Can someone help me please?

[Lost Soul]

This is going to seem like a dumb question as I've been practicing for a long time, but what's a boline?

[mol]

Originally posted by Lost Soul
This is going to seem like a dumb question as I've been practicing for a long time, but what's a boline?

Its a white-handled knife.

[Myst]

It's basically a magickal knife that you use to cut things like ropes or chop herbs - unlike your athame, which most people believe should never be used for cutting anything mundane.

[talamh]

Some traditions in Wicca say that one's althame... or sacred knife used in ritual... should never be used for "mundane" purposes.. like cutting a rope or working on the wax in a candle holder.... and that the althame should have a black handle..... while there should be a working knife that *is* used for practical purposes... and that is the boline.

Being a sailor... a boline is also a bowline.... Traditionally it is the rope from the windward side of a square sail to the bow..... but more operationally .. a simple knot for forming a non-slipping loop at the end of a rope....

Many sea shanties mention "take hold of the boline and pull all you can" etc. It has to do with trimming sails.... bb talamh