I made mine from carbon steel,I shaped it tempered it, Ipolished the blade and made the english walnut handles, It is easy if you are able to use power tools. and since it is not for actual cutting it doesn't have to be sharp. Well that is my two cents worth.
Blessings and peace:
Rogelio21
An Athame is really a ceremonial tool in Wicca, So has nothing to do with my own craft. But so far as I know the Athame can be made from any material. It is usually a rather blunt knife, with a sharp point, used for "scribing" on things, such as candles; and for representing the male in certain rituals.(The chalice is female).
I do have a knife on my altar, but it's for cutting herbs.
Information on Athames can still be had from some of the original founders of Wicca. (Yes, they are still alive!) You might try contacting Maxine Sanders. She has a web-site.
I would suggest making it out of Alder wood if possible. It is masculine and is said to inspire confidence and bravery, but also spiritual protection and growth.
If I were making one, I would use a branch the thickness of my wrist, and carefully carve out the designs and curves with a sharp knife or wood carving tools. Be careful not to make it too thin, or carve too big of a chunk off at one time. This could make it break. When done, sand it down gently and wipe it clean. For added protection to the wood, I would suggest rubbing melted wax into it in a circular motion, then wiping off any excess. This will give it a nice shine and protective coating, but should not mess with the energy of the knife.
while i've seen many athame's, and it's just a tool that can be replaced/avoided/unnecessary in the grand scheme of things, i'm not 100% on wooden athame's. i'm not saying you can't or shouldn't, just a heads up though, and athame is typically a representative of fire [or air] mind you wands are typically made of wood and they represent air [or fire] so whatever.
typically, what i think you would do is get two branches cut to the right size you want them, widdle down ine end so it's flat and 'double bladed' like an athame, the other end [which should be shorter and round] widdle into a handle. [if you want to be fancy, you could make it into a diet, or a symbol, or and animal so on] with the other branch, cut a hole in the middle, big enough so it will get stuck where the heel of the 'blade' and handle is. before putting it in place, you can widdle a design, or shape it however you want, take some carpenters glue and glue it in place. keep in mind i've never made a wooden athame, but my father's a carpenter, and that sounds about what you should do. personally, while something like a nail or screw would hold it in place better, i'd avoid it because the random metal might throw the flow of energy off a bit, but you could put a gemstone/crystal on the end of the handle.
An athame does not have to be metal, nor does it have to be "double bladed" or made of two separate pieces. Do whatever feels natural and best for you.
The whole idea of an athame is that it is used to symbolically "cut" and also for the direction of energy. You do not need to make it sharp, because you should not actually be cutting with it XD
I would highly reccomend you make it when relaxed. Just like any other object, it can and will absorb energy while you are creating and using it.
it can be any knife pick up a butter knife bless it and there you have it an athame its a lot simpler than most people make it but some people do prefer something a little more fancy but really ant knife will work also you dont really need one all tools are realy for is getting you in the right state of mind so if you learn to do that without tools youll already be a step ahead of most people
Absolutely.Warlock! Although a butter knife,ie without a pointed end, would not be much use in "carving" symbols on candles!
But Warlock is correct, they are only tools, and not really necessary.
Thanks for all the tips and I have thought of just blessing one of my many knifes but I figured something made from my own hands would increase the power same as when a spell is written by you and not someone else.
