Witchcraft Tools

An altar cloth is a cloth that you lay out on your altar or lay out on the surface you are doing your spell workings on. This cloth can be a plain cloth, or you can spend a little more and get one with a specific design. The purpose of the altar cloth is so you don’t make a big mess when doing your spell work. Herbs, oils, and incense messes will happen. Best to protect your surfaces. This is not a necessary tool but is nice to have.

Anointing Oils are also known as essential oils. Used to anoint candles and tools. You can also use oils in a diffuser to cleanse if smoke and incense are not something you can use or wish to use. Before purchasing, make sure to do your research. You do not want any synthetic or fragrance oils. You want pure oils, but this can get a bit pricey. Oils are not a necessary tool unless you wish to not use smoke for cleansing.

An athame is like a dagger. However, this tool is not use for cutting objects but used to cut the air. This tool is commonly used in rituals and circle casting. When picking out an athame, it is important that the handle fits well in your hand and doesn’t slip or move around. This is not a necessary tool, but if you plan on getting one, they are one of the more expensive tools.

A wand could be used in its place and can be cheaper as well.

This tool is great to have if you live in a place where you are not allowed to have candles, incense or anything that produces smoke. You can cleanse a space using a bell and ward off negative energies. You can use the bell when casting a circle or in rituals. Some witches will ring the bell three times to signal that the ritual has begun. Bells are not necessary unless you live in a place where open flame or smoke is prohibited.

A besom is used to ‘sweep’ away negative energy. This isn’t the type of broom that you sweep the floor with, but the air instead. Use to sweep away any bad energy from your home, circle, or ritual space. This type of tool is a perfect tool to make on your own. Although it’s not a necessary tool, it is fun to have. Nothing screams witch aesthetic like a broom!

A boline is a curved knife. This knife is like an athame but is used to cut objects like herbs. You can also use this knife to carefully carve into objects, such as sigils in a candle. This tool is not necessary at all. Although it does look cool. A normal knife can be used in its place.

Here is one we all have heard of. This is the most commonly known tool. Much like a witch’s diary, spells and notes are kept in this book. A BOS doesn’t need to be an expensive leather-bound book. It can be a notebook or even a binder. I recommend a binder so you can add, discard, and move pages around. Just know that when using a notebook or even a fancy bound book, you will eventually grow out of it and have multiple BOS’s.

The most common and also one of the most important tools in a witch’s arsenal. Almost all spells and rituals use candles. They come in many sizes and colors. This tool can be used to represent the fire element on your altar or in rituals. Out of all of the tools, candles should be in your witch’s arsenal at all times. Try having different types of candles as well.

If you are not allowed to have candles, I recommend flameless candles instead.

A candle snuffer is a tool used to put out candles without blowing them out. Some witches believe that blowing out candles will blow away your spell and intentions thus making your spell not work. I personally don’t believe in this so that makes this tool not necessary for me. But you decide for yourself if this is a must have tool for you or not.

Another tool that screams witch aesthetic is the cauldron. Made from cast iron and comes in many sizes. This tool is perfect for fire spells, potions and incense. I believe cauldrons are necessary; however, they can get very expensive. Especially depending on the size you are looking for. If your budget is tight, a simple heat-proof dish will work great in its place.

A chalice or a goblet can be as simple as a wine glass. This tool doesn’t need to be fancy. Use your chalice to represent the water element. Be aware of what your chalice is made out of. Some are for decorative purposes only and not meant to have liquids in them. So do your research before buying one. Also, be sure to wash this tool before using.

Crystals all have different meanings and energies that they can bring to your craft. They can also represent the Earth element. Crystals come in many shapes and sizes and have a wide price range from a couple dollars to thousands. Some witches don’t find crystals necessary. So, it’s up to you if you find these necessary for your craft.

A dedication tool to a god and/or goddess that you work with or wish to work with. This tool sits on your altar or in your ritual space. Call to this deity to help guide you or help you in your spell work. This tool is 100% not necessary and can be really expensive. Not all witches work with deities. If you are a witch that does and would like a statue of a particular deity, then I say go for it!

If you are on a budget, research your deity. There are other ways you can represent them on your altar or in your spell workings.

There are many divination tools out there. Scrying mirrors, crystal balls, pendulums, tarot, runes, or even a shallow dish of water. Divination is a practice in its own right. If you have no interest in doing divination, then you do not need to worry about these tools. If you are interested, I recommend starting with one type first. These tools can also get expensive, especially if you are trying to do more than one of them at a time.

Herbs are easily found in your kitchen or garden. Not a necessary tool unless you do a lot of kitchen, green, or hedge witch workings. Buy these in bulk from an apothecary or grow them yourself in your garden. Herbs are great to grow in containers and placed indoors on a windowsill.

Mainly used for cleansing but can also be used to represent the air element. Incense comes in many forms. The most common are the sticks. There are also cones or loose incense as well. Incense is really cheap and good to have on hand. Don’t forget to get an incense holder, or a heat-proof dish if using cones.

These are necessary because how else are you going to light your incense or candles? Unless you have fire starting abilities. The reason I put long matches is because regular sized matches tend to burn quickly and you can’t always get everything you need lit with one match, or you burn your fingers. Using longer matches will give you enough time and can also reach far down into certain types of candles that short matches or lighter cannot reach.

This five-pointed star symbolizes earth, air, water, fire and spirit. Have on your altar or wear on your person. Many witches will enchant their pentacle with protection wards.

This slab is made of wood, metal, or stone. Generally has a pentagram engraved on it. This tool is used in rituals to charge tools used in a ritual. It can also give extra protection when conducting rituals. Not a necessary tool but is one to consider if you tend to do many rituals. This is another tool that you can make on your own.

The pestle and mortar are another tool that gives off that witch aesthetic. Not a necessary tool, but if you deal with herbs in your practice, it may be a good thing to have on hand. These range in price depending on the material it is made out of. Wood will be the cheaper route whereas stone will be more on the expensive side.

A common household item that can be used to represent the earth element. It can also be used in protection spells and used to cleanse any witch tools you have. Be careful using with crystals. Salt can damage some crystals. Any salt can be used, but sea salt is preferred.

What is a witch without a wand? This tool can be used in place of an athame. It is also the cheapest tool you can use. Really all you need for a wand is a really nice stick. You can carve it or decorate it however you like. Buying a wand is also an option if there is a metaphysical store near you. But they too can get pricey. I would say this tool is necessary especially if you are just starting out or if you are on a budget. Plus, it can be personalized to you.

A dish of water can be used to represent the water element. Cleanse your tools using charged water such as moon or solar water. Be careful when cleansing your tools with water. Like the salt, it can cause damage to your crystals or tools. Do your research and use your best judgement.

A small, yet simple tool needed. Anytime you are doing spell work, always have a writing utensil on hand. You never know when you might need to take note of something, remember something, or you may need to adjust something in a spell. This simple task can be a major issue if you are mid spell or ritual and you need to create a door in your circle in order to leave and retrieve a writing utensil.