Canny Crafting Traditional Witchcraft

The Stang is the witches most important tool as this is used as an alter which is placed in the North of the compass-ring. This represents the Horned God or Witch-Father.

The typical stang is a long pole of wood with natural forks at the top and is usually between 4-6ft in length and is usually made of Ash. The old-type pitch/hay fork can also be used.

The stang may have been based on the Norse nidstang pole which had a stags head on top and was used to curse enemies.

I use a pitch fork with metal prongs on which a deer's skull with a candle between the antlers is placed, this is for my indoor compass-ring, I also have stang that I use at my sacred space outdoors that is more natural.

The Cord is around 4-5ft in length with nine knots tied, these knots are sacred to the Lady. The cord binds the soul to the lady and is seen as an umbilical cord. There are nine worlds within the world tree (Yggdrasil) and nine stages of creation. The cord is usually white and is useful for marking the compass-ring. 

The Broom has an Ash handle representing Air, the brushes are of birch representing Earth and the Earth Mother and willow-withies are used to bind the brushes, these represent water as the willow grows next to water and is symbolic to the moon. The besom can be seen as a threshold to the otherworld/underworld and can be used in some trance methods to travel to these places.

The Brew Pot is symbolic to the womb and creation and is seen as a vessel of transformation and wisdom. It's uses are for spell workings and herb brewing. It constantly gives forth and creates and sustains all things.

The Offering bowl is used to perform a housle or Red Meal, offerings such as milk, honey, bread and wine or ale. This is used in outdoor rituals where the libation is being poured.

The witches blade can be used to empower objects and can be used to mark out the compass-ring, but I prefer to use the Stang or Besom when performing this as some entities do not like the use of metal in their surroundings.