What do I need for my rituals?

As we want to work on some spells, we find often that there were specific items needed for them. And then we wonder - do we truly need those items at all? What are they? How do I know if it's something I need? Well..you don't need them. But they might be very useful to you! And you might find many of uses for them. So below we will explain the list of the most popular items together with their meaning and correspondences. **Altar** It's the little space that you use for your meditation and spell practices. You sit nearby it and do your work there. The altar can be a shelf, desk, or might be done in the forest/nearby home. It can be outside as well as inside. On the altar, you also hold your magical items like a card, athame, candles, figures of your Gods and Goddesses, and other things. If you are making your altar - it should be in a place where no one will disturb you and it (so hold it away from the animals and babies). **Athame** It's a point little dagger/sword, which you used to cast your protection circle. This item is connected to the element of fire, related to the protection, and also used in energy working or protective spells. You can also use it to remind negativity, bonds, and things like this. It's connected to the energy itself and you can manifest it on the astral plane. **Bells** Connected to the element of the air. Use them to call sylphs and air beings. They are a rather more modern item, yet they sing the music in the air, making it easier for spirits to hear. In some places, you can buy little bracelets with multiple mini bells. It is said they are calling your guardian angel forward and don't let him forget about you. **Besom** Besoms are made from tree branches, connected to the element of the earth. They are used in cleansing spells, helping you to remove the negativity from your home and life. Mostly you first used the besom, then mix protection/cleansing oil with your cleaning water and clean your home with it. **Boline** This is a duller knife, and it's used to collect and harvest plants. It has a specific shape similar to the crescent moon. It's used mainly by Wiccans and you can use it to harvest not only earthly things but use it in any spells related to earth and harvesting (for example Mabon ones). **Book of shadows** This is your magic diary. It's used for making notes on anything you are learning about. Why? Cause your memory might be too bad after a few years of practicing. Maybe you will want to remind yourself of the spell you cast in past? By coming back to things, you might see the way to improve them, as your knowledge improves, too. It can be any notebook or book (the more pages it does have, the better) and it should be empowered and cleaned before using. **Candles** This is one of the most popular tools. The color of the candles has meaning and so does their shape. We will do another lesson about the colors themselves, but we need candles for almost any spell or ritual. They are also good to be used as an offering. They are connected to the fire element, and the element is represented by their colors. **Chalice** The chalice is used for liquid offering and water, as it's a representation of the water element itself. The stainless steel one is good as it wouldn't be destroyed easily nor showing any corrosion. Glass ones might be hard to use during the daylight ( sometimes you need to leave the offering for a day ..and with glass and sun..we don't want accidents do we?)you can also use them for scrying (by looking at the liquid inside) and the darker it is the better for scrying. **Cauldron** This is another tool connected to the water element. In the past cauldrons had much importance especially with kitchen magic. Now they are more forgotten and sometimes used on Celtic magic. They are used to create potions, oils, and anything liquid you might need for your spells. They can be used for cooking too. **Cingulum** It's a sacred cord/belt given to a new Wiccan adept. They are 9 inches long, as this number holds much of the importance. They are also used for creating a circle of protection (as they are on the exact size of it) and can so attach items to you when you are moving. **Disc/Pentacle** They are connected to the element of the earth and are used as a sort of protection. Personally, I never used them and I find wands being more connected to the earth element than a pentacle. **Divination tools** You might use them for communication with your spirits or helping yourself or others. Anything you used frequently might be placed there. Of course, if you have multiple decks, you don't need to put every single one there. **Gemstones/Jewelry** Gemstones can be connected not only to the element of the earth but to any element represented in their correspondences. They are a great tool for offerings or used in spells. You might try to use jewelry made from them, or simply anyone you like and feel a connection to. They can be also turned into talismans like any other jewelry. **Incense** Incense is connected to 3 elements at once - earth, fire, and air. Every fragrance has its own correspondences too, and they are used the same way as the candles. You might want also an incense burner - and think about it before buying one. The metal ones can become boiling and might destroy the surface they are standing on. The wooden ones are good, but you can't use them for triangle-shaped incense or coal ones. You might always place the metal one on the wood one - and that will help. **Season decorations** As the season's pass, you might adjust that to your own experience and altar. Having little things related to the season will help with casting spells connected to it - like freezing bonds in winter, or focusing on new life and family during Easter. **Statues** You might hold states of your guides or chosen God/Goddess. You might have animal ones or simply something symbolic for you. **Thurible** That's sort of a more complicated incense burner. It's not used anymore, but it holds the sand and allowed it to raise a huge amount of fire. You would add later the herbs inside of it to create incense smoke. **Wands** Tradition says they are connected to the air element. I see them as a representative of the earth element (the waving of the wand in the air doesn't exactly feel enough for me to call them the air element, while they are made from the living tree..that's why earth) and they can be used not only for spells or calling forward more friendly beings but also to locate water sources and items. These are all the most common items used in the spells. If you wish for me to add and let me know!