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AthamePick up any magickal book, and you will typically find an Athame defined as a black-handled, double-bladed knife traditionally carried by witches for ceremonial purposes. It is typically 6 – 8 inches long, has dull edges, and had magickal symbols carved on either/both the blade and the handle. It is used to cut items on the astral plane, and not on the physical plane. |
Now, that's great as far as it goes, but I wanted to know WHY an Athame is used...what is its history and how did it evolve into the tool we use today. During my research I found out that the use of a knife by Witches is very old...older than I had imagined.
Two books were instrumental in my research, The ABC’s of Witchcraftby Doreen Valiente Witchcraft, A Tradition Renewed by Evan Jones and Doreen Valiente Both of these books go into depth on some of the historical aspects of the craft, and I recommend them highly for others interested in our roots.
The use by witches of a magickal knife is very ancient. A picture on a Greek vase of circa 200 BC shows 2 naked witches engaged in "drawing down the moon" to aid their magick. One of the 2 holds a wand, and the other a short sword.
Another instance is a gem from ancient Rome shows Hecate, one of the triple goddesses of witchcraft, with 3 pairs of arms. The arms bear the symbols of a burning torch, a scourge, and a dagger.
A woodcut illustration within Olaus Magnus Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus (History of the Northern Peoples) published in 1555 shows a witch controlling a band of demons which she has conjured up. She brandishes a dagger in one hand, and a bunch of magickal herbs in the other.
The Dutch Artist Teniers depicted a similar scene of a witch controlling spirits by means of a knife.
An early edition of the Grimoire called The Clavide of Solomon dated 1572 and now in the British Museum mentions a magickal knife by the name of Arthana.
Given all of these instances of a ritual knife used for magickal reasons, Ms. Valiente's believes that the modern day Athame evolved from these ritual knives of yesterday.
Jones says "in one sense, the coven knife is representative of the temple sacrificial knife, a blade which was used for no other purpose than the ritual killing of the sacrificial victim. Dedicated to the gods of a clan, tribe, or later a city state, the knife would be used for the killing of the Divine King sacrificed on May Eve, and the dispatching of the sacred messenger to the gods. With the change from human to animal sacrificial victims, the knife as the instrument of death declined in use, being replaced by the pole-axe. Even then, the ritual knife was still to be found on the altar of the gods."
"In the Capitoline Museum, Rome, is a well-preserved section of frieze from the Temple of Vespasian. Among the sacrificial implements shown are the pole-axe and the knife. The state of faith of the Roman Empire placed great emphasis on the taking of the auspices from the liver of the sacrificial victim. In this case, the knife would be used to remove the liver and prepare the sacred portions of the carcass for the altars of the gods."
"Though the coven knife is no longer used in the faith as an instrument of blood sacrifice, it is still a blade that is dedicated to the service of the Goddess and as such has a place upon her altar."2
We would be foolish to think that the Athame never had a bloodier existence in past times. The Druids were rumored to sacrifice victims, however it was usually only enemies captured in battle. I’ve read many legends about the spilling of blood of an animal to ensure the growing of crops, to bring rain, etc. etc. to not believe that this is part of its heritage. I think it is this part of our history that makes most non-witches afraid of us. (how many times have people asked me, "Do you sacrifice animals?" Being a vegetarian, I want to ask them the last time they ate meat!)
We all know the Athame is often used to cast a circle that provides the witch with a safe place to perform magick. Creating this sacred space by carving out a boundary might have originated with a custom used in building cities.
Throughout ancient history the founding of a new city was marked by the ploughing of the "boundary line." This was done in a reverent matter, calling on the Gods to aid, favor and protect any that dwelt within its perimeter. We ask the same when casting the perimeter of our circle for a ritual. We call on the Goddesses and Gods to be "likened unto a wall of stone around this circle’s edge and to protect all that are within."
To cast a circle using an Athame, the Athame is held in your dominant hand. (my drawing below, the woman is holding the Athame in her left hand. I am left-handed, thus I use my left hand). Starting in the East (or North for some traditions) a Witch will point the Athame towards the East, picturing the formation of a boundry of flames, a bubble, a wall, or however you "see" it in your minds eye. Slowly turn clockwise towards the south, picturing the boundry curving around as you draw it. When you reach the East again, picture the boundry wall drawing together not only on the side, but overhead and below, thus forming a perfect sphere of protection around you.
After a circle is cast, a witch doesn't leave until the ritual is completed, and the circle is drawn back up. If however, like I tend to do, you forget something outside the circle, and have to go out to get it, you can use the Athame to "cut a doorway" to exit the circle. Start at the floor, cut up, over several feet, then back down to the floor, picturing the flames cutting a doorway, go out, get what you need, then go back in. Start at the end point and picture the boundry re-joining by drawing it in reverse of your creating it.
This aspect of an Athame takes on a sexual nature, and is used as a phallic symbol when consecrating wine or creating holy water. At every ritual I pour water into my cauldron and during my altar dedication, I sprinkle 3 pinches of salt into the water. Placing the cauldron on my pentacle, symbolizing the 4 elements and spirit, I take my Athame and plunge it into the water and stir it three times. I picture while I am doing this the God (Athame) mating with his consort (the cauldron).
Jones feels that, like the impossibly of a virgin birth, it is impossible to consecrate wine without a man and woman. (no skin off my nose since I don't drink!) The woman holds the chalice, the man the Athame and together they symbolize the sexual act where the wine is changed from being just wine into a mystically enhanced fluid. After this union, the wine holds a small part of the essence of the Goddess from the cauldron of birth. That essence is given life by the divine spark of the God through the power directed into it with the Athame.
The Athame is a sacred tool and should be treated with reverence like all tools. Mine always sits at the foot / south of my altar and is only used during magickal workings. To use it properly, it should be dedicated for your use by either yourself, or a member of a coven that you belong to. (for example the High Priest or Priestess) This will remove all negativity and the secular reason that it was created. (unless you purchase a blade forged for use exclusively as an Athame by a Wiccan who knew what she/he was doing, your blade was created for a more mundane purpose.)
Extra care should be taken though to remove any negativity. You don't want to direct power through a blade that was used with bad intent. It should be clean and empty after the dedication and with its first and subsequent uses should be filled with the essence of divinity that the wielder "pulls" into him/herself and directs through the blade.
At the end of my rituals, when I have performed all spellwork, I'm usually full of all types of energy. I tend to direct that energy into my tools, thus "recharging them." I especially do this with my Athame. This past Samhain I tried something a little different. When I drew up the circle I pictured forming it into a ball, and taking all that energy and placing it in the blade. It "felt" right. We shall see. Other Wiccans draw the energy used in creating the circle back into the blade that way. Do what feels comfortable to you.
Finally, when the Athame is held by an individual, it is a symbol of will. As a tool, it has the ability to direct that will in the form of magickal energy. It can be used as a focal point of drawing energy then pointing it when the energy is released in a ritual. It is my favorite tool of all that I have.
1. The ABC's of Witchcraft by Doreen Valiente
2. Witchcraft, A Tradition Renewed by Evan Jones and Doreen Valiente.
The page was last updated by Spyrit Dancer on 9/22/00. The Athame picture and moon ruler is © by Robin Wood, and used with her permission.