Magical tools in Wicca

Before tools are used in ritual they first are consecrated. In the Gardnerian Book of Shadows, there is a section based entirely on consecrating ritual items.[5][6] The Book of Shadows states items must be consecrated within a magic circle, at the centre of which lies a pentacle (or paten). Each item that is to be consecrated is placed upon the pentacle, sprinkled with salt and water and then passed through some incense. This is followed by the declaration,

Aradia and Cernunnos, deign to bless and to consecrate this [tool], that it may obtain necessary virtue through thee for all acts of love and beauty. Aradia and Cernunnos, bless this instrument prepared in thine honour.[5][7]

The Pentacle, or paten, is a disc-shaped altar consecration tool with a sigil or magical symbol engraved or inscribed upon it. The most common symbol is a pentagram within a circle, specifically a pentacle, although some other symbols may be used such as the triquetra. The disc is symbolic of the element of earth. It is typically used during evocation as a symbol which blesses items, as well as magically energizing that which is placed upon it.[8][9][10]

A sword or a ritual knife, commonly known as Athame, is often used in Wiccan ritual. In Gardnerian Wicca these are symbolic of the element of fire.[4] Athame is elemental in nature while the sword is planetary in nature.[11]

Athame is traditionally black-handled and usually inscribed (sometimes in the Theban alphabet). It is used to direct energy for the casting of magic circles, controlling of spirits and other ritual purposes. Gerald Gardner described it as "the true Witch's weapon" in the Bricket Wood Book of Shadows,[12] something which he has been criticized for, by Frederic Lamond believing there should be no "weapons" in Wicca.[13] In some traditions, it is never used under any circumstances to draw blood, becoming tainted and requiring destruction if it does.[14]

The term "Athame" in its modern spelling first appears in Wicca, but it originates from words found in two historical copies of the Key of Solomon. The version currently held in the Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, Paris, uses the term "arthame" to describe a black-handled knife. This was adopted by C.J.S. Thompson in his 1927 book The Mysteries and Secrets of Magic and by Grillot de Givry in his 1931 book Witchcraft, Magic and Alchemy. The historian Ronald Hutton theorized that Gardner got it either directly or indirectly from one of these sources, although with a modified spelling.[12]

In Gardnerian Wicca, the wand is symbolic of the element of air, though in some traditions it instead symbolizes fire.[15] It can be made from any material, including wood, metal and rock, and Wiccan wands are sometimes set with gemstones or crystals.[9]

In his Book of Shadows, Gerald Gardner stated the wand is "used to summon certain spirits with whom it would not be meet to use the athame". Frederic Lamond states this referred to elemental spirits, who were traditionally believed to be scared of iron and steel.[4]

The chalice, or goblet, is symbolic of the element of water. Many Wiccans do not consider it to be a tool, but instead to be a symbol of the Goddess, particularly her womb.[4] The chalice bears many similarities with the Holy Grail, except for its symbolism used in witchcraft. Rather than being the blood of Christ, it is symbolic of the Goddess' womb. The chalice is traditionally used to hold wine.

The besom or broom, is often associated with witches and witchcraft. The stories of witches flying on brooms originated from the besom. In Wicca, it is used in handfasting ceremonies wherein a couple jumps over it. The besom is also used in seasonal fertility dances as a representation of a phallus.

The boline is a knife, traditionally with a curved blade like that of a crescent moon. It is used for harvesting and cutting herbs. A Kirfane which is a white handled knife is used for inscribing candles with symbols or sigils, or cutting ritual cords and often mistaken for the Boline. Unlike the Athame, the Kirfane is used in the physical process of magical works such as ritual cutting; the Kirfane serves for the physical plane what Athame serves for work in the spiritual/astral planes.

A cauldron is often associated with witches and witchcraft in western culture. In Wicca, it is sometimes used to represent the womb of the Goddess, like the chalice. It is often used for making brews (such as oils), incense-burning, and can be used to hold large, wide pillar candles depending on how small it is. A fire is often lit within the vessel and the flames are leaped over as a simple fertility rite, or at the end of a handfasting. If filled with water, a cauldron can be used for scrying. It plays a large role in Celtic magic in a similar fashion to that of Cerridwen's cauldron.

The censer is used to dispense incense.

In the various forms of British Traditional Wicca, cords, known as cingulum, or singulum (which literally translates as "girdle" or "belt"), are worn about the waist by adherents. These are often given to a Wiccan upon their initiation, and worn at each subsequent ritual.[16] Traditionally they are nine feet in length (nine being three times three, the magical number), and are used to measure the circumference of the magic circle so that it can be set up correctly.[16]

In many traditions of Wicca, the colour of a person's cingulum indicates what rank of initiate they are; in several Australian covens for instance, green denotes a novice, white denotes an initiate of the first degree, blue for the second and a plaited red, white and blue for the third, with the High Priest wearing a gold cingulum (symbolising the sun), and the High Priestess wearing silver (symbolising the moon).[16]

Wiccan High Priest Raymond Buckland stated the cingulum should not be worn, but kept especially for spellcraft.

The scourge is a type of religious whip. It is used in Gardnerian Wicca to flagellate members of the coven, primarily in initiation rites. Frederic Lamond said that whilst Gardner never told his Bricket Wood coven which element this was associated with, he believed that as an "instrument for exercising power over others" then it should be Fire.[4] The scourge stands in contrast to "the Kiss" in Gardnerian and other forms of Wicca. Being representative of the "gifts of the Goddess," the scourge standing for sacrifice and suffering one is willing to endure to learn, the kiss being the blessings of abundance in all life's aspects.

In the tradition of Seax-Wica, the spear is used as a ritual tool symbolizing the god Woden, who, in Seax-Wicca tradition, is viewed as an emanation of God in place of the Horned God. According to Norse mythology, the god Odin who is the Norse equivalent to the Anglo-Saxon Woden carried the spear Gungnir. For the purpose of comparison it is notable Seax-Wica is not a part of traditional initiatory Wicca, nor is it substantially linked to the Gardnerian or Alexandrian traditions.

The stang is usually a pronged wooden staff,[17] topped either with a naturally occurring fork or with antlers affixed.[18] The stang was among the ritual items used by Robert Cochrane,[19] while the term itself was likely popularized by his influence.[20] The stang can be used for representing the Horned God, directing energy, or helping with spirit journeying.[20]

• Smudge Stick