An
athame is a ceremonial tool used in witchcraft and occult rituals and
ceremonies. The principal use of the athame is to open and close the circle of
protection within which the ritual or spell is performed.Now to a few athame uses. If you are new to magick and just want to cast a spell then stretch out your right hand with the athame in it and say "with the flame of protection, cast this circle for my safe keeping" then with athame in hand and arm held out draw a circle around yourself by turning 360 degrees so you end where you began. The athame has created a safe place to cast the spell. To close the circle you will turn in the opposite direction with athame held out wide and say "Undo this circle its energies to dissolve" or some such words, use your own words if you wish.
Other uses for the athame are as a way to send energy outward from yourself to another person. So let us say you are doing a healing spell for someone who is ill in a room near you or even a town miles away. First you make sure you know where the person is, if close to you then just point the athame in that direction, if miles away then you may need a compass to work out their direction. Then cast a circle using the athame, stand in the centre and picture the person. See them in as much detail as you can and then with athame in hand cast you arm outward in the direction you know they are in and say something like "let the burning flame of health sear away your illness (or disease), let the flame heal, let the flame energise, let the flame renew your life force." or just say something more basic like "Mary, this energy is for your healing" - its always better to use your own words as this gives the athames energy more meaning.
More unusual ways to use the athame are for casting away negative energies or shielding yourself from them. By having an athame at you side, an athame in your circle or an athame in your hand you are protecting yourself from evil intent from others and negative energies. But if you feel a room has negative energies then the athame can be used to remove these. Find the areas of negativity and using the athame with a left to right motion swing the athame over the areas starting high and moving downwards saying as you go "banish, remove, cease and dissipate" this helps remove the unwanted energies or entity using the athames power of flame.