Altar Tools

Bells are used to clear an area of negative energy and spirits.

Chalices are used for the cakes and wine (or cakes and ale) section of a ritual. We offer lead-free pewter, silver plate, food-safe glazed stonewear and ceramic, and pewter-embellished glass.

A word about cleaning - we recommend you clean your chalice by hand washing with warm, soapy water. Never put it in the dishwasher. Dishwasher detergents are too harsh for silver plate and the high heat can cause pewter embellishments to separate from the glass. Never soak your pewter-stemmed glassware in hot water because pewter and glass expand at different rates and will separate when heated.

Cauldrons are a symbolic tool of transformation used for holding both water and fire. Empty your cauldron and wipe it dry promptly to avoid rust formation. Exercise extreme caution when using it with fire (including candles) as cauldrons are made of metal and will become extremely hot.

The pentagram and pentacle are probably the most misunderstood symbols of the Wiccan religion. The pentagram is an upright five-pointed star with no circle and a pentacle is an upright star encircled. Both represent the four elements of air, earth, fire, and water, and the human spirit. The circle represents the unity of all five. When a pentagram or pentacle is upright, it represents the spirit being placed above things on the earthly plane. Wiccans believe that the spirit should be above earthly desire and should be unified with nature. The upright pentacle also represents the woman/man with arms outstretched to the heavens.

Cloths give your altar or shrine a finished look. Velvets are good for a sophisticated formal presentation, as are the shiny rayons studded with mirrors. The moon and pentacle scarves allow color coordination to the various seasons and add a touch of sparkle. Matte rayon and cotton give your altar a less formal, more "homey" touch.

Wands project your energy to a certain place, thing, person, or dimension. They may be made of wood, metal, or stone. The wand may be as simple or as ornate as you like. Off the Beaten Path is proud to carry Real Magic Wands by Abby Willowroot. All descriptions and photos are copyrighted by Abby Willowroot and are used by permission.

Off the Beaten Path does not ship athames at this time, but you can come to the store to purchase one from a wide selection of styles.