I am fairly new to magick, so naturally would have a few questions.
I've been wondering awhile about the various tools used 'on the altar', particularly the athame.
So, is the athame just like the wand, and you have to cleanse, enchant and charge it, so that you can channel energy through it?
And, since it is a knife, can you use it to cut stuff, or is it just used to symbolically cut stuff? In this case, can you get two athames, one to cut with and one to use sumbolically?
And, if in a dangerous situation, can you use it as weapon to defend yourself with, or would that be some sort of insult to the divine, as it is a sacred tool?
And if you do use it for cutting/weaponry, does it get chaorupted like wands or crystals and need cleansing, and if you don't, will it eventually become evil and turn on you?
Please reply.
From what I have read, the athame is generally used in directing energy and circle casting. The wand can also be used in circle casting and inviting deities or spirits into the Circle.
It helps to cleanse and charge your ritual tools before use. Charging them helps ready and empower them for ritual work. Cleansing them helps removes any energy that could be attached to them and interfere with rituals or spells.
The athame isn't generally used for cutting items. The bolline is used for cutting purposes inside and outside of the Circle. It's a knife that has a small crescent shaped blade. I suppose you could use the athame for cutting herbs, but I would advise against it. If you charge it for the purpose of casting circles and directing energy, that is all it should be used for in my opinion.
No. You shouldn't be carrying an athame around with you. In most states carry a large knife around is illegal, and using a ritual tool as a weapon is ill advised in and of itself.
Regular cleansing if a good idea because it helps keep away negative and unwanted energies.
An inanimate object can't turn on you. Energy can get attacked to things and might cause issues, but the athame isn't going to physically attack you.
It's sort of like a wand, you need to cleanse, charge and enchanted all your tools, but its used to direct and 'cut' energy. It is not used to draw blood or cut anything else. A Boline [white handled blade] is used to cut herbs, cord, and other object.
Never under any conditions would you use the athame to threaten or protect yourself from someone. It is a tool used for energy, and no blood must ever touch the blade. If this happens, most will destroy the athame because it is now tainted. You can defend yourself, but not with your athame. It is a tool, good and evil comes down to the user. The tool is used for peace, so stabbing someone, even in defence, defeats its purpose.
Some choose to carry it with them, but read up about laws in your area. Even if its part of a religious tradition, it can be concidered a weapon and you can get in trouble.
