I found this occurring in two additional spots. While working on cataloging this manuscript, I noticed something out of place- a thing strip of vellum sticking up from the binding between two leaves. The Book of Hours (Flemish, 15th c.) at Mount Holyoke College’s Art Museum holds one such mystery. If you are a long-time reader of ours, you have probably read our article on Wiccan symbols.While some of these margin mysteries may never be solved, they often bring to light other points of interest in the manuscript world. Today, we are having a more detailed look on the athame knife/dagger which is not only one of the most prominent Wiccan symbols but is also physically used as an integral piece of Wiccan rituals. Here is all you need to know about the athame knife, its use as a symbol and importance for Wiccan faith.īut what is an athame? Pronounced A-thuh-may or a-THAW-me, an athame is a double-edged ritual knife that is used in witchcraft and neopagan religions to cut energies, draw boundaries and other sacred symbols. Athame Knife and Wand – © Carmen Sorvillo at ShutterStock It typically features a black handle that is often inscribed with some sacred symbols and about a 6-inch long, double-edged and pointed blade. The blade, however, is not sharp because it is not used to cut anything on the physical plane. Another reason for the dull blade is to prevent any harm to the user while performing rituals. The blades of athames were traditionally made of steel, but now they are being made with different materials, such as bronze, copper, bone, and wood. The term ‘athame’ is believed to have originated from the Latin word ‘ artavus ’, which was a quill knife and has been mentioned in the old manuscripts of ‘The Key of Solomon’ a popular grimoire from the medieval period. The practitioners of modern witchcraft are of the opinion that the word ‘athame’ was first used by Gerald Brosseau Gardner, the British author who wrote Witchcraft Today. This is why many believe that ‘athame’ is his own variation of ‘arthame’ a word that is found in earlier witchcraft and magic books. There are only a few pieces of art that show witches and pagans holding an athame. What is an Athame Knife/Dagger Used for?.Athame Knife as a Symbol and Its Meaning.What is an Athame Knife/Dagger Used for ? With the exception of Kitchen Witchcraft, a growing movement within modern Paganism that encourages witches to use magical tools for other (mundane) purposes so they can get familiar with them, Pagan religions only use athame knives for performing certain ritual acts. These include casting circles at the start of rituals, directing a Wiccan’s personal energy, and for summoning and banishing the spirit entities that are believed to be present at the ceremonies as guardian angels. It is also used to cut and reseal a door in a ritual circle and for cutting negative energies.Īnd while Hollywood has made many of us believe otherwise, an athame dagger is never used to cut any tangible thing. The athame is often confused with the ‘ boline ’, which is the knife that is used for cutting ingredients, rope, and twine for the ritual. The reason why most witchcraft traditions place a huge emphasis on exercising precaution while using an athame dagger and strictly prohibit its use for any other purpose than performing rituals is because it is believed that an athame dagger doesn’t remain a symbol of will, once it has tasted blood. Instead, it becomes a weapon that is consecrated to service the God of War. The knife is considered a personal tool of Wiccans.
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