Table of Contents Chapter One: Introduction Anatomy of an Athame Pronouncing Athame Finding an Athame Why a Knife? The Practicality and Inconvenience of the Athame Getting to the Point: Angus McMahan Chapter Two: A Short History Knives in Ritual & Religion The Black Handled Knife Why the Double-Edged Blade? Knife Superstitions Native American Knife Lore Athame Correspondences Chapter Three: The Other Athames Stone Athame Athames of Wood Making a Wooden Athame Blades of Bone and Antler The Secret Athames Getting to the Point: Lupa the Greenwolf Chapter Four: Making the Athame Yours Creating the Black-handled knife Making an Athame Your Own Marking the Athame Theban Script and Norse Runes Marking the Hilt Etching the Blade To Be Sharp or Dull-A Difference of Opinions Care and Keeping of Your Athame Chapter Five: Preparing an Athame For Ritual Cleansing an Athame Cleansing an Athame, Indoor Ritual The Why and Whats of Consecrating A Solitary Consecration Rite A Coven Consecration Rite Chapter Six: The Athame in Ritual The Opening Ceremony Casting the Circle Calling the Quarters The Symbolic Great Rite & Cakes and Ale A Door to the Summerlands Chapter Seven: The Boline and the White Handled Knife Finding a Boline Blessing a Boline Using a Boline Ancient Druids and the Sickle Chapter Eight: The Athame in the Kitchen and Beyond Infusing Food With Energy Breads and Pastries Soups and Stews Cleansing Your Home Getting to the Point: Jenya Beachy Chapter Nine: The Sword The Sword in History Swords in Literature and Mythology Sword Lore Blessing a Sword for Coven Work or Group Ritual Chapter Ten: Divination, Ritual, & Spellwork With The Athame Scrying with an Athame The Athame Pendulum Candle Carvings Spell to Let Go of a Lover or Friend The True Witch's Weapon-Spirits and the Blade A Dedication Ritual An Initiation Ritual Chapter Eleven: The Knife in Traditional Witchcraft Traditional Witchcraft Rituals with the Knife and the Sword Fashioning the Bridge Calling the Quarters The Great Rite/Cakes and Ale Getting to the Point: Jenya Beachy Epilogue: The Circle is Open, the Book is Over Appendix One: Theban Script Appendix Two: Elder Futhark Runes Bibliography and Further Reading.