Altar Tools and Symbols cheat sheet
| Altar tool | Meaning | Intentions | Element | Planet | Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athame | The witch's ritual knife, used to direct energy and cast the circle, never to cut. | Protection, Banishing, Confidence | Fire | Mars | Tuesday |
| Wand | A slender stick of wood that gently directs energy and invites spirits and deities. | Creativity, New Beginnings, Wisdom | Air | Mercury | Wednesday |
| Chalice | The ritual cup of water or wine, a symbol of the Goddess, love and the element of Water. | Love, Healing, Peace | Water | The Moon | Monday |
| Pentacle | A disc carved with a five-pointed star, the protective heart of the altar and the element of Earth. | Protection, Grounding, Prosperity | Earth | Saturn | Saturday |
| Cauldron | The iron pot of transformation, used for burning, brewing and blending spell ingredients. | New Beginnings, Banishing, Wisdom | Water | The Moon | |
| Besom | A broom of twigs used to sweep a space clean of stale energy before ritual. | Cleansing, Protection, New Beginnings | Air | ||
| Altar Bell | A small bell rung to clear a space, mark the start of ritual and call in good energy. | Cleansing, Peace, Protection | Air | Venus | |
| Boline | The witch's working knife, used for cutting herbs, cords and carving candles. | Creativity, Prosperity, Grounding | Earth | The Moon | |
| Censer | The holder that burns your incense, bringing the element of Air and fragrant smoke to the altar. | Cleansing, Peace, Divination | Air | ||
| Goddess Figure | A statue, picture or candle that honors the Goddess, placed on the left of the altar. | Love, Healing, Divination | Water | The Moon | Monday |
| God Figure | A statue, antler or candle that honors the God, placed on the right of the altar. | Confidence, Protection, Prosperity | Fire | The Sun | Sunday |
| Triple Moon | A full moon between two crescents, the sign of the Goddess as Maiden, Mother and Crone. | Divination, New Beginnings, Wisdom | Water | The Moon | Monday |
| Offering Bowl | A bowl for gifts of food, drink or flowers to the gods, spirits or ancestors. | Prosperity, Love, Peace | Earth | ||
| Salt Dish | A small dish of salt that stands for Earth and is used to cleanse and protect. | Cleansing, Protection, Grounding | Earth | Saturn | |
| Water Bowl | A small bowl of water that stands for the element of Water, for cleansing and blessing. | Cleansing, Healing, Peace | Water | The Moon | |
| Feather | A feather that stands for the element of Air and gently fans incense smoke. | Cleansing, Wisdom, Creativity | Air | Mercury | Wednesday |
| Seashell | A shell from the sea that stands for Water and the Goddess, and can hold small offerings. | Love, Peace, Prosperity | Water | Venus | Friday |
| Book of Shadows | Your personal book of spells, rituals, notes and lessons, kept on or near the altar. | Wisdom, Divination, Creativity | Spirit | Mercury | Wednesday |
| Scrying Mirror | A dark mirror for gazing and divination, often used at Samhain and the full moon. | Divination, Wisdom, Sleep and Dreams | Water | The Moon | |
| Candle Snuffer | A little bell-shaped cap on a handle for putting out candles gently and safely. | Peace, Protection, Banishing | Fire |
From The Witch's Cabinet at wiccaacademy.com/witchs-cabinet/altar-tools/
The Witch's Cabinet is a free reference for your practice. Correspondences are traditional associations, not medical advice. Always follow the safety notes, especially with herbs and essential oils around children, pets and during pregnancy.