Full Description
Raise your magickal practice to a new level with this easy-to-use, detailed guide to the athame. Tracing this impressive tool from ancient times to present day, The Witch's Athame presents the symbolism, history, and modern uses of the ritual blade. Discover all the steps in finding the right athame, consecrating it, and using it in your practice. Full of practical applications for both the circle and the home, The Witch's Athame shows you how to utilize the ritual blade to its highest potential. Also featured throughout are "Getting to the Point," short segments of wisdom by knowledgeable writers. From contemporary athames made of stone and crystal to folklore about knives in magickal usage, this book connects you with Witches, Pagans, and magicians from across the centuries.
Contents
Table of Contents
Chapter One: Introduction
Anatomy of an Athame
Pronouncing Athame
Finding an Athame
Why a Knife? The Practicality and Inconvenience of the Athame
Getting to the Point: Angus McMahan
Chapter Two: A Short History
Knives in Ritual & Religion
The Black Handled Knife
Why the Double-Edged Blade?
Knife Superstitions
Native American Knife Lore
Athame Correspondences
Chapter Three: The Other Athames
Stone Athame
Athames of Wood
Making a Wooden Athame
Blades of Bone and Antler
The Secret Athames
Getting to the Point: Lupa the Greenwolf
Chapter Four: Making the Athame Yours
Creating the Black-handled knife
Making an Athame Your Own
Marking the Athame
Theban Script and Norse Runes
Marking the Hilt
Etching the Blade
To Be Sharp or Dull-A Difference of Opinions
Care and Keeping of Your Athame
Chapter Five: Preparing an Athame For Ritual
Cleansing an Athame
Cleansing an Athame, Indoor Ritual
The Why and Whats of Consecrating
A Solitary Consecration Rite
A Coven Consecration Rite
Chapter Six: The Athame in Ritual
The Opening Ceremony
Casting the Circle
Calling the Quarters
The Symbolic Great Rite & Cakes and Ale
A Door to the Summerlands
Chapter Seven: The Boline and the White Handled Knife
Finding a Boline
Blessing a Boline
Using a Boline
Ancient Druids and the Sickle
Chapter Eight: The Athame in the Kitchen and Beyond
Infusing Food With Energy
Breads and Pastries
Soups and Stews
Cleansing Your Home
Getting to the Point: Jenya Beachy
Chapter Nine: The Sword
The Sword in History
Swords in Literature and Mythology
Sword Lore
Blessing a Sword for Coven Work or Group Ritual
Chapter Ten: Divination, Ritual, & Spellwork With The Athame
Scrying with an Athame
The Athame Pendulum
Candle Carvings
Spell to Let Go of a Lover or Friend
The True Witch's Weapon-Spirits and the Blade
A Dedication Ritual
An Initiation Ritual
Chapter Eleven: The Knife in Traditional Witchcraft
Traditional Witchcraft Rituals with the Knife and the Sword
Fashioning the Bridge
Calling the Quarters
The Great Rite/Cakes and Ale
Getting to the Point: Jenya Beachy
Epilogue: The Circle is Open, the Book is Over
Appendix One: Theban Script
Appendix Two: Elder Futhark Runes
Bibliography and Further Reading
