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.