Tools of Witchcraft (Now an Open Discussion Forum)

[Naomi Tinuveil]

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[Naomi Tinuveil]

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[Naomi Tinuveil]

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[Naomi Tinuveil]

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[Naomi Tinuveil]

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[Naomi Tinuveil]

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[Naomi Tinuveil]

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[Naomi Tinuveil]

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[Naomi Tinuveil]

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[Naomi Tinuveil]

Staffs


The distinction between staffs and wands often come down to size. The staff is longer, thicker, and often doubles as a walking stick. A staff should be long and sturdy enough to lean on comfortably. (Thus a tall person requires a longer staff than a shorter person.)

Staffs are now identified primarily as wizards? tools. The most famous modern image derives from J.R.R. Tolkien?s Lord of the Rings cycle, whose wizards Gandalf and Saruman do battle with their staffs. Staffs are also closely identified with the biblical Mosses and his opponents, powerful Egyptian magicians.

Deities identified with staffs include Odin and Eshu-Elegbara. When Hermes isn?t carrying his caduceus (see Wand), he substitutes a shepherd?s staff instead.

*Like most magical tools, staffs have other uses besides magic, being associated with walking sticks and shepherds? staffs.

The staff is not a subtle tool: it?s a big piece of wood. When walking sticks (and perhaps walking in general) fell from fashion, so did the magical staff. Its niche has somewhat been filled by the smaller, and thus more subtle and versatile, magic wand.

Magic staffs are now most profoundly identified with Obeah, the African-derived magical and spiritual traditions of the British West Indies. The Obeah or Obi Stick is a carved wooden staff, frequently ornamented with a serpentine motif. The Staff of Moses is a more elaborate staff that usually features a carving or a snake encircling the staff from top to bottom.

Staffs were once also powerfully identified with Nordic spiritual and magical traditions. Staffs were engraved with powerful runes to further empower and direct their inherent energies. Many traditions recommend hollowing out a staff and filling it with botanicals, amulets or other magically empowered materials. Staffs radiate male magical energy; they are the direct descendants of sacred phallic poles, especially those carried in Dionysian processions. Wooden staffs radiate the power of the type of tree they were crafted from.

Staffs, also called staves, are among the tarot?s four suits, corresponding to the playing card suit of clubs.  

[Naomi Tinuveil]

Swords

Magic swords have historically played a role in Chinese, Japanese, Jewish, and Persian magical traditions. They remain popular in East Asian magic, High Ceremonial Magic, and modern Wicca.

Magic swords may be actual functional swords complete with sharp blades or ceremonial replicas. Swords invoke primal metal magic although wooden swords also exist, particularly in East Asia. Swords are powerfully associated with the primordial magic traditions of metal-working.

Swords radiate masculine energy; the scabbard is its feminine partner. Swords are most commonly associated with the element air, however this is controversial; some also identify swords with fire. Swords do not fit neatly into elemental categories being the product of all elements. The raw material for swords is dug from Earth and the process of crafting a sword involves the interplay of air, fire, and water.

Crafting swords was a secret, magical operation. Spell-casting and spiritual invocation was once involved in the creation of powerful magic sword (and in some cases it still is). Rumors periodically circulated that blood sacrifice, including human sacrifice, was required to forge magic swords. Vestiges of these legends survive in Japanese mythology.

Swords may be engraved with runes, sigils, Names of Power, Kabalistic inscriptions or other magical embellishments. They are used for casting circles and for various magical practices including protection spells, exorcisms, spirit-summoning, and banishing spells. Swords are among the four tarot suits, corresponding to the playing card suit of Spades.  

[Naomi Tinuveil]

Tripod

No, not a camera tripod: this tripod is based on ritual equipment from the Oracle of Delphi. The Pythoness at Delphi sat atop a tripod, a high three-legged stool overlooking a steaming chasm that allegedly inspired psychic vision in order to deliver her prophesies. The key to the tripod is the three legs.

Early Greek altars were sometimes placed on a tripod. The most common modern tripod is essentially a cauldron standing on three legs (see cauldron).  

[Naomi Tinuveil]

Wands



It is crucial to recall that a magic wand is but a tool. Magic power ultimately derives from the person who wields that tool. The wand serves to enhance and direct that power but never substitutes for it.

Wands rival brooms for the title of tool most associated with magic and witchcraft. It is important to note that, as with brooms, not every practitioner uses a wand. They are not a requirement of magical practice, merely among one of its most popular tools.

Wands represent male phallic power but are used by both male and female practitioners. Wizards use wands but so do the sorceress-goddess Circe. Female fairies are commonly depicted employing wands. The Maenads brandished Dionysus’ sacred wand, the thyrsus. The wand may put masculine power in the hands of a woman in the same manner that a broom or birch switch places feminine power in the hands of a man.

The wand may be understood as deriving from ancient sacred phallic images and is closely related to the staff. It may also be understood as deriving from the ancient feminine mysteries of the labrys. (See Labrys)

The wand may be understood as tapping into the power of trees. Different types of wood are believed to radiate different energies and thus suit different magical purposes.

A magic wand carved form apply wood, for instance, is believed especially beneficial for love magic, while a wan carved from yew, oleander or hemlock, poisonous plants all, enables necromancy. Some practitioners only use one wand; others collect different wands, using each for specific purposes.

*Although less common than wooden wands, wands are also crafted form metal.

Wands specifically direct the power of humans: there’s a crucial reason why most children are taught early on that it’s rude to point. Pointing is a potent magical gesture, quite often used in spontaneous, hostile magic: the curse that just slips out of someone’s mouth is usually accompanied by a pointing finger directing hostile words in their intended direction. The wand may be understood as an extension and enhancement of that finger of power.

Wands may be ornamented with crystals, feathers, and amulets,. They may be engraved with sigils, runes, hieroglyphs, Names of power or magical inscriptions. As described in the Harry Potter novels, wands may be hollowed out and filled with a reed or some other material, however due to limitations of size, obviously less material can be placed within a wand than inside a staff.

*In the German mythic epic The Song of the Nibelungs (Die Nibelungenlied), the dragon’s treasure hoard includes a tiny gold wand that enables its possessor to rule the world.

Don’t have a magic wand? Not to worry. Substitutions are easily made: an umbrella serves as a magic wand as does a cane, folding fan or flute. (And when in need, one’s finger really can substitute!) The crucial thing is to recall that once the instrument has been designated as a magic tool it must be treated as such: an umbrella magic wand is potentially no less sacred than a more conventional wand. If one expects it to behave magically, it must be treated with the respect and care due any magical tool.  

[Naomi Tinuveil]

Wow, you can't really tell me that no one has ANYTHING to post on the subject of ritual tools. I guess the best idea as of now would be to give a prompt.

How about:
*What are your favorite ritual tools made of.
*Do you even use ritual tools?
*Any tools you use that are not on the list? Add'em!
*Consecration of tools.
*Charging tools.
*Buying vs Making vs Scavaging vs Finding vs Giving tools!!!
*Borrowing? ok or very very bad?
*Using someone elses tools.
*Etc . . .

The list could go on forever, but here are a few to get you started!! Let others hear what you have to say, the point of this is that we can all learn something from eachother and share our viewpoints. ((thus helping us to know eachother better as well ^__^__  

[ILuvEire]

*What are your favorite ritual tools made of.
Well, my wand is made of a strip of oak, with one blue birds feather, and a small quartz crystal.
*Do you even use ritual tools?
Yes...
*Buying vs Making vs Scavaging vs Finding vs Giving tools!!!
I think the best thing to do is to make your own , or find them. Because you put your own energy into them, instead of someone elses!
*Borrowing? ok or very very bad?
Yucky! This is not e very good idea, unless you normally work together. When someone uses your ritual tools they leave some of their energy in it....
*Using someone elses tools.
I avoid it like the plague!