Consecrating A Knife In The Pagan Tradition

Uath

Uath

Joined
Oct 25, 2003
Messages
703
The Pagan religion of our European ancestors has found its way into more and more of our daily lives. Pagans revere the Earth and are proud to be called an animal. They represent an eclectic tradition of Wicca, Druidism, and Shamanistic paths.
Knives are a ubiquitous part of any Pagan ritual tradition. The knife is our steel tooth and represents both our kinship with the natural world, and our unique ability to manipulate it using the power of our mind.
Different groups of Pagans follow different traditions. The procedure for properly consecrating a knife would be different for each one. What follows is a generic ritual that would fit within any path or world view. I must admit, that this would lean very heavily toward my own personal view of Celtic Pagan tradition.
1) Find a private spot, somewhere that is special to you. Arrange to be there about an hour before dawn.
2) Bring your knife, incense, salt, water, and a candle.
3) Wear the clothes that feel appropriate to you.
4) As the sun shows itself on the horizon, pass the candle over the knife to represent fire.
5) Pass the incense over the knife to represent air.
6) Sprinkle the knife with water.
7) Sprinkle the knife with salt to represent the Earth.
8) Call on whatever God, or Goddess, you would deem appropriate. Hold the knife up to the rising sun.
9) Spin around three times counter-clockwise (the direction of the Earth’s rotation).
10) As the sun completely rises, face it, and take three breaths to take the power of light into your body. Three is the number that represents our human lives, youth, maturity, and old age.
11) Name the knife. Now it is connected to you. You may own many knives, but you really only need one.
Choose Well
 
The TorzJohnson method of consecrating a knife has somewhat fewer steps:

1) Buy knife.
2} Use knife.

I also have never been able to complete step 10 of the Pagan tradition, because when the sun rises I take the 3 breaths but then I find that I have to continue breathing and that pretty much blows the magic number all to hell. :(
 
Uath, you're an interesting chap indeed. I must say, you do stir up some "unique" threads, and even though we may see things a bit differently (like on the "Lord Of The Rings Swords Suck" thread you started not too long ago), I've got to hand it to you (even though I still think you're a nut for strapping on a sword everyday just to go out for a walk). :D

So, in the spirit of your thread, I have to say to those who think the topic is a bit weird that many cultures around the world have done and continue to do the same thing. Nobody says anything negative when a Shintoist in Asia does it or when a Native American in Arizona or New Mexico does it. Why should it be any different if Uath or anyone else does it? Is it any different from a Roman Catholic priest "blessing" a room, home or object? Not everyone who's a member of this forum is a "Xtian," so I see nothing wrong or offensive with Uath's post. Besides, Winston Churchill was a Druid, yet he was and still is one of the most respected political figures in modern history.
 
Having traveled to a few faraway place, I'm always amazed at other cultures, even the ones in our own country, and the way they deal with everyday items and life.

Definitely interesting reading, BTW my method of consecrating a knife, buy knife, cut myself, knife consecrated.
 
Originally posted by Cosmic Superchunk
Uath, you're an interesting chap indeed. I must say, you do stir up some "unique" threads, and even though we may see things a bit differently (like on the "Lord Of The Rings Swords Suck" thread you started not too long ago), I've got to hand it to you (even though I still think you're a nut for strapping on a sword everyday just to go out for a walk). :D

So, in the spirit of your thread, I have to say to those who think the topic is a bit weird that many cultures around the world have done and continue to the same thing. Nobody says anything negative when a Shintoist in Asia does it or when a Native American in Arizona or New Mexico does it. Why should it be any different if Uath or anyone else does it? Is it any different from a Roman Catholic priest "blessing" a room, home or object? Not everyone who's a member of this forum is a "Xtian," so I see nothing wrong or offensive with Uath's post. Besides, Winston Churchill was a Druid, yet he was and still is one of the most respected political figures in modern history.
Click to expand...

I completely agree, you don't have to believe or practice anything you don't want to BUT you should respect other peoples beliefs and/or practices. (unless they are obvious psychotic cultists).
 
Interesting, but I'm not mixing salt and water on any of my knives! That's some corrosive s*** right there. "My knife is now connected to me, but some of the parts are corroded so badly it won't open!"
 
Balisong artists have a slightly different ritual. Ours involves Neosporin and 3M ActiveStrips.
 
What's interesting here is that most people today don't think anything about "consecrating" a knife. Why? Because knives have become common-place. They don't need special consecrating. Heck, if I spent a hour "consecrating" every knife I owned, from kitchen knives to collectibles, I'd have lost a year of my life.

Today, we sometimes have special ceremonies for a new building. If you get a new car, you might have a bit of a celebration. Big things. Things that don't happen every day.

But, even a few generations ago, a knife was a big thing, something that didn't happen every day. A person might easily invest a substantial part of his fortune in a knife (and not just to display either).

Today, good knives have become so common-place that we no longer feel the need to get up before dawn for a special ceremony because of one. This is true, by the way, even for non-knife Knuts. Even a non-knut probably owns (on average in America) a ten to fifteen knives, not counting flatware. We have kitchen knives, box cutters, work knives, etc., etc., etc. Many houses have a whole drawer just for knives.

Knives have gone from being a rare item to be venerated and consecrated and held with special reverance to disposable.
 
Originally posted by Gollnick
What's interesting here is that most people today don't think anything about "consecrating" a knife. Why? Because knives have become common-place. Knives have gone from being a rare item to be venerated and consecrated and held with special reverance to disposable.
Click to expand...

Very true. In the elder days, (before microwave ovens, supermarkets and fast food restaurants) when people had to fend for themselves, knives had a very important role. Life depended on it. Depending on your point of view, it still does. In various parts of the world including some modern day concrete jungles, a knife can help keep you alive. Still, as knifenuts we all have a few that we consider special and revere.
 
Some of my best friends are pagans, but as a lifelong devout heathen, I steer clear of all organized belief systems. I am especially aversive to middle eastern derived, sheep herder mythologies, whatever they may call their HMFIC.

I generally initiate the knives I make by bleeding on them at some point. When they prove harder than a file and sharp enough to shave with, they are completely consecrated.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top