Element: Fire

Direction: South

Colour: Red

Gender: Male

ALTHOUGH THE WAND AND athame [a'-tha-may or a-thaw-may] are sometimes used interchangeably for casting Circle, the two have very different purposes. Instead of moving and directing energy, the athame invokes and banishes it. It also tends to unseen entities and forces. This is important because it holds negative spirits at bay and keeps them from wreaking havoc with spellwork, while attracting and inviting those entities who possess vibrations that are beneficial to the tasks at hand. In short, the athame works much like a magical cafeteria supervisor, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and that no one spoils the soup.
Traditionally, the athame is a double-edged blade with a black handle. Why black? Because black is the absence of color rather than a color in itself. This means that it's capable of grabbing negative forces and digesting them. Once digested and stripped of their power, it then transforms these forces into a harmless energy that dissipates quickly and easily into the Universe. The athame is a wonderful tool that few Witches are willing to do without.
The double-edged blade is an entirely different story, though. First, it reminds us that there are two sides to the magical coin: Life (positive) and Death (negative). And since we are the masters of our own destinies, it's up to us to choose which side of the coin we will play. We can either use our magic to defend and protect and work toward the good of all, or we can place our bets on the dark side and cut our own throats. The choice is up to us.
The blade, itself, is usually made of steel. There really isn't a magical reason for this, but it's important just the same. Here's why: The athame blade must be heated to very high temperatures during the consecration ceremony, and most other metals just won't stand up to it. So, unless you're willing to take a chance on melting your athame and having to start over, steel is truly the best bet.
Just a couple more things about the athame. First, it should never be used to draw blood. If it is, the tool must be destroyed in such a way that it can never be used again. That having been said, please be careful when working with this tool. It would be a pity to spend all that time searching for the perfect blade, only to have it rendered useless by one careless slip of the finger!
Second, and just as important, please check with your local law enforcement agency before taking your athame out in public. Why? Because in some areas of the country, a blade of any sort is categorized as a "weapon," and public display of a weapon is unlawful; arguing with the police that the athame is a "ritual tool" just isn't going to cut it. Know your city, county, and state ordinances, and you'll go a long way toward steering clear of unnecessary trouble.

Active � Passive
Light � Dark
Male � Female
Hard � Soft
Sweet � Sour
Wet � Dry
Hot � Cold
Positive � Negative
Once you�ve completed the opposites list, jot down all the knifelike things that come to mind. Then follow through by listing the purpose and capability of each. This will not only give you a better idea of what you can expect magically from the athame, but how you can use it to your best advantage.

Althames
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