The Athame

The athame is used in Magick, as I use it, to represent the element of fire and the direction of the south. In the circle the athame is used to cast the circle and to charge the contents of the chalice in the central rite of all Wicca, the SYMBOLIC joining of the Lord and the Lady in LOVE. It is also used to banish any imbalanced, excess positive or negative energies that are harmful to us - in whatever form these may take. IT IS NOT USED FOR MUNDANE TASKS such as inscribing candles or slicing the "cake" for cakes and wine. A simple, white-handled knife is kept for that usage.

The athame is usually replaced, as soon as possible, by a sword for coven work. This sword should be worked on by the group in the same way that the athame is by the individual, as it is a channel of the group's energy. The sword should, therefore, be taken special care of. Swords are expensive and someone NOT connected with Wicca might be tempted to purloin it and try to resell it. If the coven has a sword, it is put in the care of the High Priestess and High Priest and they would be wise to keep it in a locked closet, if at all possible. It symbolizes the energies of the group psyche that has been formed or is being formed, as well as the group's magickal power.

If the Coven should separate, it has been traditionally left to the Highest ranking individual in the Coven, which should be the High Priest and/or High Priestess. Even though the coven has paid for it and worked on it, the High Priesthood retains it as a symbol of the circle's GRATITUDE for the teaching they have received from them. It can be cleansed by the Leaders and used in further covens they may sponsor in their travels - and often each new group chooses some symbol or something they can add to it.

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