It has become the norm in modern magickal practice to use an
athame, some of the more earthly,nature orientated practisioners
might use a staff or wand instead.Some people believe that one only
needs to use your own hand or finger.Others might believe they
need to use a rod .So what exactly is an athame?
Athame:(( AH-tha-may) This is a ceremonial knife that has been
cleansed and consecrated. It is NEVER used for blood-letting, and
very rarely used for cutting anything on the material plane. The
word "athame" is of unknown origin. James W. Baker suggests that it
may come from the Old French "attame" (to cut or pierce). Other
writers suggest that "athame" comes from Basque, or the Arabic
phrase "Al-dhamme". While we can't rule these possibilities
out, "attame" seems to be a much more likely source. There's no
evidence that such a Basque or Arabic phrase was ever used in the
English language, while the loan-word "attame" does indeed pop up
occasionally in early English. It seems more likely that athames were
adopted from the ceremonial (or "high" magickal) tradition. The
_Clavicula Salomonis_ (Key of Solomon), one of the earliest and most
famous grimoires of high magick, lists black- handled knives and
white-handled knives named Arthana amongst the various instruments a
mage must possess. The black handled knife is used to cast the
magickal circle, just as it is in Witchcraft. Other cutting tasks are
performed with the white-handled knife.
It has been my experience that all 3 are valid depending on the
ritual.If I need to a do a basic ritual or spell ,I will just use
my hand/finger,but if I have time to do a more formal ritual ,I
try to use one of the other 3 ,but this is dependant upon the
nature of the ritual as well as how much rapport I have with any
diety or entity I use.Meaning if I chose to call a diety I have
worked with a lot or I know to be friendly towards me ,I will
use a wand or staff.If I use a diety/entity that is new to me I
will use an athame.If I call upon a lower natured entity or
darker diety I might use a rod of iron until I have built a
relationship of trust.Most of my everday rituals where I don't
call upon or petition an entity or diety ,I usually don't use any
tool just my hand or finger .
In a coven environment according my belief sytem,I view the wand as a representation of the scepter.This is to be used in the ritual by the high priest/ess as a sign of them representing the Lord and the Lady.The staff to me is used by the elders as a sign of being an
elder/teacher and is symbolic of the same nature as the a
catholic bishops staff or a sheperds staff,meaning it a sign of
a guide rather than an actual leader like the wand/scepter.The female elders have the option of using a besom instead if they so chose.The symbolism behind the besom is different than the staff,but does have the benefit of being a tool for cleansing,banishing and a tool of female origin.
The athame would be used specificly by 4 who are chosen to remain outside the circle to represent the 4 watchers/guardians of the circle .All others would use there fingers and hands.
This is by no means a universal truth ,but how I view the use
of the of the tools by a solitary or coven ,this is how I use them.
