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Guide to Ritual Tools
Many Pagans use magickal tools (sometimes called magickal weapons) in thier practice. As with much that has to do with magick, symbolism is highly important. Most tools have a specific ritual use, as well as being accociated with certain genders or elemental attributes.
As previously stated, there are almost as many interpretations of Paganism as there are Pagans. Not every tool is used by every path, and there are several different variations and uses. What follows are a few of the most common.
| Athame The central male ritual tool, the athame is a double bladed knife, typically with a black handle. It represents the element of air, and is placed into the chalice as the focus of the Great Rite, as well as being used to cast the circle that surrounds a ritual space. While usually kept sharp, in most traditions, the athame is never used to physically cut with. |
| Bell Usually made of brass and feminine in nature, the bell is used to mark the beginning and end of ritual, and to cleanse the ritual space. |
| Besom A ritual broom. Like a regular broom, the besom is used for cleansing the ritual space. The broom is also a fetility symbol, as it contains both male and female attributes. For this reason, it is also used in many Pagan wedding ceremonies. |
| Boline A white handled, crescent shaped knife. Where the athame is used only to cut symbolically, the boline does the physical work of cutting herbs, cords, or performing other manual tasks. |
| Book of Shadows This is a journal whose content varies wildly from person to person. It is generally used as a combination diary / workbook / reference / planner / record. It may contain spells or ceremonies the user has written, stories or songs from mythology, solar/lunar/astrological calender, details of past events, or information on plants, crystals, or any other subjects of study. Hand copying the contents of a group BOS into a personal copy is a common teaching tool for covens. |
| Cakes and Ale Found especially in Wiccan ceremonies, this is essentially a type of communion. It serves as a blessing and a reminder that the divine will provide. In practice, Cakes and Ale can refer to any food and drink consumed in this manner, but most often takes the form of sweet baked breads and wine or mead (although many groups use non-alcoholic beverages), usually incorporating seasonal ingredients. |
| Candles Used for several purposes- To perform candle magick, represent the element of fire, or for practical purposes such as lighting or mood. In many traditions a pair of candles is lit to represent the dieties being invoked, with a white or silver candle for the Goddess, and a black or gold candle for the God. |
| Cauldron A large three legged pot, idealy of cast iron, but brass, copper, or even ceramic are also common. The cauldron can be used for multiple tasks, including actually cooking down herbs or oils for potions, filling with water for scrying, as a receptacle for offerrings, or even as a makeshift fireplace. |
| Censer Used to hold incense. (see incense, below) |
| Chalice The central female ritual tool, this is a cup, goblet, or other drinking vessel used for "cakes and ale", holding liquid offerings, and performing the great rite. It also serves to represent the element of water. |
| Incense Used to represent the element of Air. Also makes things smell nice. |
| Pantacle Often referred to as a pentacle (the symbol most often used on one), the pantacle is a wooden, stone, or metal disk inscribed with one or more sacred symbols that represent the user's "map" of the cosmos. It represents the element of earth, and items are often placed on it during consecrations or clensings. |
| Staff / Stave A multipurposed item- can be used as a walking stick or like a wand to represent fire. Being a weapon, it also represents protection, support, and other aspects of the warrior's path. |
| Wand This tool is used as an extension of the arm to direct energy in a specific way, and is usually used for pointing, "writing", or even stirring a cauldron. It is extremely masculine, and also associated with the element of fire. |