For many people, being an effective practitioner of magic includes the ability to think outside the box. By being a creative and imaginative thinker, you can find magical uses for non-magical items. In 2008, About Pagan/Wiccan featured a weekly series in which readers were challenged to find ways of using regular household items as magical tools. For eighteen weeks, our readers came up with unconventional ways to turn regular items around the house into components in magical workings. Let's take a look at some of the mundane items that we offered, and some of the clever and creative ideas our readers had.
Battery
Chris: This one is an easy one. A battery could have many magical properties but the first and foremost that comes to my mind is the storage of energy. In example, a spell or ritual to draw energy to yourself for a specific purpose and store it in a battery for later usage. (Much like knot-magic) A simple example of this may be a working you do to contact a friend who has somehow lost contact from yourself. You could draw up some energy and place its purpose of your friend contacting you or you-them. Then use the battery in a phone! (Make sure you visualize yourself speaking on the phone with the lost friend.)
Tanis: I think it would be a good idea to use it in a ritual before you go to a race or something else that requires a lot of energy. Just like the energizer bunny, it can be a way to focus on the race to help you win, or just get you to the finish line!
Mrs. B: I think a battery would be good in a ritual to help you make a decision. For example you were having trouble deciding to whether to do something like take a new job that would require you to move, and you wanted to ask for guidance from your deity. The battery could represent the negative and the positive of the job(or other choice) in question during the ritual.
Orionova: I would see using a battery in an anti-depression spell to give yourself some of the energy you’ve lost due to being depressed. If you are on medication, you could ‘charge’ it using the battery to make sure it works for you.
Heartsong: Batteries do hold energy, but they need to be recharged from time to time. One magical connection is to think of yourself as the charger and give the world around you a boost every day. Every smile, every kind word or sincere compliment, each gentle touch, each withheld harsh word when silence or a soft response will suffice…every act that promotes kindness, peace, harmony, and happiness recharges and stores energy of the very best kind in the individuals and in the world as a whole.
Dragonfly: I would say to use one as a charm. Carry it in your pocket and when you feel low on energy or emotion, rub the nub on the positive end (like a worry stone) and draw uplifting energy from it.
Freilah: This may be unimaginative, but one could put batteries in lights and put them around the yard for a safe outdoor ritual. Although I do use candles, I also have dark places outside my circle that are not always appropriate for candles.
Meadowhawk: I would magically use a fully charged battery to “jump start” any change I was having trouble making or initiating, something I was feeling stuck about, etc.
Anavrin: Since batteries have both a positive and negative side, I would use them to help keep things balanced, energy especially, but other things too, like emotions.
