Swords
“First the Magic Sword. With this, as with the Athame, thou canst form all Magic Circles, dominate, subdue, and punish all rebellious Spirits and Demons, and even persuade the Angels and Geniuses. With this in your hand you are the ruler of the Circle.
“Next I present the Athame. This is the true Witch’s weapon and has all the powers of the Magic Sword.”
The suit of Swords in the Tarot represents the magickal tool of the athame, or sword (which is effectively a larger version of the athame, possibly more appropriate to an outdoor or a coven setting).
It is not strictly necessary therefore to possess a sword, as the athame serves the same purpose and is interchangeable with it.
It has been written by some authors that the athame is purely a symbolic knife and that it should not be used for cutting. Gerald Gardner himself advises that any marks in the wand be cut with the athame. The athame is a double-edged tool and is traditionally sharp. It is our personal belief – and of a numbr of traditions – that the athame is an extension of its owner and that through being used it should pick up their energy & power and become one with them. The athame is a knife, a tool. Do not be afraid to use it as such… for cutting.
Traditionally the athame is a black-handled knife about six inches in length. Howeve,r witches have been known to select knives with hilts constructed from horn, antler or hoof. It has been written that historically, athames were not forged from metals, but were wooden and were taken from branches cut from trees. Whichever you choose, the most important aspect is that it should feel right to you.
The athame is used to direct the energy of its owner: from casting circle, inscribing pentagrams and for performing the blessing of the cakes.
It is considered representative of the masculine divine, representing the God during the the ‘Cakes and Wine Ceremony’ – a metaphor for the Great Rite – a symbolic unification of the male and female in which an athame is lowered into the chalice, blessing the contents.
The athame is the elemental weapon associated with the element of Air – and the properties of knowledge, mental clarity, planning, objectivity, curiousity and communication.
As a point of etiquette, it is considered extremely ill-mannered to touch or handle the athame of a witch without first asking their permission to do so. It would also be advisable to err on the side of caution and endeavour to be discreet when carrying an athame – or to consider carrying a wooden or miniature version. Remember that whilst your intentions may be entirely honourable, you would be, in fact, carrying a sharp, double edged weapon.
Bear in mind the Powers of the Sphinx: “To Know, To Dare, To Will, To Be Silent.”
Mildred & Myrtle currently have the following Athame available…
Wooden Athame with Amber and Jet
