Dear Friends,
Okay I’ll admit it! When I first starting practicing Wicca I became “tool obsessed.” Has this ever happened to you? You enter a pagan shop and must have everything there. You simply need all of the “cool stuff” that you’ve seen a coven meetings or in books. You absolutely know that your magickal life will not be complete without a amethyst encrusted wand, long black velour cape, solid brass altar pentacle, a library of books…the list goes on and on. Believe me….I’ve been there. I understand that these needs seem extremely important. We all like to have neat and new stuff, especially stuff that is associated with our newest source of enjoyment.
But all of this fun stuff comes with a hefty price tag. If your budget is a bit strapped, you may feel discouraged. But Paganism is not for the rich alone! There are dozens of ways that you can get the tools that you need without breaking the bank.
First of all, remember that you don’t need to buy as much as you think you do. Take a look around your house and your storage spaces to find some valuable hidden treasures. You can use an older letter opener as an athame. Some of my favorite chalices have been from old glassware collections. You can sometimes find old dressing gowns that will serve as robes. Remember, recycling isn’t just limited to bottles and cans! Your old junk can be made new as part of your Pagan lifestyle. The best part about this technique is that it’s all free!
Another free source of good Pagan tools of trade is Mother nature herself. Taking a walk around a park or other natural area can be a treasure hunt. There are a lot of gifts that you can find. You can collect branches to use as wands or staffs. If you look closely you may find rocks that contain crystals inside. You can also collect feathers, however I would be careful doing this especially considering the spread of avian flu. If you are in a coastal area, you can find seashells and smoothed rocks to add to your altar and spell work.
To add to your magickal collection, look outside of the metaphysical bookshops and occult stores. You can get some great bargains on your magickal essentials from places like Wal-mart and Target. You’d be surprised what you can find when you look with a magickal eye. My favorite pair of altar candleholders came from a .99-cent aisle at K-Mart.
You can also find a wealth of do it yourself magickal items at the local craft store. Here you can find supplies for making your own dreamcatchers, sewing a magickal bag for tarot cards or small gems, small flowerpots to plant seeds during Beltane….the list goes on and on. You’ll save money by making items yourself but you’ll also have a more personal tools to work with.
Some of my other favorite places to shop for tools are thrift stores. There are several in my area that I visit regularly to see what’s new. You can find some really interesting vintage pieces, like antique glassware for chalices or coats that can be made into robes.
If you’re going to shop from online or local pagan shops, be patient and wait for the sales. If you can get something for half off, its worth it to put off buying it a few weeks or days. Also, look for bulk discounts on herbs and spell candles. You can buy together with some pagan friends to get a better price for all of you.
Remember, it doesn’t need to be expensive to be effective!
Happy bargain hunting,
Rose Ariadne
Your Warm And Caring "Resident Witch In Charge"
I have been practicing now for about 10 years and I know how wanting all those beautiful tool can break you financially if you let it. But it’s been my personal experiance that those tools that “found their way” to me either as gifts from friends or from some place in nature, tend to hold more power. I very seldom use tools in my work and use them mainly as decoration and objects of endearment on my alter. But, when I feel I need them they are there If you open the sences, your tools will find you…a gift from a friend, a walk in nature. I’ve collected things that mean something to me and you never know when you’ll need it. Here’s an example. Years ago I was walking on a white stone road. I looked down and to my side was a black stone. I was drawn to pick it up and put it in my pocket. A few years later when I started practicing, I found the stone in a box and placed it on my alter as something from nature and continued to keep it there because I felt it needed to be even though it had no real use. Now 1o years later I found myself in a job that surrounded me with a lot of negative energy. It was a real problem for me as I am clairsensuant (feel others feelings). This has been difficult for me to controll. Then I saw roses spell for keeping negative energy away and a lightbulb went off in my head….so simple yet powerful. I took the black stone, preformed the spell, and now I carry it everywhere I go. The moral to this story you ask? Trust that the universe always knows what’s best for us even years in advance. When something as simple as a stone showes itself to you, take it, it’s a gift. It’s use will be let known to you when you need it most. And….not all tools cost anything at all. Actually in this witches opinion, they always turn out to be the most usefull, the most valuable, and the most heart felt. And after all, isn’t that where ou personal powers originate?
Bright Blessings and gentle breezes!…….Kat:smile:
I’d have to agree with this statement. Although I’m not a practicing witch, I’ve done energy work and meditation. What I’ve come to accept is not only do universal gifts come to you in timely fashion, but remember too, that sometimes to lose something like a favorite stone or ring is to make way for something new and also allows the “lost” item to be found by its “next” owner. So If you lose the setting from a power ring don’t despair. someone else may have needed it more or the energy it emits may not be suitable to you any longer.:smile: