Athames of Steel or Wood?

[Mannun]

Traditionally one uses an Athame in a circle and sometimes a sword even. Some say that no steel weapons should be within the circle as it intimidates other worldly beings invited, amongst many other reasons. Some have opted to create wooden Athames or use wands of a sorts. What do you think??

[Lunacie]

Traditionally one uses an Athame in a circle and sometimes a sword even. Some say that no steel weapons should be within the circle as it intimidates other worldly beings invited, amongst many other reasons. Some have opted to create wooden Athames or use wands of a sorts. What do you think??

I've never invited any spirits to my circle that would be intimidated by an edged blade. What would be the point of having such a wuss in my circle?

[patch]

What would be the point of having such a wuss in my circle?

:lol:

--
I really think it depends on your tradition.
I don't use athames, but I'd opt for steel ;)

[MonSno_LeeDra]

I wonder if there is not a cross over going on here? The use of some metals as a means of warding against or possibly harming other world creatures has always been Iron from all I am aware of.

I do think part of that has to do with Iron being natural while Steel is actually a man made composite.

My self I use both a long Samauri Sword and a short Samauri Sword. On occasion I use a Scotish Dirk. When I use wood it is in the form of a staff.

[SilverClaw]

I have considered making a wooden Athame just because I like wood working, but with in my circle I use steel athame very seldom due to my kids, I use more my wand then anything and I never invite anything that would be offended by me using my athame or any type of tool or material .

[earthtide]

Hmm... I actually refined my athame from what I think is probably a handmade kitchen knife. It's probably steel, but I have no idea. One thing that I always take into consideration as a solitary witch is that for the majority of things, it's the thought that counts, rather than the things I give as offerings or use as tools. As long as they are important to me, and I consecrate them or empower them with positive energy, they work fine as whatever. I mean, of course I don't take some grass and pretend it's sassafras or something, but I do my best to make do with what I have, and if my athame is steel, the universe will know that my intentions are good. You know what I mean?

[mtpathy]

Traditionally one uses an Athame in a circle and sometimes a sword even. Some say that no steel weapons should be within the circle as it intimidates other worldly beings invited, amongst many other reasons. Some have opted to create wooden Athames or use wands of a sorts. What do you think??

i would think that it would be dependent of the tradition you follow, if you dont follow a tradition then it would be personel taste.

[taijiya]

Since there does not appear to be any reference to the term "athame" prior to Gerald Gardner's use of it to describe a type of ritual knife, and since a knife made of anything but metal is essentially just a knife-shaped sculpture, I'd fall into the traditionalist camp on this one. The word's definition does seem to have expanded a bit over the years, however, so if someone from another trad wants to call a wooden object or any other thing their "athame," that's their business. :bigredgri

[Nox_Mortus]

My experience and learnings dictate that it must a double edged blade (meaning metal or stone and edged, though not necessarily razor sharp) at the very least.

[earthtide]

My experience and learnings dictate that it must a double edged blade (meaning metal or stone and edged, though not necessarily razor sharp) at the very least.

Mine's single edged.. I didn't have the money to get a fancy knife, so I found a kitchen knife that was handmade, and that felt good in my hands. I'm in the process of shining the blade with nail buffers, and dulling it.

[Sequoia]

An athame made of wood? The symbolism is too rich. I can't stop giggling. :giggle: I'm just giggling immaturely at the concept of a tool used as a phallic symbol made of wood. Teehee.

(... and since when would a spirit be intimidated by a blade of any type? Unless you were talking about a different kind of wood "athame"... :giggle: )

Okay, I'm done, I promise.

I'd go for steel. It's less absorbing, more directing. A wooden chalice would probably be good - it's absorbing, accepting. Though I suppose earthenware (clay, pottery) would probably work as well for a chalice.

If I'm grasping the concept correctly. I'm not Wiccan. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Nox_Mortus]

An athame made of wood? The symbolism is too rich. I can't stop giggling. :giggle: I'm just giggling immaturely at the concept of a tool used as a phallic symbol made of wood. Teehee.

(... and since when would a spirit be intimidated by a blade of any type? Unless you were talking about a different kind of wood "athame"... :giggle: )

Okay, I'm done, I promise.

I'd go for steel. It's less absorbing, more directing. A wooden chalice would probably be good - it's absorbing, accepting. Though I suppose earthenware (clay, pottery) would probably work as well for a chalice.

If I'm grasping the concept correctly. I'm not Wiccan. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

:lol: Well yeah that's part of it (a lot of Wiccans do use metal chalices, but the wand is wooden partially for the reasons you describe) and spirits are threatened by the blade because it's purified and charged with energy, I suppose you could use anything for that really but having a blade definitely gives you a psychological advantage.

[Shanti]

All materials have their place. If your in tune with metal over wood or whatever..its for you! What feels right to you will work for you.
Metals are part of nature to and a part thats is very important to the balance of the planet.
Earth wouldn't of even formed as she is today if metals were not part of her makeup.

[lightdragon]

An athame made of wood? The symbolism is too rich. I can't stop giggling. :giggle: I'm just giggling immaturely at the concept of a tool used as a phallic symbol made of wood. Teehee.

(... and since when would a spirit be intimidated by a blade of any type? Unless you were talking about a different kind of wood "athame"... :giggle: )

Okay, I'm done, I promise.

I'd go for steel. It's less absorbing, more directing. A wooden chalice would probably be good - it's absorbing, accepting. Though I suppose earthenware (clay, pottery) would probably work as well for a chalice.

If I'm grasping the concept correctly. I'm not Wiccan. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I`ve seen athames made of bone, obsidian, quartz, jade and a few other materials. as well as wood. Essentialy wood would be good for a wand.

Iron and steel have two different metaphysical properties. Iron destroys or blocks magic while steel is a good protection metal, it does not destroy or block magic. Essentially steel is an alloy of iron and carbon(and sometimes other materials). Then you have something called mild steel which has a lower content of carbon to it. It still has the same metaphysical properties as steel and not the magic blocking aspects of iron. Pure iron made products today are extrememly rare and costly. in fact when i go to Ren. faires the blacksmiths there will use mild steel or steel. They would work with pure iron but you would have pay for the iron and shipping
so with this combo you would probably feel more power than a wand. Since steel is a stronger metal than iron and became more common after invention of the Bessemer process in the mid- 1800's CE.


My theory on this was that Gerald Gardner must have felt the steel have a more powerful aspect on it. In fact in his 1954 book Witchcraft Today
part of a ritual he uses the words
“I conjure thee O Sword of Steel to serve me as a defence in all..."

[Deb13b]

My knife is double edged but made completely of wood. I had been looking for one that felt "right" for me & had seen some beautiful metal ones but nothing took my fancy. The wooden knife just felt like it was the one for me. I went through the "but shouldn't it be a black handled/steel knife" thing but then I realised it was the energy that I put into it that was most important.

[SacredWithin]

Traditionally one uses an Athame in a circle and sometimes a sword even. Some say that no steel weapons should be within the circle as it intimidates other worldly beings invited, amongst many other reasons. Some have opted to create wooden Athames or use wands of a sorts. What do you think??


I think it depends on the person who is doing the magick and their intent for the ritual. The tools are meant not only to focus, but to also work in harmony with the energy of the practitioner and the overall intended energy of the ritual.