Practicing the craft requires a
small gallery of tools. They aid you on your path. The
tools must be charged with energies from you and the
elemental energies. Charge
your tools only after properly channeling earth (elemental)
energies through Self-Dedication. You will learn all the
various uses of these tools (and more will be added) in
later lessons.
The
tools you will need thus far are as follows:
Athame
or Ritual Knife: This may be of any type you choose,
preferably at least four inches in length.
Chalice or Cup: This may be of any type you choose.
Incense Burner: This may be of any type you choose.
Bowl or cauldron: This must be black (painted is fine).
Book of Shadows: This must be a blank book in which
you will write all of your spells, rituals and
ceremonies.
To
charge these tools, you will need the following items:
Modeling
Paint & Paint Brush: In the colors of your choice
Incense: Sandalwood, stick or cone
Salt
Cup with Water
White Candle, Black Candle & Matches or lighter
Herbs: Herbs will be specified with each tool that
requires them.
Charging
the Athame
You
will need wormwood herb (this can be found in most
health food stores or occult shops.)
Setup:
Place
the black and white candles next to each other about
two to seven inches apart.
Place the cup to the left and the incense to the
right.
Place the paint and paintbrush anywhere on the altar.
Place the athame anywhere under the candles.
This charging must be done on the night of the full
moon and after Self-Dedication.
Perform
STEP ONE, Meditation.
Light the white candle while saying:
"Earth Mother Thee I Invoke."
Light the black candle while saying:
"Blessed be."
Light the incense. Place the salt in the cup while saying:
"Earth Mother charge this water."
Place your hands, palms down, over the cup.
Imagine a white light coming up from the earth into the
cup.
Hold your knife up high above your head while saying:
"I call upon the elements of air, fire, water and
earth."
Place the tip of the knife into the cup of charged water
while saying:
"Be blessed to water and earth."
Pass the knife through the incense and candle flames
while saying:
"Be blessed to air and fire."
Hold the knife close to you. Visualize you and the knife
glowing white while saying:
"Be charged creature of life."
Take the wormwood and mix it with the paint. Paint a
pentagram on the handle of the knife.
Place your hands, palms down, over the pentagram while
saying:
"Earth Mother charge your symbol. So mote it be."
Take the knife out in the full moon and allow the rays of
the moon to touch it.
Always drain the charged water from the cup (chalice)
unto the earth.
The knife is charged.
Charging
the Chalice
(You will need the herb basil for this charging.)
Charging
the chalice should be done during the waxing to full
moon.
It can be done immediately after you charge your
athame.
Follow the same setup as you did for the athame.
Place the chalice to be charged anywhere under the
candles.
Perform STEP ONE, Meditation.
Light the white candle while saying:
"Earth Mother thee I invoke."
Light the black candle while saying:
"Blessed be."
Light the incense. Put the salt in the cup and with
the tip of the athame, draw a pentagram on the
surface of the water while saying:
"As salt with water, I purify thee."
Take the chalice and pour the cup of water into it
while saying:
"May this charge this chalice to the elements
earth and water."
Visualize the cup glowing white.
Pass the cup through the incense and candles while
saying:
"May this charge this chalice to the elements of
air and fire."
Hold the chalice over your head while saying:
"Earth Mother bless this chalice in your honor."
Mix the basil with the paint.
Draw a pentagram on the surface while saying:
"So mote it be."
Take the chalice outside and pour the charged water
onto the earth.
The chalice is charged.
Charging
the Incense Burner
(You will need the herb nutmeg for this charging. This
charging should be done between the waxing to full moon.)
Follow
the same setup as you did for the athame and chalice,
but replace the cup with the charged chalice.
Perform STEP ONE, Meditation.
Light the white candle while saying:
"Earth Mother thee I invoke."
Light the black candle while saying:
"Blessed be."
Place the incense in the new burner to be charged.
Light the incense.
Place the salt into the chalice, then place the tip
of the athame in the water.
Draw a pentagram while saying:
"As blade to water, salt to earth, bless this
chalice, giving birth."
Visualize the chalice glowing white.
Sprinkle the incense burner with water from the
chalice while saying:
"With earth and water, bless this creature of
air."
Pass the burner through the candles while saying:
"Fire bless this creature of air."
Hold the burner high above your head while saying:
"Air fill this creature."
Visualize the burner glowing white.
Mix the nutmeg with the paint and paint a pentagram
on the burner, saying:
"Earth Mother, bless this piece of art in your
name. So mote it be."
Take the burner outside and let the incense rise to
the skies for a moment. (Always drain the charged
water from the chalice unto the earth.)
The incense burner is charged.
Bowl
or Cauldron Charging
(You will need the herb wormwood for this charging.
Again, this can be found in most health food stores or
occult shops.)
Follow
the same setup as you did for the athame, chalice and
incense burner, but replace the incense burner with
your charged one.
Perform STEP ONE, Meditation.
Light the white candle while saying:
"Earth Mother thee I invoke."
Light the black candle while saying:
"Blessed be."
Place the salt into the chalice of water.
Place the tip of the athame into the water.
Draw a pentagram on the surface of the water while
saying:
"As blade to water, salt to earth, bless this
chalice, giving birth."
Visualize the chalice glowing white.
Pour the water into the bowl.
Place the tip of the athame into the bowl while
saying:
"Charge this creature elements of all. Bring to
it your loving call."
Pass the bowl through the incense and candles.
Hold it above your head. Visualize it glowing white
while saying:
"Earth Mother let this be your eyes."
Mix the wormwood with the paint.
Paint a pentagram on the bowl while saying:
"So mote it be."
Take the bowl outside and pour the water unto the
earth.
The cauldron is charged.
Book
of Shadows
The
Book of Shadows does not need to be charged in the same
manner as your other tools. It is simply a blank book of
any type you choose, in which you write all of your
ceremonies, rituals, spell and results.
Begin your book by recording your experiences through the
Self-Dedication process, meditation and charging your
tools. Continue your journal in your Book of
Shadows with each practice of the craft. Your next entry
should be about wax and water.
The Book of Shadows is an important tool as you learn
about and explore the craft. You will find that some
spells and rituals work better than others. The best way
to find out which techniques work well for you is to keep
track of them.
Some important information to record is time of day,
phase of the moon, weather, emotional state, outside
noises, distractions, location, items used and results.
This
book will soon develop into a very useful and essential
tool.
|