Making An Athame Options

I've a question, wondering about the materials to use for making my own athame. I've obtained several arrowheads traveling and they spurred me to think of using them as the tip of an athame. Am pretty certain to make the handle wood, carved willow most likely, and bind the arrowhead with leather, died black. I am wondering though, if using an arrowhead would perhaps be an unwise choice for an athame, because of it's likely violent history? It could be cleansed of course, but thought to see what more experienced workers and magicians would recommend or advise. Am only beginning to delve deeper into my own craft practice (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)~

I'm not sure what sort of ceremonial functions you expect this athame to perform, so it's had to give you a really solid answer.

I know that many people use an athame to draw the perimeter of a magic circle, and for that reason use something intimidating like a sword or a deadly knife. The idea is to create a warning that says something like "beware, the person in this circle can be dangerous." More ancient customs involve digging a trench with a dagger and spilling sacrificial blood into it, and authorities on oriental mysteries identify the tool as a blood-drawing weapon specifically. In light of all this, it would certainly not be out of line to use something associated with "violence," especially not game-hunting from which activity a stray arrowhead might have come, unless perhaps you are a pacifist vegetarian.

My only advice on the matter, which I thought it prudent to mention, is to thoroughly dry your willow branch beforehand. It may help to use a piece that is extra-long, bind the ends, and be exceedingly patient as willow is soft.

I'm not sure what sort of ceremonial functions you expect this athame to perform, so it's had to give you a really solid answer.

I know that many people use an athame to draw the perimeter of a magic circle, and for that reason use something intimidating like a sword or a deadly knife. The idea is to create a warning that says something like "beware, the person in this circle can be dangerous." More ancient customs involve digging a trench with a dagger and spilling sacrificial blood into it, and authorities on oriental mysteries identify the tool as a blood-drawing weapon specifically. In light of all this, it would certainly not be out of line to use something associated with "violence," especially not game-hunting from which activity a stray arrowhead might have come, unless perhaps you are a pacifist vegetarian.

My only advice on the matter, which I thought it prudent to mention, is to thoroughly dry your willow branch beforehand. It may help to use a piece that is extra-long, bind the ends, and be exceedingly patient as willow is soft.

My main purpose for creating this athame would be for casting sacred circles. For me, this tool would be about focusing, directing energy, and being a physical cue for my mind to cut through this dimension into other realms. While I am peaceful vegetarian, consider myself an activist rather than pacifist. Anywho, part of what spurred this question ,was wearing a necklace given to me that had both coyote & shark teeth in it. After wearing it one day, woke up with a slightly scratchy, sore throat which went away once I removed the necklace. Which made me think about the energy within the teeth, possibly from the animals' death, being hurt & full of fear. A thorough cleansing should remove this though, but thought it wise to ask more experienced natural magicians

Plus it seemed a right time to join a forum like this, and be able to ask people about their personal experiences and knowledge rather than always go running to books. While books are excellent teachers, being involved of a community of sorts can be pretty rewarding. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks for the advice about willow, am looking forward to working with a water loving companion. And am pretty patient, most of the time.

More ancient customs involve digging a trench with a dagger and spilling sacrificial blood into it, and authorities on oriental mysteries identify the tool as a blood-drawing weapon specifically.

Hey there~ What precisely does 'oriental mysteries' refer to? Or what eastern paradigm is this a reference to? Or if it isn't a reference to sino/japanese culture, what does it refer to?

Hey there~ What precisely does 'oriental mysteries' refer to? Or what eastern paradigm is this a reference to? Or if it isn't a reference to sino/japanese culture, what does it refer to?

"Oriental Mysteries" refers generally to those traditions which are endemic to places between Budapest and the Pacific Ocean. This does include China and Japan, but also India, Persia, Arabia, and central Asia.

Closer to this topic (the athame) it is well-known that Gerald Gardner traveled extensively in Asia. His personal friend, Idries Shah (author of Oriental Magic and many books on Sufism) suggests that the word athame is a corruption of the arabic word "al-dhamme" and connects it to obscure lunar fertility rites. He is joined in this opinion by Robert Graves, friend to both Shah and Gardner, who links the athame with a slightly different word, "al-thame." Both derivations imply a lethal weapon: the former for slaughter and the latter for hunting.

In the Key of Solomon, from whence Gardner drew heavily in his concept of witchcraft, the athame is consecrated with poison and the blood of a black cat, or in other cases it is primrose and the blood of a gosling. It is used to draw the perimeter of the magic circle in the absence of a sword.

This post has been edited by Imperial Arts: Jul 18 2010, 07:49 PM

Closer to this topic (the athame) it is well-known that Gerald Gardner traveled extensively in Asia. His personal friend, Idries Shah (author of Oriental Magic and many books on Sufism) suggests that the word athame is a corruption of the arabic word "al-dhamme" and connects it to obscure lunar fertility rites. He is joined in this opinion by Robert Graves, friend to both Shah and Gardner, who links the athame with a slightly different word, "al-thame." Both derivations imply a lethal weapon: the former for slaughter and the latter for hunting.

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Nicely done. I have all ways wondered why that word came to mean what it does. Now I have some new books to go and buy.