A Resourceful Witch's Guide to Tools and Materials
You’re in the right place if you want to…
learn about witchcraft tools and materials
know my top five tools for witchcraft
know tips for being resourceful in your practice
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Sacred Space and Altars
An important aspect of witchcraft is maintaining a sacred space. This is an organized, calm, and relaxing space that you have specifically set aside for rituals and spellwork.
I’ve shared before that I try to keep my entire home as a sacred space and, depending on your lifestyle and living circumstances, you may choose to do this as well, or you could focus on a single room, or create an altar in one area of a room.
An altar is a type of sacred space and this is a space I do maintain as sacred no matter what.
Many of our ancestors kept an altar in their home. They would dedicate it to certain gods and goddesses, they would burn candles or incense and leave offerings to their deity in exchange for guidance, or prosperity, or protection.
Altars can serve an important purpose for the practical and modern witch as well. It is a space dedicated to magical and spiritual work. It can help get you into the proper mindset for whatever magic you would like to perform. It also serves as a visual reminder of your intention, so that your witchy path doesn’t get set too far to the side of your mundane daily life.
The intention of a sacred space depends on where it is and the purpose you need it to fulfill. Set the intention of your sacred space so that it is protected from negative, stagnant, or unwanted energy and spirits, and inviting to fresh, positive, and beneficial energy and spirits.
You might incorporate items that enhance your sensual perception of the space through sight, smell, sound, and touch.
The key, though, is your intention.
My Top Five Witchcraft Tools
When you perform a ritual or cast a spell, you will likely incorporate a variety of materials like herbs and crystals, and tools like the broom, candle, and wand.
The purpose of tools in witchcraft is mostly practical. Some witches like to have tools that are only for magical use, and some will use the same tool for magical and mundane purposes alike.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Witchcraft Tools
Now, I’ll share my top five tools that you might want to incorporate into your witchcraft practice, and how I use them.
1. THE BROOM
The first is a besom, or broom, which you can make yourself or ask someone else to make for you. It is generally used, not as a traditional broom for sweeping physical dirt, but rather for cleansing energetically. I keep my broom by my altar, and personally never let it touch the ground.
2. CANDLES
Another tool many witches use is a candle, and probably my most used magical tool. There is actually a branch of magic dedicated to working with candles. This tool is very convenient for magic because they are readily available and generally inexpensive and they make it easy for witches who are not out of the broom closet to practice openly.
3. CAULDRON
The cauldron is another tool that was traditionally easy to hide in plain sight, as they were indistinguishable from a cooking pot. As a kitchen witch, I consider the pots and pans I use for cooking my cauldrons. A cauldron can be anything that is made from a heat proof material. Many are small enough to fit on an altar. I use my cauldron for collecting materials like paper or leaves as part of a spell, especially when they need to be lit on fire. I also use it for practical purposes like mixing herbs and holding candles.
4. TAROT CARDS
Tarot cards are not exclusively a witchcraft tool, but many witches do enjoy using them, myself included. There are many ways to use Tarot cards in witchcraft. The most common way is for divination. Divination is the practice of seeking answers from the divine about questions you have. I also use Tarot cards in spellwork and for self care, personal guidance, and shadow work.
Related: Tarot Blog Post Round-Up
5. THE WAND
A final tool we’ll discuss in this episode is the wand, which is a very personal magical tool used for directing your magical energy to a precise location. If you choose to use a wand, choose it carefully and attune it with your energy. Generally, a wand is not longer than your forearm and quite often made from a sacred wood. You can even consider one of your fingers to be your wand.
If you’d like to download my ultimate guide to witchcraft tools, click the button below, and enter your email address to have it sent to your inbox.
Materials Anchor the Spell
When you perform a ritual or cast a spell, you will also likely incorporate a variety of materials like herbs and crystals. The purpose of materials in witchcraft is to give yourself something physical to focus your thoughts on. This anchors your thoughts in the physical realm to begin the manifestation process in the spiritual realm.
HERBS
All parts of the plant—and all types of plants—are considered “herbs” when it comes to witchcraft: tree, shrub, grass, flower, root, leaf, fruit, etc. Herbs are commonly used in spells and herbalism. Herbs used in magic is more about on the symbolism and the energetic component of a plant in relation to the spiritual body, herbalism explores the chemical components and science of how plants affect the physical body. You can use herbs in teas, tinctures, spell bags and jars, candle magic, incense, and more.
CRYSTALS
The word crystal is often used as a catch all term for all stones, crystals, minerals. Crystals are both magical tools and magical materials. Different crystals are associated with one or more of the four elements and are believed to have various magical properties. One very important use for crystals in spellwork is to cleanse and charge your other magical tools. They can also be used in creating a sacred space and for helping you get into the right mindset for spellwork.
The Resourceful Witch
Remember that witches make do with what they have available to them. No tool is inherently magical until the witch assigns it a task. Gather tools and materials slowly so that you become familiar with each item as it comes into your life. It’s okay to want special, beautiful things, that’s part of the fun. Just build your collection intentionally and be resourceful, inventive, and scrappy with what you already have.
Here are some resourceful witch tips:
The Dollar Store and Thrift Stores — Check out thrift stores and low cost stores to find things you might need. Don’t go in with anything in mind, just walk every aisle. Something will probably be usable for witchcraft.
Go Outside — Collect natural items from the great outdoors. Look at the ground. Learn your local trees and plants, then stop when you see something. Get other nature inclined friends to scope out spots for you. Watch the animals around and see if they lead you to something interesting. Collect trash too when your on a walk or outside. You’re cleaning up the Earth but learn to look at what you find in new ways.
Repurpose and DIY — Look around your house for things to repurpose. If you don’t already, start saving all your jars! There is a practice called trash witchcraft. Look for ways to turn your waste into something useful or beautiful. There is no “school” of trash witchcraft and you can combine it with all sorts of other workings and traditions.
Make Friends — Befriend other witches and pagans, even if they practice way different than you. Interactions with others can be your greatest teacher about who you are and aren’t. Most pagan types who have been doing it longer than you have an old tarot deck and a few beginner books they need to re-home anyways. You’ll pay it forward someday.
Online Swaps — Join in on swaps online. After you’ve bought a few things, gotten some gifts, picked up outside, you will someday have extra. Offer whatever you can and take near anything that’s offered in exchange. If you don’t like it, gift it to another friend or offer it in an unrelated swap another time.
Gifts — Mention general stuff you are looking for to gifty friends. Ask at holidays for specific things you could witchify.
Clearance Sales — Halloween clearance sales. Craft Stores often have coupons on their receipt for 40% off as well.
Miscellaneous —
Free Boxes: Some low-income hipster/artist areas have “free” boxes on the corner that you can pick amazing stuff out of.
Library Free Book Piles: they get a lot of useless donations.
U-Pick/Pick-n-Save/U-Pull-It Type Car Lots: they let you go into their broken down/wrecked car lot and pull anything off of vehicles for flat fees and it’s quite cheap.
Craigslist: for people who want to take other people’s junk away for them.
Freecycle Type Trade Groups.
Dumpster Diving: especially near college campuses at the end of the school year.
Patience — Be observant, patient, give it time, and be giving to other giving people. Save your money and be ready topurchase when you see the exact thing you want or need.
Homework
Decide on one tool you would like to add to your collection and find a place to purchase it, repurpose something in your home, or create it yourself.
Summary
In this post I told you about sacred spaces including the altar. I also explained my top five most used tools and discussed materials like herbs and crystals. Then, I gave you several tips for being resourceful as you grow your witchcraft collection.
Join us in the Talk Witchcraft Facebook group to chat about this episode with other witchy folks.
Wait, don’t go yet!
Thanks for hanging out with me today. If you’ve enjoyed this post of Talk Witchcraft, I invite you to check out mumblesacademy.com.
Mumbles Academy is the place to be for intuitive souls at any stage on their WitchPath. Whether you are a Wildling at the very beginning of witchcraft journey and looking for a safe learning environment, a Creator who is already committed to their practice and wants to develop their witchcraft skills even more, or a Sage who full of wisdom already and is ready to share that with others, Mumbles Academy was designed for you.
With monthly masterclasses and live Q&As, an extensive archive of courses and training, and a supportive community to help you along the way with encouragement and advice, Mumbles Academy is the perfect place for you to be as you as you continue on your WitchPath.
Now it’s your turn!
Comment which tool you decides on for your homework.