Ritual Paraphernalia
Book of Shadows
The
paraphernalia or tools that could be used by witches and magickians can
be divided into two categories, those that are potentially useful and
those that are actually pointless. The distinction as to which are
useful can only be appreciated by study, experimentation and a suspense
of belief. If any item does not do what it says it does on the label
then throw it away, have a cup of tea, and start again.
That said, let's get down to it.
The Wand
The wand is a standard weapon of both the witch and the magickian and can be said to represent the element of AIR within a ritual context. However, in an attempt to show that nothing is true, it also represents the element of FIRE, though only in one of Hugh Everett’s multiple Universes on a Friday evening, just after 9pm.
This
confusion is brought about by the action of quantum uncertainty which,
as we all know, can cause a great deal of chaos amongst those people for
whom the concept of certainty forms the very foundation of their
reality. For the rest of us, we can thank the gods that these people
don't actually know what to do with all this chaos they've suddenly
found.
The
wand can be used to consecrate cakes, direct the energy of the Universe
into anything that needs it directing into and can also be used as a
flaming torch on nights when you have run out of candles. However you
decide to use it, use it consistently or it will use you!
The Athame
The Athame, or the 'now that's what I call a knife!', as it is known in some quarters is the elemental weapon of FIRE, or it could be AIR due
to.....well see above. The Athame can be used to invoke and banish
pentagrams, consecrate wine - making sure you lick off the residue
afterwards or it stains like hell, form magick circles and spheres and
do a multitude of other things that, for the life of me I can't recall
at the moment. One thing that you cannot do, traditionally, is to cut
anything with it. There is a very good reason for this, but I'm not
going to tell you, for if I did you would have learned nothing.
The Cup
The cup, or as it is known in posh circles - the Chalice is the elemental weapon of WATER.
This attribution is readily agreed upon by most witches, as to disagree
would mean an inability to drink copious amounts of red wine within
magick circles. It can be used to scry into or to hold copious amounts
of red wine. (my preference!)
The Pentacle
The Pentacle represents the element of EARTH,
and has got six very nice non-precious stones fixed to it as part of
its design. This is due to the earthy nature of these stones and by no
means suggests that they are necessary. You decide for yourself. You can
use the pentacle for holding cakes when they need to be consecrated and
for many other incredibly useful tasks, the mere mention of which would
cause panic, chaos and jealousy at the thought that you may not have
one.
The Lamp
The
lamp is the elemental weapon of spirit and is vitally important in
quantum witchcraft, for without it you wouldn't be able to find your
outdoor circle in the dark. This is mostly used to mark the position of
the quantum creation clock around the magick circle during seasonal
rites but can also be used to find missing ritual items when all the
candles have gone out at the end of the rite.
The Sword
The sword is longer than the athame.
The Censor
The
censor is used to burn the wonderful smelling incenses that are so
useful within a magickal circle, without which, the mysterious sense of
other-worldliness would not necessarily exist. At a push, you can also
burn things in it, such as spells, sigils and used tissues.
The Tarot Cards
The
tarot cards are of course well known within occult circles as well as
within other, slightly less occult circles. Their use as 'windows into
the future' are well documented but since the future is a non-existent
figment of most people's imagination, their use should be restricted to
delving into the time that can only be described as 'now'. In this
regard they are extremely useful indeed.
The Black Mirror
The
black mirror, not to be confused with the very dirty mirror, is the
primary tool used for scrying for the quantum witch. In it, one can peer
into the very depths of chaos itself and see things that are as yet to
come. You may even get a glance of your own reflection if you are very
very lucky.
Other Tools
The
other tools that you might find useful are candles, robes, brooms,
paper, pens, eyes of newts, wings of bats and anything else that you can
lay your hands on at the time.
~ Shenarah
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