(^86) A Wiccan Bible
Direction Animal
East Eagle
South Elk
West Bear
North Wolf
The Four Tools
Who hasn’t been moved to tears by a movie or play? Who has not left a theater
house with a new perspective on the world in which we live? Theater often provides us
with secrets, which stir the mysteries of our soul. Wiccan ritual is no different. While
the living of life is what is most important, ritual often stirs that living into action. It
reveals secrets that cause the exploration and thus understanding of the mysteries of
the world in which we live. Although our rituals are themselves theater, they are more
because they represent that which we call sacred. Thus, we use the term sacred theater.
As with any theater, props are often used. Those props are more often called the
Wiccan tools. Of these, there are many. One might say that each variety of incense is
itself a tool. However, there are four tools that are considered primary or most impor-
tant. This is because these are the four that have direct association with the four Quar-
ters, the gender of those Quarters, and the principle of those Quarters and their partners.
Direction Element Tool Gender Partner
East Air Censor Masculine Pentacle
South Fire Athame Masculine Chalice
West Water Chalice Feminine Athame
North Earth Pentacle Feminine Censor
While these tools are not at all necessary to be Wiccan, neither is the performance
of ritual. Being Wiccan is a matter of heart and the way one conducts themselves in life
more than a matter of formality and the way one conducts ones self in ritual. So then look
on these tools as just that, things used in ritual, sacred theater, to represent what should
be taking place in the hearts of each and every one who would call themselves Wiccan.
The First Union—Censor and Pentacle
The Censor—The Censor is the incense burner which represents Air. It is a masculine
tool associated with the Element Air and the prayers sent to our Father Sky.
Prior to its first use of the censor and whenever cleansing and charging (rededicat-
ion) is felt necessary, the following recipes are used. These recipes are also useful in
k WB Chap 04.p65 86 7/11/2003, 5:50 PM
barré
(Barré)
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