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.Bolline  A white-handled knife used by Witchesfor cutting, carving or inscribing things in thecourse of a ritual candles, talismans, cords,etc.It is usually single-edged, and sometimeshas a sickle-shaped blade.Book of Shadows  A magickal journal kept byeach Wiccan initiate, in which spells, invoca-tions, ritual notes, herbal recipes, dreams,divination results, and material from the134coven book can be recorded.Some peoplewrite it in Theban Script or in other alphabets.Candles  These are used frequently by somemagickians in spells.The oils they are anointedwith and their colors, as well as the shapes andinscriptions carved on them, all have asymbolic purpose.Chalice  A goblet or cup usually holding wine,which is shared around the circle in Wiccanritual.It is both a female- and a Water-symbol,and can be used for scrying or crystal-gazing.Charcoal Often incense is burned on a charcoalbriquet, placed in a thurible or on a stone.Self-igniting charcoal discs are sold in occult supplystores and are very convenient to use.Cord  A "cord" can be either a heavy stringused in binding and releasing magick, or it canrefer to the piece of apparel circling themagickian's waist (also called a "girdle" or"cingulum").In many covens and magickallodges, the color of the cord indicates thewearer's degree of attainment.Incenses These come in sticks, cones, powders,resinous chunks and herbal or floral mixtures,and can be purchased or made.The in-135cense burned depends on the purpose of theritual and on the energies being invoked, butfrankincense and sandalwood are two all-purpose favorites which can be used for almostany ritual.Lamps of Art  These are the two candles on thealtar which provide illumination, made pref-erably of beeswax, although paraffin will do.Choose white, or use colors based on the sea-son or on the nature of the magick being done.Pen of Art  A special pen which is reservedonly for entries into the Book of Shadows, orfor other ritual uses.This can be an old-fashioned dip pen or quill pen, but any writingimplement may be assigned this role.Pentacle  This is a disc of metal, ceramic orwood with a pentagram and other symbolsinscribed on it.It is a symbol of the elementEarth; sometimes salt or cakes are placed uponit, though it can also be used in rituals ofprotection as a magickal shield.136Salt Bowl  Rock salt symbolizes Earth, and ismixed with water and sprinkled over things topurify them.See "Asperger."Sword  A special sword can be used to cast thecircle for a group, and is considered a symbolof either Air or Fire.Thurible  A metal censer, dish or burner to holdcharcoal and incense.It can either stand on thealtar or swing from a chain, and is oftenconsidered to be an Air symbol.Wand  A stick about 18" long, or "from elbowto fingertips," carved from one of the tradi-tional sacred woods and used to channel powerand represent Air or Fire, according to varioustraditions.It may be carved and decorated,with a phallic shape (acorn or crystal) on oneend and a yoni on the other.Also called abaculum.Water Bowl  Water mixed with salt may beused to purify; the bowl (or large shell) con-taining it is kept on the altar.Other tools or symbolic apparatus include thecauldron, scourge, staff, stang, herbs, oils, stones,and an astrological calendar.In addition, there aredivinatory tools such as Tarot cards, the magickmirror, showstones, pendulums,137casting stones, yarrow stalks or coins for the IChing, and runestones or rune sticks.There are several ways to obtain tools.Often it is best to make them yourself, so that theyare well attuned to you.They can be as simple oras elaborate as your tastes and skills dictate.For awand, you can simply cut a length of ash wood, oryou can carve coiling serpents and complex runeson ebony and set in rubies or sapphires.The cupcan be molded of river clay and baked in the coalsof a Sabbat fire, or turned on a potter's wheel,fired and glazed with vivid colors.If you feel the need to have an elaboratetool, but do not have the skills to make it, com-mission a craftsperson to make it to your design.Some tools can be purchased at antiqueshops, occult supply shops, import shops or estatesales.Never haggle over the price: the perfect toolis invaluable.And never buy something "prettygood" because the price is right it must feel justright, either "as is," or with modifications you canaccomplish.Any purchased tool should be rituallycleansed before use.The simplest ways are im-mersing it in running water (in a stream under arock, for example) or burying it in the Earth fromFull Moon to New.Sometimes a family heirloom from a fa-vorite relative can be adapted as a tool, or a friendwill offer one as a gift.Whatever the138source, you may want to personalize it by paintingor engraving your magickal name on it in runes.When you have a new tool, consecrate it atthe Full Moon.Bless it with Earth (salt), Air (in-cense), Fire (flame) and Water (or wine), as wellas Spirit (ritual oil).Present it to the four Quarters,then to an appropriate God / dess, or to yourfavorite aspect of Deity.You may wish to say something like this:"Lady Aphrodite, Goddess of love and emotionsdeep as the sea, I present to you this chalice, ritualtool of Water and the West, of all emotions andintuition.Grant that I may use it in your favor andpower, with harm toward none and for the greatestgood of all." Then immediately use the tool for itsintended function in139this example, by sipping wine from it, by mixinga healing herbal drink, or by scrying.Keep your tools safely stored when not inuse, wrapped in natural-fiber cloth and placed in aspecial box, pouch or basket.Keep them cleanand (if metal) polished; wooden tools may requirean occasional application of rung oil so they won'tdry and crack.At least once a year, rituallycleanse and reconsecrate them [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]