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The Basics of Tools and Rituals
of the Hebrew alphabet were regarded as amulets, for each of them was
thought to contain its own magical powers. Other Hebrew amulets
included bells to ward off evil spirits and the tzitzit, a sacred tassle worn
on the robes of the High Priests.
Natural amulets, a gift from Mother Nature to those who believe in
their power include trees, plants, flowers, herbs, vegetables, stones
(mundane, semi-precious and precious) – indeed anything that the
wearer believes to be ‘lucky’.
The athame is a double-edged ritual knife, about six inches long. It is
usually blunt because the only thing it is used to cut is energy. In
accordance with tradition, athames are black handled. Wiccans and other
spell weavers use the athame to direct energy and to open and close the
doorway to the spell caster's circle. If there is no athame, a sword, or a
wand, a branch cut very gently from a tree and suitably consecrated, can
be used in its place. Some Wiccans use two fingers for this purpose.
Baskets are used for keeping together and for carrying into the circle
many of the things needed in spell making.
Bath salts and oils are usually added to a ritual bath, taken before
starting to weave spells, to put the spell caster in a suitably relaxed frame
of mind.
A bell is often rung at the beginning of a ritual when calling the four
quarters and at the end to tell the elements to return to their realms,
after they have been thanked for their attendance at the ritual.
The bolline is the knife traditionally used by witches. It normally has a
white handle and a curved blade. It is used to cut plants and herbs, wands
and the other things that need to be cut as part of making magic. When
something has to be cut from a living plant it should be done very gently
–
indeed some Wiccans ask the plant’s permission before cutting and
thank it for its generosity afterwards.
The Book of Shadows, also know as a grimoire, is the journal in which
witches keep a record of the spells they cast, the chants and invocations
they use, the dreams they dream and other matters that are pertinent to
their personal magic making.
Bowls are very necessary items in the witch’s cupboard. One is used to
keep salt and another for water but the efficient witch usually has
several more to hand in case they are needed in a particular spell – to
keep herbs in, for example.
Broomsticks are usually the first thing that people think of when the
word ‘witch’ is mentioned – and it is hard to stop a mental picture of a
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