The athame, pronounced as a-tha-may, is a double-edged dagger. Wiccans use it for ceremonies and rituals. It is one of the most widely recognized altar tools in witchcraft and Wicca.
No, don’t let the image of a witch carrying a dagger scare you! Its sharp blade is never intended for harming. That is why it is dulled to prevent any accidents while using it as a ritual tool.
Traditional witches were very particular about their athame. It had to have a double-sided blade and a black wooden handle. And on that handle, inscriptions and talismans are made.
So where did the athame originate? There have been mentions of it in variations in the Key of Solomon grimoire. It was probably derived from the French translation’s artave, arthane, and arthame. Most of which are garbled words of the Latin artavus, a medieval penknife.
The Key of Solomon manuscript has drawings of a knife-looking sickle. Gerald Gardner must have taken the word athame from one of the many words they used to call a knife in the manuscript.
The word “athame” was first used in Gerald Gardner’s Witchcraft Today. Gardner had a deep interest in knives and antique swords. According to him, the athame is the most important ritual tool there is. He would often refer to it as the witch’s knife.
As I said, the athame as a ritual tool is not intended to cause physical harm. Its use is for magickal purposes only, like drawing a circle, directing energy, cutting and re-sealing of a door in a circle, charging and consecrating objects, and banishing negative energy.
On the altar, the athame is one of the four most important elemental tools in Wicca. Along with the chalice, wand, and the pentacle.
The athame represents either the element of Fire or the element of Air. It represents the element of Air, for the sound it makes when you slice it through the air. It represents Fire, for you need the flame in creating and shaping knives.
Don't haggle over the price of an athame. And once you have it, make sure to cleanse and consecrate before using it. Also, be careful about touching another witch’s athame. It is like an invasion of that witch’s personal space.
Do you have an athame in your life?
What's it like? I'd like to hear about it!
Please share in the comments section below.
I am needing an atheme and have had trouble acquiring one.
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Zakiyah Lindsey
January 04, 2021
Keep up the positive💙