Magickal Tools Weapons of the Craft

Consecrating Other Working Tools


Place tool on pentacle, and lay right hand(s) on it, saying:
"Aradia and Cernunnos, deign to bless and to consecrate this White-Hilted knife (or whatever) that it may obtain the necessary virtue through you for allacts of love and beauty."

Magus sprinkles, Witch censes. Then say:

"Aradia and Cernunnos, bless this instrument prepared in yourhonour." (if Scourge or Cords, add "... that it may serve for a goodcause and end and for your glory.")

Again Magus sprinkles and Witch censes. (Hand tool to new owner as you would asword or Athame, with a Fivefold Salute.)

All these weapons should be presented to the new owner with Salute. If a WitchQueen, the downward pointing triangle as in the First Degree Initiation. End ceremony with Fivefold Salute. The new owner should immediately use the new instruments, i.e. form Circle with Sword, then Athame, incise something withWhite-Handled knife, exhibit Pentacle to Four Quarters, cense to Four Quarters,use Cords and Scourge; and should continue to use all of them in a Circle as often as possible, for some time.

To mark out a new Circle, stick sword or Athame in ground, make a loop in cord,and slip over; then, using cord, mark out a circle, and later mark it with apoint of sword or Athame. Always renew the Circle with sword or Athame whenabout to use, but have it marked so that you always retrace it in same place. Remember the Circle is a protection, a guard against evil influences, and to prevent power created from dispersing; but the Witch, not being evil, may enterand leave freely. But in Art Magic, it is a barrier against forces raised, andwhen once in the Magus may not leave without great danger. If any great danger is manifested it would be advisable to take refuge in the Circle; but ordinarily sword or Athame in hand is perfect protection against anything. Those who make these tools must be purified, clean and properly prepared. When not in use, all tools and weapons should be put away in a secret place; and itis good that this should be near your sleeping place, and that you handle them each night before retiring.

The Working Tools

There are sometimes magical supply shops, so unless you are lucky enough to begiven or sold tools, a poor witch must extemporise. But when made you should beable to borrow or obtain an Athame. So having made your circle, erect an altar.Any small table or chest will do. There must be fire on it (a candle will suffice), and your book. For good results incense is best if you can get it,but coals in a chafing dish burning sweet-smelling herbs will do. A cup if youwould have cakes and wine and a platter with the deigns drawn into same in ink,showing a pentacle. A scourge is easily made (note, the scourge has eight tailsand five knots in each tail). Get a white-hilted knife and a wand (a sword is not necessary). Cut the marks with Athame. Purify everything, then consecrate your tools in proper form and ever be properly prepared. But ever remember, magical operations are useless unless the mind can be brought to the properattitude, keyed to the utmost pitch.

Affirmations must be made clearly and the mind should be inflamed with desire.With this frenzy of will you may do as much with simple tools as with the most complete set. But good and especially ancient tools have their own aura. They do help to bring about that reverential spirit, the desire to learn and developyour powers. For this reason witches ever try to obtain tools from sorcerers,who being skilled men make good tools and consecrate them well, giving them mighty power. But a great witch's tools also gain much power; and you should ever strive to make any tools you manufacture of the finest materials you can obtain, to the end that they may absorb your power the more easily. And of course, if you may inherit or obtain another witch's tools, power will flow from them.

Making Tools

It is an old belief that the best substances for making tools are those tha tonce had life in them, as opposed to artificial substances. Thus, wood or ivory is better for a wand than metal, which is more appropriate for swords orknives. Virgin parchment is better than manufactured paper for talismans, etc. And things which have been made by hand are good, because there is life in them.

Athame & Sword

Consecrating an Athame or Sword

Lay Athame (or sword) on pentacle preferably by and touching another consecrated weapon. The man asperges them with consecrated salt and water, whereupon the woman picks up the weapon to be consecrated and passes itthrough the incense smoke and replaces it on the pentacle. Both lay their right hands upon the weapon and press down, saying:

Both: "I conjure thee, O Athame (Sword), by these names, Abrahach, Abrach,Abracadabra, that thou serves me for a strength and d efense in all magical operations against all mine enemies, visible and invisible. I conjure thee anew by the Holy Name Aradia and by the Holy Name Cernunnos; I conjure thee, O Athame (Sword), that thou serves me for a protection in all adversities; so aid me now!"
Again the man asperges, and the woman censes, and the weapon is returned to the pentacle, saying:

Both: "I conjure thee, O Athame (Sword) of Steel, by the Great Gods and Gentle Goddesses, by the virtue of the heavens, of the stars and of the spirits who preside over them, that thou mayest receive such virtue that I may obtain the end I desire in all things wherein I shall use thee, by the power of Aradiaand Cernunnos."

The Partner gives the Fivefold kiss unto the owner of the weapon. If the owneris not present, or if the weapon is jointly owned by them both, the man willgive the Fivefold Kiss to the woman. For the final kiss upon the mouth, theweapon is suspended between their breasts, held there by the pressure of theirembrace. As they separate, the owner of the weapon immediately uses it torecast the Circle, but without words.

Notes: If possible, lay sword with an already consecrated sword or Athame. I tshould, if possible, be consecrated by both a man and a woman, both of whom are initiated, and both naked as drawn swords. During consecration, press down on sword/Athame hard with consecrated sword/Athame. If possible, partake of Cake sand Wine first, then Magus should sprinkle with water, Witch should cense in First Conjuration, then sprinkle and cense and conjure again with Second Conjuration. If true sword and Athame are available, a sword and Athame can be consecrated at the same time in which case Magus should press with sword on sword, and Witch with Athame on Athame, and new sword and Athame should touch .In any case, when finished the weapon should be handed to new owner with Fivefold Salute, and should be pressed against the body for a time to get the aura; and it should be in as close connection as possible to the naked body forat least a month, i.e. kept under pillow, etc. Do not allow anyone to touch or handle any of your tools until thoroughly impregnated with your aura; say six months or as near as possible. But a pair working together may own the same tools,which will be impregnated with the aura of both.

Yule & Winter Solstice

Yule Ritual

(Northern Hemisphere: ~ December 22nd; Southern Hemisphere: ~ June 21st)

Preparation:

Let all be properly prepared and purified.
In the centre (or just south of the centre) of the Circle stands the Cauldron of Cerridwen wreathed about with pine boughs, holly, ivy and mistletoe and therein is laid a balefire of nine woods: rowan, apple, elder, holly, pine,cedar, juniper, poplar and dogwood.
The altar is decorated as is the Cauldron and bears two red candles as well asan unlit red candle or torch for each covener present. There should be no otherlight except the altar candles and those about the Circle.


HP casts the Circle, calling forth the Ancient Ones to bear witness.
HP draws down the moon upon the HPS and then lights the balefire.
HP then moves to the north, before the altar, as the HPS stands in the south with the coveners in a circle, alternately man and woman, about the Cauldronbetween them.
The Circle now moves slowly deosil once about the Circle. As each passes the HPS they kiss her upon the cheek; as they pass the HP, he hands each one acandle which is lit from the balefire.
Coveners dance slowly deosil as the HP calls:

HP: "Queen of the Moon, Queen of the Sun,
Queen of the Heavens, Queen of the Stars,
Queen of the Waters, Queen of the Earth,
Bring to us the Child of Promise!
It is the Great Mother who gives birth to Him;
It is the Lord of Life who is born again.
Darkness and tears are set aside when the Sun shall come up early.
Golden Sun of hill and mountain,
Illumine the land, illumine the world,
Illumine the seas, illumine the rivers,
Sorrows be laid, joy to the world!
Blessed be the Great Goddess,
Without beginning, without ending,
Everlasting to eternity.
Io Evoe! Heh! Blessed be!"

All raise their tapers high and repeat twice the last line.

HPS joins the dance, leading it with a quieter rhythm.
The burning cauldron is pushed into the centre and the dancers jump over it inman and woman couples. The last couple over the fire should be well purified,three times each, and may pay an amusing forfeit as the HPS may ordain.

Cakes and wine follows and, after the Circle has been closed, much merriment, feasting,dancing and games

Samhain

Samhain Ritual

(Northern Hemisphere: October 31st; Southern Hemisphere: April 30th)

Preparation:

Balefire in centre
Two black candles upon the altar
A red candle in each of the Quarters
A wreath of autumn flowers and the crown of the Horned One are upon the altar.
All Coveners are properly prepared, naked and bound.
All are purified by the scourge.

HPS erects the Circle. The HP says:
HP: "Oh Gods, beloved of us all,
bless this our Sabbat that we,
thy humble worshippers,
may meet in love, joy and bliss.
Bless our rites this night
with the presence of our departed kin

Facing north with arms upraised, coveners hand-linked in a semicircle behind him, the HP invokes the Horned One.

HPS bearing a priapus wand then leads the Coven in a meeting dance, slowly, to the Witches' Rune. HP gives each an unlit candle and brings up the rear of thedance. The candles are each lit from the balefire before the outward spiral.
When it is done, the HPS assumes the Goddess position saying:

HPS: "Dread Lord of the Shadows, God of Life and Bringer of Death !
Yet as the knowledge of thee is death, open wide, I pray thee, the gates through which all must pass.
Let our dear ones, who have gone before, return this night to make merry with us.
And when our time comes, as it must, O thou the Comforter, the Consoler, theGiver of Peace and rest, we will enter they realms gladly and unafraid; for we know that when rested and refreshed among our dear ones, we will be reborn again by thy grace, and the grace of the Lady Cerridwen.
Let it be in the same place and the same time as our beloved ones, and may wemeet, and know,
and remember, and love them again ! Descend, we pray thee, on thy High Priestand Servant, N..."

HPS goes to the HP and, with wand, draws the five-point star upon his breast and upon the crown of the Horned God. HP kneels and HPS places the crown uponhis head. Fresh incense is cast into the crucible. HPS strikes the bell and HPsays:
HP: "Here ye my witches,
Welcome to our Great Sabbat.
Welcome we the spirits
Of our departed kin."

HPS strikes bell. Witches walk slowly around the Circle.
HPS fills chalice with wine and hands it to HP who drinks and then says:
HP: "In humility, as the Horned One asks,
I beg my witches drink."
HP takes chalice to first witch, giving it with his right hand whilst takingthe taper with his left (kiss), then extinguishing the taper before acceptingback the chalice. Repeat with each witch present. HP then says:
HP: "Listen, my witches, to the words of the Horned One,
Drink, dance and be merry in the presence of
the Old Gods and the spirits of our departed kin."
Coveners partake of cakes and wine.
Dances and games follow closing of Circle.
Great Rite, if at all possible, by High Priestess and High Priest if no other.
Merry meet, merry part.

Mabon

Mabon Ritual (Autumn Equinox)

(Northern Hemisphere: September 21st; Southern Hemisphere: March 21st)

The altar is decorated with the symbols of autumn: pinecones, oak sprigs ,acorns, ears of grain, etc.
After the Circle has been cast, the coven stands in a ring facing inwards, men and women alternately. The High Priest stands to the west of the altar and the High Priestess to the east, facing each other.

The High Priestess recites:

HPS: "Farewell, O Sun, ever-returning Light,
The hidden God, who ever yet remains,
Who now departs into the Land of Youth
Through the Gates of Death
To dwell enthroned, the Judge of Gods and men,
The horned leader of the hosts of air -
Yet even as he stands unseen about the Circle,
So dwelled he within the secret seed -
The seed of newly-ripened grain, the seed of flesh;
Hidden in earth, the marvelous seed of the starts.
In him is Life, and Life is the Light of man.
That which never was born, and never dies.
Therefore the wise weep not, but rejoice."

HPS hands HP the wand, and picks up a sistrum; they lead the dance three timesaround the altar.
The Candle Game is played, followed by cakes and wine and any other games theHigh Priestess decides on.

The Candle Game

The men form a ring facing inwards, either sitting or standing. The women standin a ring outside them, standing on something if too short. The men pass alighted candle from hand to hand, deosil, while the women lean forward and tryto blow it out.
The man who holds it when it is blown out gets three flicks of the scourge fromthe successful blower, and must give her the Fivefold Kiss in return. Thecandle is relit and the game proceeds.

Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh (Lammas) Ritual

(Northern Hemisphere: August 2nd; Southern Hemisphere: February 2nd)

Poles should be ridden in a ring dance about the Coven stead.
And sing the Ancient Call. The casting of the Circle follows.
HPS traces the Five Point Star before the Coven, saying:
HPS:"O Mighty Mother of us all, Mother of all things living,
give us fruit and grain, flocks and herds and children
to the tribe, that we may be mighty. By thy Rosy Love, do thou descend upon thy servant and priestess here."
HPS draws down the Moon upon herself and all salute Her.
After a brief silence for contemplation, the Ceremony of Cakes and Winefollows.

Midsummer

Summer Solstice (Midsummer) Ritual

(Northern Hemisphere: ~ June 21st; Southern Hemisphere: ~ December 22nd)

The cauldron, filled with water and decorated with flowers, is placed before the altar. HPS casts the Circle and then stands before the Cauldron, wandupraised. HP stands in North behind the altar; coven is in a circle, facinginwards, alternately man and woman.

HPS says:
HPS: "Great One of Heaven, Power of the Sun,
We invoke thee in thy ancient names -
Michael, Baalin, Arthur, Lugh, Herne;
Come again as of old into this thy land.
Lift up thy shining spear of light to protect us.
Put to flight the powers of darkness.
Give us fair woodlands and green fields,
Blooming orchards and ripening corn.
Bring us to stand upon thy hill of vision,
And show us the lovely realms of the Gods."
HPS traces an invoking pentagram upon the HP with her wand. He comes deosilabout the altar, picking up his own wand and the scourge. He plunges the wandinto the cauldron and holds it up, saying:

HP: "The Spear to the Cauldron, the Lance to the Grail,
Spirit to Flesh, Man to Woman, Sun to Earth."
Saluting HPS with wand, he joins the Coven in their circle. HPS picks up asprinkler and stands by the cauldron, saying:

HPS: "Dance ye about the Cauldron of Cerridwen, the Goddess, and be yeblessed with the touch of this Consecrated water; even as the Sun, the Lord ofLife, arises in his strength in the sign of the Waters of Life."
HP leads a slow circle dance deosil about the Cauldron. As each passes, HPSsprinkles them with water from it.
Cakes and wine follow and dances, rites and games as the HPS shall direct. Abalefire may be lit and leaped.