| Since this article is written by a shop owner who | | | | power you can channel through a really nice knife. |
| earns her living (at least in part) selling you ritual | | | | Call me materialistic, but there it is.What about |
| tools, you might expect the answer to be "of | | | | those cool offering bowls? Yeah, they are nice |
| course! And you should buy the most expensive | | | | ritual tools aren't they? Do you HAVE to use |
| ritual tools that you can possibly afford. They will | | | | them? Course not. You can use paper cups, |
| make your magick more powerful." But guess | | | | household bowls, anything else you desire to hold |
| what? Kestra tries very hard to give you the | | | | your salt and water (sea salt is best, but table |
| honest truth about her views about Wicca, | | | | salt will do if you have to). Do you need a bell? |
| Wiccan practices and ritual tools.So, do you really | | | | Well, you can try a water glass and a fork. That |
| need to buy ritual tools? "Need" is a very strong | | | | makes a nice "ding" if you can't afford a bell. |
| word. Of course you don't "need" to buy ritual | | | | Candles? You can always make your own. If you |
| tools. You can make just about anything you | | | | aren't that handy, however, votives are |
| would ever need. For that which you can't make, | | | | inexpensive. So are "chime candles." However, a |
| you can compromise, for example using your | | | | really beautiful pentacle pillar or a Triple Goddess |
| finger as a wand or athame. Now if only we could | | | | pillar can certainly set the mood, and bring your |
| use our finger to light candles like in Charmed | | | | head into the appropriate ritual space. And, of |
| :-).So why DO people purchase ritual tools and | | | | course, there are the color correspondences that |
| ritual supplies? A ritual tool is used to help you to | | | | help your mind focus on the working |
| focus your energies. It is used as an extension of | | | | ahead.Now...do you really need to buy a cauldron |
| your body, to channel your energy into a specific | | | | as a ritual tool? If you're going to be burning |
| task, or to "save" energies for use later. | | | | incense on charcoal, you most definitely need an |
| Examples are using your energy projected down | | | | appropriate vessel for that. It would also be a |
| a wand for consecrating an object, storing | | | | very good idea if that vessel were FIREPROOF. |
| energies into a crystal, or drawing down energy | | | | Things that ignite, or ooze plastic goo all over |
| from Deity into a statue.Do you need to buy a | | | | your altar are not good choices, and I would |
| wand? Not especially. You can find a stick in the | | | | imagine that your focus would be rather |
| woods and use it. However, if you want to "tune" | | | | scattered as evil smells permeated your ritual |
| your energies for a specific purpose, or use that | | | | area. Might be useful for a ritual celebrating the |
| extra "boost" of using a specific type of wood | | | | wonders of swamp gas, but likely not anywhere |
| that corresponds to a particular Deity or a | | | | else. So if you decide to use a substitute for the |
| particular intention, either search for that wood on | | | | good ole stoneware or cast iron cauldron, please |
| your walks through the forest, or purchase a | | | | ensure it will do the job.So, if you don't want to |
| wand of the appropriate type.But what about an | | | | buy your ritual tools and supplies, you CAN, with a |
| athame? Don't you HAVE to have that special | | | | bit of creativity and thought, make/find/use |
| Klingon dagger athame with the spines on the side | | | | substitutes. Will your focus be as strong? That |
| as your ritual tool in order to make the most | | | | varies from individual to individual, as well as with |
| powerful circle? Well, uh..... NO. If you feel better | | | | the situation. If you find that a ritual tool makes a |
| with that kind of a tool, and it helps you project | | | | big difference, perhaps you should use it. Just |
| your energies best, then by all means, buy one, | | | | please be certain that you choose the RIGHT kind |
| or even two. That way you'll have one for each | | | | of substitute to avoid unintended consequences, |
| hand. Can you use your wand in place of an | | | | and uninvited ritual guests who arrive in a large |
| athame? Sure you can. Can you use a dinner | | | | red truck and wear strange robes with funny |
| knife as a ritual tool? Of course. But there's | | | | black helmets. Their favorite ritual tool is often |
| something about beautiful athames that evokes | | | | called a "firehose."Kestra is a Wiccan Priestess, |
| something in the brain. Holding it gives you a | | | | Master Herbalist, and Reiki Master, offering the |
| special feeling of power that comes only with that | | | | best in practical information, unique and useful altar |
| particular tool. If that is the case with you as well, | | | | tools and ritual supplies. Please check out her |
| that is the athame you must have. You can | | | | offerings at Guaranteed to not be your "same |
| always make your own, or use what you can, | | | | ole" Wiccan shop. |
| but there is just something special about the | | | | |