witchcraft.symbols
Wicca - The Symbols
Athame
The magick knife is commonly linked with the element of Fire. Most Witches do not use it for cutting purposes, or for any purposes outside the circle.
The athame is used in ritual to direct energy, such as for casting and releasing circles.
The blade is often dull and double-edged and the handle is black or some other dark color to absorb power.
Cauldron
The cauldron is a symbol of the Goddess and corresponds to the element of Water.
It is used in ritual as a container in which magickal transformations can occur and is often a focal point of a ritual.
During spring rites, it can be filled with water and fresh flower petals and in winter, fires can be lighted within the cauldron to symbolize the rebirth of the Sun.
It can also be filled with water and used for scrying into the future.
Cauldrons often are three-legged and made of iron. They come in all sizes ranging from a few inches in diameter to several feet across.
Wand
The wand, an instrument of invocation, corresponds to the element of Air.
It is sometimes used to direct energy, to scratch magickal symbols in the ground or to stir the contents of a cauldron.
Woods such as willow, elder, oak, hazel and apple are traditionally used for the wand, but any fairly straight piece of wood can work. Many carve special symbols into the wood to personalize the wand.
Censer
The censer, or incense burner, represents the element of Air.
Incense greatly increases concentration and is especially useful in meditations.
Pentacle
The pentacle is often used an an instrument of protection - it can be hung over doors and windows or worn about the neck as a pendant.
The five points on the pentacle represent each of the five elements; Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit.
In ritual, the pentacle can be used to consecrate other ritual tools.
It can be made out of brass, silver, wood, clay or any other material that can be engraved.
Chalice
The altar chalice symbolizes the Goddess and fertility and is related to the element of Water.
It can also be used for holding water for scrying into the future or other ritual purposes.
The chalice can be made out of any substance, from silver or brass to wood or soapstone.
Broom
The broom often is used to purify space before a circle is cast. It is related to the element of Water and is used in many water spells involving cleansing.
It also historically has been used to protect the home by laying it across the door.
To make a magick broom, it is suggested that you use an ash staff, birch twigs and a willow binding.(ash is protective, birch cleansing and willow sacred to the Goddess.)
Book of Shadows
The Book of Shadows is a personal collection of rituals, spells, ideas and thoughts about Wicca, etc. Many covens have a group BOS, while solitaries keep one for themselves. Traditionally, it's supposed to be handwritten and many Wiccans may suggest strict adherence to that.
Power of Colors
Red: energy, strength, passion, love, career goals, courage
Orange: business goals, career goals, justice, success, ambition
Yellow: learning, breaking mental blocks, confidence, persuasion
Pink: romantic love, peace, nurturing
Green: finances, luck, physical healing, abundance, growth, fertility
Blue: wisdom, protection, calm, creativity, patience, astral projection, prophetic dreams
Purple: spiritual power, psychic ability, ambition, third eye, success, independence
Silver: telepathy, clairvoyance, intuition, dreams, astral energy
Black: protection, repelling, binding, banishing, meditation
White: peace, purity, spirituality, higher self, consecration, divination, clairvoyance
Herbs
Anise: purification, protection, keeps away nightmares
Basil: purification, protection, exorcism, love, prosperity
Chamomile: prosperity, meditation, calmness
Cinnamon: psychic powers, protection, success, healing, clairvoyance, prosperity
Dill: seeds draw money and protection, the flowers are used for love
Hazel: mental powers, hazel nuts are used in fertility amulets or spells
Lemon Balm: health, success, love
Mugwort: divination, clairvoyance, psychic powers, protection, strongest when picked on a full moon night
Nutmeg: clairvoyance, prosperity
Parsley: purification, protection
Peppermint: healing, purification
Rosemary: protects from negativity, blessing, consecration, aids memory, protection rituals of all kinds
Sage: healing, prosperity, wisdom
Thyme: burn for purification, protection from negativity, clairvoyance
Yarrow: for a happy marriage, defense, protection
Days of the Week
Sunday: Ruled by the Sun. Power magick, health, prosperity, exorcism
Monday: Ruled by the Moon. Intuition, dreams, psychic ability, female fertility
Tuesday: Ruled by Mars. Courage, energy, breaking negativity, physical strength
Wednesday: Ruled by Mercury. Divination, communications, knowledge, wisdom
Thursday: Ruled by Jupiter. Happiness, luck, wealth, healing, male fertility, legal matters
Friday: Ruled by Venus. Love,sexual matters, marriage, friendship
Saturday: Ruled by Saturn. Psychic ability, meditation, defense, communicating with spirits
The Four Elements
Earth: A Feminine element. North. Green. Rules spells dealing with fertility, jobs, money, business, health, ecology, stability
Air: A Masculine element. East. Yellow. Rules memory, intellect, tests, divination, psychic powers, travel, drug addiction spells
Fire: A Masculine element. South. Red. Rules success, sex, banishing illness, protection, legal matters, competitions, strength, energy and health spells
Water: A Feminine element. West. Blue. Rules love, friendship, meditation, healing, dream, childbirth, clairvoyance and purification spells.
