CAULDRON - BUBBLE BUBBLE TOIL & TROUBLE
Cauldron - Bubble Bubble Toil & Trouble
On November 30, 2020, I started a 4 part special on the Witches Tools. The first tool covered was the Athame. A Facebook LIVE as well as a short blog are available if you would like to learn more about the Athame.
Today, we continue the series by discussing the Cauldron.
There are 4 main tools that can be found on most witches altars; the Athame, the Cauldron, the Wand and the Chalice. 2 of these implements are associated with the masculine energy and 2 are associated with the feminine. The Wand and the Athame represent the masculine and this is because they emulate the phallus. The Chalice and the Cauldron are representative of the feminine as they emulate the womb.
The cauldron is filled literally and figuratively with myth and lore. It represents the womb from which all life flows. It represents the power of the feminine. Cauldrons traditionally have 3 legs honouring 3 different aspects of the #3 in our lives; the 3 legs honours the 3-dimensional world in which we live, 3 legs honour body, mind and spirit and finally, the 3 legs remind all witches, as they cast spells, to keep the 3-fold-law in mind…remember that law, also known as the Witches Rede - paraphrased as What ye put out comes back to thee, always by the law of three! This law is also known as the law of Karma but many in the community believe that Karma is multiplied by the power of 3 if you’re casting negative nasty spells.
The Cauldron has been viewed throughout history and has many myths and fantasy surrounding it. It is said the Goddess Brigid stirred a cauldron. Celtic legend says cauldrons are tools of regeneration for the Gods. And Norse mythology depicts Odin as receiving his wisdom and his gift of intuition from a cauldron.
In spell crafting the cauldron is both a practical tool as well as a symbolic implement. You can use it for flowers or water on your altar. However, it should be noted that the Cauldron is typically associated with the element of fire so putting water in your cauldron may affect future fire spells. Further, depending on the material that your cauldron is made of, water may damage it.
As mentioned, the Cauldron is associated with the element of Fire. For this reason, many fire spells are cast using the Cauldron’ this may include putting salt and alcohol in the cauldron, lighting a fire and then burning small pieces of paper with your wishes and desires written therein. I have seen spells cast using a cauldron filled with dry-ice so that there is the beautiful effect of smoke pouring over the edges. A Cauldron can be used to concoct potions or oils or to cook and hold magickal foods.
Cauldrons are typically iron but many materials are acceptable. (Note: if you have an iron cauldron, do not fill with water as the iron will rust). Other materials are terracotta, marble or granite, copper or steel.
Once finished a spell that’s been cast in your cauldron, what should you do with the contents of your cauldron? That all depends on the spell but the rule of thumb is, save your oils or concoctions into an appropriate container or vessel, if you are sending out wishes or desires into the world (i.e. you have ashes from burned papers) then it is best to cast the ashes into the wind. Alternatively if you’ve cast a spell to remove some energies from your life, it is best to bury the remaining contents of the cauldron.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog and please join me on the next Facebook LIVE for the next implement; The Wand