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Basic Instruments of Ritual

by: Donald Tyson

The basic framework of Western magic is made up of a few surprisingly simple instruments that function on the astral plane (another way of saying in the imagination). Usually they have their material correspondents. As the physical instrument is manipulated in the physical ritual place, the astral instrument follows and reflects its action in the astral temple. It is possible to use the astral instruments without using the material, but this requires a more developed visual imagination, and is seldom as effective.

The essential instruments of ritual are the circle; the altar; the lamp; the four elemental symbols for Fire, Air, Water and Earth; the wand; the sword; the ring; the robe; the knife; and the materials used for purification, consisting of water, salt, and fire.

Many other instruments and materials, such as incense, flowers, colored lights, music, cakes, wine, symbols, images, and so on, are used to affect the mind, but the ones in the previous paragraph are the most essential. Also used are non-material tools such as words, chants, hand and body gestures, postures, and visualization of incorporeal structures such as the chakras and pentagrams. There is not nearly enough space here to discuss everything employed in ritual magic, but I will briefly touch on the most important tools.