Redirected from Athamé
The athame is used for ritual and magical purposes only, to direct energy; if something such as herbs or cord needs to be cut, another knife called a boline or white-handled knife is used. An exception being "kitchen witchcraft" which actively encourages the use of magickal tools for mundane purposes, to increase the witch's familiarity with it.
Many traditions associate the athame with the masculine principle and with the element of air, though traditions associating it with fire are not uncommon.
Other traditions forbid the use of blades, in general, or of steel blades, in particular, in their rituals. This is most common amongst traditions that have a particular fondness of the Sidhe, to whom steel is harmful.
See neopaganism, Wicca.
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