The athame is an essential element to a working witch's ritual practice. Traditionally, the athame is a black handled, double edged blade and serves as a representative of the element of Air (although in some traditions it serves as the element of Fire due to its masculine, phallic symbolism, such as seen during a "chalice and blade" ritual).

The witch's athame (pronounced ah-thah-may) traditionally has dulled edge as it is not to be used for cutting on the physical plane but to direct the spiritual energy in ritual, circle or spell casting. Conversely, the boline (pronounced bow-leen) is a white handled ritual tool with a sharpened blade that is used for cutting ~ herbs, cords, etc.