Editing Boline

{{short description|Type of ritual knife in Wicca}}

The '''boline''' (also spelled ''bolline'', pron.: boh-leen) is a white-handled ritual knife, one of several [[Magical tools in Wicca|magical tools]] used in [[Wicca]], mainly for the cutting of herbs and inscribing candles.

==Description==
Unlike the [[athame]], which in most traditions is never used for actual physical cutting, the boline is used for cutting cords and herbs, carving candles, etc. It has a small, straight or crescent-shaped blade with, traditionally, a white handle.<ref>Farrar, J. & Farrar, S. (1984). ''The Witches' Way''. Custer, Washington:Phoenix Press. p.262</ref>

==Purpose==
The boline has been adopted by several other modern forms of witchcraft including [[Eclectic Wicca]]. Among these later traditions{{specify|date=March 2011}} opinions vary as to whether the boline is truly a magical tool or is merely of utilitarian purpose. Similarly, sometimes a white-hilted knife called a ''kirfane'' (various spellings) is used, for roughly the same purposes as the boline.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071224053242/http://www.geocities.com/athens/oracle/6992/K.html geocities.com] Rik Johnson. ''Vocabulary of Wiccan Terms.'' Desert Henge Website. Accessed 25 April 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.llewellyn.com/encyclopedia/term/Kirfane llewellyn.com]</ref>

[[Image:KeyOfSolomonSickle.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The sickle from the ''[[Key of Solomon]]''.]]
According to the [[Kitchen Witchcraft]] philosophy, the use of magical tools for mundane purposes like cooking is actively encouraged, and as such there is little or no need for a boline as a separate tool from the athame. Some traditions, such as that of [[Roy Bowers|Robert Cochrane]], also prescribe the use of a single knife for both ritual and practical purposes.<ref>Jones, E.J. and Valiente, D. (1990) ''Witchcraft: A tradition renewed''. London: Robert Hale. pp.96-97</ref>

==''Key of Solomon''==
{{main|Key of Solomon}}
[[Image:Ritual implements.gif|thumb|200px|right|From the ''Key of Solomon''. The ''artano'' and ''bolino'' are top left of the image.]]
Many of the bolines advertised in on-line "magick shops" have a characteristic crescent shape, and are described as being for harvesting herbs. This crescent shape is reminiscent of the [[sickle]] described in the ''Key of Solomon'', a medieval [[grimoire]] and one of the sources for modern Wicca.<ref>MacGregor Mathers, S. Liddell (ed.) ''The Key of Solomon (Clavicula Salomonis)'' Revised by Peterson, Joseph H. (1999, 2004, 2005). Available at [http://www.esotericarchives.com/solomon/ksol.htm esotericarchives.com]</ref>

Confusingly, an Italian version of the ''Key of Solomon'' has a hook-shaped knife called an ''artauo'' (a possible root for athame) and a straight, needle-shaped blade called a ''bolino''. When the name "boline" was first used to describe the crescent-shaped blade is not clear. In ''The Book of Ceremonial Magic'' published by [[Arthur Edward Waite]] in 1911, Waite references a number of early works on magic which mention the ''bolline'' or ''sickle'', saying <blockquote>"Among the necessary properties mentioned by the Book of ''True Black Magic'' are the sword, the staff, the rod, the lancet, the arctrave or hook, the bolline or sickle, the needle, the [[poniard]], a white-handled knife and another knife, with a black handle, used to describe the circle. The most important to make is that called the bolline..."<ref>Waite, Arthur Edward, (1911). ''The Book of Ceremonial Magic''. London:William Rider. p.154</ref></blockquote>

==References==
<references/>
{{WiccaandWitchcraft}}
{{Knives}}

[[Category:Ceremonial knives]]
[[Category:Magic items]]
[[Category:Ritual weapons]]
[[Category:Wiccan terminology]]
[[Category:Religious objects]]