Matrika #2 @7314
Thu Apr 19 22:56:57 1990

An athame is traditionally a double-bladed knife with a black handle.
Very few people make their own, although it is possible to do so.
Most people obtain one and personalize it in some way.  This is most
commonly done by inscribing symbols or runes on it.  In some
traditions specific symbols are required and have been handed down
through their lineage.  In others and among ecclectic Wicca groups,
these can be personal.

How do you do this?  You cover the blade with Parrafin. (WAX) Then you
let it cool.  Next you take a LONG sharp NAIL and inscribe the symbols
in the wax.  Then you use dilute Hydrochloric acid - careful, this
stuff is dangerous, and drop by drop place on the blade where it shows
through due to your inscriptions.  When the acid has worked - usually
fairly quickly - you rinse the blade under running water THOROUGHLY
and then you use VERY hot water and a lot of elbow grease to remove
the wax.

If ANY ACID FALLS ON THE SKIN RINSE THOROUGHLY UNDER COLD WATER
IMMEDIATELY and if there is a burn of any type, seek immediate medical
help.  IF it gets in the eyes, again rinse immediately and completely
and CALL THE EMT/PARAMEDIC UNITS.  It is best when doing this if you
wear either some type of glasses or goggles and rubber gloves.

DO NOT INGEST THE ACID OR LEAVE IT WHERE IT COULD BE INGESTED BY A
CHILD OR ANIMAL.  Also be careful of how you dispose of the rest of it
- do so in an environmentally SAFE way.

This sounded like a little too much for me, so I tried another method.
Koren made a beautiful athame for me and I personalized it by putting
herbs of my choice in the handle and sealing this with a favorite
crystal of mine - again with his help.

Oh, if you absolutely can't get a double-bladed knife - in
Massechusetts, for example, possesion of such a weapon is a CRIME -
get a single-bladed knife and grind down the other edge as much as you
can.

As I said, the Athame is USUALLY black-handled, but there are
exceptions - I saw one Lady use a knife with a deer's hoof for the
handle.  She was oriented toward her Native American heritage as much
as her Craft, so it had deep significance for her.  I also saw - in
fact a friend of mine was selling it - a BEAUTIFUL homemade athame
with copper tubing forming a cross hilt and crystals in each of the
three tips for the handle.  (this was almost a small sword) AS ALWAYS
USE WHAT SPEAKS TO YOUR OWN SOUL!!!!!

The athame is usully NOT used in circle for anything other than ritual
and ceremonial purposed.  If you need to inscribe a candle for Magick
or slice the bread for the cakes and wine part of the rite, you
usually use a BOLINE or white - handled knife, often a small dagger or
even a pen-knife, set aside for these purposes.