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The 6 Basic Wicca Tools
Like any religion with a ceremonial practice, the Wicca or Pagan religion has some basic tools for their rituals. Below we give a basic introduction to some of the tools of Witchcraft, and a little note about what their purposes are. This article will provide more information on each. Let’s start with what can typically be items of a Wiccan Altar:
1. Pentacle
It is a centerpiece of most altars, the Pentacle is a flat circle of some material, often wood, glass, or stone, on which you draw, paint, or etch a Pentacle. This represents the combination of the five elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Spirit), as well as humanity in perfect balance as the combination of the five elements. It, in and of itself, represents the element of earth, though the symbol encompasses all.
2. Athame
The athame is a black-handled knife for ceremonial or ritual cutting. This knife is rarely if ever used to cut anything physical, its purpose to specifically focused on cutting non-material. As such it is often used for casting a circle (though the wand is sometimes used for this purpose), drawing binding runes in the metaphysical boundaries of one home, or other symbolic uses. It symbolically represents the Element of Air.
Wicca Tools
3. Boline
The Boline is the white-handled counterpart to the Athame and is made use of, as one might suspect, for cutting things in the physical realm. It is sometimes shaped as a small sickle, rather than a straight blade. It is often used for cutting cords, carving runes into objects, chopping magical herbs, or even mixing cooking mixtures.
4. Wand
The wand, though not used in all traditions, represents the element of Fire. It is often made of wood or metal, decorated with crystals, gemstones, and occasionally leather. It is often used for directing energy, much as the Athame, and according to Gardner was used in summoning spirits which the Athame would somehow be inappropriate for. Both the Athame and the Wand can also represent the Masculine principle.
Wicca Tools
5. Chalice
The Chalice represents the element of Water. It is recognized as symbolically representing the mother goddess’s womb. It is often used to hold fluids used in blessing or passing around the participants in a ritual for blessing. A is also used as the feminine element in a symbolic bonding of the masculine and feminine principles where the Athame or wand is dipped, tip first, into the chalice.
6. Besom
This isn’t so much found ON the altar, as being part of the ceremonial tools. A besom is a traditional broom, with the handle of hazelwood, and the head made of birch twigs, often bound by willow withys. Its use is both a literal and symbolic cleansing of the ritual area, removing normal waste, as well as unwanted and residual energies from the ceremonial circle.
While some traditions utilize other tools, these are by far the most common tools. You likely use it in some respect in the home of any witch you happen to come across.
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