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Altar Essentials
Athame The athame is a ritual knife or dagger, usually double-edged with a black handle. The knife represents Fire, but is never used to cut anything physical. An athame is often used to cast a circle.
Chalice Your chalice (or cup) represents Water. Altar chalices are typically a stemmed goblet style, but any cup, glass or mug will do. Your cup is used to hold the water or wine for drinking at the end of a ritual or circle.
Wand Most people think of wands as long wooden branches with a big stone on the end. Your wand can be any material you feel drawn to (wood, metal, bone). Your wand is the tool of Air, and is used to direct energy during ritual. Wands tend to be the one tool that most Wiccans are likely to make themselves.
Pentacle Your altar pentacle can be anything from a simple pendant, to a large table-top platen. The pentacle represents Earth, and you use it to cleanse or consecrate other items on your altar. Typical pentacles are metal, ceramic or carved from wood.
Cauldron The cauldron represents Water, like the chalice. Most Wiccans don't actively use cauldrons but keep one for the symbolism and the sheer 'witchy-ness' of it. Cauldrons are cast iron pots, usually pot-bellied in style. If you cannot find a true cauldron, other bowls or pots may be used. Though it represents Water, many rituals also call for small fires to be burned in the cauldron. If you plan on doing this, make sure to have a cauldron that can take the heat.
Bowl of Salt
You can use a bowl of salt to represent the Earth, rather than an altar pentacle. Salt is used to cleanse other tools, crystals, jewelry or any item that may pick up negative energy. A small bowl of salt (coarse sea salt is best) is simply kept on the altar.
Other Items
Candles - Represent Fire, and some people keep a special pair of candles to represent the God and Goddess
Bells - Used to mark points during a ritual
Censer - For burning incense (Air)
Boline - Curved knife for harvesting herbs
Incense, crystals, statuary
You may never use all of these tools on a regular basis, but you may come across a spell or a ritual that you want to do that requires one. If you don't have a tool, you can always improvise, or keep your eyes open for your next magickal item.
0uija Boards A wide selection of handcrafted and unique witch ouija boards (also known as Spirit or Talking boards) to aid you in your quest for answers on love, money, life... and even your future.
Scrying Mirrors A black mirror is another "scrying" object. The user will gaze upon the clear surface until a vision appears which can be understood directly or interpreted.
Scrying Bowls Scrying is the art of foretelling the future or the unknown by looking into an object. The ancient Greeks & Nostradamus used scrying bowls filled with water in which to gaze & obtain their prophecies.
Pendulums The pendulum is a tool that bridges the gap between the logical left brain and the intuitive right brain. By interpreting the movements of a swinging pendulum, you can tune into your intuition, find the answer to any question, and locate objects and energy centers in the earth.
Pentacle Pendulum Divination Cloth
Tarot The ancient art of Tarot incorporates astrological, numerological, & Qabalistic symbolism in a variety of decks and interpretations that go back to the beginning of recorded history
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