It is the main tool of every witch, no matter her tradition, with it she will cut, create and protect herself.

This tool is a double-edged ritual dagger generally used for consecration during rituals, and for the closing and opening of the circle of protection.

With it we can consecrate the water and salt that we will use during the drawing of the circle, as well as the other elements; we can consecrate whatever we have put on our pentacle, potions, sachets of love or protection, etc.; and no less important, it is one more tool that will help us direct energy towards a certain point.

Depending on the author we read, they will give us certain indications of what our Athame should be like. Below I will provide you with some examples and then I will give you my point of view and experience, which is not intended to invalidate other witches in any way, but rather to contribute my personal experience and my critical reasoning.

Migene González-Wippler, in “The Book of Shadows”, a fairly descriptive book that guides the reader with content based on the functioning of a coven, offers a detailed description of the symbols that must be drawn on the handle, 9 in total : The 8 paths, The arrow of magic and Perfect Pair on the top of the handle. And at the bottom of the handle: Symbol of the God, Initial of the God, Symbol of the whip, Symbol of the kiss, Symbol of the Goddess and Initial of the Goddess. In reference to the material of the Athame and the handle of it she expresses no preference. But yes, it is made clear that it is the most important tool of the witch.

Arin Murphy-Hiscock, the author of “The Green Witch”, offers us another vision, more practical, without so much ceremony. This is why she does not categorize the Athame as an essential piece. Yes, the author is an ordained Wiccan priestess of the third degree. Even so, for her a version of the Bolline (or white-handled knife) is more essential, although we will leave it for now until we talk about that tool.

For Scott Cunningham, in “Wicca, a guide for the solitary practitioner”, the athame should have a black or dark handle, since the black color absorbs power. He also mentions that some Wiccans like to add symbols of “The key of Solomon”, although it is not strictly necessary, but if one wishes, and feels comfortable, one can add words, symbols or runes to both the blade and the handle of the Athame.

In another order of things, Raymond Buckland, in “Wicca. Practices and principles of witchcraft" offers us a step by step to forge our Athame, something wonderful, but far from the possibilities of space, time and money that we currently have to have to make a forge for those of us who live in the midst of big cities. Regarding the material, he indicates that the blade should be made of iron or steel. The handle should be made of wood. And regarding the carving of symbols, he tells us that they could be those proposed by tradition that we follow. And if we don't follow any, at least carve our magical name on it.

In my experience, if you can personalize it and if you are a sollitary witch, much better. In case you can't, it's the same. Can you change athames throughout your life? Yes, like with any other tool. So the athame that serves as a tool and has two sides (double edge) that you can get is more than enough.

In my case, mine is made of bronze, I saw it and immediately fell in love with it. I haven't made any engravings on it yet, maybe in the future it will have my magical name engraved on it and nothing more than that. I use it mainly for ritual activities, not so much for other purposes; and although it is true that Gardnerian traditions restrict it exclusively for that use, it is necessary to emphasize that there are Scottish traditions that use it for everything.

Like any tool, the more we use it, the more power it will acquire and the more connected it will be with the witch.