jaimethepooh
11-07-2003, 10:11 AM
Of The Tools:
These are suggestions for dedicating the tools prior to their first use or
formal consecration, if any. Perform these with proper visualization and ritual
intent.
The Athame or Sword:
Rub the blade with fresh basil, rosemary or oak leaves, at sunrise, outdoors
where you will not be disturbed or seen. Lay the sword or Athame on the ground
with its point to the South. Walk clockwise around it thrice, scattering bay
leaves (preferably fresh) over it. Take up the sword or Athame, stand facing
East and, holding it upward but with arms lowered, invoke the God to infuse your
Athame or sword with His strength. Point it to the sky, invoking the Goddess to
charge your blade with Her love and power.
Wrap your Athame or sword in red cloth and take it home. It may be stored in the
cloth, if desired.
The Bolline:
Early in the morning, go to a forest (or park, garden, or your indoor garden).
Choose the most beautiful and vibrant plants. Touch the point of the Bolline
gently to these in turn, forging a connection between your Bolline and the
plants (and, thusly, the Earth).
Next, sit on the Earth. Ensuring that you are quite alone, draw a pentagram with
the Bolline's point on the ground. It is done.
The Wand:
If the wand is of wood, take it outdoors at sunset and rub it with fresh
lavender, eucalyptus or mint leaves. Raise it in the air toward the East (or
the Moon if it is visible) and invoke the Goddess. At sunrise, take it again
outdoors, rub with the fresh fragrant leaves and invoke the God by raising it to
the East.
The Pentacle:
Place the pentacle on bare Earth. Lay upon it dried parsley, patchouli,
mistletoe, or fresh jasmine or honeysuckle flowers. Sit before it facing North
for several seconds, visualizing the pentacle absorbing the Earth's energies.
Then pick it up and scatter the herbs or flowers to the four quarters, beginning
and ending in the North. If this must be done indoors, fill a small dish with
fresh Earth and place the pentacle on this. Proceed as above, saving the herbs
or flowers to be scattered outdoors at a latter time.
The Censer:
Fume pure rosemary, frankincense or copal within the censer prior to its first
use. Do this for about an hour.
The Cauldron:
Take the cauldron to a stream, river, lake or ocean. Gather the leaves of some
plants growing nearby (at the sea, perhaps seaweed). Dip the cauldron into the
water to fill it. Place the leaves in the cauldron, then set it on the water's
edge where it is on both water and sand. Place your hands on the cauldron and
dedicate it to the Goddess in any words you like.
Empty and dry the cauldron, and return home. The charge has been made.
If performed inside, place the cauldron in a large basin of water or the
bathtub, in a candle-lit room. Add a bit of salt to the water, which should be
cold. Proceed as above.
Salt water corrodes metal. Thoroughly wash the cauldron after immersion in sea
or salt water.
The Chalice:
Anoint the base with gardenia, rose or violet oil and fill with pure spring
water. Then set afloat a sprig of ivy, a small rose, a fresh gardenia or some
other appropriate flower or herb. Gaze into the Chalice and invoke the Goddess
to bless it. You might also wish to take it outside as night, filled
with water, and catch the Moon's reflection within it.
The Broom:
It can be fashioned from an ash staff, birch twigs and a willow binding. Brush
the broom with chamomile, willow, lemon balm, elder or mallow stalks and
branches, then bury these with due solemnity. You might also wish to carve a
crescent Moon upon its handle.
The Crystal:
On the night of a Full Moon, rub the sphere with fresh (or dried) mugwort, then
take it outside. Hold it up so that it drinks in the light and energies of the
Moon. Gaze at the Moon through the crystal by holding it before your eyes.
Repeat at least thrice yearly for the best benefits.
The Book of Shadows:
Sew into the cover of the Book of Shadows leaves of the sacred herbs vervain,
rue, bay, willow or others, if you wish. They should be well-dried and secretly
placed by the light of the Moon. The covers of the Book of Shadows should, of
course, be covered with cloth for this purpose.
The Robe:
If you choose to wear one, lay it among sachets filled with lavender, vervain
and cedar when not in use. Sew a bit of rosemary or frankincense into the hem
while fashioning it, if desired (and if the resulting stains won't show after
washing).
These are suggestions for dedicating the tools prior to their first use or
formal consecration, if any. Perform these with proper visualization and ritual
intent.
The Athame or Sword:
Rub the blade with fresh basil, rosemary or oak leaves, at sunrise, outdoors
where you will not be disturbed or seen. Lay the sword or Athame on the ground
with its point to the South. Walk clockwise around it thrice, scattering bay
leaves (preferably fresh) over it. Take up the sword or Athame, stand facing
East and, holding it upward but with arms lowered, invoke the God to infuse your
Athame or sword with His strength. Point it to the sky, invoking the Goddess to
charge your blade with Her love and power.
Wrap your Athame or sword in red cloth and take it home. It may be stored in the
cloth, if desired.
The Bolline:
Early in the morning, go to a forest (or park, garden, or your indoor garden).
Choose the most beautiful and vibrant plants. Touch the point of the Bolline
gently to these in turn, forging a connection between your Bolline and the
plants (and, thusly, the Earth).
Next, sit on the Earth. Ensuring that you are quite alone, draw a pentagram with
the Bolline's point on the ground. It is done.
The Wand:
If the wand is of wood, take it outdoors at sunset and rub it with fresh
lavender, eucalyptus or mint leaves. Raise it in the air toward the East (or
the Moon if it is visible) and invoke the Goddess. At sunrise, take it again
outdoors, rub with the fresh fragrant leaves and invoke the God by raising it to
the East.
The Pentacle:
Place the pentacle on bare Earth. Lay upon it dried parsley, patchouli,
mistletoe, or fresh jasmine or honeysuckle flowers. Sit before it facing North
for several seconds, visualizing the pentacle absorbing the Earth's energies.
Then pick it up and scatter the herbs or flowers to the four quarters, beginning
and ending in the North. If this must be done indoors, fill a small dish with
fresh Earth and place the pentacle on this. Proceed as above, saving the herbs
or flowers to be scattered outdoors at a latter time.
The Censer:
Fume pure rosemary, frankincense or copal within the censer prior to its first
use. Do this for about an hour.
The Cauldron:
Take the cauldron to a stream, river, lake or ocean. Gather the leaves of some
plants growing nearby (at the sea, perhaps seaweed). Dip the cauldron into the
water to fill it. Place the leaves in the cauldron, then set it on the water's
edge where it is on both water and sand. Place your hands on the cauldron and
dedicate it to the Goddess in any words you like.
Empty and dry the cauldron, and return home. The charge has been made.
If performed inside, place the cauldron in a large basin of water or the
bathtub, in a candle-lit room. Add a bit of salt to the water, which should be
cold. Proceed as above.
Salt water corrodes metal. Thoroughly wash the cauldron after immersion in sea
or salt water.
The Chalice:
Anoint the base with gardenia, rose or violet oil and fill with pure spring
water. Then set afloat a sprig of ivy, a small rose, a fresh gardenia or some
other appropriate flower or herb. Gaze into the Chalice and invoke the Goddess
to bless it. You might also wish to take it outside as night, filled
with water, and catch the Moon's reflection within it.
The Broom:
It can be fashioned from an ash staff, birch twigs and a willow binding. Brush
the broom with chamomile, willow, lemon balm, elder or mallow stalks and
branches, then bury these with due solemnity. You might also wish to carve a
crescent Moon upon its handle.
The Crystal:
On the night of a Full Moon, rub the sphere with fresh (or dried) mugwort, then
take it outside. Hold it up so that it drinks in the light and energies of the
Moon. Gaze at the Moon through the crystal by holding it before your eyes.
Repeat at least thrice yearly for the best benefits.
The Book of Shadows:
Sew into the cover of the Book of Shadows leaves of the sacred herbs vervain,
rue, bay, willow or others, if you wish. They should be well-dried and secretly
placed by the light of the Moon. The covers of the Book of Shadows should, of
course, be covered with cloth for this purpose.
The Robe:
If you choose to wear one, lay it among sachets filled with lavender, vervain
and cedar when not in use. Sew a bit of rosemary or frankincense into the hem
while fashioning it, if desired (and if the resulting stains won't show after
washing).