I'm just curious who on here uses tools in their magic and what they have. Tell us about how you came to find them and what they mean to you. I'll start...

One tool that I have that I hold close to me is my Athame. It is approximately 12" long with a stainless steal blade and handle... making it very heavy. The blade itself is curved and in the shape of a claw. The reason for this I'm assuming is because the butt of the knife is forged to look like a Griffin. When it was purchased, the blade's edge was dull, but after working it's steal, Aaron has put quite a sharp edge to it.

How I found it was when Aaron and I was at a Flea Market looking for a couple of stools for his deer stand. As soon as we walked into the musty smelling building and turned to say hello to the keeper of the junk, we both looked down at the glass case he had in front of him.... and there she sat, perched on a black stand and just singing for me to hold her. The urge was unbelieveable and I couldn't take my eyes of it. I bit my lip several times to keep from asking to touch it.

So... Aaron and I walk the whole place over and can't find what we were looking for so on the way out, we stop to look at it once more. I couldn't stand it anymore and asked if I could hold it. When I placed my hand around that handle, I felt an energy pour from it and into me, as if it was made for me. The longer I held it the more comfortable and belonging it became. Needless to say, I bought it and it now sits upon the entertainment center in our bedroom, waiting for it's next use.

I had read so many times that your tools will find you, you just have to keep your eyes open. Well this particular piece did just that... and luckily for me... I got it for a steal of a price even though I would have paid anything for it.

Though I don't use it at all I think my most prized tool is my staff. I was given a rather large bough from a china berry tree that had been set aside for another persons bon fire. As soon as I touched the branch I felt it vibrate (for lack of a better term) and my vision went pure white. I removed the bark carefully and placed small carvings in the few languages I remember into the bare wood.

I have a pendant, that I wear daily. It's a round onyx stone set in a pentagram frame.

A friend of mine bought it from a street seller some, seven-eight years ago, and instantly thought of me. He bought it, gave it to me, and I loved it from first look. It's my necklace, one nobody has ever been allowed to borrow, not even my children. They can try anything else, but not that one. I don't even take it off unless I have to.

Now this isn't specifically a "tool". But onyx is said to store energy, and I have quite a collection in my necklace by now.

i got the "ring"
i got it before i read "the hobbit" and lord of the rings"
before the book, i didnt know why but i had to have it.
my granfathers uncle died, i didnt know him so i didnt grieve or anything.....he owned a goldsmith(?) shop somewhere and my granfather got like a quarter of the whole store.....he shared hisquarter with his 4 daughters so they got like a sixth part each....my mom gave my brother a gold necklace worth like 10 bucks and my sister another necklace worth like 15
but i couldnt take my eyes of the ring.
i think its just a wedding ring, but my mom finally gave it to me! i had it around my neck in a leather string for a time, then i read the books and then saw the films. i bought a silver necklace so that it would look even more like frodos ring, but its quite identical....its my precious and i havent taken it off for over 3 years

my most prised tool of the trade is my mind, everything else is but for foci as needed. with out my mind I would be nothing.

Selection of staffs large..very large and medium...(including Voodoo canes and wizened wands)

The holy grail...(well it looks like it and I dunno where it came from).

Ovid's Metamorphosis....a very old copy...just for putting me in the mood.

Absinthe

I was going to say exactly the same. I don't rely on things and I never have. Sometimes action is necessary when there are no things around to use.

:icon6: A very wise perspective.

However since this post is about physical tools.....there's a special sword....it cept calling and it didn't get bought. When it was thought to be lost (sold to someone else) there was much sorrow.....Finally Vlad (the Husband) pointed out that it WAS still there and it better be bought right then. Now it rests in our house.....and is cherished for everything it brings with it to the circle, the power and the home.


PS-Aaron's Mind Control Challenge 1 is making this really difficult!!!

My favorite one now that I wear even out in the open is quite humble by modern standards. A Cowrie shell necklace. It did not come to me by any special means, given mundanely and innocently enough by someone indirectly by mail. It was special though because I knew vaguely to expect it (but not from them specifically, I had no clue they were sending it) and it came at a certain day which was very significant for me - just the right moment. Like a twilight between two lifes/times you could say. I have always been very sentimental with gifts, especially those that I find meaning with.

It has many effects. I notice certain things are more pronounced with it on. Even just in normal life it has the effect of being a potent good luck and protective charm. It is not all that predictable always though - it surprises me sometimes. I don't beleive it is necessary, but I think the links inherent in it strengthen things.

Generally I don't beleive in using such things unless I either make them myself entirely or it is given as a gift. Buying something in a store to me for myself would be out of the question.

I would have to say my hematite sphere (black mirror stone)
Great white pointer tooth (I found on a beach) and later set in a bronze top.

my prized possession has to be my tarot cards and my pentagram necklace which i wear everyday.

my dragon chalice, my athame and my candles

I love my candles....actually i need to restock

*wanders off to buy some candles*

ohhh i forgot about my beautiful candles *slaps back of hand* thank you for reminding me.

My mind is my most prized tool as well


and Vore, I too love absinthe :D
(is it still illegal in the US?)

I have learned over time and continual loss of material possetions that the onlything in life I can prize is me.(mind) ect... I own nothing that is considered my prize posses. let alone tool. I do have some sentimental Items that were gifted to me by elders. it would hurt if I lost them but in the long run it would not matter it was no longer mine to posses.
so yes they speek of mundain things. but when you do not own many mundain things. nor to you posses a tool of the trade it is hard to have a prized one. but I think my most prized mundain posses that I would prefer not loosing is the few articles of clothing I do own. I dont know the whole staying warm in the winter things is very important to me ;-)

Of course without our minds, we would all be nothing. Time to time I like to use objects, or some kind of focal point. I have tarot cards, homemade runes, I love candles, I have some crystals. Basically I love anything beautiful or intersting to look at. I did make my own wand, it was already off of a tree in my yard. I de-barked it, and carved some symbols that are important to me. I also have some dragon items which I enjoy vibing off of. Mostly I just improvise.