Question about the athame...

[flusteredkitten]

I'm fairly new to Wicca and I have a question about the athame. I know, traditionally the handle is supposed to be black, but I recently received one that has a brass mermaid for the handle. Would this make a just as useful athame? Will there be any disadvantages to using one like this? Thanks in advance for any help I can get. ^_^

[Phoenix Blue]

Can you vision yourself as more comfortable with a black-handled blade, or with the one you received as a gift? I ask because, while that detail is probably important within some of the more strict traditions, if you're eclectic, it probably won't matter a whole lot. :)

Not to mention, it is a gift. Things that are meant for majickal use sometimes come to you that way.

[Autumn Sidhe]

I really don't see a problem with your athame being whatever you would like it to be. I've known many that have used things such as a butter knife or a letter opener for an athame. I ordered mine online from the Blessed Bee, and they had many to choose from back then (two or three years ago). I chose one with a dark brown wooden handle so I could use a wood burner on it to engrave my name and the triple moon symbol. Whatever you feel comfortable using, by all means, use it. :)

[Lunacie]

Ha! You won't catch me beloinging to a tradition where everyone has to wear the same color robe and use the same kind of athame. I'm a unique individual and I'm not about to let anyone forget it. :lol:

My athame was purchased at a Ren Faire, it's about 16 inches long and has a carved walrus tusk for a handle. Very cool, I should try to take a photo and post it.

Rules were made to be broken. But only at the right time, eh?

[Erincelt]

Here's an exactly quote from the old version of the Liber Consiliis, my Tradition's text.



The Athame is a ritual blade, preferably of length between five or nine inches, with a hilt of black, or of natural leather or wood, or of a sculpted design meaningful or pleasing to the owner.


So there ya have it.. if you want a mermaid for a handle, go for it! :)

[flusteredkitten]

Wow, thanks for the help everyone. ^_^ :D

[MidnightSun]

My athame is leather handled, which is a light brown color. It's a nice hunting knife my dad has had since before I was born, and gave to me as a gift. He knew I had been wanting it since the time I was about 7..lol :)

[Grey]

Ive heard from a few sources that the first and second fingers of your hand can be used like an athame in a pinch. I use it every once in a while to focus back to my suroundings if I get a headache or get lightheaded, espeically after meditating to long. Just close my mind and focus on the point.

[Erincelt]

Yep, the "Benediction" gesture of index and middle fingers out and thumb folded... always a useful substitute. :) I first ran across that one myself in some of my Hermetic material, but it most definitely works fine.

[Hadewijch]

I know, traditionally the handle is supposed to be black, but I recently received one that has a brass mermaid for the handle. Would this make a just as useful athame?


This is an old topic, but it still has a link in the New Pagan FAQ part of the forum. So I think it is worth to talk about it again.

Said so, on to the topic-->Depends on tradition. In some wicca traditions your athame with the brass mermaid is nothing more than a personal ritual knife or just a beautiful knife, not a athame. I don't think that is narrow-thinking, but more about preserving the symbolism that is fitting into that of wicca. Ask yourself why the knife had to be black-hilted, ask yourself why the knife needs symbols on the handle. Where is it fitting in the whole of wicca-symbolism, where is it fitting in working in your magical circle? Then look at the knife you now have, is it fitting into this all? Does the mermaid (water creature) fitting into it?

Thre is another way to consider this, that's more the eclectic way. That's all about feeling good, not about making things useful for yourself. Choose what you want: feeling good or fitting into the whole symbolism. When you questioning yourself all those questions, I bet you will eventually find an answer to yourself.

[Daecon]

My HP's athame is white bone. The black handle is traditional, but not mandatory. Now the Dagger of Air in ceremonial magic is a different matter. That has a very specific appearance.