The Path and Life of Witchyredrose

Notes for the Beginner

Let me start out by saying this: You don't need tools.

I know - every Pagan book you've read has explained to you the spiritual significance of the tools Witches use in ritual and worship.  But when it comes down to what Paganism and Witchcraft are really about, tools are unnecessary. You can honor your Gods anywhere and anytime, and magic is worked through natural energy from your body and the earth.

So why do we use tools, if we don't need them?

Tools are useful. They help to focus our mind and our energy. They speak the language of symbols - some might say, the language of our Younger Self; others might say, the language of the unconscious. Either way, tools are symbols, and symbols have power.

So what follow are some tips on how to find tools which will be both meaningful and affordable.

Do not feel that you have to go out and buy/ make/ acquire all of these things at once. Improvise and make do with what you have. Over time, you will be able to slowly buy/ make/ acquire your tools when you have the money/ time/ opportunity. In addition, as your family and friends learn more about your religion and as you acquire more Pagan friends, your chances of receiving Pagan items as holiday or birthday gifts will increase.

Making your own tools is nice whenever possible. It helps to charge the object with your energy - and, of course, it ensures that your object will look the way you want it to look! However, sometimes making your own tools requires considerable time, energy, and possibly expense.

And, finally, just because a tool is listed in books on Witchcraft doesn't mean you have to have one. Everyone's tool kit is different.

Notes on Consumer Ethics

If you go to Pagan stores or Pagan festivals, you will notice many lovely items crafted by Pagan artisans. These lovely items are often quite expensive. This is not usually because the Pagan artisans want to fleece you out of your money - it's because their market is not very large, and so in order to make any kind of living selling their art, they need to charge a lot of money. It is great to support these folks by buying their products if you can, even if it means you need to save up for a while.

In addition, some basic supplies (like candles, incense, chalices) are available in craft or home stores as well as in Pagan stores. You will probably pay a little bit more for them in the Pagan store; however, your local Pagan store could probably really use your patronage. In addition, your local Pagan store is more likely to have supplies which were made locally (not by sweatshop labor in another country).

Now, if you don't support your local Pagan business by buying their goods, then you don't have much right to complain when they go out of business. However, many of us live on limited incomes. For a variety of reasons, we can't afford to pay a little extra. So we make do with the cheapest thing we can find. This is not ethically the best thing, for the reasons listed above; but neither is bankrupting ourselves.

It's also important to note that sometimes Pagan-crafted products won't fit your needs. People have different tastes, and it's always possible that these products don't appeal to you aesthetically or spiritually. For this reason, I've also included alternative ways to make or find your tools; these alternatives may or may not be less expensive than Pagan-crafted items.

Setting Up Your Altar

To set up an altar, you don't need any of the ritual tools listed further down. In fact, if you prefer to be less obvious to visitors or family, you may prefer not to include any obviously witchy tools. Your altar simply serves as a place to honor those things you hold sacred. It may include mementos of people, events, or times in your life, representations of the four elements, symbols of the Gods, and/or items related to magick you are currently working. You may keep it the same all the time, set it up only for rituals, re-work it regularly with the seasons or Sabbats, or change it whenever you feel the need.


Altar

People prefer different sizes, shapes, and styles of altars. I have one friend whose altar is an enormous display taking up a whole wall of a room in her apartment; another friend set hers up on one small shelf of a bookcase. Space limitations are likely to affect your choice of altar. In addition, some like to have an altar which is very obviously Pagan, while others prefer a more subtle display.

If you have the space and money, it is nice to have a free-standing table which serves as an altar, ideally one with drawers in it so you will have a place to store your ritual supplies. However, many people have neither the space nor the money to acquire such a table. A simple solution is to clear space on a bookshelf to set up as an altar. This can be less obtrusive, since it is common for people to display objects on bookshelves. Alternately, what I have done when I've had very limited space is to set up a plastic crate on its side and cover it with an altar cloth (other supplies sit inside the crate, covered by the altar cloth which hangs down).

You may wish to have a temporary altar which is not always set up. The simplest version of this is to spread your altar cloth on the floor and set out your tools and symbols on top of it. If you have some drawer space, you can set up your altar in a drawer and open it or take it out when you want to do ritual.

If you need a very small, portable altar, one option is to take a large matchbox (the kind that sturdy kitchen matches come in), and place inside a birthday candle, a feather, a shell, and a stone (the four elements), as well as a piece of fabric big enough to place all of the above on.

Another alternative, and one which may be less noticeable, is to have smaller altars for different things. You might represent the element of Water in your bathroom with a simple seashell and a white candle; or a particular god or goddess in an area that symbolizes them (Hekate in the doorway, or the Sun God in a sunny window). These altars might serve for smaller, more focused rituals having to do with those particular symbols; or they might simply act as daily reminders of the sacred. Obviously you can also make outdoor altars if you have the outdoor space to do so, as long as you create them from durable objects. You can make cairns of stones or weave branches together to honor a particular element, concept, or deity.

Altar Cloth

The easiest way to procure an altar cloth is to buy yourself a piece of fabric large enough to cover your altar (larger, if you want the edges to hang over the sides of the altar). This can be relatively cheap at the fabric store, depending on the fabric you choose. I recommend some kind of cotton or other washable fabric, as the chances are fairly high that you will spill something or make a mess on your altar at some point (candle wax, ritual juice/ wine, charcoal - the possibilities are endless!). These fabrics are also usually cheaper than more high-maintenance velvets and silks. If you want the edges to look neat, you can hem them yourself by hand (simply fold over the edge of the cloth and sew a straight line along it) or get a friend with a sewing machine to do it.

Alternately, you can buy an inexpensive scarf, tablecloth, etc.

It's up to you what color or design is on your altar cloth. I have a couple of different ones, and I tend to vary mine depending on the seasons. In the summer I might put a gold-orange one with sun designs; in the winter, a dark cloth. If you just want one to start out with, green is a good basic color that can fit year-round. White is equally universal, but not very practical.

Altar Ideas for the Sabbats

ALTARS
It is important to understand that these are just some ideas for you to use. You can and are expected to adjust them and add your own creativity to personalize your altar to fit you and your needs. Remember, there is no set way of doing things. If it feels right to you, then it is right. The idea is to have fun and to remember and honor the God and Goddess on the Sabbats.

CREATING THE IMBOLG ALTAR
With the promise of spring and rebirth in the air, you may want to include a statue of the Goddess on your altar. Red, pink and brown, or yellow and gold candles are appropriate. Use a small set of lights to brighten your altar and acknowledge the fire festival. You can include a small bowl of seeds and sprouts as a symbol of fertility and rebirth.

CREATING THE OSTARA ALTAR
You can decorate your altar in fresh spring flowers, adding a heavenly fragrance. Also a nest which you might have found, or any hand made nest would be nice to put your dyed eggs into. Pastel colors are nice, also green, yellow and gold, to honor the Goddess of fertility.

CREATING THE BELTANE ALTAR
This is a time for flowers, lots of them, picked by you or bought, any flowers will do. Beltane is a great fire festival, so a group of candles on your altar bunched together in warm colors such as red, green or pink would be nice to substitute for a small fire. You might also want to include images of the sex organs, this doesn't have to be graphic, it can be a phallic rock and a creviced stone, or flowers, or a yin-yang symbol.

CREATING THE LITHA ALTAR
Sun images made by your children or by yourself. Some sort of fire on your altar is important, use candles or votives. Use fresh fruits as a reminder of the earth's bounty. Use flowers of gold, orange and yellow, roses are traditional also. A symbol or picture of Earth on your altar is a gentle reminder to honor Her.

CREATING THE LUGHNASSADH ALTAR
To celebrate the harvest, a loaf of bread hand made by the entire family is a nice centerpiece on the altar, surrounded by harvest figures. Add a wooden bowl filled with fruits and vegetables to show a bountiful harvest.

CREATING THE SAMHAIN ALTAR
The Samhain altar becomes a shrine to our beloved who have passed on. You may want to drape your altar in black cloth. To honor those who've passed on, you may want to place their pictures or mementos on your altar. You also may want to place candy on your altar as offering to all of the children who have passed on. Symbols of the season such as pumpkins and autumn leaves, apples and nuts. You might also want to put a bowl of water on your altar for scrying.

CREATING THE MABON ALTAR
Most of us enjoy this time of year for the beauty of the fall colors and the energy felt in the cool air, which seems to put an added perk in our steps. It can be great fun hunting for just the right harvest symbols. Your altar is a great place for fruits such as squash and apples set in an old wooden bowl, you will also want to add pomegranate, in association with Persephone. Decorate your altar with orange, brown and yellow, using candles, fruits, corns, etc. Also you might want to add a bowl of water, since Autumn is associated with water, emotion and relationship. Keep in mind that this same bowl of water can be used for scrying on Samhain.

CREATING THE YULE ALTAR
Candles are crucial to this festival, since it is a celebration of light. Use red, green and white candles. Draping evergreens of all kinds can be used and you'll love the fragrances. Holly with its beautiful red berries is also a wonderful addition to your decoration. Use a Sun symbol as a reminder of the Sun's return. The Druids revered the white berries of the Mistletoe as the semen of the God, and this can also be placed on your altar, or hung in doorways for the traditional kissing beneath it. (chances are our ancestors did a bit more than kiss under this symbol of fertility) **remember that the berries of the mistletoe are highly poisonous, so be sure to keep them away from children and animals** Acorns, nuts, apples, cinnamon sticks and pomegranates are also appropriate for decorating your Yule altar.

 

The Four Elements
 

Earth: Earth can be represented by a small bowl of salt, or a stone or rock. During ritual, any fruit, bread, or other food you place on the altar represents Earth. You can also use a statue of an Earth-related animal (a bear comes to mind). Many people like to keep a pentacle on their altar to represent the element of earth and/or to symbolize the five elements (earth, air, fire, water, spirit). Pentacles can be made out of wood, clay, paper, or any other material. The cheapest way is to make one yourself:
- Draw a pentacle on a piece of oaktag or other stiff paper.
- Make some kind of play dough and trace a pentacle in it (here are some recipes for making play dough) - most kinds of play dough will harden if left out.
- Get some thin wire and shape a pentacle out of it. If you want some color, wrap thread around the wire.

Air: Air can be represented by a feather you find on the ground; a bell or a string of bells (small, cheap bells are easy to come by at craft stores); or a statue or picture of a bird (an origami bird would be perfect). Incense also represents air. Also, any air symbol that hangs over the altar provides a beautiful visual representation of the element, as it sways and swings in the air currents (origami is great for hanging, and so are bells, which ring or tinkle when the air moves).

Fire: The most common representation is a candle, whether lit or unlit. An image (such as a photograph, drawing, or Tarot card) of fire, flames, or a desert landscape can be used. You can also have a statue of a fire-related animal such as a phoenix or lion. Red pepper or another hot spice (like curry powder) could be placed in a small bowl or shaker; you can smell or taste it when you invoke fire in ritual. Two other visual ways to represent fire are by having a bowl of brightly colored glitter, or using a piece of brightly colored fabric like a red scarf.

Water: Obviously, a bowl of water represents water! A seashell is also easy to find if you live near the water, and probably inexpensive if you don't (fake seashells are usually available in craft stores as well). A chalice is a symbol of water, especially if it is filled with water, wine or juice (though I don't recommend leaving it there when your ritual is over!). A statue or image of a fish, dolphin, or other water animal is always good.

God and Goddess Symbols

Pagan-oriented statues of the God and Goddess (or of specific Gods and Goddesses) are often some of the more expensive items to be found in Pagan stores. Some suggestions for alternatives:
- Tarot cards often have lovely god/ goddess images which you can set on your altar.
- Find statues in antique stores. These may be pricey, depending on the store.
- Make statues yourself, out of clay or Sculpey or home-made play dough.
- Find symbols that represent the God and Goddess to you, such as a sun and moon, or animals you find meaningful.
- Go to art/ history museums where there are statues of the deities you honor, and get yourself postcards of the deities to put on your altar. Or make color copies of deity images from library books.
- Set out candles of different colors to represent the Gods you are honoring.

Ritual Tools

Athames, Bollines, and Other Ceremonial Knives

A simple kitchen knife can serve perfectly well for a bolline or any kind of knife that you are planning to use to cut symbols into candles, cut slices of fruit during ritual, etc. You can decorate the handle of your kitchen knife as you choose (especially if you select one with a wooden handle, in which case you can paint it or carve it with runes or symbols).

For those who are not Wiccan purists, a kitchen knife can also be used as an athame (a knife used to direct energy). However, Wiccan legend has it that a traditional athame is double-edged and dull. If this is an important criterion for you, it may be more difficult to find an athame. You can check antique shops (though they may be pricey); but Pagan merchants are probably your best bet.

A couple of alternatives:
- a letter-opener (can be wood, metal, etc.)
- a clay modelling tool (easy to find in art/craft supply stores)

These alternatives may also be helpful for those who feel uncomfortable working with blades (dull or no) or don't like the symbolism of a knife. In addition, there's no reason you need to direct energy with a knife if you don't want - you can use a wand, or simply use your hand.

Brooms 

Again, a kitchen broom will suffice and will be less obtrusive if you're concerned about what visitors may think. I especially recommend this if you're a beginning Witch and trying to put together some basic tools for yourself; or if you're a teen Witch living at home. You can use your regular broom if you already have one, or buy one cheaply at a household supply store.

I was lucky enough to have the chance to make my own broom during a workshop at a pagan festival, for only a small supply fee. If you want to make one on your own, it may take some time and some expenses on craft supplies. How much time and expense will depend on whether you want a really functional broom (i.e. a broom that sweeps physical dust and dirt) or a ceremonial broom to sweep energy only.

Here is a quick set of directions for a broom which is probably not too functional: Classic Halloween Costume: Witches' Broom. Alternately, here is a more involved set of directions for a more functional broom: Making a Broom.

History of the Besom

The besom has long been a tool long used by both magickal and mundane people to cleanse the home and superstitiously to ward off "evil". As you may know, in the times when pagan beliefs had to be concealed, symbolism was found in mundane objects, such as the broom. Many other ritual tools would be made out of clay, wood or some other easily destructible material so that when the witch hunters came knocking they could be easily destroyed or hidden. An obviously phallic handle of Ash, buried in a knurl of Birch twigs and bound together by Willow withe allowed for maximum symbolism in a very mundane, abundant and necessary household item.

Ash is a masculine wood and is often the chosen variety of wood for the handle because it represents strength and flight. Ash is also one of the few woods that will burn whether still green or cured, indicating constant enduring strength that is always at the ready. Ash was also the favoured wood for arrows and spears due to it's natural strength and straightness.

Birch is a feminine wood representing protection, fertility, purification, blessings and beginnings. Birch is found in cleansing rituals and has been used extensively for that purpose, which is probably why Birch is traditionally used for the brush, or knurl of the besom. (Traditionally, when people would "beat the bounds" in the springtime to chase out the accumulation of negative energy, it was done with a bundle of Birch.)

Willow is the binding, and it represents exactly that, the binding force. Willow is a feminine wood and is generally held sacred to the Goddess. It has an affinity for water and exudes emotion. Willow is the tree of the Lady and is suitable to balance the force of the Lord.

The besom was also involved in different marriage lore. It is customary for a bride and groom to jump over a broom after they have been ritually united as it is a symbol of fertility and male joining with female.

A besom laid over the threshold or stood in the corner with the brush up was said to keep unwanted negative energy out of the home.

Sweeping the Circle

 

The besom still resides as one of the most important tools of a witch. We use them today to cleanse away negativity, protect our homes and enhance the potential of our spells. Ritually a besom is used to sweep the circle or ritual area clear of negative energy and psychic debris. Traditionally a chant is said along with the sweeping, such as the one below:

We sweep this circle bright and clear

To enfold these precious souls who have gathered here,

With love in our hearts and good work to be done,

In the names of our God and Goddess, with harm to none.

So mote it be.

You can find many besom chants online or in books, or you may chose to write your own. I wrote the example above for a ritual centred around (and partially performed by) children, so it is simple but still clearly states the intent. Saying the chant is meant to focus you more on the purpose at hand, cleansing your ritual area.

Another good example of a besom chant is the following written by Yew (yew@sorcery.ca), copyrighted and used with permission by the author.

Besom Besom witches' broom,
Blessed with love tween bride and groom,
The vital spirit's spark you hold.
Sing true it's song again of old.
Breath that spark to dance ignited,
That by it's light this space be righted.
Sweep the circle as the sun
Sweep us many, Sweep us one.
Make the round of the ground,
Where the Lady's will is done.
Ancient besom heed this call,
Thee the broom of witches all.
Rid this place of things un-sacred,
That fore the Gods our souls be naked.
Cleanse this rite of disarray.
Drive out illness and decay,
And seal us from all maddening harm,
By rhythmic sweeping witches' charm.
Then set thee down the time to bide,
Til stirred from by the Lady's side,
To purify again our rite,
With the sacred spark of creation's light.

Gathering Your Materials

 

When gathering materials for your besom keep purpose in mind. So far we have discussed the traditional besom of three woods (and it is also common to find besoms made with nine woods, a bit more complicated) but as they say, the sky is the limit. Of course the traditional three woods would be ideal for a besom meant to sweep and cleanse ritual space. But, if you are looking for a good charm to protect your home, a small besom made of protective herbs (like lavender, hyssop, rosemary or a combination of these) would be effective. A good charm to enhance your home situation would be a besom made of herbs with relationship enhancing or personally empowering correspondences. It can be hung there for the duration of your spell and then ritually burned in the hearth for further effect.

Back to the traditional woods, when seeking your materials, don't be discouraged if you can't find a length of Ash to use for the handle. It doesn't grow everywhere and can be nearly impossible to obtain for some people. Instead, do a little legwork and find out what types of trees grow in your area. Then decide which one would be best suited to be the handle of your besom. Look for a masculine, hardy wood. The handle of my besom is Oak, as it is a hard wood that is associated with magick and male fertility (and it was readily available to me).

Most besoms you will find today have a brush made of a plant called Broom or Broomcorn. This is a plant that is very easy to grow, is heat tolerant and doesn't require tremendous amounts of water, although it does require a large space to grow in. You can easily add Birch or any other herbs or woods you would like in among the Broomcorn. And many brooms you will find today are bound with jute or hemp twine (which can be found at most craft stores or in the craft section at Wal-Mart), and you can use these in place of or in combination with the Willow withes. As with just about any of your other ritual tools, you will find that it is best for your besom to be a custom piece, designed with your intent and purpose in mind and fixed with your personal energies.

Remember when you take things from nature, such as a limb for the handle of your besom, only take what you really need and give thanks and/or leave some sort of offering in it's place. If you can, find a limb that has already fallen, or a limb that looks to be "dead weight". This way you will be helping the environment by removing unnecessary debris.

Symbols of Power

Your magickal broom can be an expression of your personality as much as any other ritual tool you craft. You may choose to carve Ivy winding down the handle, or a snake to represent the Goddess.

I carved a spiral down the handle of my besom. I also used a wood burning tool to draw a pentacle, a triple moon symbol and the symbols for my family's astrological signs. I also have the phallus burned into the handle under the knurl. You will find that this is a fairly traditional symbol to put on the handle of the besom, as this staff is the representation male fertility and power in the broom.

Other symbols to consider are Runes, Ogham, Correllian alphabet, symbols of the planets, specific or general deities, etc. Essentially you want to put symbols on your besom that will be empowering to you personally, since it will be the tool you use to cleanse your ritual areas.

Crafting the Besom

To craft a besom you will essentially need three main components: a handle, something to make the knurl or brush end, and something to bind the two together. So for instance you would need a good length of wood for the handle that is not quite as tall as you are (long enough that you can comfortably hold it without having to hunch over while sweeping, and don't forget that it will be longer with the knurl attached), a bundle of Broomcorn and various herbs you want to incorporate into your besom (a couple of good handfuls should suffice), and several lengths of cord or twine (They each need to be about 4 feet long. You will need additional lengths for every ring you want around the top of the brush). You will also need a hammer and a nail to drive holes in the handle and whatever materials you wish to use to decorate the handle with (paint, stains, wood burning tool, etc.).

You will need to soak your herb bundles and pieces of Broomcorn in warm salty water for a couple of hours before you begin to weave them together with the twine. This makes them more pliable and the salt helps to cleanse and purify them.

You will begin by working the handle, sanding, engraving, staining and painting. You will need to drive a hole about 2 inches from the bottom (to attach the brush) and one about 2 inches from the top if you want to put a length of cord there to hang it from. In the previous section we discussed using different symbols to decorate your handle, refer back for more information.

Once you have the handle personalized you are ready to begin weaving the knurl or brush part of the besom. Take a length of your twine (or Willow) and tie a knot around a piece of Broomcorn or a bundle of herbs . Then add another piece of Broom/bundle of herbs, tying each knot as close as possible to the last. Continue adding bundles and knots until you are satisfied that the amount will make your brush thick enough. Now you are ready to bring the handle and the brush together.

* A hint on using Willow bark in binding your besom...soak the bark in water for a LONG time (I've heard of people soaking Willow for up to three or four months, so I don't think that you can really soak them for "too" long) before you start trying to work with it, this makes it much more pliable and easier to work with.

Thread the shortest end of the twine that is remaining on the woven knurl through the hole towards the bottom of the handle. Pull it through until the bundles of herbs or broomcorn are sitting flush against the handle. Then wrap the woven bundles tightly around the handle keeping hold of the starting thread. When the knurl is completely wrapped, tie off the two ends of your twine, the starting thread (the short end) and the longer end of the twine. Then wrap the twine around the knurl a few times to secure it and tie it off again. You can tie as many lengths of twine around the knurl as you like, just space them a centimetre or so apart and add new pieces of twine for each ring.

For a smaller or simpler besom, don't worry about the sanding and drilling, just carve whatever symbols you feel are necessary or appropriate, then bundle your brush materials around the end of the handle and wrap tightly several times with your chosen binding materials. This is a simple, but still effective way to make a besom.

Closing

 

It is always a good idea to cleanse and consecrate your ritual tools, even the ones such as this where you find most or all of your materials in nature. You want to make sure that there are no lingering negative energies to hinder your workings, and also make sure their service to you (and in effect the gods) is pure. I think this is especially important with a magickal besom, as it is the tool that will be cleansing your ritual areas.

When you decide the time is right for you to make a besom, take your time. Find the right woods and herbs, the right symbols for you, and remember to have lots of fun in the process!

Overall, I recommend going with a simple kitchen broom unless and until you feel you have the time to put into a major craft project.

Candles

It is probably cheaper and easier to buy candles than to make your own. Grocery stores and discount stores like K-Mart often have candles available for very cheap. Soy wax candles are really nice and environmentally sound if you can afford them.

In case you want to try making your own (I've done it once, with friends, and it does take a good deal of time, knowledge, and carefulness), here's a great site about Candle Making Techniques.

Cauldrons 

Cauldrons can be used to burn paper or herbs, to hold candles (or to float votive candles in water), to burn incense on charcoal, or simply to hold water, representing either the Goddess or the element of water on your altar.

A real cast-iron cauldron can be fairly expensive - even a small one may cost you $25 or more. They also take some maintenance - they should be seasoned before using, just as gourmet cooks do with cast iron cooking pots, and they may need to be seasoned again later on. Here are some instructions for seasoning a cast iron cauldron.

Instead of cast-iron, you can find a cauldron made of some other substance, like copper or brass. These cauldrons can be found in craft stores or kitchen stores. The advantage to brass or copper cauldrons is that they will cost less, will probably require less maintenance work, and will be less visibly witchy.

 

The Cauldron and It's Uses

Using a cauldron, symbol of inspiration and rebirth, has brought new
dimensions to both group and solitary work. A cauldron
decorates the center of the Circle during Lesser Sabbats.

An air cauldron at a spring rite creates a misty, magical quality
for the ceremony. In summer, the cauldron will flash and spark.
A blue flame burns mysteriously within the Water cauldron during
the autumn festival. Throughout Yule, the Earth cauldron burns
steadfast and constant. During moon rites, when magick is done,
we write the purpose of our working on flash papers and toss
them into the burning cauldron while chanting.

A working cauldron should be of cast iron, with a tight-fitting
lid, three sturdy legs, and a strong handle. Season your cauldron
before using it for the first time. Pour in generous helping of salt
and lighter fluid, slosh it up to the rim and wipe dry. For
indoor use it MUST have a fireproof base or your workings will
summon up yellow-coated salamander spirits from the fire department.

EARTH Cauldron
Layer salt, wax shavings, three powdered or ground herbs, lighter
fluid and ivy leaves in the cauldron while focus and chanting. Use
a candle to light it. When the smoke starts to roll, extinguish
the cauldron by putting the lid on.

AIR Cauldron
Using tongs, put a chunk of dry ice is a small glass or ceramic
bowl and place the bowl on a cloth in the bottom of the cauldron.
Allow the cauldron to smoke as long as the ice lasts. The mists
create excellent images for scrying.

FIRE Cauldron
Cover the inside bottom with dirt or sand to dissipate heat. Light
incense charcoal and add either saltpeter for flame and spark or
flash powder for a different but spectacular effect. To assist in
releasing or firing off peak energy, try using flash "bombs". Make
a small pocket in a piece of flash paper, fill with flash powder
and tie with thread. The "bomb" should be about the size of your
smallest fingernail. The results are spectacularly bright, so use the
powder sparingly. Don't look directly at the flash as you drop
the "bomb" in the cauldron.

WATER Cauldron
At least seven days before the ritual, place equal quantities of
three appropriate herbs in a pint glass jar. Fill the rest of the jar
with Everclear(200 proof alcohol), cap tightly, and shake
gently while concentrating on the purpose of the ritual. Add a chant
if its feels right. Let the jar rest in a dark, warm spot
and shake twice daily, charging with purpose. Before the ritual,
place a fireproof ceramic or glass bowl in the cauldron. Pour in the
herb mixture, being careful none spills into the cauldron.
Light with a candle to produce a beautiful blue flame.

The cauldron, as the fifth elemental spirit, symbolizes inspiration,
rebirth, illumination and rejuvenation. Use a Fire cauldron with
saltpeter to cast a Circle. Use the mists of an Air cauldron for an
initiation. Burn away hate, prejudice and negative self-images,
with a Water cauldron. The Earth cauldron is ideal for indoor
Beltane rites.

Remember to place a burning cauldron on a fireproof surface. Practice
safety when using any volatile materials and you will enjoy your
cauldron for many rites.

Chalice

A simple solution for an inexpensive chalice is to simply go out and find a nice wine glass whose shape and appearance appeal to you; you can probably find one for a few dollars. If you or your family already have a wine glass, you can simply use that (and return it to the pantry after ritual!). If you get your own, you can choose to paint designs on the outside of it with glass-appropriate paint. Or if you like, some craft stores have acid for etching designs into glass (but be very careful to use it correctly and safely).

I have seen a lot of lovely pottery chalices (including one which was given to me as a gift), but these tend to be more expensive. This is something you might be able to ask your friends and family to give you for the holidays without requiring too much explanation. If you happen to have access to a pottery studio, you could make your own.

You can buy ones made out of other materials, such as silver, which will be less breakable than either glass or pottery.

Incense

Stick incense is your friend. It is cheap and easy to find, and all you need to burn it are some matches and a cheap wooden incense burner. I do NOT recommend cone incense. It's difficult to light, and even more difficult to put out (as opposed to stick incense, which you can snuff out easily partway through - this saves you incense, which saves you money).

Burning real incense (small chunks of resin which are dropped onto smoldering charcoal) is more expensive and messy, and it take more work; but it is really nice for atmosphere and the scents are more authentic. Charcoal is also difficult to light and can't be put out once it starts to burn. You can do this in a cauldron or other vessel on top of a bed of sand or salt.

Ritual Clothing

Some people wear jeans and a t-shirt to ritual. Some people prefer to go naked. Others like elaborately decorated ceremonial clothing. Still others wear simple robes or flowing clothing. This is a style preference, and it's up to you. You shouldn't feel any pressure to dress the way you think Witches "ought" to dress.

If you do want to make a robe, there are patterns you can find fairly easily for monk costumes or choir robes. If you are not a gifted sewer or don't have access to a sewing machine, making your own robe may be difficult. In this case, put off making a robe until you have more time or money, or a friend who's good at sewing.

Wands

Some people like very fancy wands, decorated with gems and wire and other trappings. My personal preference is for a simple stick. This is very easy (and obviously inexpensive) to find, simply by going out into the woods or into a park near you and finding a stick which speaks to you in some way. If you want more decorations, you can carve things into it or paint on it. Make sure to check which kinds of paint work on wood. If you do want to incorporate gems, copper wire, or some other type of additions, wire and other supplies can be found fairly cheaply at craft stores, while gems can usually be found cheaply at nature/ learning stores.

Trees & Woods

As previously discussed, most wands are fashioned from natural wood, I have decided to include a little on Tree's/Wood's 'personas', just a guide for later use. But please remember, if you are making one yourself, when you wish to cut a branch, ask the tree respectfully and please remember to thank and place an offering for the tree, and leave it in your name. Wands should only be cut during the Waxing Moon, or the phase of the moon from new to full. Which indicates the period of gain or increase.

 

Wood varieties and their properties and/or instructions:

ALDER – Known as the "King of the Waters". The branches were used as making whistles and ritual pipes. Italian witches mixed an extract of alder sap together with the sap from the madder plant to produce red dyes, and these dyes used to colour ribbons, cords, and sashes. It represents divination, wisdom and protection.

APPLE – Reveal symbolism, both within and without. Also represents love, healing, longevity.

ASH – The ash tree received through Odin the gift of divination. It is the Tree of the Universe or the World Tree. It also represents protection, prosperity, healing.

BIRCH – Birch wands decorated with red ribbons will ward off the evil eye. It represents protection, exorcism, purification.

CHERRY – Represents love, divination, creativity.

CHERRY ROOT – Should only be taken from fallen tree.

ELDER - Spirit of the Earth Mother resides in the tree.

EUCALYPTUS – Represents cleansing, purification, divination and wisdom.

HAWTHORN – Associated with May Day, in honour of the sun god Belenus. Represents fertility, happiness.

HAZEL – It's the Tree of Knowledge. Its branches are useful in divination and represents knowledge, divine powers, protection, and understanding.

HOLLY – The Holly Tree is the symbol of the Lord of Winter, the Holly King. Representing longevity.

MISTLETOE – According to legend the mistletoe grew on the sacred oak at Lake Nemi. It is not only the symbol of love but also of immortality.

OAK - The oak tree is the most sacred of all trees to the Ancient/Old Religions. Used for the Yule log and burned at Midsummer in the bale-fires. It represents immortality, wisdom, great divine spirit.

OLIVE – Is sacred to Athena/Minerva. Its oil was burned in temple lamps. It represents goodness, divination, protection and healing.

PINE – Represents protection, exorcism, money.

POPLAR – Represents money, astral projection.

POMEGRANATE – It figures in the myth of Persephone, and symbolises fertility.

ROWAN - Also known as the Mountain Ash, it is a tree long associated with Witchcraft and Paganism. It has protective symbolism, and appears frequently in mythology.

SYCAMORE – It has been called the Mother Tree and the Tree of Life. Represents maternal magic, and divination.

WALNUT – In Greek mythology Dionysos transformed his dead lover Carya into a walnut tree, and a temple was built in her honour. Represents love, divine spiritual powers, longevity.

WILLOW – Is linked to chastity, and to the Goddess Artemis. IT is used to draw mystical serpents from the Underworld to combat infertility. It also represents Moon magick, love, protection, healing.

There are wands of glass, copper, silver and other metals, but the "classic" material is still wood. Various woods have different magical associations and uses. It is very common for a "Wand Witch" to have many wands of various types in his/her magical closet. Witches who do not use athames often use a wand instead.

Due to the wide variety of materials that a Wand can be made out of, some people customize Wands for certain rituals. Using a stripped Oak branch for protection spells and rituals. Or a rose stem for matters of love, for instance. Generally, the Wand is used to cleanse the Circle, mark off the Cardinal Points in honour of the Lords of the Watchtowers or Deities, or for initiating a person into a Coven or Group, much like when a person is Knighted.

You do not have to buy or own the 'perfect' wand at first, in fact the wand is better made yourself - so you may use a stick until you stumble upon the right wand for you. I personally fashioned mine out of a branch of my own elder tree, decorated it with leather and feathers, with a beautiful quartz crystal as the generator. Whatever you choose to use at first will be infused with your own energies and powers.

Many individuals engrave their wands with magical symbols, runes and/or words but this isn't absolutely necessary, as it becomes magical with your touch and your use.

As with all tools, the wand should be ritually cleansed and purified before use to remove any negativity; they are then personally charged and consecrated. The wand must be consecrated like any other tool. By consecrating a tool, you are declaring to the God and the Goddess that it is sacred and will only be used for magical work. It only touches the air.

 

As a ritual tool, the Wand has a history that goes back hundreds, if not thousands of years.

Wands have long been associated with Wicca and with Witchcraft, and with magic in general.
It is used in many pagan and many spiritual paths, primarily to direct energies during magic rituals. A magic wand that is held upright may be used to call or invoke the chosen deity (s), spirits, or Watchtowers to be present during any given ritual.

The origins of their use as a religious object can be traced back to Ancient Tree Worship, which is a very ancient practice common throughout most of continental Europe and the British Isles. The oak tree was the primary focus of worship and reverence because it was believed to be a God incarnate. Emissaries, priests and priestesses carried branches of oak and other sacred trees as a sign of their authority, be it in the form of staffs or wands.

Trees appear in the lore of many cultures and are often symbols of life, regeneration, and sacred knowledge. In some mythologies giant trees support the World, and in others the Gods themselves transform into trees.

Trees are considered magical in most pagan traditions. The roots of a tree extend into the Earth, a place of great mystery to ancient peoples. This was the Underworld, a realm of Gods, chthonic entities (or entities related to the Underworld derived from the Greek word – khthonios meaning of the earth), and ancestral spirits. Because the roots extended into this realm, the tree penetrated the mysteries below and absorbed them into itself.

The branches of the tree grew up toward the heavens and bore fruit, also capturing the essence of this higher realm. Birds, elements of Air and the messengers of the Gods, often sat on the branches of trees and took shelter there.

The trunk of the tree itself was a bridge between these two realms. It is not surprising that given these attributes, trees are considered sacred, powerful, magical entities.

Trees were also employed to bind evil spirits. In such cases the evil spirit was trapped within the tree by prayers or spells. Trees were often planted over the graves of evil magicians to keep their spirits from harassing the living, the belief that the roots trapped the soul beneath the soil.

So, you can see, that if you fashion a Wand yourself from one of many sacred trees, you will realize that your Wand is more powerful and more magical than one that is bought from a local shop.

In many Traditions the wand is used to invoke the Gods, to bestow blessings, to charge objects and even to Draw Down the Moon. Traditionally the wand is taken from one of the sacred trees. But to do this only after by placing an offering and asking the tree spirit for permission to take a branch.

The branch is cut to measure from the inside of one's elbow to the tip of one's middle finger.

The wand is one of the four tools used in Wicca and Witchcraft. Depending upon the Tradition, the wand is associated with either Fire or Air. Those Wiccan's and/or Witches who favour the Fire association point to the relationship between Fire and Wood. In some ceremonial paths, you cannot work without a magic wand, and in others, no wand is necessary.

There was also an ancient belief that Fire was latent within the wood and could be drawn out through the rubbing of two sticks.

In some Traditions, one being the Correllian Tradition, the wand is also known as a tool that is gentle in nature and has the male aspect, it is the symbolic representative of Fire. It is also the tool that can be used for casting a Magic Circle, which creates a sacred space.

It can be employed in the invoking and releasing the quarters, and casting of spells, and some have used this in place of the athame or sword in the performance of the symbolic ritual of the Great Rite. The wand may also be used to draw magic symbols and as a focal point for directing magical energy. The energy will be released in the direction the magic wand is pointed, like a generator and a conduit.

Since wands can be used to focus and direct energy, some people prefer if they can have points at both ends, which enables the energy to be programmed to move outward in either direction, or in both directions concurrently. But having only one point, or one generator, is fine for most individuals.

Quartz crystal will also amplify the powers of other minerals that are being used. They can also be used in helping to maintain an overall well-being of chemistry of the emotional, physical and intellectual bodies.

Many paths use magic wands made of different types of wood, some are made of crystal/stone, some of metal, and then some are any combination of these. Many magic wands will be decorated with symbols, beads, stones, wrapped with leather and feathers attached, as well. This all depending on the owners personal taste, use and the chosen path.

Some are also called healing wands and have been used for directing energy from, drawing negative energy out of the sick body. These are commonly made of crystal or metal, or a combination of the two.

As we prefer, it represents the element of Fire. Most of the wands are made from a vast array of sacred trees, such as willow, elder, oak, apple, hazel, etc. Even dowels, such as those sold in hardware stores, can be painted and decorated quite beautifully. However, if you are intending to craft one from a branch, I would strongly suggest that you study the traditional sacred trees in your country, if you live in an area in which the above trees do not grow.

There are some who prefer to make their wands from copper insulated with leather and/or even crystal. For Traditional wands, the length not be longer than your arm. Most modern wands basically will be between 12" to 18", and it must have a comfortable weight to wield and it should feel comfortable in your hand – your wand should feel like an extension of your own arm.
The wand can have a crystal or a crescent moon on the end. But it can also have a pine-cone or knobs akin on the tip. It all depends on your personal preferences and needs.

The wand is also a charming tool. It can be used as a conduit of healing energy, if you are a healer in the Craft. It can be used to project your energy to a certain place, thing, person, or dimension. The wand is also used to draw magical symbols or a circle on the ground, or even to stir brew in a cauldron.

Traditionally, the wand stands for communication and matters of business.

If you do not have a wand yet, you can always substitute by using your index finger of your power hand instead of a wand. Remembering that the left side corresponds with the Goddess, as does the right side corresponds to the God.

A Consecration Ritual for your Wand

Clear and release as usual, as you should know to do before any workings.

Hold your wand high in salute and say:

"God and Goddess, Father and Mother of all Life
Here I present my personal wand for your approval
From now on may it serve me
As a tool for use in my workings"

Place it on your altar and bow your head, thinking of it. Connecting with it your power.

Now cleanse and purify your wand.

Cleanse the Salt, making three tuathail circles above it with your hand, while visualising yellow-white light. Imagine the light forcing out all negative or unfocussed energy from the Salt. Speak words to this effect:

"Behold, I exorcise you, O creature of Earth, casting out from you any impurities which may lie within."

Now bless the Salt, making three deosil circles above it with your hand, again while visualising blue-white light. Speak words to the effect of:

"And I do Bless and Charge you to this work!"

Next cleanse the Water, making three tuathail circles above it with your hand, while visualising yellow-white light forcing out all negative energy. Speak words to the effect of:

"Behold, I exorcise you, O creature of Water, casting out from you any impurities which may lie within."

Now bless the Water, making three deosil circles above it with your hand, while visualising blue-white light. Speak words to this effect:

"And I do Bless and Charge you to this work!"

After blessing the Salt, say:

"Behold, the Salt is pure!"

Then bless the water, by saying:

"Behold, the Water is pure!"

Now you take three pinches of salt and add it to the water, saying though as you do, something like this:

"Purity into purity then, and purity be blessed!"

Now dip your fingers into salted water and sprinkle it on the wand, on all sides.

Now its time to turn to the element of Fire.

It is time to cleanse the Charcoal (or matches), making three tuathail circles above it with your hand, while visualising yellow-white light. Imagine the light forcing out all negative or unfocussed energy from the Charcoal, then speaks words to the effect of:

"Behold, I exorcise you, O creature of Fire, casting out from you any impurities which may lie within."

Now turn to the element of Air, usually using either powdered or solid incense.

Now bless the Incense, making three deosil circles above it with your hand, while visualising blue-white light. Now speak words to the effect of:

"And I do Bless and Charge you to this work!"

Now cleanse the Incense, making three tuathail circles above it with your hand, visualising yellow-white light forcing out all negative energy. Speak words to the effect of:

"Behold, I exorcise you, O creature of Air, casting out from you any impurities which may lie within."

Then bless the Incense, making three deosil circles above it with your hand, visualising blue-white light. Speak words to the effect of:

"And I do Bless and Charge you to this work!"

Now bless the Charcoal (or matches), saying:

"Behold, the Fire is pure!"

Then bless the Incense, saying:

"Behold, the Air is pure!"

Now you can take three pinches of powdered Incense and sprinkles it on to the Charcoal (or lights the solid Incense with a Match), saying something like the traditional:

"Purity into purity then, and purity be blessed!"

Now pick it up and hold it in the smoke of the incense, making sure all parts get thoroughly censed.

Hold it between the palms of your hands, straight up and down before you, pointing upwards and imagine the Wand surrounded by a ball of yellow white light. Focus on this light, see it grow and expand. Concentrate upon the idea of purifying the Wand, and cleansing it of all impurities.

Say:

"May the sacred water and smoke drive out any impurities which may lie within this wand, so that it be pure and cleansed, ready to serve in my workings in any way that I may desire. So mote it be."

Now imagine a beam of light coming form the Wand and going down to the ground. Imagine that beam of light descending into the earth, going deeper and deeper and deeper. As the beam of light goes down into the Earth, it takes the impurities and negativity that you have banished with it.

Now imagine a stream of blue-white light coming up from the earth, through the beam of light and into the wand. See the wand fill with blue-white light. Now say:

"I so bless and charge this wand through me with the wisdom of the God and the Goddess.
May it serve us well, keeping me from harm and acting in their service in all things, both seen and unseen. So Mote it Be"

You have now consecrated your Wand. Clear and release as always. Whenever you feel that the Wand needs to have its energy cleansed or strengthened, repeat this process.

Keep the wand close to you and sleep with it under your pillow for three consecutive nights, if possible, as I have found this to be very powerful indeed. When we sleep, our powers are increased through our unconsciousness, but never let another use it for anything, inside or outside the magic circle.

It is considered bad manners to handle another's tools without permission…

Your tools are your personal symbol of witch-hood and deserve careful treatment and the utmost respect, for all the tools that you have, are connected to the divine.

If you choose to make your own Wand, here are some charts to help you personalize it.

* BIRTHSTONE CHART
January----------Garnet
February---------Amethyst
March-----------Aquamarine or Bloodstone
April-------------Diamond
May--------------Emerald
June--------------Pearl or Moonstone
July---------------Ruby
August-----------Peridot or Sardonyx
September--------Blue Sapphire
October-----------Opal or Tourmaline
November---------Topaz or Citrine
December---------Turquoise or Lapis Lazuli

* ZODIAC BIRTHSTONE CHART

Sign	Dates	Stones
Aries	March 21 - April 19	Aquamarine, Aventurine, Bloodstone, Carnelian, Hematite, Lapis Lazuli, Rose Quartz
Taurus	April 20 - May 20	Moss Agate, Obsidian, Rose Quartz, Turquoise
Gemini	May 21 - June 20	Amber, Aquamarine, Lapis Lazuli, Moonstone
Cancer	June 21 - July 22	Alexandrite, Beryl, Chrysolite, Moonstone, Rhodochrosite, Ruby, Tourmaline
Leo	July 23 - August 22	Carnelian, Chrysocolla, Garnet, Ruby, Tiger's Eye
Virgo	August 23 - September 22	Jet, Peridot, Rainbow Agate
Libra	September 23 - October 22	Jasper, Onyx, Rose Quartz, Smoky Quartz, Tourmaline
Scorpio	October 23 - November 21	Aquamarine, Carnelian, Chrysocolla, Opal, Rhodochrosite, Ruby, Topaz
Sagittarius	November 22 - December 21	Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Ruby, Topaz, Turquoise
Capricorn	December 22 - January 19	Agate, Amethyst, Garnet, Malachite, Rose Quartz, Ruby, Tiger Eye
Aquarius	January 20 - February 18	Amethyst, Aquamarine, Beryl, Fire Opal, Garnet. Serpentine
Pisces	February 19 - March 20	Aquamarine, Lapis Lazuli, Jasper, Moss Agate

* ELEMENTS

Air	Quartz crystal
Fire	Carnelian, Obsidian
Water	Aquamarine
Earth	Pyrite. Malachite

 

 

---

 

 

 
 
 

Days for Magic

Eight words the Wiccan law fullfill
An' harm ye none, do as you will 
 

 

 Moon Magic

 

New Moon:
On the day of the new moon and 3 days after it.
Magic: new beginning. love, romance, health and work.

 

 

Waxing Moon:
About 13 days, between new and full moon.
Magic: Inspiration, love, freedom, friendship, prosperity and happiness.
 
 

 

Full Moon:
The day before, the day of the full moon and the day after.
Magic: healing, wishes and predictions
  

 

Waning Moon:
About 13 days, between full and new moon.
Magic: Breaking curses, negative powers and addictions. 

 
 

 

Days for Magic
(if you can't wait till the moon phase is right)
 
Sunday:
healing, comfort
 
Monday:
New beginning, work, family
 
Tuesday:
Discussions, physical strenght, lust, courage
 
Wednesday:
learning, communication, developing yourself
 
Thursday:
wealth, happiness, materialism
 
Friday:
love, fun
 
Saturday:
ending things, leaving, making up your mind. 

---

Thirteen Virtues of a Witch

1. Tolerance –
The idea of this  virtue is to be able to be fair and broad-minded.
There may be people you  don't like in this world but at least if you
can tolerate them, you will not  end up hating people, or judging them
unfairly. To be able to tolerate  something means that it won't bother
you. Silly unimportant things in life  won't stress you out as you
will be able to accept that people do things  differently or sometimes
things just happen.

2. Charity –
The  ability to give to those less fortunate then you shows two
things. One, that  you realize your life is not as bad as you may
think. You can recognize the  good things you have and the fortunes
you hold. Two, you will be able climb  the spiritual ladder, knowing
that you can think of others and help them  when possible. Being
charitable eliminates being selfish, which only serves  to make you
bitter, twisted and unpopular.

3. Humility –
To be  able to see when you are wrong, helps you to build a better
character. To  see your own faults, will allow you to realize that you
are not perfect and  therefore not expected to get everything right.
Humility helps us to be  modest, to see that we are no better than
anyone else and to be able to  accept other people's help when we need
it.

4. Devotion –
Devotion allows you to commit to something fully. Devoting yourself
to  things you believe in gives your life a purpose and meaning. By
devoting  yourself to a religion you take on a set of guidelines to
follow that help  you live as a moral and decent person that you can
be comfortable  with.  Devoting yourself to your kids allows you to be
happy in knowing  that you have brought them up well and done the best
you can. Devotion to  anything will give you a sense of satisfaction.
Your life won't be
meaningless as you will have achieved things that were important to
you.



5. Patience –
Patience allows you to see the best of things.  If you are patient
enough to see a task through to the end, you will reap  the rewards.
If you are patient enough to work with handicapped kids, you  will see
the real people in the shells that are often neglected and ignored.
If you are patient enough to hear someone out, you may be surprised
at  what you learn. If you can be patient, you will never miss out on
anything  that others may give up on. Patience brings infinite rewards
at very little  cost, all you have to do is be able to wait for the
end of a situation.

6. Kindliness -
To be able to be kind, considerate, gentle and  sympathetic makes you
all the more attractive. No matter what, people will  be able to
approach you and you will be able to handle any given situation.
People won't fear you or fear what you will say to them. Filling
yourself with love of this sort will attract the same sort of love
back  to you. A person full of kindness cannot be judged wrongly for
all people  will be able to see is the good in you.

7. Forbearance -
Forbearance  is the ability to have self-control. There will be times
when you want to  scream and shout but you need to be able to refrain
from saying anything you  may regret. Think things through properly
or you could end up in trouble.  Forbearance allows you to wait for
the right moment so that you can sort  things out calmly.

8. Sincerity –
Sincerity is a virtue that people  cannot help but respect. A sincere
person acts honestly and without  falseness. To act with sincerity
means you won't have to pretend to like  something or someone. It
does not mean that you can go around shooting your  mouth off or
hurting others feelings; you still have to exercise restraint  and
diplomacy. However people will not doubt things you say if you act
with sincerity at all times. People will know that you are genuine.





9. Courage –
Courage, in this instance, does not  mean running off to fight wild
animals or defeat monsters. Courage can be as  little as facing a
situation that you have been putting off for a while. To  have
courage is to be able to go through life knowing that you did what
you had to do no matter what the cost. Courage enables us all to face
the hard times in life in order to receive the rewards and benefits
on  the other side.

10. Precision –
To act with precision is to act  carefully and with clarity. Precision
allows us to avoid confusion and  mistakes and to achieve the best in
any given situation. A precise person  will be able to go about life
in an orderly fashion, not getting caught up  in tasks that are
unimportant. Precision allows us to know what we want and  how to go
about getting it, therefore increasing our chance of achievement.


11. Efficiency –
Efficiency allows us to do our best in anything  we set out to do. It
helps us lead more organized lives. Efficiency is the  ability to do
something well while only using the amount of time and energy  that is
needed. Being efficient is being able to work quickly and  effectively
in an organized way, therefore allowing more time for other
activities in your life.


12. Discrimination –
This is not  discrimination against certain types of people. This is
the ability to see  the differences between two actions, two people,
two situations etc.  Discrimination helps us think through all the
possibilities and decide which  is the best course of action. It
allows us to choose the best person for a  job or the best object to
be used. It even means being able to discriminate  between good and
bad. A person who has good discrimination will be able to  see both
sides of everything and work from there. Their judgments will be
fair and based on facts as well as
common sense.



13.  Wisdom –
Wisdom has nothing to do with education. You cannot judge people's
wisdom by how far in school they did or didn't get. Wisdom comes
from  life experience. It is the best tool for giving people good
advice and  helping them out of tricky situations. Wisdom is the
ability to see what is  for the best and when or when not to act.

New Beauty from Old Candles                               
by Amanda Formaro       

                            

Everyone loves the smell of an aromatic candle. They bring comfort
during a relaxing soak in the bathtub, fill your living room with
the scrumptious smell of baked pie, and are lovely on the porch on
a warm summer's evening.

But what happens when the candle is too short to burn or the wick
has disappeared, and you still have plenty of wax left over? Do you
just throw it away? No! Here are a few ideas for making great use of
that precious candle wax.

MAKE MORE CANDLES You can recycle old candle wax and make new candles
from it by melting them down. Here are a few methods you can try.

Stovetop method - To melt a candle that is already in a glass
container, simply place the glass container into a pot of water on
your stove burner. Water should reach no more than halfway up the
glass sides. Heat the glass container in the water over a medium
flame until the wax is pourable. You may also remove the candle from
it's container and place the wax chips into an old coffee or tin can
to be heated.

Microwave method - Remove the metal wick base from the candle by
carefully prying out with a butter or steak knife, be careful! Heat
the wax in a microwave safe container on high power until softened.
Times may vary depending on the amount of wax that you have, so heat
in 30 second intervals until you get a feel for the amount of time needed.

Electric frying pan method - Remove wax from its original holder and
place in electric frying pan. Heat on 200-250 degrees watching
constantly. Remove when wax is pourable.

TIPS FOR MAKING CANDLES -- Designate labeled containers or storage
bags for your candle scraps. Store similar scents together and melt
when you have enough to make another candle.

-- Use a birthday cake candle as the wick. Simply pour your melted
wax a glass container, allow it to cool a bit, until tacky, be sure
it's not too warm. Insert the birthday cake candle down into the
middle of the melted wax allow it to cool completely. Also a perfect
way to recycle partially used birthday cake candles!

-- Molds for your new candles can be devised from several household
items, just use your imagination. Some examples are small glass
containers, plastic storage containers, empty glass jars, or even
juice glasses or tea cups.

-- Create multicolored candles by melting different colors separately
then pouring into molds or containers in layers.

-- Create a more uniform color by combining different colored candle
scraps and melting them all together.

-- Create custom scents of your own by combining complimentary aromas.
Vanilla will mix nicely with any fruit or spice scent, combine
cinnamon and apple, or perhaps try lilac and a light herbal scent!

-- Candle wicks, in several different forms, can be purchased from
your local craft store.

OTHER "SCENT-SIBLE" IDEAS An alternative to creating new candles is
to chop up your old candles and enjoy their scent as is. You can
place your candle scraps in a decorative pot and enjoy their aroma
for a long time to come. For a more decorative look, mix the scraps
with potpourri and place in a pretty basket or bowl.

Another option is to place a taper candle into a glass container,
and pack the candle scraps around the base of the taper inside the
glass. You can also melt the scraps as mentioned above and carefully
pour the melted wax around the base of the taper.

If you have a potpourri pot, this is a perfect way to get the most
out of your used up candle with very little fuss. Place your candle
scraps inside the pot and turn it on. There are also potpourri
burners that use a small tea light candle under the pot. These work
wonderfully as well.

REALLY FRUGAL Create your own tea lights out of your larger leftover
candles. Melt the wax according to the instructions above and pour
carefully into empty, used tea light candle holders.

Another very frugal alternative to tossing out old candles is to
make your own firestarters for your fireplace or woodstove. To make
firestarters you will need empty cardboard egg cartons, dryer lint
and old candles. Tuck the dryer lint into the egg cups of an old egg
carton. Drip candle wax over the tops of the dryer lint, enough to
cover the lint. It does not have to be a thick layer, and it is not
necessary to cover it completely. To use your firestarters, simply
break off an egg cup or two, light, and put it in your fireplace.

So the next time your candle wick burns down and you are considering
the garbage can, think again!