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[mytiltedworld]

To those of you whom include them in your practices:

Is there one hard set "rule" about what they should be made of?  I have been looking it seems like forever (just a few years, not exactly forever but I'm impatient sometimes) for one and the other day while digging aroud in a flea markety type place I found a small "cauldron" looking pot, standing on three feet and at $1 it seemed like a find.  Except it's made of brass.  I'm not sure I'd be doing a lot of work with one but I do want one to sit on my altar, once I get it together and this one seemed to want to come home with me so...any rule saying brass is a no no?

Just curious in general and happy to have all opinions.    Thankies much in advance!

Daphne

[LyricFox]

To those of you whom include them in your practices:

Is there one hard set "rule" about what they should be made of?  I have been looking it seems like forever (just a few years, not exactly forever but I'm impatient sometimes) for one and the other day while digging aroud in a flea markety type place I found a small "cauldron" looking pot, standing on three feet and at $1 it seemed like a find.  Except it's made of brass.  I'm not sure I'd be doing a lot of work with one but I do want one to sit on my altar, once I get it together and this one seemed to want to come home with me so...any rule saying brass is a no no?

Just curious in general and happy to have all opinions.    Thankies much in advance!

Daphne

Daphne,

Way back when I was looking into Wicca, I found one on eBay. It's cast iron and I found it under "bean pot" search. I suspect that I would have been happy with any fireproof material, but cast iron is what I found.

[Mandi]

To those of you whom include them in your practices:

Is there one hard set "rule" about what they should be made of?  I have been looking it seems like forever (just a few years, not exactly forever but I'm impatient sometimes) for one and the other day while digging aroud in a flea markety type place I found a small "cauldron" looking pot, standing on three feet and at $1 it seemed like a find.  Except it's made of brass.  I'm not sure I'd be doing a lot of work with one but I do want one to sit on my altar, once I get it together and this one seemed to want to come home with me so...any rule saying brass is a no no?

Just curious in general and happy to have all opinions.    Thankies much in advance!

Daphne

I love iron.

I would go with brass only if it were purely for ornamental purposes.  The iron has such great durability.  I can half destroy the thing making steam, and magic with essential oils, later scrub it out and re-season it and it's good to go for whatever else I might want to do with it.

It can stand up to being tossed in a campfire, brush it off, hit it with some oil and bammo.  Good as new.

My cauldron's tiny.  the size was actually called a 1/2 *potje* and was only like 20$. The bulk of the price was in the shipping because of the weight.

[Sine Silvering]

I think it depends entirely what you plan to do with it.

Honestly, a 3-ft-tall cauldron for a dollar is a buy no matter what!  Congratulations on the bargain! 

I don't think you can cook in a brass cauldron, and if it's too thin it might not tolerate being set over a fire:  you need to check it to see how thick it is.  It might be purely ornamental, or a planter rather than a cooking pot, and that means you can use it for ceremonial purposes by putting a candle inside it.

In ancient times, the footed cauldron was the communal stewpot, the source of the feast.  Everyone contributed something into it but the meal itself was dished out to everyone from the cauldron, so it came to symbolize feasting, nurturing-of-life and communal life.  No matter what you managed to contribute, you ate the same thing everyone else did.

So adapt; that's what witches do best! 

[Driven by Dreams]

I don't have a cauldron per say, but an offering bowl. I got it from a campus art sale- this beautiful ceramic black and red 'soup' bowl (you bought the bowl for 10 bucks and got your choice of soup). Since it's fully-fired ceramic, it's water-tight, I've burned things in it and years later, I still use it constantly. And, being an artsy-fartsy type myself I love that it was made by an art student.

Another offering bowl is actually a tiny soapstone dish that I bought/begged off a store owner, explaining that I wanted something travel-friendly and discreet. I don't burn anything in it, but still also use it all the time. In the store, it was being used to hold a bunch of gems.

Decide what you might be the #1 purpose of what your cauldron's for- most of my offerings are food and water. Then scout around for something with a friendly material. Bet you find some awesome things at yard sales and thrift stores.

[Ravyn]

Namaste,

Well I think traditionally speaking a cauldron should be of iron. But lets not limit ourselves in its material. It really depends on what you plan on doing with your cauldron when considering what material it is to be made out of. Lets say you want to brew potions in your cauldron, the obvious material would be iron, as a clay or ceramic one really could not be placed over a flame.
My own cauldron is make of clay, hand crafted and fired. It is really beautiful, but there are many things it is not practical for. I would never have an open fire in it for example, but it can and does hold water nicely.
I guess what I am trying to say here, is that it really is a personal descision on what your cauldron is to be made out of. Cost can be another factor, as iron cauldrons can be quite expensive, at least as far as I have seen. Not to forget that iron is heavy, and it may just not be safe for you to lift a three foot iron cauldron on your own. The best advice is to think practical, and go from there. Don't limit yourself, keep your eyes and mind open to all possibilites.

Blessed Be,

Ravyn

[mytiltedworld]

Daphne,

Way back when I was looking into Wicca, I found one on eBay. It's cast iron and I found it under "bean pot" search. I suspect that I would have been happy with any fireproof material, but cast iron is what I found.

Thanks!  I hadn't really thought of looking there and had only been searching locally so I'll give it a try. 

[mytiltedworld]

I love iron.

I would go with brass only if it were purely for ornamental purposes.  The iron has such great durability.  I can half destroy the thing making steam, and magic with essential oils, later scrub it out and re-season it and it's good to go for whatever else I might want to do with it.

It can stand up to being tossed in a campfire, brush it off, hit it with some oil and bammo.  Good as new.

My cauldron's tiny.  the size was actually called a 1/2 *potje* and was only like 20$. The bulk of the price was in the shipping because of the weight.

Thanks, I've been hoping to find an iron cauldron because of just what you said- they're durable as all get out.  My mom has had the same cast-iron skillet for ages and she has banged that thing around and taken it everywhere, cooked everything in it and it's good as new. 

[mytiltedworld]

I think it depends entirely what you plan to do with it.

Honestly, a 3-ft-tall cauldron for a dollar is a buy no matter what!  Congratulations on the bargain! 

I don't think you can cook in a brass cauldron, and if it's too thin it might not tolerate being set over a fire:  you need to check it to see how thick it is.  It might be purely ornamental, or a planter rather than a cooking pot, and that means you can use it for ceremonial purposes by putting a candle inside it.

In ancient times, the footed cauldron was the communal stewpot, the source of the feast.  Everyone contributed something into it but the meal itself was dished out to everyone from the cauldron, so it came to symbolize feasting, nurturing-of-life and communal life.  No matter what you managed to contribute, you ate the same thing everyone else did.

So adapt; that's what witches do best! 

I have to agree with you, this brass guy is pretty thin and so would probably be better served for candle holding, or perhaps incense.  But it was a nice bargain.    Thanks for the reply!

[mytiltedworld]

I don't have a cauldron per say, but an offering bowl. I got it from a campus art sale- this beautiful ceramic black and red 'soup' bowl (you bought the bowl for 10 bucks and got your choice of soup). Since it's fully-fired ceramic, it's water-tight, I've burned things in it and years later, I still use it constantly. And, being an artsy-fartsy type myself I love that it was made by an art student.

Another offering bowl is actually a tiny soapstone dish that I bought/begged off a store owner, explaining that I wanted something travel-friendly and discreet. I don't burn anything in it, but still also use it all the time. In the store, it was being used to hold a bunch of gems.

Decide what you might be the #1 purpose of what your cauldron's for- most of my offerings are food and water. Then scout around for something with a friendly material. Bet you find some awesome things at yard sales and thrift stores.

I actually found, at the same thrift store, a beautiful hand painted japanese rice bowl which is on a sort of "pedestal" and was thinking of using it for incense or just to hold things but it would likely do in a pinch so I might go in that direction until I can get my hands on an iron one.

And I think that's a very neat idea, selling the art bowls and offering free soup, very cool and you get a handmade bowl...I wish our local college did things like that, I'll have to look into it!  Thanks!

[mytiltedworld]

Namaste,

Well I think traditionally speaking a cauldron should be of iron. But lets not limit ourselves in its material. It really depends on what you plan on doing with your cauldron when considering what material it is to be made out of. Lets say you want to brew potions in your cauldron, the obvious material would be iron, as a clay or ceramic one really could not be placed over a flame.
My own cauldron is make of clay, hand crafted and fired. It is really beautiful, but there are many things it is not practical for. I would never have an open fire in it for example, but it can and does hold water nicely.
I guess what I am trying to say here, is that it really is a personal descision on what your cauldron is to be made out of. Cost can be another factor, as iron cauldrons can be quite expensive, at least as far as I have seen. Not to forget that iron is heavy, and it may just not be safe for you to lift a three foot iron cauldron on your own. The best advice is to think practical, and go from there. Don't limit yourself, keep your eyes and mind open to all possibilites.

Blessed Be,

Ravyn

Thanks   I haven't really decided yet what the purpose of my cauldron will be, other than holding water and I don't really forsee myself needing to set it over an open flame but then again, you never know so I'll keep thinking and looking. 

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