poetic inspiration, rebirth, and immortality. The Holy
Grail of the legends of King Arthur is another version
of the chalice. Containing the Mysteries of Life and
Death, the cauldron, bowl, or cup symbolizes the womb
of the Goddess, from which all life comes forth. The
chalice, therefore, is seen as female in nature (as the
wand is male), and the water that it contains is the
sacred Elemental Water of Life. As the wand is the tool
of the mind or intellect, the chalice is the tool of the
emotions—especially Love.
To make your own magickal chalice, you must
first buy a drinking goblet (a cup on a stem with a
base). It may be any size and as fancy as you like. The
chalice may be of ceramic, silver (or silver-plated),
horn, or pewter (not glass)—though horn or silver is
much preferred. A chalice should never be made of
brass or copper, as it can then only be used for wa-
ter—never wine or fruit juice—because these metals
become poisonous in contact with the citric acids in
juices or wine.Consecrating Your Chalice
To consecrate your chalice, wait until the Moon
is almost full. It is also best to do this on a Monday—
the day of the Moon. Mix up some of the following
herbs in a bowl of salt water: basil, fennel, hyssop,
lavender, mint, rosemary, sage, valerian, and verbena.
(These can come from the herb section of your local
natural foods store.) For a lunar incense, sprinkle some
lavender, jasmine, white rose, honeysuckle, and/or
mugwort on a burning charcoal block. If you’d rather
consecrate your chalice to Venus (for Love), do it on
Friday and use an incense made
of sandalwood, orris root,
rose, and/or rosemary. You
may use natural herbs, or buy
a compounded lunar or Venus
incense at an occult shop.
Sprinkle your cup with the herb
tea, then pass it through the
smoking incense, visualizing a
blue purifying light surrounding it,
and chanting:By Water and Fire be purified
No adverse will within thee hide.
Be clear in service unto me;
As I do will, so mote it be!The Chalice Runes
Paint or engrave (with an engraving tool or
Dremel) the appropriate runes around the bowl of the
chalice. If painting, use a new fine brush and black or
white enamel paint. As you inscribe each rune, chant:
“Blessed be thou cup of Water.” The traditional runes
from the Greater Key of Solomon (which nobody
seems to be able to translate anymore) are as follows:If you are not comfortable with these, you might
just use the Theban runes to write “Blessed be thou
Cup of Art” around the bowl instead. Then, using the
Theban runes, write your own magickal name around
the base of the chalice, speaking each letter aloud.
When you are finished, say, “So mote it be!”Using Your Chalice
Your chalice should sit on your altar, on the West
(left) side (the direction of the Element Water). It
should always have fresh water in it. It’s also okay to
float a fresh rose in the water. In magickal rituals, the
water in the chalice may be consecrated with the wand
or athamé before sharing with the others in your Circle
(saying “May you never thirst!”). Or a few drops may
be used to anoint the different parts of the body in
healing or blessing rituals (saying “Blessed be thy
mouth, that speaks the sacred names...”). Or some
may be sprinkled over images of the gods when mak-
ing offering or prayers for Their blessings.Lesson 4: The Panticle (Earth)
The panticle paten is a disc engraved with a five-
pointed star, or pentagram, and may also include other
symbols relating to the Earth, the natural forces, and
protection. It is commonly misnamed pentacle, a syn-
onym for pentangle, which means “five angles”;
panticle means “all angles.” Sometimes called the
Pentacle of Solomon, the pentagram design is the time-
honored universal symbol of Magick, and it signifies
the five properties of the Great Magickal Agent, the
five Elements of Nature, the five senses, and the five
outstretched extremities of the human body: head,
arms, and legs. The panticle is used in Ceremonial
Magick as an instrument of protection, or a tool to
evoke spirits. Different versions with various sym-
bols have been designed for each of the planets, and
for many other uses. Panticles are also hung over doors
and windows to act as protective devices, or used in
rituals to draw money.
The panticle is essentially passive; it is the foun-
dation from which we build, and is symbolic of the
forces of Nature and physical manifestation. The pen-
tagram on it represents the Element of Earth and forms
a shield of protection to guard us from hostile forces.
In ritual the panticle will provide you with the ability
to ground and center your intentions. The panticle
may be made of stone, clay, or metal (earthy material).Task: Making Your Panticle
Although you can now buy beautiful panticles106 Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard
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