A Witch Ladder To Awareness

Witches love symbolism. Everything has a vibration and we like to include symbols to enhance energy in ritual or spellwork. Recently I made a Witch Ladder to hang at the entrance of my ritual area to enhance spiritual awareness. Although they can be fashioned in many ways, a Witch Ladder typically begins with a long cord, or a tri-colored braided one which is also nice. From there, feathers and beads are added to create whatever effect the witch needs at the time. If the ladder is used in a healing spell for someone, strands from their hair can be woven into the cord. Sometimes it’s used in a manner similar to prayer beads as a way to keep track while chanting, or when performing knot magick.

Because I practice rune magick, I wanted to include some beads with runes inscribed on them. Since I didn’t have any, I created some beads from clay you can bake in your oven. I’d love to have a throwing wheel and kiln. I wouldn’t need a large kiln, just one big enough to fire some runes and altar tiles. I wouldn’t even need a wheel for that.

Bindrunes are used in rune magick. Each rune has a meaning and combined together they create an intention. So, if you wanted a bindrune for protection, you would combine three to five runes together, creating a symbol to represent protection. They can be drawn on something as a sigil, carried or worn as a talisman, or used in ritual. For the Witch’s Ladder, I used thirteen beads and feathers tied to a leather cord. The feathers were gathered over the summer around our property and along the route during our morning walks.

Feathers appearing in a witch’s path are surely left there as a gift. They symbolize Elemental Air and our intellectual presence. They bind together well with runes as symbols for divination. Each bead on the witch ladder depicts runes from bindrunes I’ve created. On a few, I’ve included the bindrune itself.  I chose to keep the beads white, symbolizing purity and divinity, reserving gold for the runes themselves. I tied each bead and feather to the cord, alternating them up the ladder.

I blessed and consecrated the Witch Ladder when it was finished. Witches bless and consecrate everything. Ritual tools, crystals, oils, incense, we’ll imbue it with all sorts of Source Energy as a means of purification. We channel energy into the item, or use smoke from incense or candle flame as a purification smudge, invoking Elemental Air. Sometimes we bury something in the earth for a time, purifying it with Elemental Earth energy. Or, we might cleanse with Elemental Water, placing it into a vessel for purification. Lastly, we might purify a new athame by passing its tip through flame, invoking Elemental Fire. And then we might place our hands over or around the item and let Spirit flow above and below, within and without, invoking Goddess blessings.

When a witch fashions something to be used in ritual, spellwork or divination, it’s done with intention. And magick is just that. Desire or intention made manifest. This Witch Ladder imbues my ritual space with energy of awareness and awakening. And I’m so pleased with how it turned out.

~Blessings to all!