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 Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 2:40 pm
So you've managed to acquire all of the fancy and nifty tools that 99.9% of 101 books suggest you should have. Some tools are store bought, and some have been painstakingly crafted with your own two hands. Either way, you've amassed enough items to fill two fairly large lock boxes (in my case), and may or may not use them for every ritual.
I don't frown on this idea. In fact, I fully intend to live in a messy, paper and book cluttered house with numerous magickal instruments (an old friend said he couldn't see my life in any other way lol). Still, when rituals and Esbats come around, two conundrums arise. Either I'm lugging out an entire curio shops worth of items for my temporary altar, or some are rarely being used and collecting dust/taking up space.
Now, some might argue that the process of taking out ones entire inventory of tools and setting up is all part of the ritual process, and I agree. Stumbling over my bed (which is too large for my room), and reaching for hidden objects atop high bookshelves gets me into that concentrated frame of mind that rituals need. It keeps me focused on the task at hand, though sometimes it also cases me a sprained ankle or two.
Lately, I've been trying a new way of performing rituals, and especially esbats. Rather than lug out everything but the kitchen sink, I have narrowed mt tools down to just enough to carry in a basket/cauldron (mine happens to be a saucepan, so you can imagine how few things I would be carrying). Rather than pile up those ceramic, hand painted Quarter dishes along with a wand, athame, statuettes, candles, other dishes, and my Book of Shadows, I only take about 7 smaller items.
-My athame, which also takes on the duties that my wand would have
-A rock that I found at the local sand dunes, which is special to me and represents Earth
-My Fire candle, despite the redundant name, a red candle in a nice orange pot (which smells delicious)
-A small china cup, which holds Water
-And a feather I found in the woods, to represent Air
Sometimes I take a pen and paper, for wish work (which gets burned in the cauldron), or maybe offerings (which is usually nature-friendly, like birdseed or whatnot as thats how I see my goddess receiving them). Sometimes theres a little more, sometimes I take a little less, it depends on the working itself. I feel that this minimalist approach takes my mind off what needs to be done to achieve results, and places more emphasis on the results themselves. Not to mention there are less things to trip over...
Just because a ritual is low-key doesn't mean it has less significance. Think of a parting ceremony, where there are only a few people, and maybe they let go of balloons (not nature-friendly, but you get the drift) or feathers. There's something extremely simple, and yet has a much more profound meaning to some than an elaborate funeral ever could.
Witches most powerful tools are themselves. I bet your sick of hearing that adage, but there is logic to it. So the next time you're lugging around your entire magickal study in two or three backpacks, I implore you to take the minimalist approach and see how you feel about it. You would be surprised what magick can be made out of pure necessity.
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Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 10:55 pm
Sounds like an Illinois Eclectic talking in that post, Meri. And I didn't even write it the OP. lol
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witchunterobin Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 7:30 am
I already have figured that out. lD I works for me because I'm still halfway in the closet and the fact that other people have items as well. I also tend to get sick during the winter, yes I do rituals when I'm sick, so I skip using all items and just stick to just my bare finger, my intent, and my visualization.
~Although when I'm sick, I usually turn to the kitchen witch in me and bless my food for health, while banishing illness.~
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