Wickedly Witchy, Part II

When I originally created this blog, I didn't want to focus on just one topic.  Instead, I wanted to focus on the broader topic of creepy, scary things.  However, I received some comments on my last blog, asking me to post more on the same topic.  So here it goes:

Can you think of any tools a witch might use?  Bubbling cauldrons, eye of newt, flying broomsticks, magical swords?  These are some of the tools made popular by TV, movies and books.  Are these tools actually used in witchcraft?  Well...yes and no.

Cauldrons

Yes, cauldrons are used by real witches.  Cauldrons are a symbol of the Goddess.  They have many uses, including cooking or brewing, fire lighting and holding water.  Cauldrons are generally made of iron and stand on three legs.  They can come in all sorts of sizes.

Brooms

Yes, brooms are actually used too.  However, REAL WITCHES DO NOT FLY ON THEM!  Unless an aircraft is used, people don't fly.  The image of witches flying around on broomsticks was crafted in order to frighten people.  It dates back to times when other religions were trying to gain followers.  So what, you may ask, do real witches use brooms for?  The answer: cleaning!  However, whereas regular brooms are used to sweep up dirt and dust, a broom used in ritual is a bit different.  A ritual broom is used more symbolically.  Ritual brooms are usually smaller than regular cleaning brooms.  They can be more rustic looking, kind of like the craftier ones some people use to decorate with.  After an area is cleaned (sometimes with a regular broom), a ritual broom is used to cleanse an area of negativity.  It is swept over the area with the same motion as a regular broom.  But since the ritual broom is used more symbolically, it's bristles don't need to touch the surface being cleaned.

Athame

This is where the magical swords come in.  Well, sort of.  An athame (Ah-THAM-may) is a ritual knife used to symbolize the God.  They are generally smaller in size than a sword and look more like a dagger.  However, athames are usually dull, not sharp.  They are not used to cut things.  What they are used for is directing energy.

Eye of Newt

Is it used?  Yes...and no.  The actual eyes of newts would not be used by a real witch.  Like stated in my previous post, most people that use real witchcraft do so within their religion.  These religions are governed by rules.  The most basic rule one can come across in a religious form of witchcraft is to not harm others.  Plain and simple.  You're not allowed to harm living things.  This would make it impossible for a real witch to use the eyes of any type of creature.  However, there have been times in history when people practicing certain religions had to keep those practices secret.  For this reason, as some witches throughout time wrote their spells, they would use a sort of code.  Some of the things used in their spells might have been called eye of newt or other such terms.  Why this would help them to hide, I don't quite know.  I just know that it was done. 

The list above is not all inclusive.  Other tools are used within witchcraft.  If you have more interests or questions, please leave me a comment below.  You can also email me at generations1926@gmail.com. 

One final thought: I use the word "witch" loosely here.  In actuality, it is a term that some practitioners of witchcraft find highly offensive.  Some view the term "witch" to be among the same nasty, descriptive words used to describe Jews, Latinos, African Americans and many other people.  I strongly advise getting to know a practitioner well before throwing the term at them!