Discussions

Just a thought that might of interest to some other members, how about we have a weekly discussion thread posted to encourage debate? For example:

In many magical practices, the wand and the athame both have a very similar function, to direct energy. Do you use one or both of these tools and if so do you use them for different kinds of practice or notice anything different about them while using them?

A new topic could be posted each week by alternative active members, council and priesthood with an emphasis on discussion as opposed to just information.

I love the idea Vixiana. Also, sorry about being gone for a bit guys, my husbands rat died this past weekend from a lung infection. I was the one taking care of him until he passed away.
Goin back to the topic of the thread though, Vixiana, you are more than welcome to do the first post. I really hope this instills some more activity from all the members.

Sorry to hear about your other half's rat, Silver. How's your husband doing?


Ok then, I'll use my example for the first discussion. Do you use a wand and/or athame in your practice? If so do you prefer one over the other and why? Is there anything you would only consider using an athame for (such as the symbolic Great Rite) or only the wand for? General discussion is encouraged!

This is a great idea as well =D
I am so glad to have such motivated members in our coven...it makes me warm and fuzzy inside =) Thank you so much for helping me and Silver_Vixen out. We really appreciate it!

I myself prefer using a wand. That would probably be because a wand is a tool made from wood (Usually) and i'm an herb freak. I made my wand myself and just loved searching for the right wood and carving it out, than i adore doing the traditional rituals to bless it for my workings. I poured a lot of my own energy into making it so i feel very connected to it.
Not that I don' feel connected to my athame - I do, it was my late grandfathers, but i somehow just pick up the wand instead of the athame for the ritual work, when it comes to it...

well my family dont realy aprove of me doing rituals nd stuff but i do get to sneak the odd one or two in here an there and i usually use my hands i feel the energy being controlled more but if i had to choose it would be the wand iv always love the whole idea of the wand the makeing ect so yh :) nd good thinking of the weekly discussions great idea :)

Hubby is alright, still a bit upset, but we understand how life cycles work, so it helps.

On the subject at hand, I use the wand more for invoking ( such as the elements, etc...). I find my energy flows better and builds easier when doing so. The Athame I try to limit it's uses for circle casting and to symbolize the Great Rite on special occasions, mainly holidays. If there is healing that I need to do for a male, I'll incorporate the athame, and if for a female my wand (occasionally my staff if it's done outside in place of the wand). I usually get a strong feeling of the feminine from the wand and more of a feel of masculine from the athame. I've always been about polarity and I try to use each tool in respect to the other to maintain a well balanced energy on my altar, especially during ritual.

I think that's a really great idea Vixiana,

I dont really do my magical practices in the normal wicca way , I dont use an athame or a wand..I did use a crow feather that I found then I lost it...I actually thought my dog ate it Lol! but I found it again the other day when I was moving some stuff around in my room. It was like finding a piece of me again! my uses for it included casting a circle, using as a quill if I use ink in any spell or ritual..which I dont really do very often so its mostly just used for casting circles and using during a spell, I use it to touch each of the items I might use and say whatever chant I've wrote, I just like knowing I still have it and just seeing it makes me feel protected.

Lady SilverVixen so sorry to hear about your husbands rat can be really upsetting watching a pet go through pain, I remember when when my mum and dads dog died, my thoughts are with you.


Love and Light

I would say I use my wand than my athame in my practice because if my parents sees my athame I'm in deep trouble but with my wand it's okay cause it's made out of wood. I also choose my wand because I feel the energy flow easily and for some reason I feel that my wand has a heart beat. The other reason why I choose my wand is that I loved the way I decorate it. I only use my want for casting a circle and calling the quarters. Other than that I use my wand to practice to repel things (I think it's good for energy practice).

I remember reading in an Alexandrian text, it might have been one of Stewart Farrar's early books when he was still in Alex Sanders coven, that the wand was used to invoke 'friendlier' spirits, while the athame was used to coerce spirits that might not be willing. This obviously has its roots in ceremonial magic(k) which Sanders incorporated into his rituals more than Gardner did. What do you folks think about the idea of the athame as a tool that can repel or command while the wand is a gentler invoker? For those who use both, do you feel any difference in the tools, possibly elementally?


Brim: Do you feel that your wand has a life of its own due to the nature of the wood and the power you placed into it? Lots of people say that tools are simply channels for your own power but do you think your wand has its own indwelling spirit?

MorriganCrow: Do you use one hand for invoking and the other for dismissing? Do your hands feel different when you are casting a circle as opposed to calling quartings or generally performing magic?

SilverVixen: That's interesting that you find the athame to be male and the wand to be female as elementally they're both male. Is the wand made from a feminine wood like birch or willow?

OpalRaven: Is there a sense of the crow's 'spirit' or energy residing within the feather? On your profile you say that crow is your journey totem, do you hold the feather while journeying as well and does it have any effect if you do?

LunaticGirl: What type of wood is your wand made of? Do you feel the decorations you made to the wand have enhanced the flow of power?


Also if anyone has said anything you want to comment on or question then do so. Keep the debate flowing!

Yes actually, the minute that i completed making it i sensed a kind presence that is willing to help me. So i named it "Lareent Obeo" The name just dropped in my mind like an anvil lol. I gave it a special blessing ritual and blessed it with a name (kind of like an official name lol). His name and mine are also written on it with a Theban font which is also know as the "witches writing", but recently i came up with my own writing and i'm thinking of removing that and put it up in my own writing. I made my wand look like a shortsword in tribute to my patron masculine deity Ares. So yes i do believe it has it's own spirit and even though i'm working with my deities, I feel a special presence during my workings...

When it comes to working without tools i'd suggest you read up on the former priestesses post "power hand"...i've looked into that long time ago and i seen that it has recently been brought up again...i didn't know that one hand has a stronger and more smooth energy flow then the other, but it's true and i've used my power hand in energy manipulation more then the other. Which also reminds me...when i have the time, i will write up an article on my finds when it comes to energy manipulation =) which should be this week...