for about 2 years, I’ve not actually written anything into it. I’m busy putting information into other books - information on correspondences and tarot, and I have a separate book that I record rituals and spellwork in. But that’s just me and is what works for me.
Candles and Oil. Candles are used to invoke the elements and deities. Candles are used in spellwork. But they don’t have to be special candles of any type, and when you’re first beginning, while the color can be helpful, it isn’t always critical. And as for oil, yes, the essential oils are nice but so is a good olive oil. In a pinch, any vegetable oil can do. The flame of a burning candle can be useful to achieve meditative states. I use candles in every ritual or spellwork I do. It’s somewhat standard. However, when you can’t use candles, I’ve known people to use Christmas lights, regular lights, and even pictures of flames.
Censer / Incense Burner. Scent is a very powerful factor when creating a mindset. Whether you use incense sticks or cones, or if you create your own special incense blends, the scent will still help to create a ritualistic atmosphere. If you’re allergic to incense, you might consider using heated oil instead.
Chalice / Goblet. This isn’t usually used for spellwork, but is used during ritual. We drink the fruits of the earth to give thanks for the bounty we have received. You may also consider the use of a libation bowl to add an offering to the god/dess/es.
Fetish / Image. A representation of the God/dess/es. Some people use candles (white for both or silver for the Goddess and gold for the God), some make corn husk dolls, and still others use statues or pictures. But others don’t use anything since they know that the divine is within us. I have a number of things that I can use now but when I first dedicated myself, I made corn husk dolls.
Pentacle. For Wiccans, the Pentacle represents the five elements - earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. It is a visible reminder of our connectiveness to the universal forces around us.
Other niceties - containers for salt and water, representations for the elements.
And that’s the very basics for the tools. Again, don’t feel you need to have each of these things before you can do anything. As I’ve said above, YOU are the most important tool. All the others are just extensions of your will and desire.
NOTE: When purchasing your tools, don’t rush out to the fancy New Age shop down the road. You can find your tools at garage sales, flea markets, and the Goodwill store. I’ve gotten some at the Farmer’s Market; some are things that were once owned by my grandmother and mother. Some are things I’ve made. But in each case, the tool I have spoke to me on an inner level. And that is more important then any other consideration when deciding whether or not to get or make a tool.
In the final lesson, Dedication, I'll include a section on ritual information for dedicating and consecrating your tools. But until that time, happy tool hunting.
© 2001 Mother
