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The Art of Ritual |
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A Ritual is a ceremony employing symbolic gestures, chants, invocations, prayers and candles. Some rituals are performed as acts of worship, while others are designed to create magickal energy for spell casting and other works of magick.
Below is a list of some of the most commonly used ritual tools.
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Altar
An altar is an object upon which ritual tools are placed during a ceremony. (Don't miss out on these gorgeous bamboo altar tables, or this sacred pentagram altar cloth offered by Doorway!) |
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Athame
In ritual magick and Wiccan traditions, an athame (pronounced ah-thah-may) is a consecrated ceremonial knife symbolizing the element of air or fire, depending on the symbolism of the tradition. The traditional athame is a double bladed knife with a black handle, although modern Wiccan athames display a wide range of shapes, colors, and decoration.
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Bell
A bell is often used in Wiccan ceremony and ritual as a symbol of the creative force. It is often rung at the beginning and at the end of a ritual or spell work. |
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"Blessed Be"
Blessed Be is a common Wiccan greeting which can be said upon meeting or parting.
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Book of Shadows
A Book of Shadows is your own personal book, containing spells and rituals, and anything else you feel the need to record. Some traditions copy the contents of their coven's Book of Shadows, so that information can be passed down through many generations. |
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Besom
Besom is another word for broom. It is used to ritually clean your altar or space before casting a circle. |
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Cat
The cat is an animal long associated with Wicca, magick, and psychic perception. |
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Cauldron
A cauldron is a pot-bellied pot with three legs, often made of cast iron. It is a symbol of transmutation, germination, and transformation and is commonly used in Wiccan rituals and ceremony. |
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Chalice
The chalice is a tool used in Wiccan and ritual magick ceremonies. The chalice represents the water element, receptivity, feminine energy, and form. It also represents the Goddess of feminine principal in many traditions. |
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Dragon
The dragon is a powerful symbol found in many cultures throughout the world. In Wicca, the dragon represents either the forces of darkness or the forces of light. The dragon's head is said to signify the benevolent powers of the moon. |
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Incense
Incense is a fragrant mixture of herbs and/or resins, usually burned during ritual and magickal work.
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Maypole
A Maypole is a tall pole, often decorated with greenery or flowers, and hung with ribbons that are woven into complex patterns by a group of dancers in celebration of May Day. May Day, also Beltane, (May 1st) is an ancient fertility festival. A besom dressed with colorful ribbons can be used as a Maypole. |
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Moon Magick
Moon magick is a belief which holds that the moon emanates hidden energy which affects the affairs of humans. The moon cycle is made up of eight phases, each building on the energies of the previous phase, and combining to make a complete cycle of creation from one new moon to the next. (Be sure to check out Doorway's Moon Awareness Guide!) |
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Mortar and Pestle
A mortar and pestle are two tools used with each other to grind and mix substances. The mortar is a bowl-like vessel used to contain a substance. Mortars have smooth, rounded bottoms and wide mouths. The pestle is a stick used for pounding and grinding. The mortar and pestle is often used in Wicca to grind and mix materials together for spellwork and other works of magick. |
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Oils
Oils are believed to have the ability to hold magickal charges for long periods of time, so they are often used in spells and rituals. It is a common practice to annoint ritual tools with oil before they are first used. When an object is annointed with a charged oil, the object is believed to become charged as well. Traditionally ritual and magickal candles are annointed with an oil that is rubbed on them, often while the practitioner concentrates upon the intent of the magickal charge. |
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Pentacle
A pentacle is a pentagram enclosed in a circle. It is a ritual altar tool used by Wiccans, Neopagans, and a variety of ritual magicians to represent the element of earth. |
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Pentagram
The pentagram is a five pointed star commonly associated with Wicca and ritual magick. The pentagram has a long and complex history as a religious symbol. Found scrawled in caves of ancient Babylonia, the five pointed star emblem remained popular through many cultures and time periods. It was not until the twentieth century that it became associated with Satanism, probably due to misinterpretation. In Wiccan/Pagan lore, the pentagram symbolizes the four elements- earth, air, water, fire - and spirit. The Wiccan pentagram faces point upward to symbolize the triumph of spirit over matter. (Following are just a few of the items embellished with pentagrams that Doorway carries: Pentagram Rug, Bamboo Altar Table, Wiccan Altar Cloth, Pentagram Altarcloth, Sacred Stickers, Pentagram Chamber Pendulum)
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Scrying
Scrying is the practice of using a medium, most commonly a reflective surface or translucent body, to aid perceived psychic abilities such as clairvoyance. The media often used to "see" are water, polished precious stones, crystal balls, or mirrors. Scrying has been used in many cultures as a means of seeing the past, present, or future, and thus constitutes a form of divination. |
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"So Mote It Be"
This is a phrase used in Wicca to declare that a magickal intent is in place. It is spoken at the end of a spell or work of magick and affirms that one's magick took effect.
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Spell
A spell is a ritual that has a particular purpose. Some rituals are purely celebratory, but a spell is done to accomplish something. Spells might be used for healing, prosperity, attracting a mate, or even to rid yourself of bad habits. (Don't miss out on these exclusive Doorway spell candles!) |
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Wand
A wand is a rod or branch used in ritual to direct energy. In most traditions it represents the element of Air. Doorway carries a nice variety of wands, including the Unicorn, Turned Baton, Willow and Erato. |
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Witch Ball
A witch ball is a hollow sphere of glass hung in a window to ward off negative energy. |
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