Athame

An Athame or Athamé is a ceremonial dagger, with a double-edged blade and usually a black handle. It is the main ritual tool among several used in the religion of Wicca, and is also used in various other neopagan witchcraft traditions. The athame is mentioned in the writings of Gerald Gardner in the 1950s.

The athame’s primary use is to channel and direct psychic energy, generally conceived as etheric fire (if things such as herbs or cords need to be cut, another knife called a boline - a white-handled knife - is used). An exception is the “kitchen witchcraft” philosophy, which actively encourages the use of magical tools for mundane purposes to increase the witch’s familiarity with them.

The ritual drawing of the boundary of the Magic circle - also known as “casting the circle” - is usually done with either a ritual sword or an athame, in traditional coven practice. In most traditional covens, the athame is associated with the magical element of fire, so the circle is considered to be cast in etheric fire. This fire is traditionally envisioned as blue, indigo or violet; although it may equally well be envisioned as other colors. When the circle is ritually purified after being cast, the athame is the tool traditionally used to invoke the elemental guardians of the four directions - also termed “calling the quarters” - typically by drawing elemental pentagrams at each quarter.

As a masculine principle, the athame is often used in combination with the chalice, as feminine principle, evoking the act of procreation, as a symbol of universal creativity: the athame represents the magical element of fire, associated with the Sun and the Horned God; while the chalice represents the magical element of water, associated with the Moon and the Goddess. The union of the two then represents the union of God and Goddess, male and female, sun and moon, fire and water. This rite (the Great Rite) is done by dipping the athame into the chalice to bless the wine.

Athame consecrating ritual

it’s very important to consecrate the magical knife before any kind of use and this is a simple rituale that you can use to consecrate your future athame.

You’ll need:

• a small bowl of salt —> north/earth;
• incense —> east/air;
• a white candle —> south/fire;
• a cup of water —> west/water.

If your tradition requires you to cast a circle, do so now.

Light the candle and the incense. Take the athame in your hands, and face north. Pass it over the salt and say:

Powers of the North,
Guardians of the Earth,
I consecrate this knife of steel,
and charge it with your energies.
I purify it this night, and make this tool sacred.

Now, turn to the east and, holding the tool in the smoke of the incense, say:

Powers of the East,
Guardians of the Air,
I consecrate this knife of steel,
and charge it with your energies.
I purify it this night, and make this tool sacred.

Next, face the south and pass the tool over the flame of the candle and repeat the process, saying:

Powers of the South,
Guardians of Fire,
I consecrate this knife of steel,
and charge it with your energies.
I purify it this night, and make this tool sacred.

Finally, turn to the west, and pass your ritual tool over the cup of water. Say:

Powers of the West,
Guardians of Water,
I consecrate this knife of steel,
and charge it with your energies.
I purify it this night, and make this tool sacred.

Face your altar, hold the athame to the sky, and say:

I charge this athame in the name of Old Ones,
the Ancients, the Sun and the Moon and the Stars.
By the powers of the Earth, of Air, of Fire and of Water
I banish the energies of any previous owners,
and make it new and fresh.
I consecrate this knife,
and it is mine.

Now you’ve not only consecrated the tool, you’ve claimed ownership. In many Pagan traditions, including some forms of Wicca, it’s considered a good idea to put the item to use immediately to bind the consecration and strengthen the energy of the tool. If you’ve consecrated an athame you can use it in a ceremony to consecrate another tool.