Matrika #2 @7314
Tue Apr 24 18:11:41 1990
The athame is used in Magick, as I use it, to represent the element of fire
and the direction of the south. In the circle the athame is used to cast the
circle and to charge the contents of the chalice in the central rite of all
Wicca, the SYMBOLIC joining of the Lord and the Lady in LOVE. It is also used
to banish any imbalanced, excess positive or negative energies that are
harmful to us - in whatever form these may take. IT IS NOT USED FOR MUNDANE
TASKS such as inscribing candles or slicing the "cake" for cakes and wine. A
simple, white-handled knife is kept for that usage.
The athame is usually replaced, as soon as possible, by a sword for coven
work. This sword should be worked on by the group in the same way that the
athame is by the individual, as it is a channel of the group's energy. The
sword should, therefore, be taken special care of. Swords are expensive and
someone NOT connected with Wicca might be tempted to purloin it and try to
resell it. If the coven has a sword, it is put in the care of the High
Priestess and High Priest and they would be wise to keep it in a locked
closet, if at all possible. It symbolizes the energies of the group psyche
that has been formed or is being formed, as well as the group's magickal
power.
If the Coven should seperate, it has been traditionally left to the Highest
ranking individual in the Coven, which should be the High Priest and/or High
Priestess. Even though the coven has paid for it and worked on it, the High
Priesthood retains it as a symbol of the circle's GRATITUDE for the teaching
they have recieved from them. It can be cleansed by the Leaders and used in
further covens they may sponsor in their travels - and often each new group
chooses some symbol or something they can add to it.
T
| |