It's a Double Edged Blade

Since it was my blade that started the event that inspired this blog, let's talk about what it is and what it means. Before we get into the grist of it, there is a super special fancy word to call this item. The word is "Athame" pronounced in a variety of ways, most of them sound somewhat pretentious... The etymology of the word is kind of all over the place, but most figure that Mr Gardner got it from the French version of the Latin text called the Key of Solomon. This book was a Medieval codex of rituals and symbols to summon, bind and command demons and angles. The word was arthame, meaning "quill knife" which is a knife used for sharpening, you guessed it, quills. 
The tradition of using a ritual blade in Contemporary Paganism comes from British Traditional Wicca. Each Wiccan owns her own dagger while the coven collectively owns a sword that is wielded by the High Priestess to form the barrier of the ritual circle. The four central tools of Wicca come from the suits of the Tarot: Swords, Rods, Cups and Coins.
This Tradition holds that the dagger be made of steel because it is an iron alloy, double edge like the power that flows through it, and the handle be black and carve-able so that all the energies between the blade and the person can flow freely. It is a male image made of a masculine substance (iron). With the advent of eclectic Wicca and the generalization of the Pagan movement these sacred knives have taken on many different shapes and make-ups. Just about any blade seems to be usable depending on the person seeking to use it.
I tend to lean a little on the traditional side because I agree with the reasons for the traditions. I've owned my blade even before I knew why the significance of the double edge and black handle. So, this is what mine looks like.

The individual's blade is effectively a ritual phallus or a spiritual penis and as such it is the directive tool for the Will of the wielder. Of all that tools on the NeoPagan line-up, it is perhaps the most... taboo to be handled by someone else. For a witch (because we're talking about a magical implement) to hand someone else her blade is to hand someone the key to her soul, the reigns to her essential power and the ultimate weapon to be held against her. It means a lot to have a witch hand you their unsheathed dagger.  It is considered the greatest disrespect for someone to pick it up without permission (granted, if you don't know that then the owner shouldn't get his panties in a knot...).
There are differing schools on what the blade of the knife can and cannot touch and blood is the highest controversy of all. While eclectic Wiccans hold pretty fast to the idea that blood has not place in their practice, Traditional Wiccans use blood from willing persons in their magic. As a matter of fact, during a Trad Wiccan's first initiation she is pierced to let the blood flow so that she can fasten her cord. Most Kitchen Witches use a normal kitchen knife as their sacred blade and cut all sorts of things with it.  I hold, that if it is a symbol and extension of my own Will that it shouldn't cut unless threatened or in a ritual act that I might wish to use my Will to severe some bond or tie.
There are also plenty of schools that don't use a blade for one reason or another the most common two being "steel is patriarchal!" and "weapons have no place in a faith of peace."
~A. Fox