cauldrons in Wicca

[Ben Gruagach]

Cauldrons are one of the stereotypical tools of a Witch. As a Wiccan, do you use a cauldron at all in your ritual?

What kind of cauldron is it (large, small, metal, ceramic, etc.)?

How do you use it?

Do you have rituals that won't work if you don't have a cauldron as a central tool?

Do you use your cauldron in all or most rituals, or just some?

I'm curious to hear about how others use cauldrons.

[Astara Seague]

Ok I will answer :bow:

do you use a cauldron at all in your ritual?
yes but not always

What kind of cauldron is it (large, small, metal, ceramic, etc.)?
its a small brass one more like a bowl with handles

How do you use it?
when I am mixing herbs in a spell to light
or when I am using a resin type incense

Do you have rituals that won't work if you don't have a cauldron as a central tool?
no

Do you use your cauldron in all or most rituals, or just some?
few..

I think some like to use them for putting on a show to keep up with the steotypical witch image, not me..its more like a pot or a mixing container when I use it
in fact I use a regular pan when I make my "brews" like mead and certain other elxiers and use it right on the stove

[Lunacie]

I only have a small brass one. I use it for burning papers as part of a spell or a ritual. So it doesn't get used very often.

[Crystal Willowtree]

What kind of cauldron is it (large, small, metal, ceramic, etc.)?
small cast iron one with a pentagram on one side
How do you use it?
that varies... sometimes just ornamental purposes or to hold a small candle
Do you have rituals that won't work if you don't have a cauldron as a central tool?
no
Do you use your cauldron in all or most rituals, or just some?
only occasionally

[Shawn Blackwolf]

Well , first , I am of the Wieckaan...

Not modern Wiccan...by far...

Yet...cauldronwise...

Yes , I use a cauldron...

It is 14 inches high , by 20 inches across...

From the 1700's...the woman I got it from was my
landlady , who was an antiques dealer for many years...

She obtained it , with a spinning wheel with it , when
an older woman died , as part of a family estate...

She told me they had been in the family for generations...

Three legged...excellent shape...yet well used...:uhhuhuh:

Rituals ?

Yes , there is a very specific one...

You see , in our Tradition , by gematria , the words :

Wietch's Cauldron = 662

And so as to not go far off topic , we know the true
old , Wietch's Tetragrammaton...not Obri / Hebrew ,
but the older Runic comparison...

Which , by number value , as sonics = 663

So we use the Wietch's Tetragrammaton chant , with
the cauldron...

Further , the value for the center of our Faery Tree , is
composed of seven rune pairs...the four elemental pairs ,
then the gates to upper and lower worlds , and center
portal...the value is 692...

It Will Be = 30

Wietch's Cauldron = 662

= 692

So , the Wietch's Cauldron is used to connect those realms...

And as the remainder of our Faery Tree , equals 803 , it may
be noted : Spiret Helpers = 802...

So the Wietch's Cauldron , is also used to call the Spiret Helpers...

We do not use it in all rituals...

Hope that gives you what you were looking for...or not...:thumbsup:


Cauldrons are one of the stereotypical tools of a Witch. As a Wiccan, do you use a cauldron at all in your ritual?

What kind of cauldron is it (large, small, metal, ceramic, etc.)?

How do you use it?

Do you have rituals that won't work if you don't have a cauldron as a central tool?

Do you use your cauldron in all or most rituals, or just some?

I'm curious to hear about how others use cauldrons.

[Ivy Artemisia]

As a Wiccan, do you use a cauldron at all in your ritual?
Sometimes

What kind of cauldron is it (large, small, metal, ceramic, etc.)?
I have a few- a larger one we've used in the group (probably 14" diameter), one 8" diameter cauldron, and a small 3.5" cauldron.

How do you use it?
Usually as a vessel to burn things- like for petition magic, but also burned our Yule Log in it one year, and have used it to mix liquids as part of a ritual, as well.

Do you have rituals that won't work if you don't have a cauldron as a central tool?
Nah.

Do you use your cauldron in all or most rituals, or just some?
Just some. To me, it isn't a necessary tool to my ritual practice (unlike an athame, or a candle, as these or substitutions are essential in my rituals), but its something that I would advise a witch to have in her cupboard.

[~Audra~]

nope...don't have a cauldron, per se... i have a black glass bowl i use for scrying...

[Tanya]

Cauldrons are one of the stereotypical tools of a Witch. As a Wiccan, do you use a cauldron at all in your ritual?

As a hedgewitch, not a Wiccan...yes I use one

What kind of cauldron is it (large, small, metal, ceramic, etc.)?
Its a large Thai rice bowlhttp://www.antique-arts-asia.com/catalog/images/Laos_bowl_LA13.jpgabout 20 inches accross and about 20 inched deep

How do you use it?
We put loose change in it most of the time.. but its kind of our wishing well... putting money in it feeds this idea of 'plenty' and adding to the abundance of our household...


during rituals, sometimes I use if if i'm burning herbs... otherwise it doesn't do much,

Do you have rituals that won't work if you don't have a cauldron as a central tool?
I don't know.. I like it, I use it.. but i'm not passsionatley wedded to it... in a pinch... i could work without it.

Do you use your cauldron in all or most rituals, or just some?
Its there for all of them....

[Zephii]

As a Wiccan, do you use a cauldron at all in your ritual?
Sure do.

What kind of cauldron is it (large, small, metal, ceramic, etc.)?
I have a miniture cast iron cauldron. For group rituals we use my covenmate's much larger camping cauldron.

How do you use it?
Sometimes for decoration. Sometimes to hold water/represent water. If I'm outside I'll put oil in the bottom and set it on fire. It burns for quite a long time and is fairly safe. Sometimes I'll use it to hold a charcol block for incense, or I'll place my pentacle over the top and use it as the altar if I'm not using a lot of props.

Do you have rituals that won't work if you don't have a cauldron as a central tool?
Yes, but I could re-write them to change that. I'm rather attached to my cauldron though.

Do you use your cauldron in all or most rituals, or just some?
A lot of the time I use no tools at all, but most of the ones where I am using tools my cauldron is usually involved in some way.

Its one of the tools I feel most conected to. It has a very practical womanly quality that comforts me (this is the best way I can decribe it).

[WolfyJames]

As a Wiccan, do you use a cauldron at all in your ritual?

Sometimes.

What kind of cauldron is it (large, small, metal, ceramic, etc.)?

A small cast iron cauldron (http://bellirosa.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=2072), my altar is small so I look for small stuff for it. I love the shape of it.

How do you use it?

Mostly as decoration on my altar, it looks really cute, I've felt the strong need to get one last year. I also use it for healing ritual.

Do you have rituals that won't work if you don't have a cauldron as a central tool?

Well, I think you can always replace something by something else. I just thought it was weird to make a healing ritual with no cauldron (it's coven stuff, I don't know if I can share it, better safe than sorry).

Do you use your cauldron in all or most rituals, or just some?

Only a few.

[brymble]

This is going to sound ironic, but my cauldron was destroyed by fire. It was on my altar, which was where the fire broke out. It was cast iron and I didn't think it could have been damaged, but we couldn't find a trace of it. I have not yet replaced it.

I used to use it as a scrying bowl, to hold water for wax-drip divination, to hold herbs and boilled water for breathing vapors, for burning things in... it was a creative tool and as such I kept its usage open and flexible.

As for rituals that "won't work" without a cauldron...I think we all know here it's the witch that makes the rituals work, not the tools. But it was a tool I was fond of using, and had a preference for. However, it's not like my magickal practice stopped just because my apartment burned down, taking my altar and tools with it!

[cydira]

As a cauldron is but another (though very old) word for cook pot, I've got several. :toofless: I have a blue enamel campfire cook pot that I do use on occasion for ritual work. I also have a few small cauldrons from occult stores that were given to me as gifts. I've used them for various small rituals and such. I don't have any rituals that I need a cauldron for, but that may change in the future. ;)

[talamh]

There s a simple and safe way to use a small cauldron inside and still have a real flame. I have an 6 inch, cast iron cauldron with three legs.

Put a quarter cup of epson salts and a quarter cup of rubbing alcohol in the cauldron and light it (make sure the cauldron is standing on a tile or a brick or something that is heat resistant). It gives a very real fire but it burns at a low temperature and is pretty much smokeless. Of the many times I've used this in a circle, the smoke detector only went off once.

When I prepare for the Circle, I have the epsom salts and the rubbing alcohol already measured out in seprate , tight-lidded containers. The rubbing alcohol evaporates quickly so it is important to keep the lid on until just before you use it. Once you have put the salts and the alcohol in the cauldron, it should be lit right away.

We use it for calling something into our lives or letting go of something. Write whatever it is on a very small piece of paper and give it to the flames

We also jump the Bel fire at Beltain. It's considered lucky. You can also make a wish when you jump.. and then there's always jumping the fire with your sweetie.

Several important fire safety rules must be followed to keep such an open flame safe.

Always have right at hand a fire extinguisher and know how to use it properly - you're supposed to aim it at the base of the fire before squeezing the release handles. The smaller fire extinguishers only have about eight to 10 seconds of foam in them and if you spend half of that times figuring out what you are aiming at - you've used up half of you ability to put it out. Every Circle should have a fire extinguisher handy and at least one person is designated to be on fire watch.... candle flame and long hair; candle flame and loose, flowing robes. Keep a heavy blanket at hand for smothering flames. Make sure all candles have been extinguish when the Circle is opened.

But back to cauldrons and fire - sometimes it is a beautiful experience simply to sit and watch the flame... it has such a power to create or destroy. It can be very dramatic if you put out all other candles so that when the fire goes out - a quarter cup of epsom salts and a quarter cup of rubbing alcohol will burn for less the five minutes - you are in a special space, touched by flame, blessed by darkness.

After the flame is out, remember, the cauldron is still very hot. Wait till it cools. There will be white salt residue caked to your cauldron. Put the cauldron on a stove burner and put some water in. Bring it to a boil, the salt dissolves in the water, and dump the water in the sink. Cauldron should be lovely and clean again.

[Ben Gruagach]

There s a simple and safe way to use a small cauldron inside and still have a real flame. I have an 6 inch, cast iron cauldron with three legs.

Thanks for that EXCELLENT post -- lots of practical advice there!

I've heard about using epsom salts and rubbing alcohol in a cauldron like that but have never tried it personally. I'll have to give it a go. But I think I'll try it outside before I venture to using it indoors.

I'm going to save that post for my BoS if that's OK with you!

[Lunacie]

We did that at one of our rituals - but I hadn't heard that trick about cleaning the salts from the cauldron. I thought mine was ruined.

[HetHert]

Like Talamh I use a cauldron much in the same way.

I do use mine outside as it is a 18" pot belly cast iron pot.

What I learned to do was layer salt (sea), excelerant (alcohol or lighterfluid), dried herbs (if the herbs are fresh or wet it will make it to wet too keep the cauldron going) and wax (old, used, left-over peices or cut up candles). I make layers ( a layer consists of salt, excelerant, herbs and wax) if it is a big work or a layer per person if it is a smallish gathering. If it's a larger get together with more people than I can layer I stick with the 3-5 layers depending on the work and ingredient availability.

I use my cauldron about half of the moons and rits if I had to quantify. It's an important tool to me for culminating, mixing, and "cooking" energies. It's also a great focal peice for concentrating upon when it's going. The fire inside can be used to scry, release, energize and mix. It's a great versatile tool.

[Dawa Lhamo]

I have a small ceramic one that I use occasionally in personal ritual, and it's not *uncommon* for the group to use one at Sabbats (though I can't remember us using one at any Esbats). Usually it's to have a safe container to burn things in. A tool for the working, rather than an object of focus. ^_^

[Dio]

I have a sweet little 5" three legged cauldron that was gifted to me when I initiated years ago. It is actually one of my favorite personal tools that I use mostly for personal workings. My favorite use for it is to create the blue flame in the same way that Talamh described. It makes a great spark for the beginning of a ritual, or I'll use the blue flame to release and/or attain specific energies.

Sometimes, if I'm unsure what to do with a situation, I'll use my cauldron to "sit on" an issue. I'll write my quandry on a piece of paper, put it in the cauldron, and let the issue stew. After awhile, once the issue has worked itself out, or if I figure out the answer, I'll use the blue flame to finally burn the piece of paper with my issue on it to release it.

[Lunan]

I have a small iron cauldron that is approx. 7" tall and 3 1/2" or so wide. It was a gift from a good friend who died about two years ago. At the time, I was Christian, so I just kept easily lost items in it. :lol: Since I have left Christianity, and began my own path with the Craft, I have used it to burn incense in on my altar. This way, I get to use it often in honor of her.

I keep small blue pebbles (like what you would find in an aquarium) in the bottom to absorb the heat. When it needs cleaning out, I simply fill it with water, and the ashes and stuff rises to the top while the rocks stay at the bottom. I then scoop and dump the ashes outside.

[MoonBear GreenOak]

Being a cunning man, I use a cauldron in a different way than most, I think. It is an iron pot, which is important since it helps with traversing the sacred landscape with the compass rose. Sometimes things will go into it for the working, sometimes not.