Acbal's Moon: The Wiccan Athame as Magical Tool

by Joanne E. Brannan

The Wiccan athame is a knife, dagger or sword that is used in magic spells, and also to declare a magic circle in some Wiccan traditions.

Materials and Construction of the Athame

Traditionally the athame has a black handle and a double blade, but this is not strictly respected in all Wiccan traditions.

A handle of a natural material such as wood is to be preferred, and steel is a popular choice of metal for the blade. Some witches like to inscribe symbols onto the handle or blade of their athame, while others prefer a simple design without ornament.

Symbolism of the Athame

The athame does not have a sharp blade as no physical cutting is performed; any transformation achieved with the athame occurs on a higher plane.

The symbolism of mythical swords with mysterious powers is closely linked to the athame. In each ritual or spell, a little of the energy wielded is absorbed into the handle. In this way the athame slowly accumulates power, making it increasingly effective in Wiccan spellwork.

The Athame Represents the Masculine

The athame represents the masculine in the same way that the Wiccan chalice represents the feminine. Wicca is not a tradition that shies away from sexual imagery!

Arather graphic, but very moving, ritual involves the tip of the athame being dipped into sacred wine held in the chalice. This very literal representation of the union of the God and the Goddess sweeps away inhibitions and celebrates the innocence and the intuition that is a key element on the Wiccan path.

How to Use an Athame

The use of the athame is similar to that of the Wiccan wand; the primary difference between the two being that while the wand is used to manifest change on the physical plane, the athame is used to effect change on the higher planes. Of course the physical and higher realms are interrelated, and this is where the judgment and intuition of the witch should be used when selecting the correct tool for a particular magical intention.

When a spell with a particular magical intention concerning the higher realms has been performed, hold the athame outwards and visualize the spell’s energy being channeled along the blade and on to its eventual destination, bringing about the desired change in this way.

The athame is an essential tool for any Wiccan altar, a powerful and archetypal aid to visualization and spell work.

Sources:
Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham.
Simple Wicca by Michelle Morgan.
A Wiccan Bible: Exploring the Mysteries of the Craft from Birth to Summerland by A. J. Drew

Herb of the Month

Frankincense

(from Book of Shadows: Journey of a Solitary Witch Blog )

This is an aromatic resin from any of the four main species of deciduous trees in the Boswellia genus. They come in the form of small bushes and trees of moderate size with compound leaves and grow in a wide variety of environments, though the most aromatic varieties come from more arid regions. The flowers are yellowish-white with five petals. The resin comes from cuts in the tree which allow the sap to bubble out and harden . This is done when they are about 8 to 10 years of age. It has been a valuable trade item for thousands of years and used in rituals for just as long.

Latin Name:
Boswellia Carterii

Folk Names: Olibanum, Olibanus, Olibans

Element: Fire

Gender: Masculine

Planet: The Sun

Deities: Ra, Baal

Magical Uses:

Frankincense is often added to other magical mixtures in order to increase their potency due to the powerful vibrations of energy that are released from it when it is burned. These intense energies drive away negative energies and evil so it has been used throughout the ages for purification and exorcism. With this in mind we can see that it also an excellent choice for preventative measures such as that of protection. The strong vibrations produced by frankincense make it an excellent choice in meditation incenses and also in mixtures used to promote spiritual growth as well as to induce visions.

Medicinal Uses:

The resin has long been used in the Ayurvedic medicine of India and the bark has been used in Africa to treat fever, gastrointestinal distress and rheumatism. Studies are currently under way to test the resin, and its chemical derivatives, for treating chronic inflammatory diseases and one study claims the incense may work similarly to a psychoactive drug to reduce depression and anxiety, a correlation to its magical uses that cannot be easily ignored.

Folklore:

The resin was once burned as an offering to the sun god Ra in ancient Egypt on a daily basis at sunrise. As many people know, this was one of two magical resins presented to Jesus in the story of his birth by the Magi or “wise men”, who were traditionally wizards from the east. It has also been in use by the Catholic church as an incense, probably for this reason. It is also used in the Jewish tradition. Its appearance in these stories, and its current use by the church, is obviously influenced by its extensive use for thousands of years before they were written.

Spell - A - Week

Blowing Darts

(from Gypsy Magic Blog)

This is a spell to break and remove all the bad energy, negativity, bad luck, hexes, and etc. that others have put on you, or that you have inadvertently collected or allowed.

You will need:

1 white candle
1 smudge stick OR 1 generous handful of dried sage leaves (not the powder)
1 lemon (lemon essential oil - or pure lemon juice will also work)
1 paper plate
black marker or pen
13 straight pins
1 black cloth - the size of a large handkerchief
1 egg
1 potato

Making the spell:

Gather your supplies
Get centered
Draw an "eye of protection" on the paper plate with the black marker or pen.
Cut the lemon in half and rub it briskly over the candle until the candle is coated with the juice, wipe your hands on the black cloth.
Now, light the candle.
Next light the smudge stick, OR if you are using dried sage, place the leaves into a fireproof container and light them so that they begin to smolder and smoke.

Once you have some good smoke, take the potato and submerge it in the smoke using a circular, counterclockwise motion.
When the potato seems well fumigated, set it down on the paper plate and cover it with the black cloth.
Insert the 13 stick pins through the cloth into the potato.
Crack the egg over the cloth covered pinned potato and let the egg slide off of it and onto the plate.
Blow on each stick pin and into the potato. As you do this, recite the incantation, saying it louder each time, until you feel the negative energy has left you and transferred into the potato.

The Incantation:

Thirteen pins in the poppet,
Hex be broken. Now I stop it.
Curse be over. Curse be done.
I succeed. I have won.
Bad luck stays within the black.
I am not under attack.
Curse be buried and destroyed.
My life it is now filled with joy!

Dispersing the bad energy:

Unwrap the cloth, being careful to keep the pins intact. If a pin does not come out with the cloth, but stays embedded in the potato, you'll have to re-do the spell.

This is important. The potato and the black cloth with the pins in it must be disposed of separately, far from your home. The paper plate should be burned, along with whatever remains of the sage. It's also important to dispose of the lemon (if you used one) and the shell from the egg.

Ideally, the black cloth with the pins will be dropped at a crossroads NOT near your home; the paper plate and the sage burned - their ashes scattered to the four winds; and the potato tossed into a river or sent out with the tide.

Alternatively, the items could be buried near a crossroads (just be sure that the potato and the black cloth are buried separately and at a good distance from one another). Do not bury any of the items in your own back yard!

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The Wiccan Athame as Magical Tool

Materials and Construction of the Athame

Symbolism of the Athame

The Athame Represents the Masculine

How to Use an Athame

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