B.O.S. ( BOOK OF SHADOWS)

tools

A list of witches tools used in spells and rituals

Altar
A table, that is used in rituals to hold all tools and ingredients needed for the ritual or spell.

Anointing stick
A piece of Greenwood, with one end mashed, used to apply oil to things.

Athame
Black handled, double edged dagger, knife that is strictly a ritual tool used to work with energies. It is a symbolic representative of the element of fire. It can be used as a tool for laying down a circle and also as a symbol representing the male aspect. Athames can be used to invoke the quarters, release the quarters, and are customarily used to assist with blessing the waters of life inside of the chalice, this blessing being symbolic of the Great Rite.

Bolline or Boline
Also known as the white-handled knife or Goddess knife. The witches working knife. Generally used for cutting herbs, cords, carving candles, sacred cakes, etc. Used for physical cutting where the Athame is used in energy working.

Book of Shadows
Traditionally hand copied book of rituals, recipes, training techniques, guidelines, and other materials deemed important to a Witch or a coven. Each tradition has it's own standard version of the Book and each Witch's book will be different as he or she adds to it with time from many different sources.

Broom
The Witches broom is used for sweeping any harmful energies from the area that the broom is cleansing I.E.... House, room, circle, sacred space etc. Of course on the practical side you can use it too to sweep your floors.

Cauldron
The cauldron represents the gift of birth, death and rebirth, also knowledge and inspiration. The cauldron is a female aspect and is a symbolic representative of water, and it may also be used as a representation of fire. It is often referred to in connection with Cerridwen. It is used for containing ritual fires or holding items to be ?charged?. It can be used to hold water for cleansing or scrying.

Censer
The censer is a container in which incense is burned. The censer sits on the Altar, but is walked around the circle, for this reason, many prefer Hanging Censers. The burning of the incense purifies the air and helps to bring on the correct mental state for circle casting.

Chalice
The chalice or cup is representative of the female aspect and represent the element of Water. It is used to hold the waters of life, and is used again in the symbolic ritual of the Great Rite. Once the waters of life have been blessed during ritual, the chalice is often passed around the circle so that all may share in it by symbolically ingesting the Goddess and the bringing of the Goddess within.

Cords
Mainly used in spells or for handfasting's. Most cord ceremonies are Magickal, and non-religious in nature, although some of these magickal rites are added to rituals.

Hand
Located on the side of your wrist opposite your arm, usually used in ritual with the first two fingers extended and the thumb holding the other two, I've included "hand" as a tool because it's used so often and is considered to be "different" when used this way. When using your hand instead of an athame ? or wand, visualize it as a focus point for all of your energy. The hand has the unique benefit of being the one tool you probably already have.

Jewelry
The Crown of Stars is worn by the priestess in a ceremony invoking the Goddess; the Horned Helm is the masculine form. They often represent Herne or Pan, and Diana, and are omitted by traditions using other gods. A Crown of Stars shows the crescent moons and the moon full, or a horned moon, often with stars around the band. A horned helm is usually what could be called a "Viking" helm, or the "Helm of Herne" which uses a deer's head and neck. Other jewelry like rings or necklaces can be worn to help transform the state of mind.