I live on the corner of a quiet
neighborhood. Sure I was going to be outside alone and in
the dark, but whom do I have to fear? As I shoveled I thought
about the vulnerability of the winter- the bitter cold, the
wolves, other hungry predators. I thought about human wolves
those who might prey on defenseless folk. I thought about
spectral wolves, those that might prey on my psyche or soul.
In today’s society is a knife seen as a weapon, a tool, a
spiritual object?
Historically speaking there
are several cultures, which even today, still see sacredness
to owning a weapon of some sort. In some such as the Sikh,
it is a symbol of faith. In other cultures, a knife is seen
as an outward representation of the strength or machismo of
the man and to take a man’s knife from him shames him or makes
him less of a man. I have friends living in the Southwest
who have friends who are part of the Cheyenne Tribe that live
on the reservation in Oklahoma and their tribe has four sacred
arrows that were given to them over 1000 years ago. Sweet
Medicine, a man ostracized by his tribe, prayed in the mountains
for a long time. Finally he received them as a gift from the
Creator and brought them back to the Cheyenne and was accepted
back into the tribe. These arrows do not function as projectile
missiles but as spiritual weapons. When the arrows are pointed
at an enemy they have the power to confuse the foe so that
the tribe can defeat them. The tribe would also use the arrows
to hunt game using that same power to confuse the buffalo
so that they could provide for the tribe. If these arrows
were ever taken then the tribe would be lost. They are brought
to a yearly Sun Dance and kept in a sacred area at the pow-wow
and women are not even allowed to look at the tent where they
are kept.
I’ve got several very sharp
and professional quality culinary knives, but I’ve never owned
a knife like this one. It was given to me when I joined the
Ulfar Aff Jera Tribe. Every member of the tribe gets one and
all of the knives are the same, however each member may decorate
the hilt any way they choose. The blade is a symbol of our
unity, while the sheath is a reflection of our personality.
It is a conduit of the might and luck of the tribe and it
is a subtle representation of our tribal membership. We are
required to bring our knives to all tribal gatherings, but
I also bring it to Heathen ones. So is it just a ritual knife,
used only during rituals and magical workings?
I’ve found my Wolf’s Tooth
to be a very useful tool not just an object of faith. I’ve
chopped potatoes, butchered a Yule pig, and cut yarn with
it, but it’s taken more blood from me than from my enemies.
My Wolf’s Tooth reminds me of my own strength and power, so
that if need ever arose I could defend myself with it both
physically and spiritually. It’s just so difficult for me
to work up the nerve to wear it in public, in front of non-Heathens.
At least I can go to a Heathen gathering and see just about
half the folk wearing a knife.
In our larger society a knife
represents a weapon. Would I draw hostility or fear from others
if I carried it with me? Not only that, I would have to answer
questions and explain my beliefs to a mostly Judeo-Christian
society. At least I can’t find any law barring me from carrying
it publicly and one of these days I’ll wear it beyond the
end of my driveway and we’ll see what happens. Until then
I’ll carry my Wolf’s Tooth around my property doing yard-work
and I’ll see you at the next blot with it.
Hail Frigga. Hail Odin. Hail
the Ulfar.
