Tools

Since most Witchcraft 101 books and websites (whether Wiccan or otherwise) go over the use of tools and supplies used for working magick and/or ritual, I thought I should mention tools and supplies in my own personal Vanic Witchcraft practice.  Before we get too far, it should be noted that I differentiate "tools" from "supplies".  In my definition, tools are objects used to direct power, whereas supplies are objects used to contain the power directed.  Ergo, a ritual knife would be a tool, and a candle would be a supply.  A mortar and pestle would be a tool, and a handful of herbs would be a supply -- but a smudge stick would be a tool.  Furthermore, I believe there is a difference between magickal and ritual tools.  A magickal tool is something that can be used for just a simple "low magick" spell, or for directing energy in a religious ritual.  A ritual tool is something that is only ever used in ritual space.  I also include a third category here, of "shamanic tools", for those who are involved in shamanic or shamanistic practices, such as Otherworld journeying.

One of my not-so-humble-opinions that tends to offend people is a problem I have with the current "Pagan industry" are shopkeepers charging ridiculous amounts of money for objects that could be made for far less, or something similar could be found in the clearance rack of an interior design/furniture store, and consecrated for the Work.  That doesn't mean I don't think Pagan stores should never be patronized, as clearly some shopkeepers are talented at blending oils, and the like, and some people just do not have the time or skill to craft their own tools, although that begs the question of whether one will have the time or skill to perform ritual or work magick.  A lot of newbies make the mistake of dropping a lot of money on tools.  I was there once, I know how it is.  That being said, a $500 Reiki wand is not going to be any more powerful as a healing tool than a branch you found on the ground if your intent isn't there.  It's not hard to want to buy gorgeous crystal-tipped wands, spooky cauldrons, and the like.  However, once you have a certain level of experience you know that if it comes down to it, you can affect change with just your will-thought, applied directly to the threads of Wyrd.  Props *do* help in terms of having a tangible, concrete way of projecting energy, and I'm not saying "let's do away with them", but there should be less dependence on them overall.

Moreover, I feel very strongly that unless you are working within a Wiccan tradition which has a specific list of tools that are prescribed according to that tradition, your tools are going to be variable.  Most solitary Witches do not need an athame *and* a bolline.  Most solitary Witches do not need a scourge or cords, unless they are into BDSM.  (I'm just sayin'.)  In a Vanic Witchcraft practice, I believe "less is more", after all, it's not big on ceremonial pomp.



MAGICKAL TOOLS

Wand

I made my wand for under $20.  I got a package of dowel rods at Michaels, and carved runes into the wand to give it a name: "Leohtbora", which means "Light-Bearer" in Anglo-Saxon.  While I carved the runes, I of course projected intent into the runes.  I then "reddened" the runes with my own blood, and sealed it with scented oil.  (Please note this is not encouraging those with self-injury issues to follow suit.)  I had a quartz point from awhile back, and had gotten some scraps of leather at a local bead shop on the cheap.  I put glue on the "wrong" side of the leather strip after cutting it to size, and wrapped the tip of the wand, binding the quartz point to the end of the wand.  I let it dry overnight.  Then I wrapped the top and bottom of the wand with copper wire, as copper wire conducts electricity and thus is good for raising and sending energy.  The final step of crafting the wand was tying a gold ribbon around the center of the leather strip.

On Beltaine 2008, I formally consecrated the wand and "breathed life" into it.

I use the wand both for intense "blasting" of negative energy, as well as to "give light", or intense "pushing" of positive energy.  The wand has been consecrated to Frey, especially as it has phallic symbolism, and can be viewed as an extension of His power.

I would be buying a wand like this for an average price of $50 at a Pagan shop.  Yes, it may be a bit more effort to make it yourself, it may be messy to put together, and even somewhat frustrating, but damn if it isn't more powerful.



Cauldron

I have a small stoneware three-footed cauldron, that holds 2 cups worth of liquid and is ideal for making healing brews (tea, chicken soup), as well as putting sand in the bottom for spells involving fire (burning negative crap).  Unlike most of the cauldrons currently for sale in Pagan marketplaces, I got mine quite inexpensively, as it was secondhand.  I obviously have blessed the cauldron and consecrated it to my Work, prior to using it.

Smudge Sticks

On the left: 6 sticks of mugwort + juniper. In the center: 3 sticks of eucalyptus + juniper. On the right: 3 sticks of juniper.  I collected the mugwort, eucalyptus, and juniper locally, and only took a small bit from each plant and tree -- not enough to harm it -- and was respectful about doing so, connecting and offering to the spirit of the plant and trees.

The juniper sticks are for quickly removing negative energy from a person, place, or thing, as well as for doing a protective smudge.

The juniper and mugwort sticks are for purifying sacred space, and blessing individuals with the Gods' favor.

The juniper and eucalyptus sticks are for transmitting healing energy in a time of illness.



...

I also consider cookware and housecleaning items to be magickal tools.  I have formally blessed all of my cookware and utensils, and when I cook anything, even if it's just for me and my other half, I try to make sure it's made with love, and a little "whammying" for intent: healing, calming, aphrodisiac... you get the point.  Most of my magick stays in the kitchen, and here the "supplies" are the ingredients... the food being prepared, cooked, and served.  Housecleaning items includes brooms, mops (Swiffers), sponges, spray bottles, etc.  In this case the "supplies" would be making my own household cleaners (dish soap, laundry soap, glass and wood cleaners, etc) and working magick into the cleanser as I put it together, then using it with intent.




RITUAL TOOLS

My ritual tools consist of a drinking horn and offering bowl.  That's it.  This is specifically for sharing food and drink with the Gods, which can often be more effective for getting stuff done than the most advanced spell.

In the Northern tradition, the drinking vessel is most often a horn.  Many horns sold by merchants online can be pricey. If you don't have a lot of money, you can usually find good deals on unfinished "raw" horns on EBay, and then once in your hands, you will want to boil the horn to sanitize it, line the inside with beeswax, and then you have a drinking horn, often for under $10.  If you're handy with a Dremel you can carve the horn to your tastes.

If you are really short on money, department stores such as Target often have goblets available for under $2.  Another good place to check is clearance racks at different stores that sell home decor items.  Sometimes you can find a real steal on something that was very expensive, but wasn't selling, and begs to be taken home and given to the Gods. The important thing with a drinking vessel is you will want to keep it for ritual purposes only, as anything shared with the Gods is supposed to be special, not too mundane.  You'll also want to make sure it's reasonably attractive, meaning you can use it without wincing.  I suggest the inexpensive goblets here because the design is usually simple, and thus attractive.

Bowls can also be bought at Target or IKEA, or again, the clearance racks at the aforementioned posh home decor stores.  You can find good prices on wooden bowls at IKEA and woodburn them with runes or other designs if that pleases you.

I have separate bowls for the Aesir, Vanir, and Jotnar, due to the clannishness of each group, and you can tell obviously which bowl belongs to which tribe by the appearance of the bowls.  I tend to use the horn for all three groups, or sometimes a goblet.


SHAMANIC TOOLS

Staff

This is my staff, "Friþwifra", which means "Frith-Weaver" in Anglo-Saxon.  The staff is specifically used as an "anchor" for when I do Otherworld journeying, as it represents the World Tree itself.  This was our Maypole on Beltaine, as you can see in the picture.  The runes for "Friþwifra" were carved into the staff and stained with ash and oil, the staff has also been "fed" with wine.  The staff can/will be used as a magickal weapon, and for "emergency signaling" to the Gods.

Drum

This is my drum, "Heortemiht" (literally, "Heart-Might" in Anglo-Saxon), which I bought from a very dear friend of mine.  It is an elk hide on a birch frame, and when I first held it in my hands, I literally felt it "take root" into my arm, which was a good sign.  When I received the drum it was so lovely just plain that I figured I would keep it that way, and when I was at Cauldron Farm in August of 2008, my drum spirit told me to decorate the drum (why yes, inanimate objects speak to me all the time), and so the short version of the visual explanation is:

-The center is a bindrune given to me by a friend of mine who is a Freysman.
-The spirals melding into opposite colors is symbolic of Fire and Water, which come together to make Earth in the center.
-The nine round shapes are the Nine Worlds.
-At the very top is the Black Sun (a Germanic holy symbol that was co-opted by nazi occultists, while not as well-known as the fylfot; as a Light-bringer-y person its significance to my Path should be obvious) and a verse from the Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem, written in runes.

The sound is very warm but also very strong, hence the name of "Heortemiht".  I use the drum primarily to play to the Gods to accompany spirit-songs, which can be used like a spell to affect things outside of myself (people, places, things, situations), or within myself (attitudes, memories).  The songs can either have words, or runes, or be wordless, rather like Saami joik.  I will also play to "wake up" the Earth (for example, playing to growing plants, or areas that have been contaminated by pollution of a mundane or psychic sort).