Tools and Equipment for Magic Spells

Along with those elaborate rituals and ceremonies, ancient Egyptians used a number of tools and equipments for magic. These tools and equipments served a variety of purposes like casting spells, drawing circles and cursing people. Here are some of the most famous tools and equipments used for Egyptian magic.

Crook and Flail

A favored tool of God Osiris, this convenient utility replaced the wand for magical procedures. Agricultural equipment used for threshing purposes to separate grains from the husk. On the other hand, a crook is a tool with a well-defined crook in it that was almost similar to a shepherd’s staff.

Djed (Tet) Pillar

A perennial symbol of stability, Djed Pillar looks almost like a short pillar and contains four horizontal, vertically stacked platforms on the top portion. In fact, it forms the base of a bull’s spine that symbolically represents the tree that entombed the God Osiris, during his death at the hands of his brother. The Djed is the phallus of the god that also represented the Tree of Life. Anatomically, is also symbolizes the human spinal cod.

Ankh

By virtue of its powers and tradition, an Ankh is a pronounced Egyptian symbol of life. It is as an Ansata cross with a visual representation of a sandal strap piece. It also represents the energy level of the human body; the horizontal and vertical bars of the lower tau cross section signify the female and masculine energy. An ankh also symbolizes unlimited fertility and creative power. The top portion of the loop also signifies the power of sun resting near the horizon that indicates that there is reincarnation and rebirth. An ankh is the thoracic vertebra of a bull.

Sceptre or Staff

It is a staff made of dried bull’s penis and it symbolizes power and domination.

Scarab

Scarab is a heavenly symbol of Ra, the well-known sun god of the ancient Egyptians. Scarab is a beetle that lays eggs in the dung and metamorphoses into an adult stage. The movement of the scarab in the dung is similar with that of movement of the sun in the sky and its daily revolution. The night and the day are comparable with the scarab’s colorful wings. In essence, a scarab is an amulet that protects people and the land from annihilation. 

Lotus Flower

Early Egyptians used this flower extensively in their daily magical rituals. Also known as Sensen, it is a symbol of the sun, of creation and reincarnation. Lotus has a curious habit of closing during the nighttime and opening again during the dawn. A significant symbol of the Upper Egypt region, Lotus depicted the throne of Osiris and symbolized the scared symbols of Nephthys in her avatar as goddess of mysticism and repose. Lotus also speaks for antiquity and serenity. The ancient Indians honored this flower as a holy flower, on which the Hindu creator of humankind, Lord Brahma, rose and did his creation work.

Buckle of Isis

This special object is an essential part of Egyptian mythology that provides life. Alternatively, Egyptians also used terms like Knot of Isis and the Blood of Isis. The Blood of Isis is a funerary amulet created out of red stone or colored glass. In the later parts of Egyptian civilization, this was associated with the goddesses like Nephtys, Hathor and Nut. Almost all gods of ancient Egypt provided powers of resurrection and eternal life, by using an amazing object called Buckle of Isis.

Sistrum

Ancient Egyptians employed the musical instrument (of percussion family) that produces amazing notes of heavenly music. Sistrum is also a sacred instrument used in royal courts for dancing and for conducting religious and spiritual ceremonies, especially while worshiping of the goddess Hathor.  Egypt was a flood prone country by the marauding floods of Rive Nile. There was a general belief that when someone shook this instrument, it unleashed a power that drove away the storm god, Set. In fact, one can still see goddess Bast holding a Sistrum in her hand; goddess Bast represented joy, glad tidings, happiness, dance and festivity.

Eye of Horus

Originally, the Eye of Ra, Eye of Horus symbolizes royal power and courage. Ancient Egyptians also believed in its capabilities to assist in rebirth and reincarnation. In Egyptian mythology, people believed that the god Horus is a sky god. One of his eyes was the almighty sun while the other moon. The Eye of Horus represents protection and power and the eagle-like-eyes marked the advent of royal power and pharoanic reach all over the country. In Old World Egyptian language, the word for this mark was “wedjet”, whose real meaning in English is blue.

Uraeus

Uraeus is the spitting cobra of Africa and this animal signifies sovereignty, royalty, aristocracy, freedom, deity and divinity in ancient Egypt.  

Maat’s Feather

It is the Ostrich feather used for magical ceremonies and one could replace it with peacock feather.

Amulet

Amulet is an object or ornament created with various materials and substances. An amulet was a common ornament used widely by almost all Egyptians to protect their body and soul from ill omens, bas spirits, ghosts and evil gods. Egyptians used amulets to adorn both dead and living people.

The word amulet means “to bear” or “to carry” and thus an amulet is a thing carried in person or worn on the body.

An amulet could be anything in nature and design, but it always signifies many supernatural powers. Legend says that amulets were the most preferred objects used for guarding the owner from bad animals and serpents. With more improvements to the designs of the amulets, Egyptians started using amulets for guarding the living people from wretched witches and talisman. Each member of the family had their own type of amulets that provided them a series of specific types of protection. These amulets protected family members from bad snakes, worms, mildew, toads, frogs, rotten creatures and decay.

Nemes

It is a striped head cloth worn by the mighty pharaohs for covering the head to prevent harsh sun and heat.

Fetish

Egyptian gods Osiris and Anubis were the owners of an animal skin hanging on a piece of long stick.

Ushabtis

In literary words, Ushabtis mean, “to answer” and in practical matters, it is a small mummy life figure placed in the tombs to perform duties in the afterlife for the deceased royal souls. In a typical royal tomb, temple priests used to place 401 numbers of ushabtis: one for each day and the others for inspecting the duties performed by these ushabtis.

Gold and precious stones

In ancient Egypt, gold was synonymous to the skin of gods, while silver to the bones of the gods and precious stones like lapis lazuli and other gems. The surreal sense of beauty was the most pleasing things to the heavenly gods.

Knots and Numbers

Knots represent convergence of several forces of nature, while the numbers to the abstraction of a knot. In Egyptian mythology, the number seven possesses many compelling powers.

Wax figures

Those objects used as the objects of immense hatred and anger.

Letters to the Dead

Early Egyptians used to write letters to their deceased relatives and friends for help, counseling and forgiveness.

The Lamp

A special type of light used to represent the good and evil forces of the nature.