Curious George: Altar Tools?

[Vinga]

Being fairly new to my path I am still trying to gather all the ritual tools.
I was wondering though, do you have all the tools? Or do you substitute one for another? (heard some people use the wand for casting circles instead of an athame)
Have you come up with any thrifty home made tool that works just as well as (or better than) a store bought?
What is the rule of altar tools in your tradition? Which tools are required? Are there any rules for the materials used or the process of making them?

[Emy]

Well as far as tools go, I haven't got them all, simply because I don't feel I need them all...

My wandI found in the forrest, I often use my hands instead of an athame in spells, but an athame at some rituals, however my athame is not all that special, you don't have to get that expensive storebought one... and well, don't buy it all at once, get only what you really need =)

A pentacle is easily made, you can make it out of wood, or clay... and a chalice doesn't have to be all that special either, I am sure even a little plastic cup would work... although that wouldn't be much fun, would it?! =)

Blessings

[Lavender]

My chalice is a little lopsided cup my son made for me in art class and my athame is my pruners. I made my wand from a cherry tree branch that someone pruned off. My personal feelings are that these are just tools and are special only to me because of the meanings that are personal to me. For me, that enhances whatever I'm doing. I don't really do any formal rituals. Whatever I do, I like to make as much of it as I can. I feel the making of your tools adds to the magic of it...whether it be your wand or sewing the bag for a herbal charm.

[Vinga]

*LOL* maybe I should answer my own question.
I have a wand that I made from a tree branch that I saved from a neighbours garbage. They had pruned their tree and left all the branches for the grabage people to pick up so I scooped the whole lot :). Have made many nice wands and rune sets from them, but regrettably I have no clue what kind of tree it was (possibly willow but there were no leaves on the branches so it's hard to tell).
I have a cauldron, actually I have 3. My aunt gave us 3 castiron cauldron shaped candle holders for our wedding. I really like the fact that it holds a candle too, which makes it a lot more versitile than an ordinary cauldron. As chalice I use an odd wineglass (that doesn't go with any of my sets), but I'd like to get a beermug or something similar as it would suit my path better (and drinkinghorns just isn't my style).
The cauldron sits on a 4x4 inch ceramic tile (23 cents at Home Depot) and I have a whole bunch of them too so one day I think I'll attempt to engrave a pentacle on one...or break them up and make a mosaic pentacle.

Well that's as far as I've got, apart from lots of candles, crystals and incence. I'd like to get a besom and an athame/boline (some kind of knife for carving purposes mostly). I've read about a few Norse pagans who also use a small (sledge)hammer for the ritual purposes of the athame, like circle casting etc.

[Mairwen]

Originally posted by Vinga
What is the rule of altar tools in your tradition? Which tools are required? Are there any rules for the materials used or the process of making them?

*cheated and copied this from our website, in a feeble attempt to make my life simpler* 8O

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Please note that all plastic is to be avoided when choosing Craft tools.

The Eight Required Tools

Robe Water West The robe should be a solid color of the student's choice. The robe should slip over the head, be ankle-length and loosely comfortable.

Cord Earth North The cord is used to tie around the waist of the robe. The cord may be a simple rope of any color or material -- the choice is the students -- braided or woven of cloth, leather, silk or plant material. Only Initiates wear cords, it is a symbol of the priesthood. (There are certain length requirements, including knots at various locations along the cord.)

Wand Air East Wand length is up to the student, but "standard" length is from outside bend of the elbow to tip of the index finger.

Athamé Fire South A knife (preferably double-edged) with a sheath that could be hung off the cord. The knife blade can be steel, iron, bronze, copper, brass or silver. The handle is of the student's own preference, comfortable in the hand. Wood, bone, horn, shell, metal, stone, etc., are all good choices. The athamé is to be used only for magic; it is not meant to cut anything on the physical plane.

Water Chalice Water West It can be a cup, goblet, shell, bowl, etc

Incense burner Air East It must be movable while the incense is being burned on charcoal. It can be on a stand (where a stand can be raised), but chains work best. The best materials are metals (with feet to protect altar top), oven-proof china, stone or Pyrex glass.

Candlestick Fire South May hold votive, taper, pillar or sculpted candles. If using a votive, a clear cup is preferred as the candle needs to be white in color.

Salt Dish Earth North It can be a cauldron, dish, shell, plate, bowl, etc.


Optional tools to be obtained later

1. Objects or figurines representing the Goddess and God.
2. A pair of candlesticks representing the Goddess and God (green and red candles respectively).
3. A wine chalice. This is also used to drink wine out of at group meetings.
4. A good utilitarian knife. This is for carving, trimming wax and wicks, etc. (Keep in mind that the athamé is not intended to cut anything on the material plane!)
5. Altar supplies -- Candles, incense, charcoals, oils, matches or lighter, etc.
6. A candlestick containing a white candle to represent the Tuatha.
7. An altar cloth -- Student's preference, but traditionally is red.
9. A sword -- Used like an athamé, but it's left in the altar area, never worn on side as the athamé is. In groups, it is used by the College officers.
10. Calling or Bell Staff: A wand or mid-sized staff with three branches. Primarily used in group meetings, it can be used in the place of the group's altar wand. Can be rapped as the wand in the rituals, or fitted with bells and shaken. Three or nine bells are appropriate. It is used to call together the Tuatha.

[Mariposa De La Luna]

I don't have any altar tools yet except for this great candleholder that holds 5 candles in a circle. My sister gave it to me for xmas and doesn't know I'm Pagan. Great coincidence! So I'm going to use it as my pentacle. I also have 2 other taper holders that I want to "etch" God and Goddess symbols in them. i read on Witchvox a small article on the magic in your fingers and how each finger represents a different element. I have it somewhere and use my fingers when I feel the need for magickal tools.

Right now I'm waiting for the right tools to show up and say something. I have a tree in the back yard with a dead branch that I would like for a wand but first i need some pruners and to find out what kind of tree it is.