Chalices

[Amadore]

What's the point of them? What're they used for? What makes them different from regular glasses?

After researching a lot, I still don't see why people buy chalices when they can use an everyday wine glass..

[Enozgirl]

Because rituals are not "everyday events". Rituals are used to connect you with the energy of the Universe and the Divine.

My chalice is only used for cakes and ale in ritual space. I don't use it as a spare wine glass, juice glass, or anything else. Sort of like I have my athame that I use solely for ritual space, not for dicing garlic. Or the ritual robes that I use I only wear in ritual space, not out and about to go shopping.

Using special items in ritual helps keep you in that ritual mindset. It helps firmly establish you in magickal space. At least, for me it does. All my ritual items are cleansed and concecrated to the God and Goddess.

I guess it's sort of like -- I wouldn't go diving using just ANY ole regulator. I've got to use mine. It just doesn't feel right otherwise. It still works, but my special one is sooooooooo much better ;)

Just my $0.04 (price adjusted for inflation)

[-Ember]

It is just as possible to use any wine glass for a chalice as it is to use any knife as an athame. In other words, some people do that, some can't/won't.

I have charged most of my tools in ways that I don't want to use them for "ordinary" things, things that will muddle the charge. Just using any glass means I'm using a blank... I can do it, but it lacks something.

[mucgwyrt]

What's the point of them? What're they used for? What makes them different from regular glasses?

After researching a lot, I still don't see why people buy chalices when they can use an everyday wine glass..
Nope, you're 100% right - use whatever you feel most comfortable. I use a mug with a cow on it :hehehehe: and it works just perfectly.

[mucgwyrt]

macha, that post made me blush and tingle in a most peculiar
way, and I'm not sure why. :lol:
Perhaps for a second you tuned into the awesome powers of The Cow :hehehehe:

[BlackMadonna]

When one thinks of the chalice as the symbol of the Sacred Feminine and the blade as the symbol of the Sacred Masculine, then both tools take on a magical role within the Great Rite during ritual. Yes, you can use anything but most who use this magic in circle use tools of beauty as a way to honour their gods.

[kaosxmage]

Why a chalice? Well, ritual is outside your typical mundane activity, and I imagine, so is a chalice eh? At any rate, a chalice symbolizes water, and ...well ...water ...

A more important point, use whatever you like! Use what works! If you find a chalice meaningless, offensive, sexy maybe ...I don't know, than it won't do you any good to employ one. It's a link to prehistoric, at least pre running water times, and thus many pagans are unwilling to give it up. Personally, I don't use one. Do as you please.

Good luck,
--Kaos :caffeine:

[fireswimmer]

I may not be qualified to answer as I do nto really do rituals but for me anything that is used in ritual would have to be part of my mundania as well. I do not like drawing lines between the two. I wear normal clothes when I do occasionally go to rituals. I do nto consider these things uncharged. I consider them charged with life.

When I meditate with stones they are the stones that I fondle whenever I feel like it. I feel for me it is important to bring that energy to ritual. I agree with all of those who say to use what is right for you. I have two chalices that were used at my wedding. I had a medieval wedding. I use them whenever I feel like it. Teh only thing that I complain about being used in a chalice is milk. My hubby is notorious for leaving milk rings...YUCK! There is something about chalices that I love and I would never want to leave that out of my mundane life when I feel like it.

Just my thoughts
Fireswimmer

[Sylvan]

*shrug* Why would somebody buy an athame when a Swiss Army knife would work just as well?

My "chalice" was bought while on vacation in DisneyWorld. It's an everyday wine glass, but it's the only one that I bought. It's perfect for me.

Personally, metal drinking cups make me nervous.. :blushake:

[CaitrionaMorgaine]

I think it's mostly just a matter of preference. Then there are some who get caught up in the fancy ritual regalia, and that's okay as well. My chalice is a wineglass that I use only for ritual. On my altar, the cauldron also represents the womb/water element/ect. I say use what works best for you.

Avalon's Blessings, ~Rhiannon

[MorningDove030202]

*shrug* Why would somebody buy an athame when a Swiss Army knife would work just as well?

My "chalice" was bought while on vacation in DisneyWorld. It's an everyday wine glass, but it's the only one that I bought. It's perfect for me.

Personally, metal drinking cups make me nervous.. :blushake:

Here's Why: at some point the swiss Army knife user might have a chainge of heart, and realize that they realy want something that is more meaningful to them than a pocket knife and they might decide to reserve their tools for magickal use only because at some point it just clicks and makes sence to do so.

I also don't like metal cups, but a chalice can be ceramic too. Cleaning tarnished metal is a pain in the butt!

Dove

[indigo rain]

i found my "chalice" at walmart. it was in domestics, a rinse cup in a bathroom set, but i thought it looked pretty so i got it. use whatever you feel like using. if it feels right, that means it's working... the whole point of a chalice and any other tool is to get you into ritual conciousness, and if you're looking at that chalice, thinking, "jeez, that thing cost me 60 bucks and i don't even like it..." then it's not working. do something else. (mine cost about 5 bucks, cheap is good)

[Ben Trismegistus]

What's the point of them? What're they used for? What makes them different from regular glasses?
The chalice is the symbol of the Goddess. What makes it different is your intent. If you can take a styrofoam cup and make it the symbol of the Goddess, more power to you. It's just nice to have.


After researching a lot, I still don't see why people buy chalices when they can use an everyday wine glass..
Well, like anything in ritual, it's good to have something *different* to use in ritual. If you're using a wine glass that you drink Merlot out of regularly, is it really *special* when you use it in the course of a ritual? If you've got something different, pewter or stone or whatever, something you don't use on a regular basis, you're charging that chalice with a special energy that makes it into a ritual tool in a way that a plain old glass can't be.

I got my chalice as a gift after my first degree initiation. It's very special to me.

[Aidron]

Why do people buy chalices when they could simply use a regular wine glass? The answer is quite simple, it is a matter of preference.

You do not need to acquire a special chalice, just as you do not need to acquire any special tool. Take kitchen witches, for example, they often use things in their magic that are used in mundane tasks.

What matters in the end is your mindset. Do you feel as if you are desecrating an item when you use it for mundane tasks? If so, then you probably should not follow the ways of the kitchen witch. If you don't, then great for you, this means you're saving more money in the long run.

The chalice, depending on the tradition, has different properties and associations. For myself, it is a symbol of elemental water, the feminine or receptive aspect of divinity/balance (yin from yin and yang as an example), and of the moon. It is often silver or silver in coloring, to denote its association with the moon, though I have seen beautiful ones over the years that are available at even Wal-Mart. Clear glass, with the handle being done in blue colored glass. Since blue is one of the colors I associate with water I can see that specific chalice working just as well for me.

As for my own preference, I desired to buy an actual chalice. I enjoy fantastical and elaborate things, and my chalice is no exception. Does that make me a bit shallow? Quite possibly. I can be very materialistic, and I enjoy pretty things just as much-if not more so-than anyone. I also desired it to be silver, and you won't find that in just an ordinary wine glass.

There is no universal way to decide what type of chalice is appropriate for everyone, as with all things, only what is appropriate for you. Essentially, go for what pleases you, and only settle for second best when there are drastic circumstances that prevent you from obtaining your first choice (a lack of funds, for one).

[Lunamoth]

the ritual robes that I use I only wear in ritual space, not out and about to go shopping.

What? Wearing ritual robes to Target is de rigeur! Everybody's doing it. lol

[Lady Avalon]

Use whatever you want, but remember:

A ritual tool should be used for nothing else.

The blade of an athame should never touch blood.

The bristles of a besome should never sweep dirt.

A ritual fire should not be used for cooking and a cooking fire should not be used for ritual.

I think you have the idea.

My athame came from a shop in the French Quarter. It's beautiful. I'm looking for just the right chalice. I'm getting close to a decision.

Some of us just like to have ritual tools that are unique and different. It's a personal choice.

Use what you like and enjoy.

[DebLipp]

In addition to the several very wise things said here, also remember that one of the things you're doing in Wicca is going "between the worlds." This is a non-time based state. It's not 2005 between the worlds, it's just NOW.

So I avoid using anything in my rituals that is very modern, because it breaks that mood. I don't use glass at all, I use metal or ceramic. I don't use plastic lighters. I also don't use words that refer to time-based things. In this way, I help to maintain an altered state of consciousness conducive to traveling between the worlds.

Also, instead of asking "why bother?" how about asking "why NOT bother?" If ritual is important to you why is it troublesome to take the extra time and effort to make it really special and beautiful?

[Aidron]

Use whatever you want, but remember:

A ritual tool should be used for nothing else. Tell that to many kitchen witches out there, amongst other traditions that may or may not even know the word Pagan. Some Amazonian tribes, for example, use mundane items infused with their own essence (and if you practice psychometry you will learn that we all imbue items with a bit of our own energy pattern) in ritual.

The blade of an athame should never touch blood.Again, there are many people out there who would disagree. The Wiccan ideal of an athame, is not the only ideaology surrounding the item. This does not denote than any ideaology is inferior or superior to another, but that some people do in fact practice and believe that athames should be sharp, can be used to draw blood, and can be used for physical cutting-though this rarely denotes mundane cutting, simply physical. There are cases where mundane use is accepted, however.

The bristles of a besome should never sweep dirt.Untrue. Many do let their besoms actually touch things physically, dirt included. They use them for both spiritual and physical cleansings. I am one of them, considering the tool the epitome of cleansing, in any sense of the word, and that I prefer balance in my tools, no extreme one-sided use.

A ritual fire should not be used for cooking and a cooking fire should not be used for ritual.Two words: Kitchen witches. Outside of that, there are many cases where both are highly accepted and used with great frequency.

I think you have the idea.

An idea of how you practice, yes. ;)



Please, realize that this is her opinion alone, and not factual information. Some traditions do agree with this information, while others would no sooner grasp it than they would roll their eyes at it.

My words are in bold.

[Ben Trismegistus]

Also, instead of asking "why bother?" how about asking "why NOT bother?" If ritual is important to you why is it troublesome to take the extra time and effort to make it really special and beautiful?
Huzzah.

[Silverfire Darkmoon]

.
The bristles of a besome should never sweep dirt.

Why not? And better still, where does this idea come from? Cunningham says it needn't touch the ground but, well, Cunningham says a lot of things.
My first chalice was a short and wierd stemmed glass from the dollar store with stars on it. My second was a brass wine-glass etched with roses I got at Value Village for a dollar. My present chalice, which I consider perfect, is silver-plated brass and cost me a dollar at a garage sale.
Is it me or is there a pattern here?
I recently went to a Wiccan Church of canada meeting, where the chalice had been broken. Everyone was running around like chickens with their heads cut off and, for some reason, people were gathered in little groups discussing the breakage with hushed voices, as though someone had done it on purpose.
My suggestion that someone run down to the dollar store and buy a wine glass or two was met with uncomprehending stares. Eventually someone had to drive home and bring *their* chalice. While I understand the value of a well-used and well-loved ritual tool, I also understand that gas is over eighty cents a litre whereas the dollar store option would cost $2.30 at the most.
Some people are just plain odd.
Oh, and remember, children - wine in a brass or petwer chalice is a no-no unless it's lined with silver or some other non-reactive metal!

[Raven Reed]

In my tradition the chalice associates with the element of water, so I chose a light blue carnival glass wine goblet. Cost, under $10.00 on ebay. But special to me. I love it to pieces.