Essential tools for magic?

[Raggydoll]

Let’s discuss 😊

 

I was watching Ethony’s video where she lists her 9 essential tool for magic, and I got curious about what others think. No matter your level of experience, do chime in and let us know about your thoughts and experiences regarding tools for magic (it does not necessarily have to revolve around the list made by Ethony, feel free to talk more generally about this topic!) 

 

- What type of tools do you have?

- Is there anything that you wouldn’t want to be without? 
- Anything you’ve purchased that you ended up not liking or using?

- Any tools that are on your wishlist? 
- Have your attitude towards magical tools changed at all over time? 
- Do you prefer to buy or make your tools? 

- What, if any, tools would you recommend to a beginner practitioner?

 

Photos are very welcome! 😊

 

And no judgement. Some people will be more minimalist while others feel that more is more. It’s all good, everyone is accepted here! 😀

[Arania]

If anything, fire, incense and some water (also to avoid incidents).

 

But all you really need is yourself. Tools are easier and fun, too, and I do use them. But I grew up on basic magic, no special tools, usually not even protective circles or much of grounding (spellfever was always seen as a positive thing as it teaches you something about consequences). So all I usually need is myself. Or, when I want to work with entities, their names and if existing sigils, mantras or enns.

 

Tools I do use I get for free or buy them because I am not that good anymore with making stuff, but I do combine things I get to make something new, and I' am currently thinking of making a new wand or staff. I found all the entities I have in my place are fine with getting stuff I find for free, even Ares. Actually, Ares kind of inserts things for the Greek themed altar space into all sorts of garage sales, house clearings etc - even a statue, because I could not afford to buy yet another one and he would not have been quite on top of my list either 😄

 

I wouldn't want to miss my Tarots, obviously. Or my incense burners (although one would do if needed).

 

I have ended up not using (much) a pre-made wand I was gifted, that's something I prefer to create on my own plus something was off about whoever made it. Kind of ended up as a cat toy by accident.

 

My wishlist... nothing specific as I can't buy another room and attach it to the house 🤣. I have more than enough stuff and sometimes won't know where to put it. 

 

In the beginning, all you need is candles, some incense and water. Probably crystals if you plan to work with them later.  Some salt (cheap will do, no rock salt etc needed) to help ward your space. It kind of depends, of course, what direction you are going in, if you are drawn to sigil magic you'd also need paper and something to write with. You can always make do with what's available.

[Raggydoll]

I don’t have very many traditional tools, but I do have a lot of items from nature that I use as tools. I work a lot with stone energy and tree energy, and those things I collect myself. I do have some candles (not many, and no colored ones) and I guess they would qualify as tools. And I have some pieces of quartz that I also like to use. Oh and not long ago I started including a rattle in my practice. I have found that it actually serves a purpose (I wasn’t sure if it was going to suit me to work with rattles). Hmm.. what else? Well, my decks could probably count as tools for magic, and my runes. I do also have a staff, for a particular kind of magic. 
 

When I first started out, I mainly used candles, some salt and a knife for carving into the candles. I didn’t have a special knife for that purpose, i used whatever we had at home. My budget was very limited and witchy shops were hard to come by. (Need I say that this was back when internet shopping wasn’t an option..) 
 

The one thing I regretted buying was incense. Back then I didn’t know I was very sensitive to strong smells, and I learned that the hard way. I also tried palo santo at some point and had the same unfortunate experience. 
 

My most important tools are my voice, my mind and my ancestors/spirit helpers. 
 

For beginners, I’d likely recommend starting with regular candles and perhaps also using a tarot deck to help with intention setting. Most other things can be found at home, but I totally get why it would feel nice to do some shopping to find things that are going to be used exclusively for magic. I also understand the value of aesthetics! 

[Natural Mystic Guide]

An altar is an indispensable tool for all of my work.  I even have a portable altar packed up in a little pouch that I carry with me whenever I travel.  I can set it up on the fly.  The weirdest thing I can remember is setting my portable altar up in a boarding area awaiting for a flight at the Singapore Airport.

 

In my permanent home altar, I have lots of sacred objects including a beautiful hand carved Ganesha sculpture, a huge amethyst heart shaped crystal, several other important working crystals, lots of fresh flowers, and burning incense -- sometimes candles.  I have a rattle that I don't use a lot, but I used to always use.  I have a beautiful hand carved metal over glass goblet.  I have a tiny complete copy of the Torah in a metal case.  I have an athame dagger made out of dinosaur bone that is hand knapped.

 

Then there is my virtual altar that resides inside my K'li Hanecha (sacred container).  This is a spiritual construct made up of virtual Krystals from the virtual Krystal Queendom.  This has one of the same important crystals that my regular home altar has.  It also has 2 eternally burning flames.  In the middle of this altar sits my Spirit Keeper's Tarot.

[GreatDane]

GREAT topic, Raggydoll!  

 

For me, it's about intent and focus.  I may use certain items to help channel or focus, and there are certain things I do to cleanse, protect.  But ultimately it's about how well I can use energy. 

I work with energy.  That's what it all comes from and is connected to.  i call it throwing energy.  

I do like quartz crystal, jet or turquoise for protection, salt, I cleanse my place with sound over burning anything (fire alarms are sensitive!).

I like to write intentions on paper and burn them over a candle, helped soldify it in my mind. 

The one thing that I don't use, things like ouija boards, mirrors, because I'm not going to beckon something and have something else come through.  I think someone who does that must be really strong and sure of how strong they can do a protection spell and if something comes through that's not good, be able to banish.  But I don't deal with these at all.

Pendulums just DO NOT work for me.  KUDOS to those who use them and they do.  I have asked a question where the outcome was basically certain and after asking it did come to pass, yet the pendulum repeatedly gave me a no answer.  And I tried more than one pendulum. 

String magic I find interesting, have used. 

Perhaps I will think of some others, but interesting and fun question to answer, Raggydoll.

[Raggydoll]

I can totally relate to the pendulum thing @GreatDane ! I always feel like I’m able to control it any way I want it to swing, and not with my mighty magical powers but with micro movements of my fingers 🤣

 

but they are pretty though ! 😊

 

[GreatDane]

😀 HAD to smile at your post, Raggydoll!  I TRIED not to do anything, just clear my mind, be still, let it swing. NO MATTER what I did, wrong.  You're right, they ARE pretty.  Maybe make good Suncatchers if they don't work for people, hang them in a window. 

[Raggydoll]

Just now, GreatDane said:

😀 HAD to smile at your post, Raggydoll!  I TRIED not to do anything, just clear my mind, be still, let it swing. NO MATTER what I did, wrong.  You're right, they ARE pretty.  Maybe make good Suncatchers if they don't work for people, hang them in a window. 

Yes… or turn them into jewelry! 🤩
 

[GreatDane]

You're on to something, Raggydoll!  If something doesn't work for one purpose.....   And I want the quartz in that pic! 

[Raggydoll]

Just now, GreatDane said:

You're on to something, Raggydoll!  If something doesn't work for one purpose.....   And I want the quartz in that pic! 

Me tooooo 😆

 

 

[GreatDane]

I don't really know if I would put this in my bag of tools for this topic, but oracles.  I haven't found an oracle deck I really aligned with yet.  Granted, haven't tried many.

 

I know many like a lot of rituals or tools, which I think is cool.  I know there are many types of practitioners.  I think of myself as a Solitary Wise Woman Still In Training, as I think there's always more to learn🙂

[Tanga]

On 9/17/2023 at 3:16 PM, Raggydoll said:

Let’s discuss 😊....

 

1- What type of tools do you have?

2- Is there anything that you wouldn’t want to be without? 
3- Anything you’ve purchased that you ended up not liking or using?

4- Any tools that are on your wishlist? 
5- Have your attitude towards magical tools changed at all over time? 
6- Do you prefer to buy or make your tools? 

7- What, if any, tools would you recommend to a beginner practitioner?

Thank you for this Thread @Raggydoll  🙂

 

1 - I have the proverbial Wiccan tools. An Altar, a couple of chalices (none are real chalices, one is a horn cup, one is a brass lassi cup - the lassi cup makes a lovely overtone sound when struck).

I have several Athames - my best one is a brass Tibetan Kilaya - others are interesting letter openers.

I have several pentacles, mostly brass. I have some wands - one is a rainbow striped knitting needle, one is a wiggle handled chop stick.  I have a "ritual" penknife with a mother of pearl handle that I use to cut herbs and stuff...

I have a tiny copper rattle....

 

2 - The pieces of jewellery that I consider "Witchy" - so some rings and some pentacle pendants.

 

3 - Lots of things I've given away or gone to charity over the years. I made a load of wands too and gave them away - in the end... the knitting needle just seems most perfect  - and I don't knit! 😆

 

4 - Nothing on my wishlist

 

5 - I  am much more blasé and into using more mundane things as tools... but they must be beautiful (in my eyes of course).

I remember when I first started out as Wiccan - frustrated that it seemed to me, available Wiccan tools were all so ugly...

The magick is in me and my belief. But I do love using tools 🙂

 

6 - I prefer to buy tools. I can never make them as beautiful as I'd like if I D.I.Y.

 

7 - 🤔  I suppose tools depend on what kind of magickal path the beginner is on.

So... I would say - make sure you have some Special space that is your own for your magick/meditation/prayer whatever - even if it's just the corner of your bedroom on the floor (like me).

And if you like - some sort of focus for doing this activity. A crystal, an image, a set of prayer beads, an Altar... etc. 

[Misterei]

I was never that big into tools ... but I'll simply list mine and where they came from.

All of them I consider essential for either magical or sentimental reasons.

 

Incense for purification (buy)

Candles for mood or purification (buy)

A silver letter opener with an eagle's head that was my father's or grandfather's. It's an athame even tho I don't really practice witchcraft. (inherited)

2 wands handmade and beaded by a witchy-artsy friend. Don't use them but they're sentimental and beautiful.

Tarot cards, oracle cards, and dice (buy or gifts)

a bell/bowl thing to strike a note (given to me)

CRYSTALS and rocks. Given to me or purchased. Use them a lot.

Music in my phone + JBL speaker. Sound is a huge part of it for me. (bought and collected)

 

@GreatDane I'm seriously bad at pendulum. Tried a course and everything. I just suck at it };>

Edited September 27, 2023 by Misterei

[GreatDane]

Misterei, you listed four of my favs!  I have a small chime/gong I strike as I walk around my place.  And I have stones spread out here and there.  MUSIC.  certainly helps set the vibe

Funny, while I use my decks for focus when I read, I don't put them in my magic category, more in psychology/intuition side.

 

I would love to have a shop with all kinds of wondrous things and a store that looked like the Aunt's house in Practical Magic 🙂

[Nemia]

Great question and great answers. 

 

I have a basket with belongings of my ancestors and I painted a large family tree. It looks like a tree but I put family pictures on it - me and my husband in the middle, at the trunk, on one side his parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, on the other side mine. Next to us, our siblings, above us, our children. I plan to turn all this into a kind of lararium one day but haven't had the right idea yet. 

 

I have and use crystals, also made some crystal jewelry for myself. Incense, candles and music as well. I burn incense when I do readings, change cards on my tarot calendar or feel like it. 

 

I have a little transportable Inner Child shrine filled with meaningful pictures and objects, and also a shrine for the Black Madonna. These are probably my most magical objects and filled with meaning. 

 

I also made some tarot medaillons and magical bags, hand-crocheted with crystals, cards and prayer bottles inside. And I made a Strength amulet that protects me against evil people. 

 

There are lot of chamsot (hand amulets) next to my door that I collected over the years. I don't believe in the evil eye but I believe that a little protection can't do any harm. I also have an olive wood rosary that is a symbol of the Great Mother for me. 

 

My herb garden is a bit neglected right now but when I have herbs, I use them with purpose and intention. Sage is very healing. 

 

I'm not sure that it would count as magic... but I pray and meditate, and use candles, cards and pictures as a focus of my intentions. 

 

Oh and my pendulum. I have a store-bought one from metal and a crystal one I made for myself. When I worked with it regularly, it worked very well. Have to get it out again 😉 

Edited September 27, 2023 by Nemia

[Tanga]

@GreatDane & @Raggydoll - have you tried some other kind of dowsing tool?  A wand, L-rods, a Y-rod? Or even just the sticky finger method - which is rubbing your fingers together (index and thumb or middle and thumb) and finding out if Yes is Sticky and No is Not Sticky?  I have a friend who dowses with her body. Her body sways forwards for yes - and backwards for no.

I found that I can sometimes sort-of dowse with a pendulum (and they are pretty and I have a whole collection) - but it's extremely unreliable. I can't use wands or Y-rods either - but I can use L-rods.  So - eventually I found a set of L-rods that extend like TV antennae and when they are folded - they are the size of a pen. Good enough for convenience.

(I so wanted to be able to use a pendulum - easy to carry, can be used almost unobtrusively, and so pretty 🙂 )

[Raggydoll]

16 minutes ago, Tanga said:

@GreatDane & @Raggydoll - have you tried some other kind of dowsing tool?  A wand, L-rods, a Y-rod? Or even just the sticky finger method - which is rubbing your fingers together (index and thumb or middle and thumb) and finding out if Yes is Sticky and No is Not Sticky?  I have a friend who dowses with her body. Her body sways forwards for yes - and backwards for no.

I found that I can sometimes sort-of dowse with a pendulum (and they are pretty and I have a whole collection) - but it's extremely unreliable. I can't use wands or Y-rods either - but I can use L-rods.  So - eventually I found a set of L-rods that extend like TV antennae and when they are folded - they are the size of a pen. Good enough for convenience.

(I so wanted to be able to use a pendulum - easy to carry, can be used almost unobtrusively, and so pretty 🙂 )

Oh yes. Traditional dowsing is something that was used in my family and I learnt it as a kid. But I think this is very different from pendulums. We only ever worked with wood, and it had to be specific types of wood that aligned with the task in question. So I see it as working with wood energy/magic. And since the wood is freshly harvested, it feels very different than a pendulum. 

[Tanga]

25 minutes ago, Raggydoll said:

Oh yes. Traditional dowsing is something that was used in my family and I learnt it as a kid. But I think this is very different from pendulums. We only ever worked with wood, and it had to be specific types of wood that aligned with the task in question. So I see it as working with wood energy/magic. And since the wood is freshly harvested, it feels very different than a pendulum. 

I have no ancestral magickal history (not any that was taught to me anyway - although ofcourse, there is some). When I learned to dowse - I learned that dowsing is dowsing - you just have to find the tool that works for you. So would a pendulum made with that freshly harvested wood you've mentioned work I wonder?

My L-rods are made of Titanium.

I agree - the tools all feel different.

[Raggydoll]

45 minutes ago, Tanga said:

I have no ancestral magickal history (not any that was taught to me anyway - although ofcourse, there is some). When I learned to dowse - I learned that dowsing is dowsing - you just have to find the tool that works for you. So would a pendulum made with that freshly harvested wood you've mentioned work I wonder?

My L-rods are made of Titanium.

I agree - the tools all feel different.

The times when I used a pendulum I wanted it for yes/no questions. I don’t think there is any type of freshly cut wood that I’d be inclined to use for that 🤔. But I have other ways to do such readings, and I can’t say that I feel a need to find a pendulum practice that works for me. It would be easier to continue divining with signs in nature instead, it works for me and require no tools 🙂

[Tanga]

1 hour ago, Raggydoll said:

The times when I used a pendulum I wanted it for yes/no questions. I don’t think there is any type of freshly cut wood that I’d be inclined to use for that 🤔. But I have other ways to do such readings, and I can’t say that I feel a need to find a pendulum practice that works for me. It would be easier to continue divining with signs in nature instead, it works for me and require no tools 🙂

The answer being no.  I was just curious about the idea.  Yes. L-rods work for me, but I often just do finger stick testing now.

 

I love sound and my favourite sound tool - for all sort of things - is a tuning fork that handily fits in a pocket too.

...I suppose I'd add this to what I would not wish to be without...  🙂

 

[GreatDane]

No, Tanga, I haven't.  After years of studying and trying various tools, and really they are just tools for me, I lean on my throwing energy the most, tools are more just focus.  Candles, String/Ribbon, I'm more about setting intent than reading the future.  Even when I read for people, it's more about what they should see/look for, not THIS WILL HAPPEN kind of thing.  So I wasn't that disappointed with the pendulum.  It was pretty and not sorry I tried it though 🙂

[Raggydoll]

7 hours ago, GreatDane said:

No, Tanga, I haven't.  After years of studying and trying various tools, and really they are just tools for me, I lean on my throwing energy the most, tools are more just focus.  Candles, String/Ribbon, I'm more about setting intent than reading the future.  Even when I read for people, it's more about what they should see/look for, not THIS WILL HAPPEN kind of thing.  So I wasn't that disappointed with the pendulum.  It was pretty and not sorry I tried it though 🙂

I agree. My favorite methods are the ones that don’t require physical tools. This goes for magic as well as divination. But for the tools I do use, I need them to really add something special and be worth the time and effort. My decks does that. The pendulum doesn’t 😊

[Tanga]

18 hours ago, GreatDane said:

No, Tanga, I haven't.  After years of studying and trying various tools, and really they are just tools for me, I lean on my throwing energy the most, tools are more just focus.  Candles, String/Ribbon, I'm more about setting intent than reading the future.  Even when I read for people, it's more about what they should see/look for, not THIS WILL HAPPEN kind of thing.  So I wasn't that disappointed with the pendulum.  It was pretty and not sorry I tried it though 🙂

@GreatDane I'm not a predictive reader/practitioner either. I don't believe the future is fixed. Dowsing can be used for various other things - like testing food sensitivity, or finding out the most suitable Bach Flower remedies for instance (I'm a therapist - this can also be done with muscle testing), you can use it to clear energy in a room, or for spirit release, or ofcourse finding stuff - so that's where my interest is from 🙃. And yes - they are all tools.

I once watched a program of a lady in South Africa dowsing for diamonds over a map - she held a diamond in her hand and tapped the map methodically to find out the places to dig.  Fascinating.

Edited September 28, 2023 by Tanga

[GreatDane]

I knew a Dowser 🙂  I get what it can be used for and it's fascinating how good some are at it.  Just nothing that draws me in to use, or perhaps feel I need to, at least so far.  But I do find it very interesting.  Great to watch someone doing.

[GreatDane]

Raggydoll, sounds like our perspective for what we do is pretty similar.  For me, it's always been about the energy, intent and focus.  I do like some tools or accessories for perspective or to amplify.