Athame. The Witches Dagger.

In dealing with the ancient mysteries of Witchcraft, it is said that no secrets can ever be given away, and by the very definition of the word, they are unexplainable, obscure and esoteric. a person who is Initiated into Witchcraft, has gained this by their readiness to receive/perceive the Mysteries. The Witchcraft Mysteries are not the private possession of any one individual, because Witchcraft in truth means absolutely nothing except to those who have already been Initiated by a traditional line of Wicca or Witchcraft.

There is a single main definition of all the objects of Majik Ritual. This is the uniting of the macrocosm and microcosm. Each Majikal tool is representative of either an Element or is masculine, feminine or androgynous. Each tool is accorded to the level of knowledge that you have thus far learned or acquired. Either through Initiation or rank as in some orders and covens. In examining the Wesson Tools for working within the Majik Circle it will be apparent to you, what their representation is. For a start I have grouped the necessary tools in correspondence to the three degree's as part of a formal training.

First Degree - Witch - the Temple of Luna, the Moon.
This is the first stage of in depth training where the Initiate must tune into all the feminine things in nature and thus honor and respect the ultimate feminine in nature that we call Goddess. It is where we must bring compassion, tolerance, understanding and acceptance into our lives. We must learn to listen and not to speak. The tools associated with this level of training are - Thurible - Purification, Athame - Illumination, Pentacle - Perfection, White Robe - Freedom, White Singulum (Girdle) Umbilicus and Ladder to the goddess.

Second Degree - Priest/ess - the Temple of Sol, the Sun.
This is the second stage of in-depth training, this is where the Witch now trains as a Priest or Priestess and tunes into all masculine things in nature and thus honors and respects the masculine in nature that we call God. It is where we must bring strength, power, desire, will, happiness and laughter into our lives. We must learn to watch and listen and not speak. The tools associated with this level of training are, the Bolline - Love, Wand - Will, Chalice - fertility, Tabard - Shield of Faith, Cloak - Power of Invisibility.

Third Degree - High Priest/ess - the Temple of Astrum, the Stars.
This is the third stage of in-depth training, this is where the Priest/ess now trains in the Higher Order an must show complete balance, harmony, love and be a Healer and teacher. They must bring the masculine and feminine into equilibrium. The tools associated with this level of training are Majik Cords - Space, Scourge - time, Sword - Infinity, Staff - Power, Bell - Harmony, sistrum - Wisdom, Besom - Power of the Crone, Cauldron - Inspiration.

The Athame is the element of fire and represents illumination. On the Path to Illumination or enlightenment, the Witch learns that there is much to cut and free themselves from, and that there is much to unlearn. Superstition and ignorance cloud the Witches consciousness. It is the Will of the Higher Self which is eventually to be awakened. We then set to work developing clarity of Will in the consciousness through the practice of concentration. This step, for the Witch, is a formidable one. It is not merely that attainment of powers of concentration, but mastery of emotional power over the self. The formula for this is expressed in the Universal Wiccan Rede; 'An it harm none, do what thou wilt.' Or phrased in modern idiom, 'Love and do you will'. Or still more simply, 'Love under will.' so the Athame is to become a key to the expression of the Witches will, and depends on his/her Majikal maturity. In any Majikal ritual you cannot act on your authority alone. You must awaken within the consciousness of Will of Deity. This is done by Invoking Deity, and so uplifts your consciousness, the faculties and corresponding powers symbolized by the tool. Thereby you have complete control to also banish that which has been invoked/evoked. Remember the plight of the Sorcerers Apprentice, who upon splitting the broomstick he had brought to life, found he had two problems to tend with, and so on, ad infinitum. Such is the fate of a badly developed Will.

The two edges of the double edged blade represents light and darkness, male and female, good and evil, both of which are needed in the life of a Witch to balance out the two, for the application of Ones Divine Will, the point. The written history of the Athame as a Majikal tool comes to us from the Lansdowne Manuscript dated 1202 and the Sloane Manuscript dated 1307. Before we go further, it must be stated that the manuscripts above, were great Majikal works and this information was evidently known and practiced well before these manuscripts were written.

These are considered to be the only survivors of the book and Witch burnings of the Inquisition. The material contained in these manuscripts is Kabalistic in nature. In the book The Key of Solomon, L.W. de Laurences 1914 translation of the manuscripts states that the Black Hilted Knife, is for making the Circle wherewith to strike terror and fear into Spirits. If you are to make your Athame yourself it should be made on the day of Mercury, the hour of Saturn, tempered thrice by fire and dipped into your own blood and juice of hemlock. (This is the old recipe).

Why do we still retain these tool, the Athame? the fact is that we retain it so we can remember, our most terrible and sad time of the Witches history, that is the time known as 'The Burning Times'. Where an estimated 900,000 men, women and children were tortured and murdered, the Anthem had a more horrific purpose, but horrific as it seemed, it was a necessity in the saving of many lives. I have to date been investigating the Burning times and have names, dates, and figures of over 200,000 individuals who were persecuted as Witches, I am still continuing with my personal research.

The Inquisition proclaimed that anyone with an exterior markings or protuberances such as birth marks, moles, tumors, or any odd markings whatsoever, that these were the markings of the devil. They believed that these markings were to suckle the Familiars of the Witches, to feel their Succubae and Incubi, and to give them life and power in the physical, from the Witch. Through this the Witches in defense, and to hopefully save them from the tortures of the Inquisition, when upon knowing that they were going to be questioned would take their dagger, and cut the markings from their bodies. Preferring the slow bleeding, and sometimes blood clotting to the death and slow torture of the Inquisitors.

We reclaim it today as a symbol of Hope and Freedom for the future and freedom from ignorance of the past. It is now used as an extension of the Witch. The traditional Athame is black hilted, with a double edged blade, the handle is preferably made of wood or bone. This should not be a sharp dagger, as it will never be used to cut anything physically. It is an Astral tool only, and its length should be from the tip of your middle finger to the base of your palm. It should be virgin. After Initiation certain Majikal Sigils are placed on the blade but only during the rite of Initiation.

In Israel Refardie's book 'the Golden Dawn', 1984 the method of 'making' the Air dagger is a very long ceremonial ritual. The Air Dagger is considered to be the equivalent of the Witches Athame. This is where so many people get confused as to what the Element the Athame should correspond to. The Athame may be used as an Air Dagger but it is NOT and Air Dagger. Considering the age of the manuscripts that de Laurence translated and the initial printing of 'The Golden Dawn' in 1937 there was a change of attitude as to the Athame; ie on more blood used in consecration. Further history shows Greek vases with women commanding spirits with a short bladed knife. 'The Clavicle of Solomon' published 1572, mentions a knife as an 'Arthana' which the word Athame may be subverted form of the word.

The Athame is traditionally used to direct and absorb the Electro-magnetic energies within the universe. It is the same with all the Tools of the Craft, they are specially prepared and Majikally Consecrated, in this way they are awakened to the connectedness of the Inner Initiated Witch. It takes a long time in being Properly Prepared to hold such a sacred object. It is not a toy, but a sacred relic that helps us to remember the pain and suffering of our ancestors during the Burning Times. Respect the Tool, and the Powers of the Witch will unfold.