Working Knives

A single edge horn hilted knife with a toad-skin sheath hanging from the cord. The double edge 'grand' knife has a deer's foot hilt. Knives are used within the Cornish Craft within acts of distant magic, weather magic, exorcism and the hallowing of ritual and magical fires.

Hare Bowl and Horns

Horn cups are favored by Cornish Wise Folk for use within the rite of the Troyl Hood or 'bewitched ritual feast'. The hare is the familiar spirit of the south-earth virtues.

Staffs and Hay-Fork

Forked staves are perhaps one of the more important tools of the West Country Cunning Folk, a ritual and magical tool of many uses including conjuration, the laying or directing of energies, and land magic. They represent not only the old Horned One but the ways above, below and the axis point for the quarter ways or the old cross-tracks of power.

Working Stones

From left, back row: Large ancient whet-stone, the Troy stone employed within the Cornish Craft to aid the inducing of useful trance states. Mid row: A stroking stone, a Cornish Witch-tool for healing magic and two hag stones. Front row: pre-historic flint cutting/scraping tool and a stone of quartz employed to amplify the serpentine land powers within the working Circle.

Hood Lamps

Items of the Cornish Craft with both ritual and magical uses. In rites they may potently symbolise the Bucca and the 'Flame of Cunning' set betwixt the horns of oppose. In acts of magic, the candle securely affixed between the prongs will represent the absent target of the spell fixed by the focus of the Witch's Will. Glass headed pins of pertinent colour may be inserted into the candle as the witch sends forth the intent to the recipient of the working. In the foreground a small iron cauldron pin-cushion holding glass headed pins and an awl of some age.

Horn and Bone Items

Horns are obviously valued as symbols of the Horned One, active force and opposing virtues - day-night, birth-death, male-female etc. To many Cornish Crafters, horns have been representative of both male and female forces - being both phallic and often crescent in form. The skulls of goats and rams can be strikingly reminiscent of the female reproductive system. Interestingly it is not all that uncommon for goats to be born hermaphrodite or inter sexed. Also pictured are an antler bowl, human bones, a toad skull, snake vertebrae necklace, crow feet and two fox skulls found near two ancient Cornish sacred monuments.

Sweeper and 'Whisk'

Two Traditional Cornish Witch-tools used to move energies. The goose feather sweeper may draw in desired energies and remove those that are not depending on the manner of use. The bramble twig 'Witches' Whisk' is purely a tool for the banishing of unhelpful of negative influences.

Stroking Tools

Cornish Witches employ stroking magic within their healing work. A special stone is often kept and body part representations may also be employed such as these formed from lead.

Candlesticks and Censer

A scorpionic censer in which incenses, herbs and resins are burned to aid the drawing in of suitable virtues and spirits helpful to the work of the Witch. Candlesticks such as these and other items depicting the 'Lincoln Imp' have been valued and employed as ritual regalia by Witches and occultists as depictions of the Horned One.

Copper Bowl and Cord

Cornish Witchcraft makes use of copper bowls and basins within the work of healing, matters of love and within rites of the full moon. A white cord is also employed in these rites to 'store' lunar virtue within knots tied along its length.

Seeing Tools

Mirrors, globes and stones have long been employed to consult spirits, look into the heart of matters and at likely outcomes. In Cornwall glass fishing floats were a traditional seeing tool.

Wind Stone

A naturally holed stone or hag stone is tied upon a length of cord. This is used to conjure up winds or to settle them.

The Cronnekdhu

The 'black toad' made in secret rites of the Cornish Craft. The keeper of this is marked as a 'Toad Witch' with the ability to influence the minds of Man and beast.

The Mandrake

These are the physical housings for spirits helpful in working magic of love, potency, prosperity and in rites of spirit travel and spirit consultation.

Toad and Box Spirit House

A dried toad, forming the physical housing for the coven familiar spirit. The box s/he guards contains various items and mixed substances.

Now housed in the Museum of Witchcraft, Boscastle, North Cornwall.

Cauldrons

Cornish Witches, like others make use of cauldrons. Magical substances and Troyl feasts may be made within them hung above a blessed fire. They may also be vessels for sacred fires in rites of the year and within the working of magic when certain substances may be burned within and those things that are desired may be conjured and stirred forth in the rising smoke or those things undesired may be consumed in the flames to be banished.

Brooms

Within the Cornish Craft brooms are employed primarily to move energies and virtues from one place to another. In magic they may be used to sweep desired influences into the home and undesired influences out. In curse magic brooms have been used to sweep unpleasant energies into the doorway of an enemy. Brooms are also symbolic of passage between the worlds or movement from one phase into another. As such they may be set to lay at the edge of the working are to mark a point of entry or exit to and from the Circle of Cunning. However if influences thought to be unhelpful or impeding to the rite or working at hand are detected and the broom is present, Cornish Cunning Folk are far too practical to ignore the nature of the tool and will take up the broom and sweep the area clear before the Compass conjurations begin.

House Doll

Similar to the chimney doll although her job goes a little further than providing protection and a boundary against spiritual harm. The house doll is home to a spirit who helps to ensure household needs are met.

Key, Hag Stone and Rowan Berries.

An old iron key tied to a hag stone and rowan berries strung with a knot betwixt each berry are traditional protective charms of the home.

Snail Beads

A traditional Cornish charm to ensure the presence of love, good fortune and other blessings within the home.

Charm Bags

Cornish working Witches have long prepared small square or oblong bags containing folded written charms, powders and other magical substances to their clients.

Witch Balls and Stick

Cornish people, like others elsewhere in Britain, have kept protective mirrored Witch Balls which can occasionally still be seen hanging in cottage windows today. The 'end of day' glass walking sticks form a similar function - to provide protection against evil spirits, negative forces and ill-wishes seeking entry to the home.