Natural Tools

Though tools are not a necessary part of a practice, they can certainly be helpful aids. I thought it would be neat to talk about what kinds of "natural tools" we might use/make within our own practices - or what we would like to do. What kinds of tools does nature provide? For instance, if you were to take a walk through the woods and you come across a fallen branch: what could you do with it? How would you go about it?

Hmm.

I haven't given this much thought beyond herbs. I know there is a conjure work which Starr Casas designed in which someone does take stick and make into a way to channel the spirit of Moses.

I would probably decorate it as a Caduceus as a form of offering. Or decorate it for someone else who uses a scepter.

I would leave payment for the branch.

I like to collect feathers and bones during hikes. I also go out into the woods for a lot of herbs and flowers for just about everything. Occasionally, I make paper boats and fill them with offerings (flowers and herbs mostly found in the forest) and send them downstream on a nearby creek.

If I found a fallen branch that really called to me or something like that, I would probably make it into a staff, carve or burn some runes into it, and maybe decorate and consecrate it.

Well, there is also water!

I've used a lot of rain water for my lustral water during rites. Sea water is another popular thing I've heard Hellenics use for lustral water. Spring water is also another thing in witchcraft that can be used for different things, and the stones from a stream could be used for various spells and workings.

Oh man I love to scour nature for tools. Shells for candles or ash catchers or insurance holders. Bark too for insence holders! Feathers and bones! I love bones. Although there's not much for woods where I'm at now,maybe it will change,that would be cool.....

I use many rocks outside. I use white rocks to make a circle around me for purity and to keep bad mojo out of my spell circle. I also use rocks and glue them around the bottom of my wand which I make out of pine. Nature provides us with lots of things, and I thank the trees for what they give me.

Whenever I am out and about in nature I try to keep my eyes peeled for things I could use in my practice. For instance, this morning I found a rat skull outside while walking my dogs. I took this in, cleaned it, and will likely be using it in the future to either top one of my small stangs or as a medium to channel energy through in some other means.

I collect fallen branches from specific trees if I feel it is right, and I carve them into small stangs. On rare occassion I'll craft a larger staff, but this takes more time. I use fallen branches and twigs to help in building spirit houses that I leave along the trails I walk. I like to include smaller ones in spirit jars that I keep. I make sure to thank the trees for these branches, as I feel I am taking something and therefore should repay them in some manner. The same goes for feathers, bits of moss,colorful leaves etc that I find near trees.

I collect stones, shells, and bits of washed up animals from the beach as I stroll down it. These all serve a variety of purposes in my practice. I like to paint runes or symbols on the stones and shells. I use sand and washed up animal bits in spirit jars and on my altar as offering for specific wights and deities. I collect water from the ocean to use in my workings.

When I sit down and think about most of the physical stuff I incorporate into my practice, I've come to realize that personally I get most of the things I need from nature. I go out occassionally and buy nicer things (when its something I cant craft on my own). But for the most basic parts of my practice, I feel natural tools are easy to come across. Depending on where you live and all: I consider myself blessed for the area I am in.

I like to collect wildflowers and certain tree leaves while I'm walking about. I have lots of seashells, but I don't have a particur use for them yet. For use as a tool so to speak, I've used wild lavender a bunch throughout my practice. Wild grown plants and herbs are wonderful, it's fun to do flower presses of what you find in certain trails and areas :)

Nature has provided me with feathers and bones in the past.

I am interested in gardening and intend to work with local parks in the near future. I find candles and money are less effective in building a relationship. Bein' conscious of them and meditating with them is great. I've had impromptu walks and meditations, to great affect.

Hm, well lets see...

• Branches can make wands, staffs, even wooden swords.
• Natural water can be used for scrying, as can any water really.
• The inside of an orange can be made into a candle, no joke.
• I have used flower petals in love/attraction spellwork before so theres that.
• Feathers are a symbol of the divine and can be used in smudging.
• So many different herbs can be used. Drying them from what I have read seems fairly easy, same with fire wood.
• There is fishing as well which can be given as food offerings. Cleaned, cut, and cooked properly of course!
• Oh and think of all the many uses of seashells as they have different and more specific corrospondences just as herbs and different kinds of wood does. Though of course not being limited to that.

What I mean by the last one is oak may be considered more strong and protective but part of it comes down to how you specifically feel about it and see it. Then there is of course on an offering level just because a certain thing represents a certain thing does not mean your deity is guranteed to like it. I like to keep in mind no deity is so two dimensional and them and spirits are still people with thoughts and feelings.

For example, Aphrodite is born from Uranus's ding dong and rose from the foam out of the sea. So by that logic you would assume she loves seashells! Yeah, that sounds right but maybe there is that one particular one she dislikes and finds to be ugly or repulsive. There is also personal symbolism like the idea of using scents/herbs/essential oils/candles that your lover likes in a love working. For example, my spouse is very fond of lavender so I would use that. I myself am very fond of a traditional rose and gardenia. I also use lilac a lot because of the Victorian symbolism behind it. So it just goes to show how things can be used in creative and unconventional ways. A lot of generic love spells will tell you to use rose petals or scented things. Doesn't mean you have to go that route.