Choosing an athame?

[Combat Medic]

Hi, I am very new to Wicca and have found myself to be drawn to healing magic. Most of the athames I have seen available are steel or copper. I am loath to use these materials for healing magic partly because I associate them with the weapons that I must use as a soldier, but mostly for reasons I can not explain, I guess it just doesn't feel right. I have found daggers made form cut and polished stone, selenite, quarts and other types of crystal, but can not find anything made from flint or obsidian. Can anyone give me any information on what would be best for healing energy? Any help here would be greatly appreciated.

Thank-you,
Combat Medic
:RuNew:

[serenarian]

I would say that any material that feels good to you would be the right choice. The athame will channel the energy from YOU in any case, so in my opinion it doesn't matter from the blade is made from. I have three athames, one being steel, another being wooden, and a small miniature sword that I use in certain rituals. So it really depends on you. :D

[Hoot]

Combat Medic, I love healing magic, too. I prefer steel for its strength, particularly for the times when I dig a circle into earth (my favorite athame for that is - an oyster knife! :hehehehe: - that was never used for that purpose), and it occurs to me that most medical instruments are steel, so I don't really have a problem with it. But we're all different though - I agree that the most important aspect of any of your magical tools is that it should feel right to you. Keep looking, and you'll find the right ones!

[Felidae]

I don't know if this link will work, but I ran a search on Google on Obsidian Blades and found this:

http://www.bladegallery.com/knives/knife.asp?knifeid=2745&pics=small&alt=one

If the link bottoms out, just go to www.bladegallery.com (http://www.bladegallery.com/) and you can probably find the actual page yourself.

It's pretty pricey - I couldn't do it but maybe you can, or perhaps they have something cheaper. This is just what my search turned up.

It is really pretty though! A beauty, actually :)

[Hoot]

That is gorgeous, Felidae! In fact it's so nice, and sooo expensive, I might be a bit afraid to use it.

[Felidae]

That is gorgeous, Felidae! In fact it's so nice, and sooo expensive, I might be a bit afraid to use it.
When the picture loaded in my browser I had to wipe the drool off my chin - then I saw the price! :lol:

[Combat Medic]

Thank you for the link Felidae. Your right, that is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship! But way out of my price range, here is a link to some that I have been looking at, not nearly as pretty but much more affordable.

http://www.metaphysicalrealm.com/athames1.html

[Combat Medic]

Thank you all for your information and your advice. You are right that it really is up to the individual, me, to find what feels right.

Here is another sight that I found. http://www.waterhawkcreations.com/athame1.htm
These are also beautiful but also a lot more than I can afford. Have fun though!

Thanks again,
Combat Medic

[cjtarot]

Ok..so I'm gonna ask..WHY do you need an athame for healing. Wouldn't a crystal or wood and crystal wand work. I had an ash tree out back. When it warms up, I'm gonna get a peice and make a wand (Ash is for protection - so I'm told).

Speaking of wood, why not carve your own atham out of wood..decorate the handle as you see fit..and while your work..think of the love and healing you will be doing with this athame.

Blessings and much luck
CJ

[Joshua]

First of all hi and welcome! I think I have one of the more unusual athames here, so unorthodox that some might object to me calling it an athame, but it is my ceremonial knife so I will continue to refer to it as such.

I use a tibetan Phurpa. It's a bronze ritual dagger. I was in a magic store and it was laying on the shelf. I touched it and it screamed "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!? I BELONG TO YOU! TAKE ME HOME!" It has served me very well ever since.

[Nitefalle]

I really want to get a wooden athame as my original just isn't doing it for me anymore. AutumnsPath.com has some really beautiful ones, with different woods for the blades and handles and are just on the pricey side of affordable.

~N~

[Felidae]

Thank you for the link Felidae. Your right, that is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship! But way out of my price range, here is a link to some that I have been looking at, not nearly as pretty but much more affordable.

http://www.metaphysicalrealm.com/athames1.html
Oh yeah, those are much more the thing!

Also my kind of price range: Trust me to find something so completely out of my league the first time round and fall in love! :bigredblu

[Mesektet]

when it comes to an athame, i have never actually sought out one or any other weapon or ritual object as such, i prefer it to come to me...i find that if you wait, the right one will make itself known to you...