Tag: Solitary Witch

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 and perfection.)
It is also rung to invoke the protection of angels or the power of a deity and in ceremonies to welcome departed members to the circle.
You can also sound the bell in each of the four elemental quadrants, before creating the invoking pentagram, to request the presence of each elemental guardian.
It can also be sounded as you pass your chosen symbol around each quadrant of the circle.
However, you should not use the bell to excess – it is better under-utilised

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 of
the door and was stored with its bristles upwards to protect the home.

The cauldron was the iron cooking pot on the black kitchen range that served to heat the home as well
as for cooking.

Items often can be gathered from around your home: for example, a silver bell, a
crystal bowl, or a large wine glass.

Attractive scarves or throws make ideal altar cloths.

Car boot sales are an excellent source of magical equipment.

It may be a good idea to keep your magical tools separate from your everyday household equipment.

These items can possibly be kept in a large box or chest, so that you can keep them charged with positive energies for magical and healing work.

Some items, such as the pentacle, you can make from clay.

Herbs can be grown in pots or in gardens and chopped in a mortar and pestle.

Fresh herbs have more immediate energies than dried, though the latter are better in sachets and poppets.

Always bear in mind that the magick is in you, not in your tools.

A wand cut from a fallen hazel or willow branch in the right hands can be more magical than the most elaborate crystal-tipped one purchased from a New Age store.

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 energy.

The athame is also used to draw magical symbols, such as the pentagram, in the air to lend power to ritual and spellwork, and is often employed in rituals that banish and, or release negative energies or influences.

This tool is associated with the God, and the element of Fire, as it is an agent that causes change. The knife is traditionally sharp on both sides, with a black handle which is said to store a small amount of the magical energy raised in rituals for later use.

The blade is not generally very long—the length of one’s hand, or shorter, is considered ideal.

Some Witches purchase special daggers to serve as their athame, while others will consecrate an ordinary kitchen knife for the purpose.

It’s considered unwise to use a knife that has been used to cut animal flesh, though any negative energies lingering from such use can be ritually cleansed before “converting” the knife into an athame.

Some Witches choose to enhance their energetic relationship with their knife by engraving magical symbols into the handle.

Depending on the tradition, the athame may do double duty as an actual cutting and engraving tool. It may be used to cut herbs, shape a new wand from the branch of a tree or carve magical symbols into a candle for ritual use.

However, many Witches prefer to use a second, white-handled knife, sometimes called a boline, for these purposes, keeping the athame for ritual use only.

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.

As a symbol, it is found in both ancient Eastern and Western cultures and has been used to represent various aspects of human and spiritual concerns.

The pentagram is considered to have inherent magical powers and is often inscribed on objects as well as in the air during rituals, to add strength to the work.

It is also considered a sign of protection from negative or harmful energies.

As a bearer of this Earth-related symbol, the pentacle is used to consecrate other tools and objects used in ritual.

Usually a flat, round piece of wood, clay, wax, or silver, it can be any size, though generally is small enough to fit comfortably on the altar with the other tools.

The pentacle may be ornately carved and/or set with semiprecious gemstones, or maybe a simple design.

Witches may also wear a pentacle on a cord or chain during a ritual, or even as part of their daily dress, though they may or may not choose to wear it publicly.

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 cleansing from a previous ritual will automatically restore the energies.

However, as you polish your candlesticks or athame before putting them on the altar, you may wish to focus on the intention of the ceremony and visualize light entering the tools.

Charging With Power

You can charge your tools separately as you obtain them.

Alternatively, group them together on a table before their first use in ritual and create a circle of light around them with small purple candles at the eight main compass points (North, North-east, etc.).

Start at the North candle and end with the Northwest candle.

*First create a circle of salt round the tools, beginning in the North, to offer the tools the protection of the ancient Earth element, saying

Mother Earth, charge with the power of the ancient stone circles and the wise ways of the ancestors this – name the tools of magick and healing, that my work may be rooted in what is possible and
help create abundance and prosperity for others and the land, as well as for my own needs.

Next, draw a circle of smoke deosil in the air around them, using a frankincense or myrrh incense stick, saying:

Father Sky, charge with the power of the mighty winds and the limitless potential of the cosmos this – name the tools of magick and healing, that my work may be focused, filled with energy, and bring positive change to ever-widening horizons.

Now, using a golden or scarlet candle in a broad-based candle-holder, mark an inner circle of fire in the air, around the artifacts, saying:

Brother Fire, charge with the power of ancient ritual fires and the brilliance of the Sun, this these tools of magick and healing, that my work may be filled with light and inspiration and purged of all self-seeking and negativity.

finally, sprinkle sacred water or rainwater that has not touched the ground before collection on top of the circle of salt saying:

Sister Water, charge with the power of mighty oceans, wide rushing rivers, and deep still pools this (these) tool(s) of magick and healing, that my work may release stagnation and bring fertility and peace, not only to myself and my loved ones but to people whose lives are blighted by polluted places and, especially, water.

Cleansing Using The Forces Of Nature

Leave your artifacts on a piece of white silk in a sheltered, safe place out of doors or near an open the door where children, pets or the curious cannot reach them.

Begin at dusk when they can absorb the light of the Sun, the Moon, and the stars, for 24 hours.

This will be effective even if you cannot see any of these heavenly bodies in the sky.

Charge at the time of the waxing moon to the full moon if possible; if not, let them stand for 48 hours.

If the Moon is waning and so not good for energizing, create a circle of alternate moonstones and crystal quartz for the powers of the Sun and Moon, and leave the tools within this circle for the full 48- hour cycle.

Sprinkle the tools with nine drops of sacred water that was collected under the full moon or rainwater that has not touched the ground, saying a variation of this old magical rhyme whose origins are unknown:

One for joy, two for gladness,

Three and four to banish sadness,

Five and six do life renew,

Seven, eight, nine bring power anew.

Few of these old chants are great poetry, but that was not their purpose – they were created in the days before widespread literacy as a way of remembering magical rituals.

If you prefer, you can substitute your own, composed by you or a coven member who may have a gift for such work.

The rhymes served like simple mantras to build up power – some people recite the chant several times, very fast, while sprinkling the water slowly.

Cleansing Using A Crystal Pendulum

Hold a clear crystal pendulum over the tool(s) and make nine circles widdershins.

Plunge the pendulum in cold running water to cleanse it, shake it dry, and circle it nine times deosil over the tools to restore energies.

You may need to repeat this several times if a tool seems lifeless or after you have been carrying out a banishing ritual.