special area upon which to work your magics. They may be ornately carved, beautifully crafted works of art or they might be a simple, functional flat table where you feel comfortable working. Either way, this is a specially consecrated space on which you will work when preparing your spells and on which you may keep many of the tools which you will be using – such as a chalice, candles, and the like.
Altars are central to Wiccan rituals and many non-Wiccan spell casters make use of them as well. The shape and location of the altar is not all that important – they can be round or square, indoors or outdoors – just as long as the object hold some special significance for the caster and the place is somewhere quiet and peaceful where spells can be cast and work can be done.
Athame
A double-edged ritual knife, about six inches long. It is usually blunt because the only thing it is used to cut is energy. In accordance with tradition, athames are black handled. Wiccans and other spell weavers use the athame to direct energy and to open and close the doorway to the spell caster’s circle. If there is no athame, a sword, or a wand, a branch cut very gently from a tree and suitably consecrated, can be used in its place.
Baskets
Used for keeping things together and for carrying many things to and from the circle.
Bath Salts and Oils
Usually added to a ritual bath, taken before starting to weave spells, to put the spell caster into a suitably relaxed frame of mind.
Bell
Often rung at the beginning of a ritual when calling the four quarters and at the end to tell the elements to return to their realms, after