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The Following is an Excerpt from PAN - the Pagan Awareness
Network of Australia
Sacred Tools - Athame and Boline
IN THEIR RITUALS and celebrations,
many modern Pagans call upon
and refer to four elements: fire, air,
earth and water. These four elements are
invoked by the use of special prayers, the
use of coloured banners or cloths; decorations
symbolising those elements; and by
the use of tools or objects to signify those
elements.
The athame (ATH-a-may), or black handled knife,
is one of these items. It corresponds with
either the element of fire, or the element of
air and as such symbolises energy, intent,
the intellect and the will. For this reason,
it is considered by many Pagans to be the
most important, and most personal of their
tools.
It must be understood that due to the
diversity of belief (for more information
please see PAN Incs Pagan Paths: An
Overview pamphlet) many Pagans do not
use an athame or sacred knife at all, nor
refer to four elements. Neither is acquiring
a sacred knife a requirement to become a
Pagan. Regardless, all Pagans understand
the usage of ritual or sacred knives.
For those Pagans who do use an athame,
it is a piece of equipment of supreme significance and importance which can be felt
to represent the will or energy of its owner.
It is kept carefully, and other people are not
encouraged to handle the athame of another
person. Most Pagans would find little need
to carry their athame away from their residence
or ritual site, but if the two places are
separate, then the athame may be transported
between them, carefully packed. It has no
commonplace use and is not used to cut objects,
being a symbolic and ritual item. The
athame does not bear an edge and is usually
forged in such a way that it will not take
an edge. As the athame does not need to be
sharp, it can be made of almost any material,
including metals, but also wood, bone,
semi-precious stones and ceramic or glass.
Some Pagans use a second ritual knife
called the boline (BOL-een), or white handled knife.
This knife is used to cut items for ritual or
ceremonial use, like herbs or candles, and
so it bears an edge. The boline is thus made
of hard metals, and may or may not have a
curved, sickle like blade. If for some reason
it must be transported, great care is taken to
prevent it damaging any other items.
Neither the athame or boline are used to
harm any person or living thing.
THE ATHAME IS USED TO:
Direct energy
Symbolise its owner
Symbolise intent or will
Delineate sacred space
Bless food and drink
Indicate objects
IT IS NEVER USED TO:
Hurt or threaten another person
Harm or butcher animals
Cut any object at all
THE BOLINE IS USED TO:
Prepare items used in ceremony
Cut ribbons or threads
Cut herbs
IT IS NEVER USED TO:
Hurt or threaten another person
Harm or butcher animals
Cut everyday items
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