The New Temple 
by Blayze

As witches, many of us go on and on about how we don't need permanent buildings to aid our worship, we don't have temples, we don't have church buildings... we have the bush, the beach, our backyards, balconies and bedrooms. However I have come to realise that I, at least, do have a permanent temple and place of worship. It's my local Hardware and Garden Centre.

These hallowed halls filled with racks and racks of scrummy (and highly useful) merchandise have become the focus of my weekend worship. They represent an Aladdin's Cave of delights for the crafty witch or the practical pagan. As I write this article I am sitting in my backyard looking at the circle area used regularly by our group. Currently there is a birdbath in the Water Quarter, a brazier in the Fire Quarter, an hibachi in the Air quarter and a stone cairn for Earth.  The altar can be set up in the East or in the centre depending upon what are doing. All of these items are cheap and practical and available at most hardware stores.

My flatmate's worship is slightly different to mine. Whereas I worship the Gardening Section Gods, she worships the Gods of Power Tools, from the smallest Dremel bit to the largest Lawnmower... and in homage to them she has mowed a labyrinth into the lawn behind the garage. Just as well I had a green wire frame gazebo we could stick at the centre then isn't it?

As we are renting we also have most of our plants and trees in pots, but this also means that we can move the trees into the ritual space if we need them, and indeed these trees have been the focus of many rituals we have performed. I have yet to perfect the automatic watering spell though, so maybe another trip the Hall of Irrigation is needed. The Garden section has wonderful herbs and plants, both culinary and magical that you can grow in pots and dry on curtain rails or stacked fly screens and if you are into Greek statues or Green Men, then check between the plant aisles... you may be surprised at who is peeping out from amongst the ferns.

Now of course, we don't really need all of this stuff, but it does help to focus group energies and the labyrinth is brilliant for trance work. The bird bath holds magical brews and herbal waters used in libation, the rocks are used as a gateway to other realms, the brazier keeps us warm and heats the cauldron (or consecrated kettle), and the hibachi makes a great censer  when large amounts of incense is required. Tall bamboo torches (found for the bargain price of $2 each) provide lighting for nightime rituals.

So what about some of the smaller items that can be discovered within the cavernous realms of your local chain hardware store? Well my pentacle is made from a terracotta flower pot saucer, my scrying bowls are glazed terracotta fountain dishes. If I need to cut the head off a corn dolly, well the trusty sickle from the gardening tool section comes in mighty handy. To keep pesky mozzies at bay I can use elementally coloured citronella candles in handy terracotta bowls or even the giant sandalwood incense sticks that are found in the Outdoor and BBQ section. They smell great and provide cleansing and protection at the same time! 

Decorating your ritual space is always easy after visiting the Hardware Store. Wire and rope for making garlands and swags with all the leaves and branches you cut with your magical pruning saw, dowel lengths for sewing banners onto or for making ritual tokens out of, more rope for hanging the banners, marking out paths or tying all those sticks onto your Wicker Man. Of course if you make a Wicker Man and you need to burn him, then you will be needing a good supply of Kerosene, and metho for your cauldron, citronella for your torches and more Kero to supply all those fire dancers who inevitably turn up. 

So where are you worshipping this weekend...? I know where I'll be.