The Boline

The Boline is a working knife, used by Pagans whose Athame is spiritually or mechanically unsuited to cutting or carving. Like all ritual tools, this working knife should always be used with spiritual or magical intent. It is always made of metal, and usually has only one sharpe edge.

Traditionally this ritual tool bears a closer resemblance to a scythe than a knife. The blade of these working knives curve inward in a crescent. The sharp edge is on the inside of the crescent. This is supposed to be symbolic of the crescent moon. It is also a reminder of a time when such hand held sickles were used in harvesting crops. These tools where used especially for harvesting plants and herbs for magical use.

Outside of British Traditional Witchcraft the design and use of this tool has altered somewhat. Some groups now use it to refer to any knife used in magical work other than the Athame. Like all ritual tools, it should be cleansed and consecrated prior to use.

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