Comments on: Sacred Blades http://wildhunt.org/blog/2006/07/sacred-blades.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:32:10 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Lolair http://wildhunt.org/blog/2006/07/sacred-blades.html/comment-page-1#comment-426 Lolair Wed, 05 Jul 2006 01:32:00 +0000 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2006/07/sacred-blades.html#comment-426 My partner is Gardnerian, and even with his strict British teacher, there's always the finger, or even the wand if you simply cannot use your athame. I've been to more than one Gardnerian ritual where there were as many fingers being waved in the air as knives.<br/><br/>However if you are leading the ritual and can't bring one, I guess there's always borrowing someone else's. If one is not weird about using other people's ritual tools.<br/><br/>Perhaps just a simple license would suffice allowing one to carry a ritual blade for their religion... Somehow I don't think it'll happen any time soon though. My partner is Gardnerian, and even with his strict British teacher, there’s always the finger, or even the wand if you simply cannot use your athame. I’ve been to more than one Gardnerian ritual where there were as many fingers being waved in the air as knives.

However if you are leading the ritual and can’t bring one, I guess there’s always borrowing someone else’s. If one is not weird about using other people’s ritual tools.

Perhaps just a simple license would suffice allowing one to carry a ritual blade for their religion… Somehow I don’t think it’ll happen any time soon though.

]]> By: Tyrell http://wildhunt.org/blog/2006/07/sacred-blades.html/comment-page-1#comment-424 Tyrell Tue, 04 Jul 2006 08:49:00 +0000 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2006/07/sacred-blades.html#comment-424 <i>If you have to carry it on public transit, maybe you should forgo bringing your knife.</i><br/><br/>And that's where the problem comes in. If you're an initiated Gardnerian or Alexandrian wiccan, for example, your athame is a tool you will often NEED to bring to ceremonies. It *is* that crucial, and sacred.<br/><br/>Being allowed to carry an Athame at all, however you are travelling to an event, is currently difficult under UK law. I think an exemption to carry it (sheathed and put away in a bag, and only when on your way to an event) would be very welcome indeed. <br/><br/>Since it's not part of *daily* dress, this would probably be sufficient. There wouldn't be the need to have the same status as Sikhs do, and permit constant carrying. If you have to carry it on public transit, maybe you should forgo bringing your knife.

And that’s where the problem comes in. If you’re an initiated Gardnerian or Alexandrian wiccan, for example, your athame is a tool you will often NEED to bring to ceremonies. It *is* that crucial, and sacred.

Being allowed to carry an Athame at all, however you are travelling to an event, is currently difficult under UK law. I think an exemption to carry it (sheathed and put away in a bag, and only when on your way to an event) would be very welcome indeed.

Since it’s not part of *daily* dress, this would probably be sufficient. There wouldn’t be the need to have the same status as Sikhs do, and permit constant carrying.

]]> By: Lolair http://wildhunt.org/blog/2006/07/sacred-blades.html/comment-page-1#comment-423 Lolair Tue, 04 Jul 2006 04:17:00 +0000 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2006/07/sacred-blades.html#comment-423 There have been many issues with carrying knives and swords in the past in different countries with Pagans, Druids, Sikhs, or even people with the SCA. The issue is that they are considered concealed weapons. Cook aren't even allowed to walk around with their knives on their way to work (they're put away of course). I think Sikhs have been allowed to carry their ceremonial daggers in Canada as it was brought to court. Debbie should have left them in her car or given them to someone else for safe-keeping before she went to court.<br/><br/>Every few months there's a news story from England on how a Druid or Wiccan wants to go to court for not being allowed to have their athame or sword. I say put it away when you're going to an event. If you have to carry it on public transit, maybe you should forgo bringing your knife.<br/><br/>As an amusing legal note - in Victoria, BC men are allowed to carry sheathed swords as long as they are escorting a lady. Without acting as escort the carrying of a blade is illegal. There's always a loophole somewhere..... :) There have been many issues with carrying knives and swords in the past in different countries with Pagans, Druids, Sikhs, or even people with the SCA. The issue is that they are considered concealed weapons. Cook aren’t even allowed to walk around with their knives on their way to work (they’re put away of course). I think Sikhs have been allowed to carry their ceremonial daggers in Canada as it was brought to court. Debbie should have left them in her car or given them to someone else for safe-keeping before she went to court.

Every few months there’s a news story from England on how a Druid or Wiccan wants to go to court for not being allowed to have their athame or sword. I say put it away when you’re going to an event. If you have to carry it on public transit, maybe you should forgo bringing your knife.

As an amusing legal note – in Victoria, BC men are allowed to carry sheathed swords as long as they are escorting a lady. Without acting as escort the carrying of a blade is illegal. There’s always a loophole somewhere….. :)

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