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Jason Pitzl-Waters on Jul 3rd 2006 at 2:05 pm Uncategorized

Sacred Blades

Arch Druidess Debbie King, of the Insular Order of Druids in the UK, was recently arrested for refusing to give up her ritual blade (or athame) after having a bundle of her sacred items searched in court.


Debbie King at a handfasting.

“When she went to collect the bag later she was kept waiting for an hour before two police officers arrived and arrested her. Miss King, 44, said she had the Druid kit with her as she was due to carry out a television interview later in the day, and didn’t know if she would have time to return home and collect her belongings after supporting a family member in court. Miss King, of Furze Lane, Milton, Portsmouth, said: ‘It would have the same status as a crucifix to Christians. It represents truth, honour, justice and protection. ‘I was told if I signed a disclaimer and gave up the athame I would just be given a caution, but I had to stand my ground. ‘If it was just for me I wouldn’t mind so much, but it’s for all the other pagans who carry a knife ? this could create a precedent.’”

King Arthur Pendragon, from the Council of British Druid Orders who won an earlier court case to bring his ritual sword (which he wears at all times) to court is vowing that he will help fight the case (actually he said he would defend her to “the hilt”). This issue has been batted around in both the USA and the UK now for years, sometimes in our favor and sometimes not. This case could finally set a precedent allowing the free wear of ritual blades in the country. As for America, it could take a trip to the Supreme Court before we have a any similar chance.

Thanks to Stephen Ball for tipping me off to the story.

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3 responses so far

  • Lolair

    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….. :)

  • Tyrell

    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.

  • Lolair

    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.