The athame
An athame (or even athamé) is an black-handled ceremonial double-edged dagger, among many magic tools utilised in traditional witchcraft along with other Neopagan religions like Wicca. In the Scottish traditions, the knife is called a “yag-dirk” and in Sax Wicca it is known as a “seax” (see-ax).
The athame often has a metal spring-loaded sword with a sharp line (though the stage might be dulled in order to prevent accidental physical injury during ritual usage), along with a handle that can be black and that could possibly be inscribed with specific symbols ordered by the convention, which range from astrological glyphs into runes into magic symbols reminiscent of deities, spirits or the other components. But many other practitioners now use athames made from stainless steel, copper, silver and various other metals, or even carved stone. Some have family heirlooms, such as letter openers which serve the purpose.
The athame’s main usage is for ritual and also magic functions only, to guide energy in a ceremony. If items like herbs or wires have to be really cut, then a boline is generally utilized.
Gerald Gardner, among the creators of contemporary Wicca from the 1950s, said that the athame of his writings since the most essential ritual instrument, which had several applications, but that was not utilized as a knife that was mundane to get real physical cuttingedge. But, there’s been speculation which Gardner’s attention and experience in classic knives and swords, and specifically the bewitching “kris” knives of Malaysia and Indonesia, could have led to the program’s chief value in his eyesight of Wicca.
Neo-Pagan Uses for the Athame
The athame is among the four different tools of contemporary Wicca (together with the pentacle, the wand along with also the chalice), also signifies in many customs the part of Fire (even though in others it signifies the part of Air, and also the phallic symbolism of this knife connects it together with all the God).
The athame can be used to cast the magick circle, call the “quarters” or elements, and is part of many an opening ritual, handfasting (wedding) or initiation rite. It is associated with the element of Fire and the South.
Thoughts on Touching the Athame
There are principles of consecration to get a recently obtained athame, make it fresh or obtained by someone else. When buying a knife for this function (or some other ritual instrument, for that matter) it’s deemed important to not haggle over the purchase price. Touching another individual’s athame without consent is regarded as an intrusion of their proprietor’s individual space
Product Link: Athames for sale on Black Magic Witch
Book suggestion for Ceremonial Magic and Dagger Preparation: Lesser Key Of Solomon (hc) By Joseph Peterson (ed)
