Magic square is a mathematical concept that has fascinated people for centuries. It is a square grid filled with numbers in such a way that the sum of each row, each column, and each diagonal is the same. This concept has been explored and studied in various cultures, and it is often associated with mystical and magical properties. One particular aspect of magic squares that is often overlooked is their connection to the idea of freedom. Just like a magic square has a harmonious balance, freedom is also about finding balance. It is about recognizing and embracing the rights and liberties of individuals while also ensuring the well-being of society as a whole.

Day 217: The Athame

As we all know, the athame (pronounced as either ah-THAH-may or ah-THAY-may) is the Witch’s ceremonial blade. Its traditional physical form among many British Traditional Witchcraft lines is that of a cross-shaped, double-edged, black-handled dagger. This means that the guard extends perpendicularly and in a straight line from the knife’s handle and blade. The blade is typically made of a ferrous metal, and the handle is often a wood which has been stained or painted black. This traditional athame also has a sharp point and sharp edges, and it is inscribed–either physically or energetically–with magical sigils that can denote the blade’s energies as well as its name and its weilder’s magical name. In oath-bound traditions, the particular sigils of the tradition are often imparted after initiation. The traditional athame does vary in size, but it will often be between 8 and 12 inches long from tip to tip. According to lore, an individual’s traditional athame should be as long as the distance from the crook of one’s elbow to the bottom of one’s palm (incidentally, this is also the size of one’s foot).

Pretty close to what a traditional athame looks like, though this is actually a knife for Solomonic magic. Athames typically do not have engraving on the blade.

Note that I was very careful to say “the traditional athame” above. In practice, I’m starting to think any knife can be called an athame. You’ll see hilts of every color and material, single-edge blades, blades made from any metal and containing more twists and turns than a Hula dancer, knives made entirely of wood or ivory or bone, and hardly anyone physically inscribes anything upon their athame these days. And you know what? I think that’s great. It is such a personal tool that I find it difficult to believe that every athame would physically conform to a rigid guideline of what a particular knife might look like. In this sense, I am all about tossing traditional restrictions to the wind and finding the knife that feels right to you for use in your own personal practice. As for myself, just about the only tradition I insisted upon was a dark handle. “Candle” is just 8.25″ long (my elbow to palm distance is 10.5″), has a wavy copper blade that is technically single-edged, that edge is dull and the point blunted, and the guard doesn’t extend beyond the handle. I also have no intention to physically inscribe anything upon my beautiful athame. And you know what? My athame works perfectly for me.

My new athame: “Candle” from Brewan at The Metal Craft

As Roderick points out, some traditions hold that the athame is the only tool essential for witchcraft. I strongly disagree–witchcraft is the union of all elements into spirit, not the privilege of any one over the rest. I think the privilege given to the athame by many traditions may have some historical connection with Gardner, though. Old Gardner was very fond of his blades: a full set would entail not only the athame, but also a sword, a boline, and a white-handled knife. The blade fetish carried over into his fiction, too. In Gardner’s novel High Magic’s Aid, the magus Thur can literally do no magical work until he secures the white- and black-handled knives of the witch Vada. Nothing else has magical value without these blades (which alarmingly implies that the blades–not the weilder–is the source of the magic). Even coven practice implicitly reinforces the idea that the athame is the most important tool. For example, it is the one personal magical tool everyone in Hartwood Grove must bring to our group rituals and the only tool our leaders ask that we acquire before initiation. (To be fair, though, each of us also keeps a secondary chalice of our own at the covenstead for use in group Cakes and Wine, so that counts for something.) With a culture such as this, I can see why some practitioners do not view the athame as having equivalent power to the wand, pentacle, and chalice.

I do think, though, that the athame’s physical presence plays a role in commanding this idea of ‘most important tool.’ The other tools basically amount to dinnerware and a stick. The athame, however, is a dagger. You could use it to hurt or kill a person. It is a Scary Thing with capital letters, and as such it immediately commands attention on a mundane level. I find it a little sad that we allow our first cultural/psychological association with the item to give it so much eminence in our tool chests.

Similarly, I find it heart-breaking that some people allow that mundane association of Scary Thing to keep them from using the tool at all. Yes, the dagger carries associations of male dominance, warfare, and aggression…but, as any good cook can tell you, it’s also the tool that makes a good dinner possible. (Think it’s the stove and a pan? Take a look inside a raw foods kitchen. Knives and cutting implements out the wazoo.) In this light, the knife is step one in hearth tending…even if it could also lead to domestic destruction. That being said, I do get a little nervous when a fellow practitioner’s athame looks like a hunting or warring blade or is such a fantasy piece it’s points have points. These look like pure destructive weapons to me, or something without a shred of spiritual purpose. I can definitely understand why some people would feel this way towards all blades.

Magical practitioners who can’t quite get around their mental blocks for using a knife (or who circle with young children) have used plenty of other items to direct energy. I used my right index and middle fingers for years. I’ve also used a quartz crystal, feathers, wands, candles…they all directed energy. In fact, I thought they worked so well that I practically had to be drawn kicking and screaming into using my ‘big girl’ athame instead of my own fingers every time I did magical work. But when I did…I learned I’d been using a paring knife to do the job of a chef’s knife. The knife allowed something to click in my brain that let me direct that energy much more cleanly and efficiently. And now that I’ve gone black, I don’t think I can go back. I would definitely encourage other practitioners to work through their blade blocks, too.

Athame

An example of an Athame, a ceremonial double-edged dagger.

Athame or athamé is what some practitioners of knives . In some traditions, the athame is a knife with a double edged blade and short (often black) handle; other traditions require that the blade be dull, curved, wavy, or a variety of other specifications.

The athame is usually used for boline or white-handled knife is used. Exceptions include "kitchen witchcraft", which actively encourages the use of magical tools for mundane purposes to increase the witch's familiarity with it.

Many traditions associate the athame with the element of Sidhe , to whom iron is supposedly harmful.

There are cleansing rituals to "break in" a newly acquired Athame, be it new, or acquired from another person.

There is no proven etymology for this word as it does not appear in any European Language. In the book Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft, Prof. Ronald Hutton looks into the possible sources that Gerald Gardner may have used to obtain the word 'athame', but he does not pinpoint any clear single source. Some sources, however, (including Robert Graves) suggest that it is derived from Arabic Al Thame (or Adh-dhame), The Arrow.

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Witch's Black Handled Folding Ritual Knife Athame Boline for Herbalist, Altar Tools, Cutting, Candle Carving

This compact ritual knife has a curved blade and black horn handle with brass and silver-toned accents. It features a sharpened edge that makes quick work of harvesting herbs, flowers, and other leafy plants with ease, and can also be used for inscribing candles, breaking up resin for incense, cutting of ritual offerings, and more.

Please note that the ethically harvested horn handle of this ritual knife may have naturally occurring gentle streaks of white, cream, or beige captured within the black. These beautiful markings add unique beauty to each one of our knives and should not be considered damage or a manufacturing defect.

Size: 2.25" blade and 2.75" closed

Additional Details

It is about recognizing and embracing the rights and liberties of individuals while also ensuring the well-being of society as a whole. In a magic square, each number has its place and contributes to the overall harmony of the grid. Similarly, in a society that values freedom, each person has their place and is allowed to contribute to the betterment of the community.

1 Review

Great knive for intended purpose

This means respecting differences, allowing for diverse opinions, and providing equal opportunities for all individuals to thrive. The beauty of a magic square lies in its structure and symmetry, and the same can be said about a society that values freedom. When everyone is given equal rights and opportunities, when justice and fairness prevail, and when individuals can express themselves freely, the result is a society that is in harmony with itself. Just as a magic square is a symbol of perfection and balance, the pursuit of freedom should also strive for perfection. It should aim to create a society where everyone can live a life of dignity, where individual rights and liberties are protected, and where progress and prosperity are shared by all. In conclusion, the concept of a magic square offers insights into the nature of freedom. Just like a magic square has a harmonious balance, a society that values freedom should seek to find balance between individual rights and the well-being of the community. When everyone is given equal opportunities and when the rights and liberties of individuals are respected, a society can achieve a state of harmony and perfection, just like a magic square..

Reviews for "The Mystical Power of the Magic Square: A Portal to Freedom"

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The Sacred Geometry of the Magic Square: Illuminating Freedom