Athame & Boline
Like the wand, the athame and boline are common magical tools in many Wiccan/Pagan traditions. The athame channels energy the witch has gathered from the flows around her. In this case, because the athame is forged in fire, the elemental energy it naturally caries is Fire. In other traditions, the athame blade is usually steel and the handle is usually oak with a black stain applied.
In the Amazon Tradition, the athame is associated with the Mistress Goddess, and is crafted in the heat of the Summer season. Its blade is copper because this metal is a strong conductor of heat and energy. Its handle can be crafted from any wood(s) the witch resonates with. Some witches in our tradition will use up to 3 or 4 different woods to create an athame handle, which is not necessarily black in color. The natural color of the wood is our preference, and the blade need not be razor sharp, for it is not used for cutting anything other than energy. On the other hand, the boline is the witch's working blade. It is usually a very sharp, curved, steel blade. It is used to cut anything intended for use in ritual arts or magical crafts. For instance, it cuts garden herbs used in potions and brews, and carves symbols and letters on candles used in spell work and rituals. The sharper its blade, the better the cutting. The handle is usually made of oak or antler. |
Tutorial Videos
If you are working on one of the Year and A Day Studies in the Amazon Tradition,
watch these tutorial videos to help you craft your athame (2nd year) and boline (3rd year). UNDER CONSTRUCTION
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