i read it was for cutting..
may i ask umm...cutting what??
2006-12-30 14:11:28 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
An athame is a blade which is only used in the spiritual realm to direct energy (example: casting a circle) or to cut/divide things on that realm (example: cutting a doorway in a circle once it's cast). In some traditions, it is a dagger with two sharp edges and usually has a black handle. It is a ritual knife and is never used to cut things in the physical realm.
A boline is a knife that is used for magical purposes in the physical realm. It is the practical tool that one uses to cut cords, wands, inscribe candles, etc. In some traditions, it has a white handle.
2006-12-30 16:25:17 · answer #1 · answered by Witchy 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
no cutting. In fact, more than half of all people who practice Wicca or witchcraft say it dirties the sprit of the athame to cut anything other than air. Most witches use it to mark their circle and to invoke the dieties and/or the watchtowers. Some other witches do use it to cut herbs and carve candles and the like, but don't use it for anything not magickal. An athame usually has a black handle, and sits on an alter, which is a witches sacred space.
2006-12-30 22:29:19 · answer #2 · answered by tahirih.luvs2sew 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The athame, traditionally a double-edged black handled dagger, is used for directing energy for things such as drawing the circle for ritual and drawing pentagrams for evoking or banishing.
As for cutting, it depends on what school of thought the Wiccan falls into. Some Wiccans are purists and use a separate knife for cutting...usually a boline and/or a white handled, single edged knife. And some are more laidback and don't care or are Kitchen Witches, and use the athame for things like cutting items (fruit, string, etc) in circle for magic purposes or carving things like symbols in candles while chanting for magic. It depends.
2006-12-30 22:23:34 · answer #3 · answered by Abriel 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many traditions do not use the athame for cutting. I use it to cut on occasion though. I cut incense and inscribe runes onto candles with it. It's usually used for directing energy as well as drawing invoking and banishing Pentacles, and it can be used to bless ritual wine and cakes.
Blessed be.
2006-12-30 22:14:19 · answer #4 · answered by Maria Isabel 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It is used to gather and direct energy. It may be used to close the circle and some use it to "cut" a magickal door if someone needs to leave the circle before the ritual is done.
2006-12-30 22:21:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Athame's are not used to cut ANYTHING, they are a ritual tool used to direct energy or to seal the circle.
2006-12-30 22:16:32 · answer #6 · answered by Prophet ENSLAVEMENTALITY (pbuh) 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
it's Wicca, not Wiccan
The athame is used for directing energy, cermonially. It is not to be used for cutting.
Where are you reading things like that? Perhaps you should pick up some actual books on Wicca and read those.
2006-12-30 22:17:01 · answer #7 · answered by Kallan 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
It is a purely ceremonmial tool, used only symbolically for beginning and ending rituals. If an Atheme is used to spill blood (human or animal) it is useless as an Atheme afterwards--its sacred nature has been stained to have been used in such a way.
2006-12-30 22:15:34 · answer #8 · answered by Scott M 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It's not really for cutting. Mine isn't even sharp. It's for drawing circles to work in and for cutting imaginary doorways in said sacred circles.
Kind of hard to explain. I use mine for anything that you might use a wand for.
Peace
2006-12-30 22:17:16 · answer #9 · answered by DontPanic 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
No, it's not used to cut anything, it is used to gather energy.
2006-12-30 22:13:52 · answer #10 · answered by Voodoid 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋