It's elemental

[watershield]

As I move through the internet, finding new sites, reviewing posts on various practices, I've noticed a bit of an oddity. At least to me.
Many people advise against tools containing lead.
30 years ago, the general thought was to avoid gold, while lead was the desired metal.

Gold was considered to be representative of the corruption of mankind. It was elevated to a pedestal of it's own and revered as having almost godlike qualities. A primary element in the tools of the organized church.

Lead on the other hand was considered a true element of the Earth. Having little specific value and lacking the glint and glitter, it was the perfect humble metal to use when making pentacles or inlaid runes on alters.

In your experience, are there any metals to avoid?
Would you / do you, use lead as a tool?

[Goth]

watershield said:

Many people advise against tools containing lead.
30 years ago, the general thought was to avoid gold, while lead was the desired metal.

Maybe because fairly recently, lead has been discovered to have damaging effects on human health. I know that paints don't contain lead anymore, and you shouldn't use a 'hot air' paint stripper to strip paint off old items of furniture, incase the paint contains lead.....because the fumes produced are harmful.

Personally, I don't like handling lead at all, but if I have to, I either wear gloves or wash my hands thoroughly afterwards.

Maybe lead was used years ago because it's soft, pliable and easy to work with?

...and then there was the quest of the alchemists ~ attempting to transmutate lead into gold.

Regarding your question of metals to avoid. I suppose it's what feels right to you. Different metals have different properties so it all depends what your intent is really. Also, some people may want to avoid using 'magnetic metals'....or they may wish to use them. It's personal choice.

[prettyfull]

When I first began learning about the various tools used in Wicca a dear friend told me that lead was baneful and NOT to use anything that contained it while conducting a ritual. He was first told the same thing when he joined his first coven. Past that I agree with Goth, it just is not safe.

[watershield]

As I thought, based on these two replies, there seems to be no real "tradition" either way.

I know of a coven that spent considerable time and effort to cut a 10 foot wide pentacle into a stone outcrop which they filled with lead.

Of coarse lead is used in crystal and many people use crystal for their challises.

[Goth]

I used to have a lead crystal fruit bowl LOL.

I think it's fairly safe to drink out of a lead crystal chalice, as long as it's not used regularly.

If you own a lead crystal item, the following precautions should be noted:

1. Do not store liquids in lead crystal glasses or bottles
2. Do not drink from lead crystal on a daily basis, especially if you are pregnant
3. Do not feed an infant or child from a lead crystal baby bottle or cup.
4. Do not store food in any dishes that may contain lead
5. Do not store food in antiques or collectibles
6. Be wary of using or of storing food or beverages in highly decorated or metallic-coated tableware, particularly items made in other countries or by amateurs and hobbyists


www.nsc.org/issues/lead/leadindishes.htm

[Ebony]

Interesting topic, watershield. Personally I like using steel for its strength and durability. When I can find it, I like items made of cast iron or rod iron. I seem drawn to these metals. Its sometimes hard to find though.

-------
And Goth, what you posted is some frightening information. My dad has some unexplained liver problems -- I just recently found out that some of the serving dishes my mom uses, and stores left-overs in, are very old, antique, and lead crystal. I wonder now if this has anything to do with his health? Do you have more information or are you able to point me in the right direction where I might find out more about this?
-------

[Goth]

I found a few sites for you Ebony Rose:

www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/lead.html

www.lenntech.com/Periodic-chart-elements/Pb-en.htm

www.phis.org.uk/evid/sub.asp?p=cca3

It might be a good idea to tell your mum to stop using the antique dishes to store food in too

[pixiedust]

I have never heard of lead ever being used in a magical context. Which does make me wonder as it is a base metal. I feel sorry that I over looked it. Obviously there would be practicalities to overcome when working with it. But I would love to know, if indeed there was a tratiton, it would have originated from.
MUST READ...................

[watershield]

Just as a side note... from Wikipedia and to paraphrase;

Lead is thought to have been used by man for some 7,000 years, due to it's abundance and ease to obtain.

It is believed during the Roman Empire, Lead acetate was used as a sweetener for wine. This and the many other uses of lead during roman times is believed to be one of the major contributing factors to the fall of the Empire.

Until recent years, lead acetate was used in candy manufacture. (according to a recent story on CBC, it continues to be used in many third world countries).

[Ebony]

Thanks Goth. I'm going to have my dad talk to his doctor about this.

[Goth]

You're very welcome ;D I'm assuming he's had some blood tests done, has anything showed up in them?

[angelis]

Effects of lead poisoning
Unless the amount of lead poisoning is extremely high, symptoms of lead poisoning are often not immediately apparent making the number of undiagnosed cases of lead poisoning high. Lead can enter your child's body when they put their hand or another object with lead dust on it their mouth, if paint chips or soil containing lead is ingested, or lead dust is breathed in. Lead poisoning symptoms include, irritability, stomachaches, poor appetite, diarrhea, colic, distractibility, and lethargy. Mood swings, irritability, sever abdominal pain, headaches, and loss of motor coordination may also result from lead exposure. Adults may be affected by lead poisoning and have kidney and neurological damage, anemia, hypertension, impotence, sterility, and miscarriages. Blood tests can determine if lead poisoning is present, but a negative blood test does not mean that damage from lead has not already occurred.

Lead can have a significant effect on many aspects of the body's system, particularly in young children and fetuses. The younger the individual is, the more affected they can become with lead poisoning. Lead is more dangerous to children because babies and young children put their hands and objects in their mouths which could contain lead dust more often than adults. Young bodies also absorb more lead than adults do, affecting the development of young children by causing speech delay, hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, neurological and renal damage, stunted growth, anemia, hearing loss, and sometimes mental retardation. Lead levels can be reduced in children with certain techniques, but the damage that lead poisoning causes is not always reversible.

[pixiedust]

AHHHHHHHH! GOTH!!!!!,
You turned from a book into a lady!
Sorry, little off topic there.
Anyway, yeah lead....... Only other stuff I found out so far was what Watershield just said.

[watershield]

The only additional reference I've found to date is regarding King Solomon's seal.
Apparently, Solomon wore a ring with the star of David and various runes inscribed upon it.
It allowed him to control demons.

In the story, Solomon had sealed a demon / Jinn into a copper bottle with a lead seal, and pressed his ring into the lead to bind the demon.
I really can't find anything of an "old" reference saying lead is not to be used. Just new stuff. New meaning since the discovery of lead poisoning.

[vermindaspirit]

Im sure that some ancient bodies were also found buried in Lead coffins - not sure what that means....