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.