Demystifying the Tools used in Witchcraft
When I research a topic for a book, I learn best by writing. That said, there are some blog posts I have planned as I write my current book, and I thought a good place to start would be to list some common tools used in witchcraft or spell works, and see where the Muse leads me. These research posts are helpful to me as I digest information, and are meant more for writers or curious folks who might not be familiar with the topic. It is a bonus in my mind that demystifying things can sometimes eliminate the fear of the thing… which then leads to understanding and empathy. Pretty deep… but needed to be said… especially with the way the world is now. All of this to say, I’m not an expert on the topic, but I love to learn. If you do too… keep reading!
Most of these “tools” are things people use every day, such as spices in the kitchen, or scented candles. The difference between a cook in the kitchen, or a witch creating a spell, is the recipe book, although I would argue both are pretty similar when you think about it. Not sure Betty Crocker had a grimoire, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she did honestly. She was what I think of as a Kitchen Witch. Ever have something that your Aunt cooked that tasted magical, and when you used the same recipe it fell flat? Yup… Kitchen Witch.
When you cook, you add flavorful ingredients in precise amounts that each have a purpose in the dish you are creating. Recipes are tweaked over time and perfected, often passed down from generation to generation. And like the cookbook from your Grandma that has her handwriting in the margins, the recipe evolves over time and comes to represent the personal tastes of the cook. A spell is no different. It is a “recipe” using items that hold specific meaning, combined with language that solidifies intent. Very similar to say… lighting candles in church and saying a prayer. At least that is my take on it.
For purposes of this post, I will feature things I’m personally familiar with and the ways in which I understand them to be used in witchcraft. Like each person’s faith and relationship to a higher power, uses of these tools may vary, so I will just give a brief description for each and some resources I have found along the way, so you can always investigate on your own if you would like to. For anyone who practices the craft, please let me know if I miss the mark by shooting me an email. Let’s dive in…
Smudge
Image by Adam Huff from Pixabay
Sage has been used for centuries by a multitude of cultures around the world, and is most often used for smoke cleansing. It represents the element of air, as well as earth, according to The Witches’ Encyclopedia of Magical Plants by Sandara Kynes. Common sage, or any other dried herb wand, provides an ethical alternative to white sage (S. apiana) which is a sacred herb to many native American tribes. It has also been thought to promote longevity if eaten (ancient Greeks) or used to honor the dead throughout the Middle Ages.
A bundle of dried herbs is known as a smudge wand, and can be purchased widely (and ethically) or made easily with your own dried herbs and some string. Using plants that hold special meaning is a good place to start, such as rosemary for remembrance, or lavender for healing. Once bundled, they can be lit then blown on until the flame goes out and the embers smoke. Keep the smoke going by blowing on the lit end during your ceremony, or while speaking your intention, to cleanse all negativity from the area.
Doing a sweep around each room in the house and visualizing the negativity “following you” until you open the front door and usher it out is a practice I find most helpful. Smoke cleansing is widely used for witchcraft as well as other ceremonies and rituals around the world.
Find more information on Smudge here:
https://www.mojavemoon.net/shop
https://sweetgrasstradingco.com/product/sage-smudges/
Crystals & Stones
Were you one of the kids who picked up rocks and put them in your pocket? Did you know that as a species we have been doing that forever? As a matter of fact, according to The Witch’s Complete Guide to Crystals by Sara Hadley, the first written record of using minerals as makeup, or in their healing practice, dates back to ancient Egypt. A number of my Goddesses of Witchcraft posts date back to that date and area as well. If interested, you can head to my post on Isis here: Origins of Witchcraft: Isis (Egyptian).
Image by Leon May from Pixabay
Crystals have a constant vibration, and have been used throughout time in medicinal practices and rituals. Each crystal and stone holds their own properties and benefits, and it is believed you are attracted to the stones or crystals you “need” in order to balance something you are off on. I mean, think about it, the minerals in our body are essential to well being, so who is to say we wouldn’t be attracted to something we need around? When you crave something salty, a banana, or a piece of salmon, that is just the body’s way of sending you a message.
Just like with everything, you will want to make sure that the seller can tell you the origin of their material so you can be assured it is authentic and ethically mined. You may need to pay a little more, but for the practicing witch knowing you have the right tool for the right purpose without harm to mother earth, is essential.
Crystals and stones can be “cleansed” by being placed in the light of a full moon, or in other ways using smoke, or water. The easiest way I have found to keep your stones and crystals charged is to put them in, or near, Selenite, which is a crystallized form of gypsum and was popular in Mesopotamian culture. It has a pure, yet high vibrational frequency, and is known as an overall “Purifier.” By having a bowl made out of selenite, you will have an easy place to keep your go to stones when you aren’t carrying them, and you will know they will always be completely charged and ready for use.
https://www.beyondbohemian.com/ethical-crystal-suppliers
https://theyearsproject.com/latest/are-crystals-sustainable
https://moonrisecrystals.com/product/selenite-crystal-moon-charging-plate
https://www.thestonespirit.com/post/connect-to-your-crystals
Salt
I did a deep dive on this topic which went along a different vein… get it… vein, lol. Anyway, I will share it here since it is a pretty interesting read about the Superstition of Salt: https://dahenneman.com/2023/01/07/superstitions-tossing-salt-over-shoulder/
As far as witchcraft goes, what I will say about it here is if we used it as currency once upon a time, we know it’s important. Not to mention it is one of the minerals we talked about before that are part and parcel of who we are, and is something we need to survive but can’t create in our own bodies. Ancient cultures used it to preserve food, and bodies, and it has been part of our way of life for so long now, we are now getting too much of it (at times).
Salt with a wooden spoon
Salt is mainly used for protection, although it can be used in witchcraft to purify, or if you are a Kitchen Witch, to cook, of course. The circles of “protection” you see in movies like Practical Magic, are dramatized, but the basic concept. A circle, or line across say a doorway/threshold, is made with salt and intent. The intent and belief in it is always necessary when it comes to witchcraft, otherwise you are just spilling salt. And you don’t want to get caught doing that! If you want to know why… read the article in the first paragraph.
Pendulum
A pendulum is a tool in witchcraft that includes a pointed stone or crystal which is linked to the end of a chain. It is believed that it answers the questions in our subconscious, bringing to light answers that we already know deep down. It is believed that these tools predate known history, and witches today find them one of the most useful tools in their toolbox.
Holding the chain in your hand and allowing the stone to dangle, you ask a yes or no question you know the answer to and watch the direction of the swing. Then ask a question with the opposite response to double check you and your pendulum are on the same wavelength. Once you know which direction is yes, and which is no, you can ask your question.
They can also be used to select tarot or oracle cards in daily readings, or with the addition of a pendulum board which is similar to a Ouiji Board. Like your stones and crystals, your pendulum should be “cleaned” on a regular basis, and can be placed with your other stones and crystals, or put on display.
https://www.estherunearthed.com/store/p/ethically-sourced-pendulums
https://www.awakeningsstore.com/amethyst-round-pendulum.html
I hope you found something interesting in this post on tools used most commonly in witchcraft, and if so, please come back for a future post where we will go over a few more I need to look into such as candles, tarot, and essential oils. I would also like to do a deeper dive into the witch’s “recipe book” known as a grimoire.
For anyone interested in what I write, you can head to www.dahenneman.com for more information on my fiction! And if you are a writer, tell me what you are working on! In the meantime, I hope you have a magickal day! XO
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