Athame and Boline The Athame is a witches ceremonial knife. In many traditions it is black handled, with a double sided blade around 9 inches long. Some covens and high priest(esses) have a white handled decorative ceremonial Athame and a black handled secondary one for cutting fruit and herbs, carving symbols etc, and each member has their own black handled athame. In some traditions this is reversed and the black handled athame is ceremonial and the white handled work knife is known as a Boline. While some traditions hold that the athame is a work knife for cutting and preparing items used including herbs fruit etc, other traditions say that it should only be used to cut air and the wedding cake at a handfasting (witches wedding). It also represents the male element in some ceremonies. It functions similar to a wand as a means of channeling energy and is often used for invoking and banishing elements, entities and other energies.
Besom. A traditional broomstick made of a wooden handle and twigs. It is often used for ceremonial of sweeping ie of a circle, but is also used in some ceremonies such as handfasting (witches wedding) where the jump over the besom as a symbolic leap into the next stage of their life together. In many traditions it is also a symbol connected with fertility. In older times when witchcraft was illegal, many witches used their besom as a wand, and the end covered in twigs in some cases would have been covered with hidden symbols.
Book of shadows. A journal recording the experience, experiments, spells, and knowledge you acquire. In most cases it is a personal journal, but some covens also maintain a coven book of shadows built over generations. In some family traditions the book of shadows is handed down and each generation extends it. The important point is that it is the recorded experiences, not copied out sections of other publications, although where relevant you can include knowledge from elsewhere, including books, sections of this web site and the course, but avoid the temptation to build just a scrap book of others ideas, in which you have no experience or involvement. You should not create a book of shadows unless you are sure you can keep it secret and out of the hands of others.
Thurible or censer. Used by some traditions but not usually by water witches. A container that is fireproof and will hold hot charcoal and incense. Often it can be swung on a chain.
Chalice. A container used in ceremonies, it can be made of anything, metal, glass, wood, stone etc. It can be plain or ornate, purchased or made yourself. It could be a simple drinking glass. In some traditions it is made by taking a cut glass vase or glass similar to a brandy glass and painting it with paint that will allow light to pass through. It is used to contain water and wine (or a substitute ie fruit juice). It is used in ceremonies to become the essence of the goddess and symbolical female in some ceremonies. If you are using it outside it needs to be tough enough to stand handling, dropping etc.
Pentacle, Pentagram. A pentacle is a five pointed star that can be formed by a continuous line where the points touch a circle. The circle and star together form the pentacle. Without a circle it is a pentagram. Most witches can draw a pentacle on demand, and some witches wear one or use one on their alter. Pentacles have become quite fashionable and you will also see them formed in car wheels and in many other places. A pentacles five points symbolizes the four elements plus spirit, or four elements plus cone of power that is generated by a circle.
Wand. Traditions vary slightly, and sometimes the wand and athame can be used for the same uses. Traditionally the wand is considered to be made of wood, and the length of the witches forarm. Due to the need to keep ones wand secret, historically the witch would have used her broom handle or her favorite wooden spoon. Some witches believe that a wand can be any item that you make into a wand, by a ritual, and suggest it should be one that you can carry with you. Many of us have innocent looking pens or pencils that are our day to day wands. you can buy unsharpened pencils that are ideal. A ceremonial wand can be a simple stick but is more likely a carved or painted work of art. Some modern witches suggest their wand should be of a conducting material, ie metal or have a metal core, but the more experienced say the material makes no difference. The art of using the wand, is a part of spell craft, and it involves some special movements and works as a means of focusing energy.
Caldron
Alter
Candles
Incense
Oils
Mirror
Circle rope
Robes
Crystals
Rocks
Earth
Water
Stones
Jewels
Jewellery
Runes
Ogham sticks
Charms
Herbs
Bells
Music