The Tools of Wicca

In Wicca, tools are often used--to represent a God or Goddess, to direct magic, for divination, or for whatever reason. This is a list of some of the most common tools and their meanings & uses.

The Broom:

The broom, or besom, is sacred to the Goddess, used to sweep the ritual area clean of negative psychic influences.

The Wand or Staff:

The wand is a descendant of the staff, becoming common among Witches during the Burning Times because it is easier to hide. While staffs are tall and obvious, wands are much smaller and more readily concealed from prying eyes. Both wand and staff are used to direct energy, mostly in casting magical circles. They are sacred to the God.

The Chalice:

The chalice is sacred to the Goddess and is used in ritual to hold sacred drinks, such as the ceremonial wine. It is possible that the chalice, like the wand, is descended from a larger tool, made easier to hide, during the Burning Times; in this case, the older tool would have been the cauldron.

The Cauldron:

The cauldron is sacred to the Goddess, and is a symbol of rebirth. Pagans often light small fires in their cauldrons at the Winter Solstice to represent the God's rebirth. It can be used as an instrument to scry, or gaze to see fortunes/visions, with, by filling it with water and staring into it's depths. It is usually three-legged. Cauldrons can be any size, from tiny to huge. It is often used to brew magickal recipes in; during spring rites, it can be filled with water and fresh flower petals.

The Athame:

The athame is the ritual knife. No, it is not used for sacrifices! It is used to cast the ritual circle. Athames are sacred to the God. The athame is commonly black- or dark- handled, but you don't have to stick to that; my athame's handle is made of brass, and I can cast my circle with it quite well.

The Crystal Ball

The crystal ball is used for scrying, gazing into the future or past. It is sacred to the Goddess, particularly Hecate, the Crone at the Crossroads of Past, Present, and Future. It may be used to represent the Goddess or the Moon during full moon rites.

The Book of Shadows

Information on the Book of Shadows can be found here on my page.

The Pentacle

The pentacle, with five points, is not a satanic symbol. It is, rather, represenative of the Five Elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. When used by Wiccans, it will most commonly have one point pointing up; one point pointing down will sometimes mean that the wearer is a second-degree initiate in a tradition. But be warned: a pentacle necklace does not make a Witch!

When you have your tools, you will want to consecrate them (make them holy). This is done by taking them and, in the fashion you feel is best for you, asking the Lord and Lady to bless them.

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