Hand-thrown pottery altar bowl for salt or water.

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Bowls are an essential witch's tool, they may be used for offerings, wishes, scrying and consecration.

Offering bowls are set upon the altar and presented to the deities in the manner in which an honoured guest would be welcomed into the home. Offerings typically include fresh pure water, fruit, flowers, jewels, incense, scented oils, flower water and shells.

Wishing bowls serve as a vessel to manifest your dreams and desires. Write down your wish on a piece of paper, fold the paper and place it inside your wishing bowl. Focus your intention as you place your wish inside. You may want to add some herbs or stones that share the properties of the wish you desire. Use your bowl as a magickal vessel until manifestation, then burn or bury the paper.

Scrying has been used in many cultures as a means of divining the past, present, or future. Around 2,000 BC, Greece, as well as "early" Britain and its subsequent Celtic population, practised many forms of scrying. The media often used were beryl, crystal, black glass, polished quartz, water, and other transparent or light catching bodies. The best kind of water to use is Moon water: spring, rain or sea water which has been placed in the Moonlight every night for a whole lunar cycle. The water can be blessed in whatever way you feel is appropriate, possibly dedicated to one of the Moon goddesses who rule such activities as these. Scrying is a magical art with many possibilities. Exactly what it is and how it works is for each individual practitioner to decide for themselves, but it will certainly enhance and focus both the psychic and creative abilities of the magician.

Consecration purifies by means of salt, water and incense. The salt, water, and incense stand for the four elements of the Wise - earth, water, and fire, together with air - symbolically constituting the basis for the material universe. By consecrating an object you are using these four basic constituents to "wash" the article of all extraneous vibrations, prior to recharging it with your own will and concentrated power. Bowls have an important role to play in consecration as they are used to safely store the salt, water and incense needed.