Craft Your Own Ritual Supplies
You can make your own tools, from candles to incense to oils. Ritual tools are the most important part of any religion, from the Catholic Rosary to the Wiccan Athame. Most tools can be purchased, either through a catalog or your local New Age bookshop. Problem is, these supplies can be expensive and, in some cases, not suited for rituals. What's the solution? Why not make your own ritual supplies?
Obviously not all of the items used in a basic ritual can be crafted in an afternoon. But many, such as candles, incense, scented oils and herbal mixtures, are perfect for a crafty day at home. And, in many cases, the homemade goods are better suited to the task than a purchased product.
Candles
Candles are the backbone of most religious rituals, and as such are often in short supply. You can make candles easily at home with a minimum of supplies, such as paraffin wax (available in most grocery or hobby stores) wicks (hobby stores) and a mold. Scented oils and crayons (yes, regular old crayons) can be used in the melted wax to achieve the color and scent that you desire.
One word of warning: melted wax is not a toy. It can cause damage to your home, furniture or body. Always use the proper precautions when making wax products.
The basic steps of candle making are covered wonderfully by the About Guide to Soap and Candle Making. Waxed Out has a great beginning project using a paper cup as a mold.
Incense
Incense is another important part of many rituals, and it is easy to make in the exact scent that you need. For a really basic type, simply mix the herbs or oils that you require, grind the mixture as finely as possible and burn on a charcoal brick. (use a SAFE container and a brick designed for use with incense, ESPECIALLY indoors!) For specific combinations, browse through R.J. Stewart's recipes for granular incense.
Incense cones and sticks are also fairly simple and inexpensive to create. Kathie Schmitt lists a recipe for cone and stick incense on her herbal page.
Oils
Many faiths use scented oils for blessings or other rituals. Oils are, perhaps, one of the easiest supplies to create in the home. Simply gather the herbs, essential oils, or other ingredients you wish to infuse and a base oil, such as Canola, olive oil, or other type of cold-pressed oil. Mix the ingredients and pour into a bottle or other covered container, and allow to sit for three days to a week. Afterwards, strain the oil and keep in a dark bottle (to keep the scent longer).
Stella Australis has a guide to oil making, as well as several great recipes for specific oils.
Herb Gardening
One thing many projects have in common is a need for specific herbs. Once again, most herbs can be purchased online, but if you have a true call to Nature, you could grow your own. Most herbs used are available from seed catalogs and nurseries, although some are a bit obscure. The About.com Guide to Gardening has a wonderful list of resources for growers of common herbs.
For the rarer varieties, Stefan's Florilgium offers some tips on finding seeds and plants, especially for plants common during Europe's Middle Ages.
The PLANTS Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories.