Athames

An athame or athamé is a ceremonial knife, one of several magical tools used in Wicca; other forms of modern witchcraft have since adopted the term for various ritual knives. The athame appears in many forms and designs.
The athame is first mentioned in the writings of Gerald Gardner in the 1950s. The athame is often considered the most important personal ritual tool in witchcraft and has many uses, but it is not to be used for actual physical cutting.

Appearance & Use:
The handle may be inscribed with particular symbols dictated by the tradition. In "eclectic" forms of witchcraft the handle decorations range from astrological glyphs to runes, the symbols being chosen by the owner.
The athame's primary use is for ritual and magical purposes only, to direct energy. As a masculine principle, it is often used in combination with the chalice, as feminine principle, evoking the act of procreation, as a symbol of universal creativity. This is a symbol of the Great Rite in Wiccan rituals. Some modern witchcraft traditions may prefer not to use iron blades, instead preferring alternatives such as copper, bronze, or crafted wood. This is most common amongst traditions that have a particular fondness of the Sidhe, to whom iron is supposedly harmful.