Making and Dedicating Travelling Tools


Developing a sacred space, and should you
choose to work with an athame, wand or
chalice, you can use representations that are
quite clearly associated with the idea behind
the magic. You might wish to carry such things

with you for use on your travels, which means
that you can set up an altar anywhere, both out
of doors and inside, according to your own
beliefs. You might also use the material roll as
your altar cloth.
YOU WILL NEED
Material such as linen, velvet or felt to make
your travelling roll
Broad elastic or material to hold your tools in
place
Needle or small paper knife to represent an
athame
Small piece of wooden dowelling or a straight
twig to represent a wand
Very small tumbler or oyster shell as a chalice
Coin or dog tag with a pentagram etched on it
Suitable lucky charms or cake decorations as
representations of your deities
Birthday cake candles
Four small containers, e.g. phials or empty spice
jars, for your chosen incense or herbs, salt, water
and anointing oil
Matches
Crystals or tumbled stones as cardinal point
markers (green, yellow, red and blue stones work
well)
METHOD
✤ Make yourself a travelling roll from the
material so you can keep your tools together
safely. This is similar to the type of carrier in
which a carpenter keeps his tools. The elastic
will keep them securely in place.
✤ You can also include anything else that you
feel is important to your rituals.
✤ Dedicate your objects with an appropriate
form of words. You might say:
O Great Mother,
As I travel over your forests, fields and watery
ways,
Bless and empower this pouch with its symbols of
your power.
Verdant God,
Have me use them wisely and well,
So that together we manifest your authority.
May it always be with me
So that, wherever I am, so also are both of you.

These travelling tools are now dedicated for use
anywhere, at any time and under any conditions.
Often they can be used unobtrusively without
anyone needing to know what you are doing

Wand
The wand should be no longer than the forearm
and is often made from sacred wood .

Since the wand is a very personal object,
it should be chosen carefully and equally
carefully attuned to your own energies. It
cannot be used magically until it has been
consecrated.
Obviously, you will not need to use all of your
tools all of the time and you should develop for
yourself some way of storing them, so that they
retain their potency. You can do this by perhaps
keeping them on your altar or in your sacred
space. Use a specially dedicated box or other
container or, if you know they are not likely to be
interfered with, simply wrapped in black silk or
velvet. Treat your tools with respect and they will
serve you well.

Scrying Tools


Scrying is the practice of using certain
channelling tools, which should be consecrated
before use – such as crystals, mirrors, coloured
water, runes and so forth – to try to gain an
insight into external events. Any object can be
used for scrying, though usually they are
reflective, and they employ the arts of
concentration and contemplation.

Pestle and Mortar


The pestle and mortar are so symbolic of the
union of God and Goddess that they deserve a
special mention within the use of magical tools.
Mainly used to prepare herbal mixtures and
incenses, they can also become part of your
altar furniture when consecrated.

Paper


During spells you will often need to write your
wishes or aims down and it is good to have some
paper ready prepared. Parchment type is best,
but heavier good quality is perfectly acceptable.
You consecrate it by holding it for a short period
in the smoke from your favourite incense.

Incense and Oil Burner


The choice of this tool must be a personal matter.
An incense burner should give plenty of room to
allow the aromas and smoke to disperse
properly. Traditional material such as brass or
clay may be used. The best shape is slightly flat
rather than too concave. Oil burners should be of
a sufficient size to allow a long enough time to
complete your spell. Burners which allow you to
float the oil on water, which then evaporates, are
probably the safest.

Compass


While this may seem a somewhat unusual tool,
many spells, rituals and techniques require that
you honour or face certain directions or compass
points in their performance. It is also necessary
to know the correct alignment in Feng Shui.
Much the easiest way to work out the directions
is by using a compass. It does not need to be
particularly decorative, ornate or expensive,
merely one with which you are happy to work.

Burine


A burine is a sharp-pointed instrument used for
inscribing candles and other magical objects
with symbols, words and pictures in order to
make spells more effective. In many ways, it is
more effective than either the boline or the
athame and is seen much more as an instrument
which pierces a surface rather than cuts it

Boline


The boline is a knife traditionally used in
cutting plants, herbs, wands and other objects
for spells and other magical workings. It is akin
to the gardener’s pruning knife as a useful,
practical tool. It often has a white handle and a
curved blade. It is consecrated because this is a
way of honouring its purpose.

Besom


A besom is a different name for a broom, and is
particularly associated with the easily
recognizable so-called ‘witch’s broom’ of old. It
is a particularly personal tool, and is often
made specially for the practitioner, with twigs
from the tree of her choice. It is usually kept
specifically to be used in the sacred space or
circle – this time for cleansing – and is also used
both symbolically and spiritually

Athame


By tradition, the athame is a ceremonial knife
used especially in the performing of spells. It is
not intended for cutting herbs and so on: its
role is ceremonial, for example indicating the
quarters or directions. Ideally it should be of
the best and purest metal available. Its handle is
usually black and sometimes carved with
magical designs and symbols. Many
experienced magical practitioners consider that
the most powerful athame is one which has
been inherited.