Psychic Blog

Many religions use tools for the purposes of rituals, and in some cases these are universal, like incense or an altar. Whilst you might imagine that the tool has some power in itself, in reality it is there to act as a focus of the power you are summoning. Tools may be made, purchased or handed down through the generations.

Here are just a few examples of Wiccan Tools:

Sword

The sword would symbolise strength and honour as well as control. It may be used to challenge a malevolent spirit and also as part of Wiccan ceremonies where the casting of the magic circle takes place. It is male in energy and represents the fire element.

Chalice

A chalice is feminine in principle and it is used during rituals where sacred red wine is drunk. The chalice may be made from wood, pottery or precious metal, but not silver.

Wand

A wand would be used when a person wants to summon a being; it is a gentler tool than a sword that may call up powers over people.

Censer

To hold incense a censer is used, it normally has a long chain attached to some sort of receptacle – it may look a bit like a lamp or candle holder or could be a dish or shell.

Incense

When you think of incense you might well think of cones or sticks, but generally Wiccans use solid incense that would be burnt in a censer. It looks a little like charcoal, and sometimes would be bought from religious shops, or in other cases home made to a particular recipe.

Pentacle

The five pointed star is usually made from wood, metal or wax, it is of course one of the most recognised Wiccan symbols. In its entirety it represents Earth, and the five points cover the elements: Earth, Water, Fire and Air with the last point reserved for Spirit.

Cords

A Wiccan Witch would likely own a set of nine cords, even though it would be rare to use them all. Cords are usually three meters long – which is the diameter of a magic circle which they sometimes help to mark out. The ends would be sealed to prevent fraying. Cords may be used for knot magic. But if they are not required for a ritual then they would not be brought into the circle. Colour traditions vary, but in one example – a male would wear blue which also represents east, a female would wear red that also symbolises south, green would mean west and yellow would be used for north. Then purple for the circle, gold for the Sun and silver for the Moon. Then white for the ladder of the Goddess and black for the Goddess in her crone aspect.

Bell

A bell quite simply marks the beginning and end of a ritual that creates a positive energy around the circle.

Ref: The Book of Wicca, Lucy Summers