Author: A Solitary Pagan

An athame is, quite simply, a ceremonial knife. You can obtain an athame from a specialist magical shop, but as I said before, any knife – even a letter opener – will do, although it should preferably have a silver-colored blade. Athames are traditionally double-edged and black-handled, but a single-edged blade is better if you are new to magick, to avoid unintentional cuts. There is a vast array ...

The chalice, or ritual cup, used for rituals is traditionally made of silver, but you can also use crystal,glass, stainless steel or pewter. The chalice represents the Water element and is placed in the West of the altar. Like the sword, it is a sacred Grail treasure and is a source of spiritual inspiration. The Grail cup is most usually represented as the chalice that Christ used at the Last Supp...

The eye is considered to be the primary organ of sense perception. It is closely associated with light, the spirit, and the sun. The eye symbolizes spiritual and mental perception and is considered to be the mirror of the soul, the organ of spiritual and mental expression. The right eye is associated with the activity, the future, and the sun. The left eye is associated with passivity, the past, a...

While the word “cauldron” may bring to mind images of Shakespeare’s three witches tossing all kinds of animal parts into a boiling stew for evil purposes, the cauldron is really a symbol of the Goddess and the creative forces of transformation. Cauldrons appear in many ancient Celtic myths in connection with magical occurrences and continue to influence Witchcraft today. Associated with the elemen...

The bell stands in the North of the circle and is an Earth symbol.It is an optional tool and can be made from either crystal or protective brass.Best for magick is the kind that you strike.The bell is traditionally rung nine times at the beginning and close of each ritual; the person ringing the bell should stand in the South of the circle, facing North. (Nine is the magical number of completion a...

You may need to collect some basic tools for your spells and rituals. They need not be at all expensive. Magick was traditionally carried out with the equipment of the home. The broom for sweeping the magical circle was the besom used for sweeping dirt (and negativity) out ofthe door and was stored with its bristles upwards to protect the home. The cauldron was the iron cooking pot on the black ki...

The ritual knife, like the wand, is a tool that directs energy in ritual, and may also be used to draw the circle before ritual and close the circle afterwards. However, it is more of an energy manipulator or commander, due to its sharp edges, and therefore isn’t generally used to invoke deities, as this would be considered forceful, rather than collaborative, in terms of working with divine energ...

The pentacle is an important symbol-bearer in Witchcraft, normally inscribed with a pentagram, though other magical symbols may be present. The pentagram itself is a five-pointed star, drawn with five straight lines, often encircled, and always having one upward point. Each point is said to represent the elements of Air, Earth, Fire, and Water, with the Fifth Element (Spirit) as the upward point. ...

Once you have prepared your elemental substances, you can charge your tools ready for use. If they have been bought, whether new or second-hand, you might also like to cleanse them first. You can also cleanse them after a formal ritual or when their energies seem depleted. If the ritual is important or arduous, you can recharge the tools before each use, but usually, this is not necessary, as the ...