The simple response to this question is no, not in most cases. A tool, is defined as, a device or instrument used to carry out a particular function. In most cases a tool is used to perform a task that either would be more difficult or impossible without it or a similar tool. That being said, sometimes tools must be used, other times they just make tasks easier. This is as true in the spiritual, mental, and magical paradigms as it is in the physical world. Lets look at some different perspectives, and how they can shape this idea further.
Robert Hager’s Article on the same subject:
Lets set the stage with a physical, everyday scenario, such as a carpenter that wants to build a simple shelter structure. He has been trained as a carpenter, he could simply make a shelter by breaking sticks and tying them together with vines, but he will choose to use tools. He could use ancient tools; he could make a level measured shelter out of timbers, with a basic fireplace made out of clay available in the ground, packing the spaces with mud to prevent drafts, complete with doors and basic furniture. He could make more precise amenities yet with basic modern hand tools, but if available, to improve efficiency would ultimately use power tools and complete an elaborate shelter in the same or even less time than the original basic shelter without any tools.
The advantage of the mental realms is that anything you may need to use as a tool can simply be visualized mentally and used accordingly. To use a physical tool allows you a relaxing luxury, but in times of need, there is no reason why the compete act cannot be performed within a visualization. I will point out that there are advantages to using tangible items to reinforce your mental paradigm, when attempting thaumaturgy, better described as physical manifestation via “will.”
Lets say that your goal is to pray to a Deity to effect change in the physical world, also known as, theurgy. Your goal is to see a person you know protected from harm by a God or Goddess. Do you think it would be the same, better, or less effective to simply pray, or to hold a symbol representative of this Deity, a picture, or even a statue? Do you think it would be more or less beneficial to make use of a symbol or object of protection in your hand while praying? A representation of that symbol or object, held in your mind?
Take the same idea when trying to bring enough money in to your life through opportunities available to you. Would you find it to be more or less effective to use representations of these opportunities being yours, or without them? Even as mental images?
What if we were to set-up entire representations of the actions we hope to have transpire in the physical world, such as crystals that have similar energies to that we wish to bring into our lives and arrange them in a grid that focuses those energies together, and make this a focal point of our will? Could not aromas of herbs, symbols, sounds or tones, symbolic acts all be used in this process? Could this not better target the intent we wish to release into the Universe? Could it not make the goal easier to successfully accomplish wish more specific results?
The conclusion that I have come to is that tools are not necessary, but they do make fine tuning intent and directing energies through will much easier and specific. Magic is not concerned with the hows so much as the whys. What do you think? Feel free to make use of the comments section to: answer any of these questions in your own words, add to the ideas presented, or ask any questions you may have?
Copyright @2016 Jason J Walton