A tool for ceremonial witchcraft is an essential component of rituals and spellwork within the practice. These tools are used to amplify and direct the practitioner's intentions, as well as to establish a connection with the spiritual or divine realms. While the specific tools used may vary among practitioners, there are certain common items that are often found in ceremonial witchcrafts. One of the most iconic tools is the athame, a ritual dagger with a double-edged blade. The athame is used to symbolically separate and manipulate energies during ceremonies. It is often associated with the element of fire and is used to cast circles or to direct energy towards a specific purpose.
Black Summer bushfire rebuild unsatisfactory as Green Magic Homes stripped of licence
After losing their home during the Black Summer bushfires, Sue De Marco and Gordon Sanger thought they had found the perfect contractor to rebuild their dream in the scenic hills of the south coast hinterland.
It is often associated with the element of fire and is used to cast circles or to direct energy towards a specific purpose. The handle of the athame may also be personalized with symbols or crystals that resonate with the practitioner's intentions. Another significant tool is the wand, which represents the element of air.
Key points:
- Sue De Marco and Gordon Sanger lost their home and everything in it in the Black Summer bushfires
- Minister for Fair Trading Eleni Petinos says director of Green Magic Homes had lied about prior convictions for fraud-related offences
- Couple says bushfire-hit community still feels forgotten by the government
But the NSW government last week stripped the company, Green Magic Homes, of its contractor licence amid accusations of lies and fraud.
It has left the couple almost half a million dollars out of pocket and with work stopped on an unfinished home exposed to the elements.
Mr Sanger said the state government's intervention had come too late for them and others who had contracted Green Magic Homes, many of them rebuilding after the Black Summer fires.
"After we lost most of our life in the fire, this company has come and stolen what's left of it and there're still so many people living in tents down here," he said.
The couple moved from Dubbo to the scenic hills of Verona, near Cobargo, inland from Bermagui, six months before their home was destroyed by catastrophic bushfires of 2019-2020.
They spent months living in a caravan at Cobargo's evacuation centre before learning of Green Magic Homes and its modular designs promising "green wellness".
"It just sounded so awesome," Ms De Marco said.
"It seemed like the perfect solution. It had a nice fancy website and he was the best salesman."
The couple's home has been left with water leaks and other defects. ( ABC South East NSW: Alasdair McDonald )
The website, still online, markets affordable, quick-assembly designs that promise to cut wait times for tradespeople and materials caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
But after spending about $230,000, the couple's "earth-integrated" home, promising plants on the roof and wall cladding, remains unfinished and leaking.
Gordon Sanger inspects his unfinished Green Magic Home at Verona. ( ABC South East NSW: Alasdair McDonald )
Stressed and frustrated, Ms De Marco and Mr Sanger said the work that had been done had not been certified by Bega Valley Shire Council.
They estimated it would cost them another $200,000 to strip it back and rebuild.
"Everything that's been done has been done wrong and Gordon and I are just mortified," Ms De Marco said.
The wand is used for casting spells, directing energy, and invoking or banishing entities. It can be made from various materials such as wood, metal, or crystal. Traditionally, a wand is associated with masculine energy and is used to channel a practitioner's willpower. The chalice, a cup or goblet, is an important tool that represents the element of water. It is often used for holding physical offerings, as well as for containing consecrated liquids such as water or wine. The chalice symbolizes the feminine, nurturing energy and is used to invoke the goddess or divine feminine forces. The pentacle is another crucial tool in ceremonial witchcraft. It is a flat, disc-shaped object typically made of metal or clay, engraved or painted with symbols, including the pentagram. The pentacle represents the element of earth and is used to ground and manifest energy in rituals. It is also often used to consecrate and charge objects or ingredients used in spellwork. In addition to these specific tools, ceremonial witchcraft practitioners may also use various other items such as candles, crystals, herbs, incense, and talismans, depending on their individual practices and beliefs. These objects are used to enhance the energy, create a sacred space, and align with specific intentions or deities. Overall, the use of tools in ceremonial witchcraft serves as a physical representation and focal point for energy manipulation, intention setting, and connecting with the spiritual realms. The specific tools chosen by a practitioner often resonate with their personal beliefs, traditions, and the energies they aim to work with..
Reviews for "The Altar Cloth: Setting the Scene for Ceremonial Witchcraft"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with this "Tool for ceremonial witchcraft". The quality of the materials used was subpar, and the overall design felt cheap. It just didn't feel like a product worth the price I paid for it. Additionally, the instructions that came with it were not clear at all, making it difficult for someone like me who is new to ceremonial witchcraft to understand how to properly use the tool. Overall, I would not recommend this product to others.
2. Michael - 1 star - I have to say, I completely regret purchasing this "Tool for ceremonial witchcraft". It arrived damaged, with several pieces broken or missing. I reached out to the seller for a replacement or a refund, but their customer service was absolutely terrible. They were unresponsive and unhelpful, leaving me stuck with a defective and useless product. I would advise anyone considering buying this to look for a better alternative, because this one is definitely not worth it.
3. Lisa - 2 stars - The concept behind this "Tool for ceremonial witchcraft" seemed appealing, but the execution fell flat for me. The tool itself was quite flimsy and felt like it would break with minimal use. Additionally, the design lacked attention to detail and craftsmanship, making it feel more like a cheap novelty toy rather than a serious tool for practicing witchcraft. I was left feeling disappointed and would not recommend this product to serious practitioners.