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Saijen SilverWolf Profile
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Registered: 10-2004
Location: Upper North East Tennessee
Posts: 3871
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Tools: Use them or not? Why, or why not?


I do use tools, but not always have them handy, in an emergency situation. I can't go around with knives (athames) and candles and what-not in my vehicle..lol.

When I need them, at home, or in circle, I do use tools. Tools aren't magical, they are simply an means to an end. They help us to focus on what we're doing, and who/what we are. Crystals and herbs to have some magical properties, but that's really about the extent, regarding the tools we use. We can put magical intent into objects...candles, our ritual knives or swords, etc, but on their own, they are simply what they are..no more, no less.

I like using tools. Not only for the focus factor, but...and this sounds a bit Hollywood-ish...but it makes me FEEL more powerful...lol. And, maybe that's part of the intent of using tools, to make us feel more powerful.

I also enjoy using the tools, as it give a more ritualistic feel to what I'm doing. Be it making the circle, calling quarters..whatever I'm doing.

So...I like using the tools. Not a need, but a like.

You??

---
Blessed Be,
~*~ Saijen ~*~

~~*~~ .~~*~~
1/2/2007, 5:00 pm Link to this post Send Email to Saijen SilverWolf   Send PM to Saijen SilverWolf Yahoo
 
playfultree Profile
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Re: Tools: Use them or not? Why, or why not?


I have all the tools. I really only use my candles and incense anymore. I would use my tools I guess if I was in a more formal situation.

I agree that they are a great way to help one concentrate.


---
Love and Light

tree



May your journey be full of happiness and blessings
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Firlefanz Profile
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Re: Tools: Use them or not? Why, or why not?


Ummm.

I'm not even sure what exactly the tools are and how to use them.

I use my mind, mostly. I love to light candles to set the mood, but other than that I work magic just with my mind.

---
- Firlefanz

Reading: "The Golem's Eye" by J. Stroud
Writing: Kiera and the Juggler Boy - YA

Mystical Adventures
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playfultree Profile
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Re: Tools: Use them or not? Why, or why not?


athames represents male energy
Chalice female energy
incense air
candles fire
a little dirt for earth
water mine is from a stream close by
small cauldron is spirit
a cord cut to nine feet, to measure the circle.

Tools represent different things to other beliefs.

I think I stopped using my tools when I had to find alternatives for my daughter while she was in basic training. I realize the magick was within and tools just helped the focus.

Her army issue knife became an athames
canteen a chalice
four small colored pebbles as the elements.
A photo of me dressed for Halloween for Spirit but it worked. lol
Her belt became a short rope but she was in tight spaces anyway.

I should add the tools really help when I started out besides to focus they gave me a link to others like me.

---
Love and Light

tree



May your journey be full of happiness and blessings
1/3/2007, 1:23 pm Link to this post Send Email to playfultree   Send PM to playfultree Yahoo
 
Saijen SilverWolf Profile
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Registered: 10-2004
Location: Upper North East Tennessee
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Re: Tools: Use them or not? Why, or why not?


Nice compromises for your daughter, Playful!!

In our Tradition, our athame has to have a 6 inch double sided blade, with a black handle. Our Boline (material knife, used to cut herbs and whatnot) can have any kind of blade, but must have a white or bone handle. The handle on the athame has to be wood, also. I got lucky and found my athame at a knife shop for $10..and when my High Priest quit the coven, he gave me his boline....surprised the spit out of me! It's old, and has a bone handle.

The rest is pretty much the same as for Playful. Blue candle or candle holder for east, red for south, yellow for west and green for north. We also have the Goddess, God and Drigden candles that are on the altar....white, red and blue. On the altar, we have a representation of earth....the pentacle/gram, working candle represents south, a dish of water for west and incense for air..but also salt for earth..which is placed in the water. Salt has a cleansing effect, as does the incense. When there are things blooming, we also like to put flowers on our altar, and we always make an aspirguleous (sp?) from the herbs and sometimes other things, to sprinkle the water over ourselves, the circle and the altar. At Yule, we had one made of some herbs, and some pine. Our Yule altar was gorgeous. It's nice that we can kind of "do it up" for some of the more decorative Sabbats.

You don't have to have tools to do what we do...and I've done many a spell without anything but my thoughts, and had ritual with nothing but me and my thoughts. I just like having them...makes it feel more special or something...lol.

---
Blessed Be,
~*~ Saijen ~*~

~~*~~ .~~*~~
1/3/2007, 2:14 pm Link to this post Send Email to Saijen SilverWolf   Send PM to Saijen SilverWolf Yahoo
 


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