Tools of the Trade

Altar: a special, flat surface set aside ( or set up permanent ) for magickal workings or rituals.

Amulet: usually considered an object of protection that has been charged to deflect negative energies.

Athame: a cleansed and consecrated ceremonial knife used in ritual work by a Witch. The knife is never used for physical harm and rarely used for actual material matters.

Besom: a broom most freqently used for sweeping a circle or sacred spaced clear of negative/unwanted energy.

Book of Shadows: a collection of information in book form for a Witch's reference...another word for this sacred book is Grimoire.

Bolline: a curved, white-handled knife used for practical magickal purposes, this one is used for cutting on the material plane; herbs, inscribing.

Cauldron: basic item for any witch. These versatile containers are used for many things; brewing potions, to carry supplies, holding personal items.

Censer: a pot or dish used to safely byrn insense.

Chaplet: a garland or wreath of flowers or leaves worn on the head, usually a symbol of honor

Charms: can either be an amulet or talisman for example, that has been charmed by saying an incantation over it and instilling it with positive energy or energy for a specific task.

Cone of Power: psychic energy raised and focused by either an individual or group (coven) to achieve a specific purpose.

Dowsing: The art of using pendulum or stick to find the location of a person, place or thing. Dowsing can also be used to answer yes or no questions by pendulum and pendulum board.

Herb: a plant that has a use for medicinal or magickal purposes.

Infusion: an herbal tea

Familiar: an animal who has a strong spiritual bond with a Witch; often a family pet. Also can be entities who are created to protect your home from the astral plane.

Magician: a person of either sex that practices magic.

Magus: a Magician

Offering Plate: a special dish used for the "cake & wine" part of the ritual.

Pentacle: a circle surrounding a five-pointed, upright star (also known as a pentagram) Can be worn as a symbol of a Witch's belief or used in magickal workings or ceremonies. Each point has a specific meaning: Earth, air, fire, water and spirit. Pentacles are NEVER worn inverted in the Craft!!!

Poppet: used in sympathetic magick. Usually a small, plain "doll" used for healing spell work, or to influence someone's life. In herbal magick, it could be a carved root or cloth image stuffed with herbs. (use of poppets is called: image magick)

Power Hand, The: your dominant hand, usually the hand you write with, the more magickally potent hand.

Runes: a set of symbols that are used both in divination and magickal workings. Unlike the tarot, they are an integral part of the magickal system with it's own pantheon, should you use them. They can function as an alphabet and are useful in vision questing, dream recall, or controlling your enviroment.

Sigil: a magickally oriented seal, sign, or other device used in magickal workings. The most powerful are those you create yourself.

Spell: mental or emotional energy spoken out loud, written, spoken to oneself, or drawn. To work properly it should always be clear, focused, to the point and emotional.

Spiral: a sacred spiral plays an important part in magickal workings. Symbol of "coming to being".

Talisman: an object that has been magickally charged in order to bring something to the bearer. Could be a gemstone for luck or even a coin.

Tarot Cards: a set of 78 cards, that carry pictures and symbols used to connect the diviner with the collective unconscious. They can be used to determine the past, present and future of an event or person and are powerful tools in magickal workings.

Tradition: a specific way of practicing the Craft.

Wheel of the Year: the turning of the Seasons. The cycle of our year, starting at Samhain.

Witch Bottle: a bootle or jar containing herbs, pins, glass, and other random objects designed to protect a person or area from evil and/or curses. Usually buried or kept in a window.

Wort: an old word meaning "herb".