Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Chapter One: Introduction
Anatomy of an Athame
Pronouncing Athame
Finding an Athame
Why a Knife? The Practicality and Inconvenience of the Athame
Getting to the Point: Angus McMahan
Chapter Two: A Short History
Knives in Ritual & Religion
The Black Handled Knife
Why the Double-Edged Blade?
Knife Superstitions
Native American Knife Lore
Athame Correspondences
Chapter Three: The Other Athames
Stone Athame
Athames of Wood
Making a Wooden Athame
Blades of Bone and Antler
The Secret Athames
Getting to the Point: Lupa the Greenwolf
Chapter Four: Making the Athame Yours
Creating the Black-handled knife
Making an Athame Your Own
Marking the Athame
Theban Script and Norse Runes
Marking the Hilt
Etching the Blade
To Be Sharp or Dull-A Difference of Opinions
Care and Keeping of Your Athame
Chapter Five: Preparing an Athame For Ritual
Cleansing an Athame
Cleansing an Athame, Indoor Ritual
The Why and Whats of Consecrating
A Solitary Consecration Rite
A Coven Consecration Rite
Chapter Six: The Athame in Ritual
The Opening Ceremony
Casting the Circle
Calling the Quarters
The Symbolic Great Rite & Cakes and Ale
A Door to the Summerlands
Chapter Seven: The Boline and the White Handled Knife
Finding a Boline
Blessing a Boline
Using a Boline
Ancient Druids and the Sickle
Chapter Eight: The Athame in the Kitchen and Beyond
Infusing Food With Energy
Breads and Pastries
Soups and Stews
Cleansing Your Home
Getting to the Point: Jenya Beachy
Chapter Nine: The Sword
The Sword in History
Swords in Literature and Mythology
Sword Lore
Blessing a Sword for Coven Work or Group Ritual
Chapter Ten: Divination, Ritual, & Spellwork With The Athame
Scrying with an Athame
The Athame Pendulum
Candle Carvings
Spell to Let Go of a Lover or Friend
The True Witch’s Weapon-Spirits and the Blade
A Dedication Ritual
An Initiation Ritual
Chapter Eleven: The Knife in Traditional Witchcraft
Traditional Witchcraft Rituals with the Knife and the Sword
Fashioning the Bridge
Calling the Quarters
The Great Rite/Cakes and Ale
Getting to the Point: Jenya Beachy
Epilogue: The Circle is Open, the Book is Over
Appendix One: Theban Script
Appendix Two: Elder Futhark Runes
Bibliography and Further Reading
