Demystifying the Tools used in Witchcraft
For centuries, healers, priests, and well-wishers all over the world have used the simplest of items to call forth energy we don’t understand, but is believed to aid our efforts. Some call it spirituality, some religion, and what I like to think of it as… magick.
As with any tool, it is not so much the item as the intent in which you use it. It could also be said that many tools could be used for “good” or “evil” as so many things have been labeled throughout history. Take an axe for instance. Something that has been used since the dawn of time to chop food, prepare pelts for clothing, or cut wood, was also used as a tool to vanquish an enemy or dispatch a “witch.” It is still used today in parts of the world as a tool for Capital punishment. Unbelievable but true.
It is never about the tool necessarily, but the intent behind it, and the same can be said for witchcraft and spellworks. I would like to continue the chat on common tools you might come across when reading a supernatural cozy mystery (for instance). Being familiar with the tools and their purposes will help you enjoy the read that much more, at least that is my experience.
If you missed Part 1 of this series and want to learn more about some common tools used in witchcraft, it can be found here: https://dahenneman.com/2026/02/28/origins-of-witchcraft-common-tools-part-1/ For this week’s post, I’m discussing some of the meaning, uses, and history behind: Candles, Essential Oils, Tarot Cards, and the Grimoire as it pertains to witchcraft. Ready? Okay let’s begin.
Candles
Candle Magick is a whole topic on its own, so I’m including some resources I’ve found to be helpful. Like with most tools used in witchcraft, what makes the tool special isn’t what its made from, or the color, but the intent.
Candles have been around way longer than any of us, over 5,000 years as a matter of fact. They have been made from soaked reeds & animal fat (Ancient Egyptians), rolled papyrus dipped in beeswax (Romans), whale blubber (Colonials), and today, paraffin, palm, and soy wax. I found a great post on the History of Candles which I’ve linked to below where you can learn more.
In addition to lighting homes and helping to thaw your pipes in a cold winter, candles are used for helping dispel a tuna lunch when guests arrive unexpectedly, or to ensure your wish comes true when blowing out candles on your birthday cake. I believe that action mirrors the use of candles in witchcraft in a nutshell. The difference between a birthday wish, and the spellworks you hear about in witchcraft, is the action you take after the intent you infuse it with.
In a post entitled An Introduction To Candle Magic by: Patti Wigington, the three key principles to success with your candle magic is: Set a Goal, Visualize the Result, and Focus your Intent. In other words, Ready, Set, Go. When you place your intent into the candle, it is recommended that allowing the candle to burn completely is the way to go.
It makes sense to do that since you want to be sure that the entire intent process is completed before moving on to the action part of the step. Take some time with your meditation, don’t rush it. Use candles that burn quickly and cleanly, so you aren’t sitting there for days while say a 3″ pillar candle is burning to the base. I like using the chime candles for this purpose since they are small, inexpensive, and burn quickly. You can set your intention, meditate, and be on your way working your spell within a matter of a couple hours. They can also be used to seal spell jars, and for this I would recommend a plate or bowl beneath to catch drips.
For larger spells, or workings with a group of witches (aka a coven), a votive may be the way to go. However, the burn time will be longer. For circle activities during the pagan holidays, a small cauldron or other fire resistant container to burn in is recommended. It is also prudent for the host to stick around the house while the candle burns down, since it will take most of the day to do so. Allowing it to burn on the stovetop under a fan could be a good way to go as placing it outside could interfere with the flame and put out the candle before your spell is complete.
The colors of the candles each historically represent an intent, which I will list here for reference. However, I believe there is no “right” way to weave your spell. Take the color purple, which generally signifies intuition. I would argue that if it is your favorite color, it could also be used to represent you in your spells, giving you something to meditate on while you think about what you are trying to accomplish. I use it for self as well as healing since lavender in a dried or oil is also used for that purpose.
- Red: Passion, Motivation, Courage, Fresh Starts
- Pink: Young Love, Friendship, Emotional Healing
- Orange: Encouragement, Enthusiasm, Creativity
- Gold: Prosperity, Business, Universe, Masculine
- Yellow: Mental Clarity, Happiness, Joy, Learning
- Green: Abundance, Financial Growth, Luck (I use for Money)
- Light Blue: Clarity, Spiritual Healing, and Higher Self
- Dark Blue: Truth and Wisdom
- Purple: Intuition, Psychic Power, and Meditation (I use for Health)
- Brown: Earth-related or animal-related workings, Grounding
- Black: Protection, Banishment, Reversing Curses
- White: Purity, Truth, and New Beginnings (I use for Positivity)
- Silver: Reflection, Lunar connections, Feminine
My absolute favorite purple candle to use/burn is one made by Crystal Journey Candles, made with Cedar, Ocean, Lemon Balm, & Heather. It smells amazing! What I will say is that their pillars and votives do need to be burned in glass since they do liquify, but if burned properly, you won’t have an issue with residue since they burn so clean. Their company hails from Connecticut, and I used to sell their candles in my flowershop which is how I learned about their product. If you want to learn more, you can check out their website below.
References and Resources:
History of Candles: https://candles.org/history-of-candles/
Crystal Journey Candles: https://www.crystaljourneycandles.com.
Ivy Corvus: A Course In Candle Magick: https://youtu.be/7TrMdkosg1c?si=JXTHhaagYutHPAIf
Essential Oils
These are part and parcel of many daily lives by way of diffusers, perfume, or even plug ins. Scent is something that connects to memory, triggers hunger, or can even get you in the mood for some sexy times. It is even something used by retail giants to make you spend more when you visit their stores through Olfactory branding! (I heard about this a while ago when working on my marketing degree, btw.) https://www.bluetreearoma.com/blogs/a-life-of-aroma/the-psychology-of-scent-in-retail.
When ancients figured out a way to condense the plants down into a distilled and portable version of the plants and flowers they used for medicines and perfumes, it had to be a game changer!
Similar to candles used in witchcraft, oils are connected to themes they can be used for. Over time, the dried herbs/flowers came to be known to help with certain ailments, which was then connected to the oil made from the same plant. For instance, Lavender (Lavandula is a genus of 47 known species of perennial flowering plants in the sage family, Lamiaceae) is known for it’s calming properties in both dried herb and oil. It has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, so was used in medicines to “calm” swelling and to cleanse wounds. It was even used to prepare bodies for burial. Sage (Salvia officinalisis) is another plant in this family which is used in cleansing rituals, which you can read more about in Part 1 of this series.
Oils can be used in replacement of, or in combination with, herbs during your spell works, either alone or with others. They are often used during meditations, massages, or to add an extra boost to your ritual. Just like the dried herbs and candles, the oils each provide a specific element or meaning to allow for the practitioner to customize their intent to get personalized results. Think of it as a recipe, but instead of food, the result creates a sacred space. Oils can also add a scented boost to Potpourri as the scent can sometimes fade in dried materials. A few drops of oil will freshen it right up!
It takes quite a few plants to make a small bottle of oil, and because it is concentrated it can irritate or even burn skin so use care when handling. It’s best to do your research, but when in doubt you can always mix in a carrier oil such as Grape seed, Almond, or Mineral. You can also use something called a scent chamber if you would rather the scent not touch your skin. The necklace version I have has a felt pad that the oil is added to, so the scent can be enjoyed as you wear it around your neck. Having a scent you connect to calming or anti-anxiety is especially helpful when you know you are heading into a situation where you might need extra protection. I find some great options at a store close to me called Earth Lore in Plymouth, MI. https://www.instagram.com/earthlore/
Here are some other oil resources, the Business Insider video is an hour long but interesting! The one below it on the history of oils is short but sweet. I found the WebMD link extremely helpful, and the store links are both places I’ve shopped from. The Ali’i Kula Lavender farm was an extra special treat during my travels there a few years back. You can check out my post about how it relates to my fiction here: https://dahenneman.com/2023/10/21/travel-list-from-my-fiction-sea-of-dreams/
References and Resources:
Wellington Fragrance: https://wellingtonfragrance.com/collections/fragrance-oils
Ali’i Kula Lavender: https://www.aliikulalavender.com/
Web MD: The Does and Don’ts of Essential Oils: https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/ss/slideshow-essential-oils
Essential Oils in Magic: A Guide Magical Properties and Uses: https://www.castastone.com/blogs/cast-a-stone-blog/the-magical-properties-of-essential-oils-an-a-z-comprehensive-guide
Tarot Cards
I am a complete novice when it comes to Tarot, but love the idea that at any given time you can check in and make sure you are heading in the right direction. Sort of like a bestie who joins your journey. Bottom line in my opinion, you already know the answer (aka path), but it is always fun to see what the cards hold. This is especially true if you need the occasional nudge like I do!
I have purchased a few decks over the years, usually inspired by the artwork. Let’s face it, there are some gorgeous decks out there! So far I’ve collected about about 6 Tarot, and 6 Oracle decks, so I wouldn’t call that a crazy amount, but I haven’t really used them so am trying to be better about having them out and available for questions as I work on my projects. There are some writers who use Tarot as part of their writing process which I find super interesting… maybe they are doing readings for their characters? In my case my character, Zilla, would be doing a reading for me since she’s the expert, lol. If you aren’t following her Facebook, you can check it out there: https://www.facebook.com/everythingzilla/
It is thought that the Visconti-Sforza Tarot cards are the earliest “version” which provided a blueprint for what we use for modern tarot. However they weren’t originally designed for the purpose of divination, most likely they were similar to any deck of cards we use today. In the late 18th Century the idea that a deck of cards could be used as a key to unlock greater wisdom was born, and the cards started being used for fortune-telling. It wasn’t until the beginning of the 19th century that the most well-known version of the tarot deck was invented. According to the World Of Playing Cards website, the Rider-Waite Tarot was first published by William Rider & Sons Limited, in December 1909, written/developed by Arthur Edward Waite with illustrations by Pamela Colman Smith. Yet another woman who didn’t get recognized for her contribution when she was alive with the full credit going to a man… sigh.
The main difference between Tarot cards and Oracle cards is the structure. With Tarot, the cards are always the same number and meaning so, in essence, you can pick up any deck and know the message from any card you select from it. These are handy when you have some time in that it gets you to think about your question from all angles, oftentimes past, present, and future. There is generally a guidebook which explains the meanings behind the cards, but I have found a site which I referenced below that can also be used as a tool. The best readers know the meanings by heart, which I imagine happens over time as you use your deck.
You lay out Tarot in a certain order (called a spread), drawing from the deck to pull your cards and laying them as depicted in your guidebook. Each card is then flipped over determined by the number assigned to it, and the corresponding meaning for that card is read. The key is to look at the overall reading, as many of the cards relate to one another especially if the reading is a Past, Present, Future, type reading. A reading like this generally takes time, so for daily use a single card question and answer might be the way to go or you can use oracle cards.
With oracle cards, the number of cards in the deck and the meaning can vary depending on the author. There will be a theme, and the responses can be different things based on that theme. What is nice about the Oracle cards is that you can do a quick one card pull and be on your way, taking the message from the image itself or from the message the author has given you in the guidebook. I really like the tiny decks they have which are around a 3″x4″ size that can easily be transported in a purse or pocket. I like to think of it as “Wisdom on the Go.”
The last thing I will say on this topic is that the cards themselves aren’t inherently good or evil, and you will generally only ever get the message you are ready to hear, in my humble opinion. If you have ever played cards, you have played with the granddaddies of tarot and attempted to “win” the game you were part of. Tarot and Oracle cards are do different in that you are trying to pull cards to help you “win” the game of life. Where we get into trouble though is using it as a crutch more than a tool, so be realistic about your expectations. Bottom line, only we can change our stars… the cards only “show” us the direction to head in.
References and Resources:
Smithsonian Magazine Blog: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/colorful-history-tarot-mesmerizing-decks-themseles-180986811
Icy Sedgwick Blog: https://www.icysedgwick.com/oracle-cards-vs-tarot-cards/
Tarot Spreads List: https://labyrinthos.co/pages/tarot-spreads-list
Weekly Tarot Readings by Lisa Kessler: https://www.youtube.com/@LdyDisney
Grimoire
At its core, a grimoire is a recipe book written by witches. A journal of sorts. They are a book to hold charms, incantations, and spells, mostly text but also at times drawings or symbols. I would imagine also that notations would be made in the margins reflecting the persons experience with the spell so it could be adjusted next time it was used, similar to a recipe passed down from a beloved grandparent.
The article below by Yale University Press has pictures of an old grimoire known as the “Book of the Dead Reri (Egypt 305-30 BC)” which was buried with him and afforded him protection in the afterlife. It is an awesome example of text with pictures reflecting what is being described. If you are interested in seeing more images throughout history, the author, Owen Davies, has published a book that is linked to at the bottom of the page.
The book doesn’t have to be written with ink and a feather quill, nor does it have to be on papyrus, although I would say that the fancy paper would be pretty cool. Since I hate the idea of making a mistake as I go that I have to scribble out, I decided to use a lined notebook to start. I want to see what works before I write it out “nicely” into my special bound journal, which is more along the line of pressed paper and a leather cover. So pretty!
I use stickers and colored pens as I’m figuring it all out, writing down exactly what I’ve observed and drawing pictures where appropriate. Sort of like scrapbooking… but for witchy vibes. Who knows, maybe one day I will find the secret sauce to financial freedom! If I do, that will be the “recipe” I put in my “real” grimoire, and I will be sure to pass it along! Fingers crossed for that by the way!
This is also a good place to write down the items you find and use in nature, especially if you are foraging. Keep notes of what you find and where, and if you are SURE it is safe and eat it, you could also notate the flavors, items you used, which recipe you used it in, etc. This is a really good place to keep book references and authors as well as you research your spells, that way you have one place that houses all of your thoughts and ideas! Get creative!
To wrap it up, there are a couple of grimoires I feel compelled to mention, since they feature in some of my all-time favorite movies. We have:
Who could forget “Book” in Hocus Pocus… or
Who else knew this was a bad idea? I can’t wait to see what these two have been up to over the past couple of decades! How about you?
References & Resources:
SDSU University Library: Grimoires and Occult Revival: https://libguides.sdsu.edu/c.php?g=905875&p=6686265
Yale University Press: Art of the Grimoire: 7 Books through History – https://yalebooksblog.co.uk/2023/10/31/art-of-the-grimoire-7-spell-books-through-history
If you want to know a bit more about Smudge, Crystals & Stones, Salt, and Pendulums, please head to Part 1 of this series here: https://dahenneman.com/2026/02/28/origins-of-witchcraft-common-tools-part-1/. And if you have any ideas for a future post, drop them in the comments below! Fore anyone interested in what I write, you can head to any of these links for more information on my fiction! In the meantime I hope you have a magickal day! XO
For my Power of Four series, which includes witchcraft and more, the best link is:
For my Goddesses in Love series, the best link is:
My new Shifters In New York Collection can be seen here, and witchcraft is touched on as well:
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I thoroughly enjoyed your post. I write romantic fantasy and romantic suspense, so the research you have done is amazing and your post was informative and rich with the fundamentals. Thank you for sharing and keep creating!
Thank you so much! I am deep down the rabbit hole right now and it helps to write what I learn. So glad you found it helpful! Good luck with your books, looks like we write in the same wheelhouse!