The Bridge

The sages say: da’at kanita ma chasarta, da’at chasarta ma kanita – “if you have gained da’at you lack nothing, if you lack da’at what have you gained?”

The ogham letters shown are my circle name Lleucu. There are 14 vertical lines above the horizontal and 14 vertical lines below the horizontal. The ratio of the digit sums of these two numbers is 5/5, representing Binah and Malchut, respectively. The ratio itself reduces to 1/1 and further, to 1 (echad).

Also note, there are 6 "sets" of letters, representing the vav of connection and transformation, da'at, Torah and Truth.

Thus, my circle name Lleucu represents the bridge connecting immanence (Malchut), transcendence (Binah) and Aur Ein Sof as revealed in the Malchut of Echad.

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Adding Header Graphic In Beta Blogger

A procedure for adding a clickable header graphic to your beta blog is described below. For other methods to add non-clickable header graphics, see code source link at the bottom of the post.

First, add a page element widget to header area. Sign into Dashboard. For the blog you want to modify, click LAYOUT, then click EDIT HTML. Then look for this block of codes in the template:



Change maxwidgets='1' to maxwidgets='4' (or any other number greater than 1) and change showaddelement='no' to showaddelement='yes'. (you may also leave out the figure in maxwidgets='' in which case the number of widgets you can add to the header is unlimited). So the section should now be:



Click SAVE TEMPLATE. Then click PAGE ELEMENT tab to go back to LAYOUT. You will see an extra "Add a Page Element" above the Header.

Second, add the header graphic element. Have ready the URL of the image. When you click "Add a Page Element", select "HTML/Javascript" and click ADD TO BLOG. Then type:



into the HTML editor. It will be good to type in some description of the image (image title) in between the quotation marks in alt="" as search engine cannot read images but can read the text in the alt tag. This will be an advantage to you if you want your blog to be easily found by search enginges. Another advantage is that if for any reason, the image cannot be displayed, instead of a blank box, the text withing the quotation marks will be displayed instead. The alt tag is optional and you may leave it out if you want. When ready, click SAVE CHANGES. Then in the LAYOUT, preview if you want, and click SAVE if you are satisfied.

This information was obtained from Testing Blogger Beta, Adding A Graphic To Your Blogger Header.

Jewitch Shabbat Ritual

Here is the first formal Friday evening shabbat ritual I have written for the solitary Jewitch. It may tweaked and refined as time goes by. This is the basic format from which I will build:

1. Take a bath or shower. Visualize washing away physical, emotional and spiritual impurity, letting all negativity flow down the drain with the water. Dress in ritual attire. Put on Jewitch pentacle (pentacle + magen David), saying:

Blessed is this Unity. Her Glorious Name is One. So mote it be.

2. "Sweep" (counterclockwise-"widdershins" and out) ritual space with besom. Visualize removing all negative energy from it, saying:

From this place, I banish all negativity and evil. So mote it be.

3. Perform ritual bath. Add herbs and oil of choice [1] to ritual bowl containing warm water.

Relax. Breathe. Stand facing north (Gevurah, fire) in front of bath bowl. Purify and consecrate the water mixture, placing tip of athame into the water, saying:

Out from you I cast all that is impure and unclean. Blessed are you, with the heart of the Shechinah. You are Holy. So mote it be.

Lay athame upon empty altar "place" (where altar will be or is permanently located). Face north/ritual bath bowl. Hold palms facing upward, saying:

Shechinah, fierce and intense, gentle and mild, blessed are You, and I am Your beloved child.

Dip finger of choice [2] in bath, close eyes. Anoint eyelids by drawing a small pentagram (invoking air [3]) on each with your finger, saying:

Open my eyes to see, my mind to understand and my perception to clarity.

Open your eyes. Dip finger of choice in bath, anointing lips in same fashion, saying:

Open my lips to speak the truth.

Similarly, anoint your breast, saying:

Open my heart to beat with compassion.

Similarly, anoint the palms of your hands, saying:

Open the strength of my hands to do rightly.

Similarly, anoint your loins, saying:

Open my lifeforce to flow with the Source of Peace.

Similarly, anoint your knees, saying:

Open me to be a revealed blessing.

Similarly, anoint the tops of both feet, saying:

Open the path to all good and guard my way upon it.

4. Cleanse the ritual space.

Sprinkle salt-herb water from ritual bowl, starting from the north and turning clockwise ("deosil", pronounced "jess-el", also called "sunwise" and the "holy round"); i.e. north to east to south to west. Repeat by carrying a representative of each of the four elements [4, 5], working with one element at a time.

5. Set up your altar.

Faced north, located on the eastern side of the room/space. Sprinkle salt-herb water over altar area. Set up table or other surface. Cover with black altar cloth. Individualize set up of altar space. Place candle trays upon the altar cloth now if you are going to use them. Place "circle" quarter candle (black anointed and consecrated tea candles in clear crystal circle holders) on each side of the altar north to east to south to west.

Generally, and in this order [3], place fire element (main illuminator black candle anointed, consecrated and inscribed using athame) and athame on the northern side of the altar. Place air element (incense in cauldron censor) and witch's wand (symbolizes "order from chaos") on the eastern side. Place water element (bowl of water) and chalice/kiddush cup on the southern side. Place earth element (stone or piece of wood) and pentacle on the western side.

Place besom on eastern corner (on or near the altar). Place other objects pertaining to your ritual intent upon the altar if desired [6]. Note, the only steel or iron item upon your altar should be your athame.

6. Call the quarters or watchtowers.

Pick up athame. With projecting hand (right), hold it point up parallel to your heart. Face north, raise up athame, drawing a pentagram in space with your athame in the manner invoking fire [3], saying:

Blessed is She, the Eternal Flame and the Essence of Truth.

Hail Guardians of the Watchtowers of the north, element of the fire, I, (your name), do summon, stir and call you forth to witness this rite, and to protect this sacred space and time. Welcome to my circle. Stand in strength. Blessed be in joy, love and light. So mote it be.

Point athame into (toward) the earth, walk/turn the circle clockwise (deosil), then return athame to the altar. Face the east, light incense, raising it and drawing a pentagram in space in the manner invoking air [3], saying:

Blessed is She, Mistress of the mysteries of spices and perfumes, the One over Death, and She who loves me.

Hail Guardians of the Watchtowers of the east, element of the air. I, (your name), do summon, stir and call you forth to witness this rite, and to protect this sacred space and time. Welcome to my circle. Stand in strength. Blessed be in joy, love and light. So mote it be. [7]

Holding censor, turning a complete circle (or walk the circle) deosil, reface the altar. Return censor to the eastern quarter of the altar. Pick up water bowl on the southern quarter.

Repeat with south-water, west-earth.

Blessing over water element:

Blessed is She who bestows Wisdom.

Blessing over earth element:

Blessed is She who sustains Life.

7. Cast your circle, pick up athame, extend it outward and down toward the earth, walking deosil starting from the north, saying:

I conjure you, O Circle, to establish in this place sacred ground, with the Brilliance of the Shechinah surround, Her Power within it found.

No place or time or barrier may there be, between Her, my word and me. So mote it be.

Baruch shem kevod malchutah leolam va'ed, amen.

ברוך שם כבוד מלכותה לעולם ועד, אמן
Translation: Blessed is the Glorious Name, Her Kingdom stands forever and ever, amen.

8. Light the illuminator-shabbat candle(s), (covering eyes) saying:

Blessed are You Shabbat, Goddess of all life, Who transforms darkness into light.

Uncover eyes and circle flame 3 times with hands (starting and ending over your heart), each time drawing light toward you.

9. Pour and bless wine, saying:

Blessed are You Shechinah, Goddess of all life, Who guides me to wise understanding, proper compassion and right action.

Take a drink.

10. Blessing over bread:

Blessed are You Shechinah, Who nourishes me with all goodness.

Take a bite.

11. Perform other specific observances, shabbat spellwork, meditative study, etc.

12. Release quarters and open circle [8] following havdalah.


Footnotes:

[1] Dragon's blood, frankincence, myrrh, pinch of salt, drop of vanilla oil, drop of olive oil, drop of red wine (may vary according to intent of ritualwork). Ritual bath general reference: The Craft (Dorothy Morrison).

[2] See Ari's chiromancy correspondences.

[3] Pentagram invocations and banishings according to correspondences of the Zohar (hat-tip to Jack Nathanson for Zohar reference).




[4] Examples of elemental representatives: earth (stone, small piece of wood, bowl of salt, pentacle), fire (small lit candle, athame), air (lit incense stick or feather, wand), water (bowl of water, seashell, chalice).

[5] Elemental correspondences according to the Zohar: north-fire, east-air, south-water, west-earth.

[6] Book of Shadows (BOS), cauldron, tarot cards, dream journal, ritual jewelry, cakes/cookies/challah, kosher wine or grapejuice.

[7] "Hail, Guardians ... so mote it be" - standard quarter call revised from Solitary Witch (Silver RavenWolf).

[8] Walking and moving widdershins (counterclockwise), using pentagram "banishing" formations at the quarters to return the energies from whence they came (if one desires to take down the circle).

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Mishkan, Circle Of Protection

Ashnistrike commented regarding my entry Athame & Mezuzah (also posted on my blogs), writing:

I'll just say that as someone who uses both an athame and a mezuzah, I'm interested in the possible connections that can be drawn between them. Do you integrate this connection into any of your practices?

In practice, I only use the athame presently. My mezuzot are stored away in a chest. When I became a ba'alat teshuvah over a decade ago, my professional livelihood was deliberately destroyed. I've stayed with relatives for the past several years. I can't put up a mezuzah.

Of course, I'm sure my enemies are quite pleased with the fact that I can't put up a mezuzah. Nevertheless, I don't need it. It's like all the other rituals tools - the only real tool a witch needs is herself. I truly know this now.

A few days ago I had a vision of a metaphysical fist being flung toward me, and of it being deflected by an invisible shield around me. I was only able to "see" the shielding force by the "reverberations" in spacetime and shapeshifting coming off the dark light (which the shield was made of) as the striking fist impacted against the field which surrounded me. I never take my circle down. It goes with me wherever I go.

And every shabbat and with every ritual, I reinforce it.

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Deosil & The Left Emanation

In my previous entry, I discussed the awesome feminine power to "draw out" Divine Energy from Ein Sof during the ritual of circlecasting to create a sacred space in time, in which the entire sefirotic array and all the Hebrew letters of creation are included in the process. The simple act by which the witch does this is via moving deosil, beginning and ending in the north.

Deosil is typically pronounced jess-el. Other pronunciations include jess-il, d'yesh-il and jesh-il.

Deosil means to "turn right". Many think this means it is a right-handed turn, since one "turns" toward one's right hand. But this is not true. On the contrary, deosil is a left-handed turn.

If the witch extends only the thumb of her right hand and points upward with it (toward the spirit point of the pentacle), the fingers of her right hand curl around moving to the left. In other words, the fingers of the right hand turn left which is counterclockwise (widdershins).

Similarly, if the witch extends only the thumb of her left hand and points upward with it (toward the spirit point of the pentacle), the fingers of her left hand curl around moving to the right. In other words, the fingers of the left hand turn right which is clockwise (deosil).

Thumb in Hebrew is agudal (אגודל). Two shorashim (3-letter roots) form the word. One is אגד meaning "combine", "tie together", "bundling" and "encircling wall". This is a good root for circlecasting.

The second root is גדל meaning to "increase", "expand" and "being great". Casting a circle which surrounds from Keter in Atzilut to Malchut in Assiyah is indeed a great circle. This root compliments the natural "negative" energy of the left hand which shapes and directs the Divine Energy which is increasing and expanding as it is drawn out.

The central letter of the entire word agudal is the letter vav (ו), representing the force of connection, the power of transformation, Torah and Truth.

Thus, we can now understand how the mystical magick of moving deosil is a power of the left hand, and of the Left Emanation.

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Kabbalah Of Deosil & Widdershins

A witch casts a circle to create a sacred space in time, acting as a conduit of Divine Energies in its making. To cast a circle, her ritual actions are performed moving deosil (clockwise) beginning from the north. To release a circle, her ritual actions are performed moving widdershins (counterclockwise), also beginning from the north.

To move deosil, one moves from north to east to south to west to north. To move widdershins one moves from north to west to south to east to north. What can the Hebrew words for these directions reveal to us about these movements?

North = tzafon = צפון

Tzafon has a total gematria of 226, a digit sum of 10, and a final digit sum of 1.

Two hundred and twenty six [1] equals King David's 221 Gates of Creation plus 5; where 5 is the value of the letter hei (ה) and corresponds to the feminine power of creative expression in thought, speech and action.

The value ten refers to 10 sefirot in totality generally, and to the sefirah Keter specifically (where "the encircling" begins", using the Hebrew root סבב as opposed to the root עגל to cast the circle). The value one refers to Unity among the sefirot generally, and to the sefirah Malchut specifically (where "the encircling" ends).

East = mizrach = מזרח

Mizrach has a total gematria of 255, a digit sum of 12, and a final digit sum of 3.

The value twelve refers to 12 diagonals of the sefirotic array, represented by the 12 "elemental" Hebrew letters (הוז חטי לנס עצק). The twelve diagonals are the twelve metaphysical boundaries (gevulim) of the entire Universe [2] which actually extend beyond space and time. Inside these boundaries dwells the Tree of Life [3]. The twelve boundaries also correspond to the twelve permutations of the tetragrammaton [4]. "The permutations beginning with Y (yod י) correspond to the east; those beginning with the first H (hei ה) correspond to the south; those beginning with V (vav ו) correspond to the west; and those beginning with the second H (hei ה) correspond to the north."

The value 3 refers to the 3 transcendent sefirot of Chochmah (wisdom), Binah (understanding) and Da'at (knowledge). Three also corresponds to the three mother letters [5] mem (מ thesis), shin (ש antithesis) and alef (א synthesis). Additionally, the mother letters correspond to water (mem), fire (shin) and air (alef); each (male and female) in the Universe (space), Year (time) and Soul (spirit); each (male and female) in the head (shin), chest (alef) and belly (mem). The mother letters are the roots of the letters of the tetragrammaton YHV (יהו).

South = darom = דרום

Darom has a total gematria of 250 and a digit sum of 7.

Now we have arrived at the seven immanent lower sefirot establishing intellectual, emotional and physical reality. The value seven refers to the seven double letters (בגד כפרת) of the Hebrew alphabet, the seven days of the week, seven universes (air), seven firmaments (fire), seven lands (earth), seven seas (water), etc. While in the eastern values, where only the elements of water, fire and air were represented, here we have the element of the earth additionally included.

West = ma'arav = מערב

Ma'arav has a total gematria of 312 and a digit sum of 6.

Three hundred twelve equals 12 times 26, where 12 is the number of the boundaries of the Universe and 26 is the value of the tetragrammaton (the Essential Divine Name). Here is the key to "choosing life" and the Divine Power to "create and appoint time" for a purpose.

The value of six refers to the 6 basic directions of physical space [5] - north, east, south,west, up and down; and to the 6 rings which seal physicality. The letter vav (ו), with a value of 6, has the power to "connect and interrelate all 22 individual powers of Creation" [6] that came before in the 12 elemental, the 3 mother and the 7 double letters of the mystical Hebrew alphabet. This type of vav is called a vav hachibur, the "vav of connection". Vav hahipuch, the "conversive vav" has the power to transform reality. It is a vav of radical transformation responsible for bringing forth light from darkness - a kabbalistic process known as ithapcha chashocha lenehora (אתהפכא חשוכא לנהורא).

Thus we can see a complex dynamic in the simple act of bringing forth Divine Energy via moving deosil. Likewise, we return it to the Source in Ein Sof (infinite One) via moving widdershins.

Footnotes:

[1] Sefer Yetzirah, R' Aryeh Kaplan translation (p. 118)

[1] Ibid (chapter 5)

[2] Bahir 95

[3] Sefer Yetzirah, R' Aryeh Kaplan translation (p. 205)

[4] Ibid (chapters 2 and 3)

[5] Ibid (p. 81, 142)

[6] The Hebrew Letters, R' Yitzchak Binsburgh (p. 94)

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Jewitchery & Jewishness

JN at Jewesses With Attitude wrote:

Jewitches and Jew-U's also shatter the assumption that those who do not identify with the status-quo are Jewishly unaffiliated.

But here's a question to consider: would a Jewitch or a Jew-U walk into a synagogue and identify herself as Jewish? Or is her Jewish "self" only manifest in those spaces populated by those who share the same kind of pluralistic faith identity? Is there a chance that many of these Jewitches and Jew-U's could, in fact, fully express themselves and find fulfillment in liberal Jewish spaces but are under the assumption that such spaces don't exist? Just how compatible or congruent are these blended identities? Are the Jewitch and Jew-U communities a socio-cultural-spiritual phenomenon, or are they, in fact, transforming religion entirely?

JN asks if a Jewitch would go into a synagogue and identify herself as Jewish - and the answer is, for most of us, including myself - absolutely. In fact, my interest in Jewitchery naturally evolved from my traditional study of Jewish kabbalah from a Chassidic perspective.

Not all Jewitches practice traditional Wicca divorced from traditional Judaism. I don't. I do however, incorporate elements of Celtic witchcraft and Native American shamanism (both also among my natural ancestries along with my Jewish ancestry) into my traditional Jewish kabbalistic practice and study. I love being a Jewitch! It's a life-enhancing blend of all that I am.

Could I be "fulfilled" in a liberal Jewish space? Maybe. Maybe not. In some ways, clearly I am liberal and reconstructionist. On the other hand, I am quite Chassidic in outlook. Most of my kabbalistic study and understanding is based in Chassidic teachings. I also don't "dress" very liberal. For example, I wear long (usually black or dark) skirts peculiar to a more traditional approach. I also wear a Jewitch pentacle and/or a Jewish star along with a witch's pentacle - neither liberal nor orthodox. Consequently, in some ways, my Jewish practice is distinct from both liberal and orthodox practice.

Are Jewitches changing religion entirely? I don't think so. My evolving interest in Jewitchery is in no way a threat to my Judaism. Jewitchery does, however, define for me what it means to be a Jew seriously fulfilling the mitzvah to elevate the sparks of holiness dwelling within my charge. I see Jewitchery as an individuating development and evolution of the Divine Feminine element within the Shechinah. Transforming religion? No. Transformative of feminine consciousness? Yes.

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Anochi, The 81st Witch

Thursday of this week, Tevet 21 (כא טבת) is my Hebrew birthday. After sundown today it became Thursday according to both Jewish and Celtic timekeeping.

According to Sefirah Yetzirah, the Hebrew archetype corresponding to Thursday (my Hebrew birthday this year) is Aaron. Oddly, this afternoon going over to my eldest son's house to watch one of my grandsons for a little while, a business truck en route to a customer's residence from the rent-to-own store called Aaron's drove slowly right by me as I exited my car. The name Aaron's was written in big bold letters across the side of the truck. Coincidence? I think not.

The Hebrew letter pei (פ) also corresponds to Thursday. According to kabbalah [1], "eighty witches were hung by eighty students of Shimon ben Shetach", an exceedingly strict [2] Nasi of the Sanhedrin c. 120-40 BCE.

However, despite a similar stictness against me, I am still alive. One Lily (actress Yvonne De Carlo) did, in fact, die (ברוך דיין האמת) on my civil birthday, Monday January 8. I (Anochi) must be the 81st witch and the one that got away.

Moshe and Tzipporah (a role played by Yvonne De Carlo in The Ten Commandments) got away too. From mitzrayim (mochin d'katnut, constricted consciousness [2]). Anochi (אנכי) took them out. Anochi has a gematria of - interestingly - 81 (פא).

Footnote:

[1] The Hebrew Letters, R' Yitzchak Ginsburgh (p. 254).

[2] Harsh strictness is a quality of constricted consiousness, mochin d'katnut. From Kabbalaonline:

(Aramaic) mature and immature intellect or mindsets, respectively. Mochin d'gadlut is a state of expanded intellectual understanding or maturity. Mochin d'katnut is state of restricted or immature intellectual understanding -- the higher intellectual faculties, chochma and bina, are immature or inactive. Mochin d'katnut is restrictive and pedantic, exhibiting primarily middat hadin (austerity tending towards severity). This state is therefore associated with the name Elo-him. Mochin d'gadlut, on the other hand, is a state of intellect in which the higher intellectual faculties, chochma and bina are mature and active. Mochin d'gadlut is magnanimous and tolerant, exhibiting primarily middat harachamim (compassion). This state is therefore associated with the name Havayah -- the Tetragrammaton.

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Mitzvah Of Besom & The First Tzimtzum

It was suggested by Gabbe at Hashkafah forums that the original form of the tetragrammaton may have consisted of the letters yod-ayin-vav-alef (יעוא). He provides a graphic of the Gemara (?) text from his source for this suggestion (see link).

In my mind, it may be that this letter combination also describes the first tzimtzum. Here's why I think this:

First, the shoresh (3-letter root) yod-ayin-hei (יעה) means to "clear away". In other words, it means to create a "vacated space" (chalal). The shoresh also means to "remove". In other words, to "remove" the One's apparent Presence (chalah hapanui) in reality. These meanings fit perfectly with the idea of a tzimtzum, where Ein Sof carved out within the Infinite Light a "place" for creation by removing the Light of Ein Sof (via a mechanism known as the Lamp of Darkness, an Infinite Negative Light called Botzina de Kardenuta).

Second, another possible shoresh involved in creating 4-letter combination is ayin-vav-hei (עוה), meaning "to deviate" and being "crooked". This too, fits perfectly with the first tzimtzum as I remember it among my memories of preincarnate existence as discussed here in A Mystery Of Consciousness and here in Reishit Beit. The journey through the River of Fire (also known as the Sambatyon, the Shabbat River and Nahar Dinur) is indeed a crooked journey. I remember pivoting like a shalshelet through it into a state of congealing conciousness.

Importantly, both of the 3-letter shorashim contributing to the construction of our understanding of the novel 4-letter tetragrammaton יעוא end with a letter hei (ה). The first root's hei symbolizes the Higher Shechinah. The second root's hei symbolizes the Lower Shechinah. In the two shorashim reside the secret of the "split" within the original Divine Feminine. In the new variation of the tetragrammaton resides the secret to rectification, reunification and elevation of the Divine Feminine, alluded to by the dropped letters hei (from the combination of the shorashim) and the added letter alef (א).

Kabbalah teaches regarding the original split within the Divine Feminine resulting from the first tzimtzum:

This is why she abandoned her supernal place and descended to a lower degree, assuming the dimension of light which is the body of the Sephiroth. This also means that her full dimension was split in half; for she became a body consisting of but six Sephiroth without a head. Her condition of being split is connoted in Hebrew חץ "Chetz". This Hebrew word embodies two definitions:

1. Split in half.

2. An arrow that is let loose from a bow in order to kill.

Interestingly, the witch's besom (ritual broomstick) reflects the rectification of the Divine Feminine perfectly, in that it consists of a body of six sefirot (the broomstick) with a head (the bristles of herbs and twigs). Consequently, the besom is the third witch's tool, along with the athame of iron and incense, to align with the idea of restoring the Divine Feminine to Her Full Glory.

More importantly, the witch's besom is a tool whose purpose is to sweep away suffering and to enhance life, not to end it. There is even an organization called The Besom, dedicated to making a difference in the world. The mission statement of The Besom:

The Besom helps people make a difference. It provides a bridge between those who want to give time, money, things or skills and those who are in need. It ensures what is given is used effectively. The service it provides is free.

Poverty, isolation, abuse, ill health, injustice, homelessness. We all see the sharp inequalities of life around us and the devastating impacts they have on people's lives. Many of us want to do something, to get involved but we don't always know how. The Besom, set up in 1987, exists to help you make a difference to the lives of others ­ and to make it easy for you to do so.

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Athame Of Iron On The Altar Of The Temple

The iron blade of a witch's athame upon her altar is a perfect symbol for the rectification of evil and its elevation back into the realm of kedushah (holiness, sacredness). In the Jewish tradition, this rectification and re-elevation is called tikun olam (repair of the world).

The iron of knives and swords have historically been used to shorten life, making them typically antithetical for use upon a sacred altar, whose purpose is to enhance and lengthen life. However, in the "future world" (in Hebrew "leatid lavo" לעתיד לבא, a code for the transcendent rectified feminine sefirah Binah and her parzufim), our Sages teach that the Temple will be built using iron. Normally, it is forbidden to use tools of iron to cut stones for the Temple altar.

Kabbalistically, iron, one of the seven metals [1] corresponding to the seven mystical attributes of the heart, corresponds to the attribute of Malchut, the element of the heart most "vulnerable to negativity and egocentricity". Malchut symbolizes the feminine Kingdom of the world of action and expression (see sefirotic array here). It also symbolizes the Indwelling Divine Feminine, the Shechinah. In the supernal world of Atzilut, in Judaism, Malchut is called Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel). Other spiritual traditions have other names for it, but the message is similar - it represents the Land of the Divine Feminine.

Consequently, we can see that Jewish tradition teaches that iron found in the Land of the Divine Feminine is completely holy and invulnerable to the negativity normally associated with iron. This makes the iron blade of a witch's athame a perfect symbol for the completely holy Divine Feminine.

Footnote:

[1] Seven metal correspondences according to the Zohar, Shemot, Va'Era (hat-tip to Jack Nathanson):

silver - chesed (lovingkindness)
gold - gevurah (strength)
copper - tiferet (compassion)
lead - netzach (endurance)
iron pyrite - hod (empathy)
tin - yesod (foundation)
iron - malchut (kingdom)

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