#pagantool

Wait, not those tools. These tools: 

That’s better. 

Good morning my witches and warlocks! Today, I thought I would talk about the tools of the Craft and what they are used for. Keep note, however, that tools are not needed for spells to work. They are simple an extension to help channel your focus and intent. 

Starter Tools

When you’re first starting off in witchcraft, you’re going to be overwhelemed by all the options of tools there are for you to use. Let’s not worry about them all and start with the simple, most basic tools you’ll ever need to use. 

1. Candles They are everywhere. From your local dollar tree to walmart, and sometimes your nearest gas station; you have a wide variety of places to choose from. Candles are easy to use and can be a great way to perform spells when just starting out. As you’re picking candles, think of the colors you select and what those colors mean. You might want to do a happiness spell and choose yellow. Maybe you want to attract money, so you choose green. Once you have your color and you know the intent you want it to have, simply light your candle and let that intent come to life. 

Never blow out your candles. This cancels or ‘blows out’ your spell/intent. Instead, snuff out your candle. You can use a small cup, saucer, etc. Please be careful when using candles indoors. Stay safe and always keep water nearby. 

2. Nature Yep, you heard me. Nature. Acorns, feathers, rocks, sand, pine cones; you name it and it can be used in witchcraft! Each item you find outside has a meaning. For example, acorns carry the attriubtes of money, abundance, luck, and protection. You can carry an acron with you to attract money or luck, perhaps wear it around your neck for protection. So go outside and see what you can find!

3. Salt Salt is a wonderful starter tool. It is used to purify and protect. You can sprinkle it around your doors and windows to keep unwanted energies/spirits out. It can also be used to bless your food when you cook, your baths/showers, etc. When you are casting a circle, you can even use a pinch of salt as a line to draw the circle. 

Another reason salt is a beginner tool is it can be used as a substiture cleanser/purifier, especially when you don’t have sage on hand.

4. Quartz This is the substitute for every crystal. Just like how the color white substitutes other candles, quartz can be programmed and used for just about anything and everything. It’s so easy to find as well and is usually very cheap to purchase. On its own, quartz is for manifesting, healing, meditation, protection and channeling. It also comes in a variety of colors, each with their own meaning. For example, rose quartz (pink in color) is used for romance, friendships, and love while smokey quartz (cloudy in color) is used for dissipating emotional and environmental negativity.  

Etsy is a great place to find very cheap quartz and even other crystals.  Remember, quartz can be found naturally right outside. Take time to find some before you spend money. When you do buy online, always make sure to check reviews and the background of the store/person you are buying from. 

Other Tools

Once you get the hang of things and advance your spellwork, there are other tools that can aid better in complex spells/rituals. 

1. Athame The Athame is a small dagger or knife that is mainly used symbolically, not physically. It can have an elagant bone handle or be a simple pocket knife you got from your grandfather as a child. 

Athames are used for directing energy, such as “cutting” unwanted energetic ties, drawing symbols in the air, etc. It is mainly used for drawing/casting a protective circle. Athames are optional for this use, however, as wands, feathers, etc. can be used for the same purpose. 

2. Bells These can be considered starter tools but aren’t necessary when beginning your craft. Bells are used to ‘clear’ the air or dispel negative energies. 

Have you ever felt the air was stiff when you walk into a room? That’s when a bell comes in handy. Ring a bell a couple of times throughout a room; the vibrations of the sound helps to clean out anything negative, stale, or unwanted. They are also cheap to find, usually in your local Dollar Tree or Walmart. You can also decorate your bell with ribbons, flowers, crystals, etc. 

3. Besom Also known as a broom, a besom is a cermonial tool used to ‘sweep out’ negative energies. Just like how the bell uses vibrations, a besom uses the active motions and movements of you literally sweeping a room clean. Now, when I say sweep, I don’t mean touching the besom to the ground or floow. instead, you’re holding it slightly above the floor, in the air. 

Another use for a besom is to hang it above your door to keep bad spirits from entering your home and to keep negative "dirty" energies out. 

For me, I simply bought a wooden handled broom and decorated it to be more symbolic. I placed white, purple, and black ribbons around the handle for peace (white), clarity (purple), and to repel negative (black). I also tied quarts crystals towards the end to trap the bad spirits and energies, which I replaced once a week. However, it’s your besom - do with it how you want! 

4. Herbs Glorious, glorious herbs! Once you start advancing in your craft, herbs are a fun tool to add to your daily work. You can add them to jars, bottles, pouches, teas, cooking recipes - the possibilities are endless! 

You can find them in your kitchen cabinet, in your backyard, and even in your local grocery store below $5! There’s an abundance as well; cinnamon, rosemary, basil, bay, nutmeg, thyme - you name it! 

5. Grimoire/Book of Shadows Go to your local store and buy as many notebooks as you can. Notes are essential in witchcraft, whether you’re writing down your references or your latest spell. You can use them as dream journals, tarot journals, write your spells, your rituals - there is nothing you can’t write in them. 

Now, there are many more tools that can be used during your witchcraft. These are just the most common and known for most witches to use. However, anything can be a tool - a pencil, piece of paper, paperclip, nail, dirt, tape. If you see an intention within that object, then it can become a tool for your Craft. Don’t be afraid to go out and find what calls to you. 

Remember, there are many witches online who are willing to help. Be sure to reach out to them and learn as much as you can.