17 Beginner Witchcraft Supplies on a Budget: The Ultimate Cheap Guide
This guide is your permission slip to practice powerful, authentic magic right now, with what you have. We’re diving into the 17 essential beginner witchcraft supplies that form the foundation of almost any practice. For every item, we’ll explore not only what it is and why it matters but also how to find or create a budget-friendly version, often with things already hiding in your home. Let’s banish the myth that you need to be rich to be a witch.
So, you’re ready to dip your toes into the world of witchcraft, but one look at #WitchTok altar tours has your wallet weeping? You’re not alone. The curated world of social media magic can make it seem like you need a vault of rare crystals and hand-forged ritual tools to be a “real” witch.
Let us whisper a sacred truth: Witchcraft is about intention, not acquisition.
The most powerful magic doesn’t come from a price tag; it comes from you. Your focus, your energy, and your connection to the world around you are the real catalysts for change. Tools are simply that—tools. They help to focus your mind and direct your will, but they are not the source of your power.
Part 1: The Foundation of Your Practice
Before we dive into the list, let’s talk about the philosophy behind these beginner witchcraft supplies. Tools in witchcraft act as physical anchors for your non-physical will. They engage your senses, helping your mind to shift into a magical state. A candle flame focuses sight, incense engages smell, and the feel of a crystal grounds your touch.
The most important thing is your relationship with the tool. A simple river stone that you found on a meaningful hike will always be more powerful than an expensive, mass-produced crystal that holds no personal significance.
1. The Altar: Your Spiritual Command Center
What it is: An altar is a dedicated space where you perform your magic, meditation, and rituals. It doesn’t have to be large or public; it just needs to be yours.
Why it’s essential: Your altar is a physical reminder of your spiritual path. It’s a place where you can focus your energy, store your tools, and create a tiny pocket of sacredness in your everyday life.
Budget-Friendly & DIY Version: You do not need a fancy table. Use the top of a bookshelf, a windowsill, a tree stump in your garden, or even the inside of a shoebox that you can close and tuck under your bed (a “travel altar”). The power comes from how you use it, not what it’s made of.
2. The Athame: The Ritual Knife
What it is: An athame (pronounced a-tha-may) is a ceremonial dagger, typically with a black handle. Its key feature? It is never used for physical cutting. It is a tool for directing energy.
Why it’s essential: The athame represents the element of Fire (or Air, depending on your tradition). It is used to cast a sacred circle before rituals, to direct energy during spellwork, and to banish negative influences. It is an extension of your will.
Budget-Friendly & DIY Version: A simple kitchen knife can be consecrated as your athame. So can a wooden wand, a found feather, or even your index finger. The intention is what matters. If you choose a kitchen knife, cleanse it thoroughly in salt water or moonlight before its first ritual use to clear it of its mundane history.
3. The Wand: Channeling Natural Energy
What it is: A wand is a stick or rod used to channel and project your personal energy.
Why it’s essential: While similar to an athame, the wand often has a gentler, more inviting energy. It’s used for invoking elements, stirring the air in a cauldron, or drawing symbolic shapes in the air during a spell.
Budget-Friendly & DIY Version: Go for a walk in nature. Find a fallen branch that “calls” to you—one that feels good in your hand. Peel off the bark, sand it down if you like, and perhaps charge it with a crystal by wrapping it to the base with yarn. Your first wand should be a gift from the earth, not a store.
4. The Cauldron: Vessel of Transformation
What it is: A cauldron is a fire-proof pot, often made of cast iron, used for burning, brewing, and mixing.
Why it’s essential: The cauldron is a powerful symbol of the Goddess, the womb of creation, and the element of Water. It represents transformation—just as ingredients are transformed within it, so are our intentions. Use it to burn petition papers, brew herbal teas for spellwork, or hold moon water.
Budget-Friendly & DIY Version: A small fire-safe ceramic bowl, a thick-walled glass bowl (like a Pyrex dish), or even an old, heat-resistant soup pot can serve as your cauldron. Always be mindful of safety when using it with fire.
5. The Chalice: The Cup of Connection
What it is: A chalice is a ceremonial cup or glass.
Why it’s essential: Representing the element of Water and the divine feminine, the chalice holds libations (water, wine, juice) for rituals and offerings. It symbolizes intuition, emotion, and the receptive principle.
Budget-Friendly & DIY Version: Any special cup you own can be your chalice. A beautiful wine glass, a handmade ceramic mug, or even a seashell found at the beach. Dedicate it to your practice and use it only for magical purposes to build its energy.
Part 2: Harnessing the Elements
A core part of witchcraft is working with the natural elements—Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. These next beginner witchcraft supplies help you connect with and direct these fundamental forces.
6. Crystals: Earth’s Energy Amplifiers
What they are: Crystals and stones are gifts from the Earth, each with their own unique energetic vibrations.
Why they’re essential: Crystals can amplify intention, provide protection, attract love, promote healing, and much more. They are fantastic, versatile tools for any witch’s toolkit.
Budget-Friendly & DIY Version: You do not need a massive collection. Start with just two or three key stones:
- Clear Quartz: The master healer and amplifier. It can be programmed for any intention.
- Black Tourmaline: For powerful grounding and protection.
- Rose Quartz: To attract and cultivate love and compassion.
You can also use stones and pebbles you find in your garden or on a walk. Cleanse them by leaving them in moonlight or running them under cool water.
7. Herbs & Plants: Nature’s Apothecary
What they are: Dried or fresh plants, flowers, and spices used for their magical properties.
Why they’re essential: Herbs are one of the most accessible forms of magic. They can be used in spells, sachets, teas, incense, and baths. Every herb has a story and a purpose, from protection to prosperity.
Budget-Friendly & DIY Version: Your kitchen spice rack is a hidden treasure trove of magical supplies.
- Rosemary: (Purification, Protection) A fantastic, all-purpose substitute for sage.
- Cinnamon: (Abundance, Success) Add a pinch to money spells.
- Bay Leaves: (Wishes, Protection) Write a wish on a leaf and burn it.
- Salt: (Purification, Protection) The most humble and powerful magical ingredient of all.
Grow your own rosemary or mint on a windowsill for a constant, free supply.
8. Candles: The Element of Fire Embodied
What they are: A source of flame, available in many colors and sizes.
Why they’re essential: Candles represent the pure element of Fire. They are used for illumination, focus, and to carry your intentions to the universe. The color of the candle can be chosen to match your spell’s goal.
Budget-Friendly & DIY Version: A simple, inexpensive box of white tealight candles is the perfect starting point. White is all-purpose and can be used for any intention. You can even anoint them with olive oil from your kitchen and roll them in herbs from your spice rack to “dress” them for a specific purpose.
9. Incense & Smoke Cleansers: Carriers of Air
What they are: Substances that produce fragrant smoke when burned.
Why they’re essential: Incense represents the element of Air. It is used to cleanse a space or tool of stagnant energy, to raise vibrations, and to carry prayers upward. The smoke helps to shift the atmosphere of a room.
Budget-Friendly & DIY Version: While sage bundles are popular, they can be expensive and have ethical sourcing concerns. Excellent alternatives include:
- Palo Santo: (When sourced ethically)
- Local Herbs: Cedar, juniper, or lavender from your garden.
- Simmer Pots: A no-smoke alternative! Simmer citrus peels, cinnamon sticks, and cloves in a pot of water on your stove to cleanse and freshen the air with intention.
Part 3: Deepening Your Intuition
Witchcraft is an internal art as much as an external one. These tools help you look inward, develop your psychic senses, and record your unique journey.
10. Book of Shadows (Grimoire): Your Magical Diary
What it is: A personal journal where you record your spells, rituals, dreams, herbal knowledge, and magical discoveries.
Why it’s essential: This is the heart of your practice. It’s where you track what works, learn from your mistakes, and build a body of knowledge that is entirely your own.
Budget-Friendly & DIY Version: Any notebook will do! A simple, lined composition book is perfect. Decorate the cover with stickers, drawings, or pressed flowers to make it yours. The act of writing by hand is a magical practice in itself.
11. Tarot or Oracle Cards: Mirrors of the Subconscious
What they are: Decks of illustrated cards used for divination, introspection, and guidance.
Why they’re essential: Tarot and oracle cards are tools to access your own intuition and subconscious mind. They provide clarity, reveal hidden influences, and help you work through challenges.
Budget-Friendly & DIY Version: The classic Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck is inexpensive, widely available, and has a wealth of free learning resources online. You can also start by using a regular deck of playing cards for cartomancy (card reading)!
12. Pendulum: Your Yes/No Diviner
What it is: A weighted object suspended on a string or chain.
Why it’s essential: Pendulums are used for dowsing—answering yes/no questions, finding lost objects, and detecting energy blocks. It’s a simple yet powerful tool for communicating with your higher self.
Budget-Friendly & DIY Version: You can easily make a pendulum by tying a thread to a ring, a heavy crystal, a pendant you already wear, or even a key. First, “program” it by asking it to show you “yes” (e.g., swing clockwise) and “no” (swing counter-clockwise).
Part 4: Practical Spell-Crafting Supplies
These are the hands-on, practical items you’ll use to physically create your spells, potions, and charms.
13. Mortar & Pestle: The Herbalist’s Tool
What it is: A bowl (mortar) and club-shaped grinder (pestle) used to crush and grind herbs, resins, and seeds.
Why it’s essential: Grinding herbs releases their essential oils and magical properties, blending them together and infusing them with your intention through the physical action.
Budget-Friendly & DIY Version: While a marble set is nice, you can use a small ceramic bowl and the back of a sturdy spoon to grind your herbs. It works just as well for getting started.
14. Jars & Bottles: Vessels of Containment
What they are: Small glass containers with lids.
Why they’re essential: Jars are used for making spell jars (ingredients layered with intention), storing dried herbs, creating moon water, and crafting potions. They “contain” the energy of your spell until you’re ready to release it.
Budget-Friendly & DIY Version: Start hoarding your empty jam jars, spice jars, and small honey bottles! Wash them thoroughly, peel off the labels, and they are perfect for your craft.
15. String, Yarn, or Ribbon: For Binding Magic
What it is: A length of cord, typically made of natural fiber like cotton or hemp.
Why it’s essential: String is used in knot magic (tying intentions into each knot), creating witch’s ladders, binding poppets, and sealing sachets. The color of the string can add an extra layer of symbolic meaning.
Budget-Friendly & DIY Version: Look in your sewing kit for spare thread, use the yarn from an old sweater, or save ribbons from gifts. Even plain, un-waxed dental floss can work for small, discreet knot spells.
Part 5: Protecting & Cleansing Your Space
The final set of beginner witchcraft supplies focuses on maintaining the energy of your home and sacred space, ensuring it remains a clear and positive environment for your work.
16. The Besom (Broom): Energy Sweeper
What it is: A ritual broom, traditionally made with a bundle of birch twigs.
Why it’s essential: The besom is used to symbolically sweep negative or stagnant energy out of your sacred space before you cast a circle or begin a ritual. It cleanses on an energetic level, not a physical one.
Budget-Friendly & DIY Version: A small, decorative broom from a craft store works perfectly. You can also make your own by tightly binding a bundle of twigs (birch, pine, willow) to a sturdy stick. Keep it by your front door, bristles-up, to guard your home’s entrance.
17. A Bell: Cleansing with Sound
What it is: A small bell, often made of brass or crystal.
Why it’s essential: The pure, high-frequency sound of a bell vibrates through a space, instantly shattering stagnant energy. It’s a quick and effective way to cleanse a room or to mark the beginning and end of a ritual.
Budget-Friendly & DIY Version: A small, cheap brass bell is perfect. Don’t have one? You can achieve a similar effect by clapping your hands sharply in the corners of a room or using a singing bowl app on your phone in a pinch.
Conclusion: Your Craft, Your Rules
Remember, this list of beginner witchcraft supplies is a starting point, not a mandate. You do not need to acquire all 17 items at once. Start with what calls to you—perhaps a candle, a jar, and a herb from your kitchen. Build your toolkit slowly and intuitively.
The most powerful tool in your arsenal will always be your own focused will and connection to the magic that flows through the natural world. By choosing to reuse, repurpose, and source sustainably, you are not just saving money—you are practicing a deeply rooted, respectful, and powerful form of witchcraft.
Your turn! What household item have YOU transformed into a witchy essential? (My first ‘cauldron’ was a coffee mug 😉) Share your clever reuse hacks below or tag us on Instagram! 👇
Sustainability Note:♻️ Ethical Witch Tip: Before buying new witchy essentials, forage (twigs, stones), thrift, or repurpose. Support Indigenous creators for sage/palo santo. Magic respects the Earth!
