Pagan Sigils: Illustrated Guide to The Non Christian Symbols of Western Occultism

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A symbol invented by John Dee, alchemist and astrologer at the court of Elizabeth I of England. It represents (from top to bottom): the moon; the sun; the elements; and fire. Fans of Celtic artwork occasionally get variations of this piece as tattoos or wear them as talismans of protection. In modern Celtic reconstructionist groups, the shield knot is sometimes invoked as a ward to keep negative energy away. In some traditions, the corners of the knot are meant to represent the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water, although it's important to note that Celtic spirituality is usually based upon the three realms of earth, sea, and sky. This intricate symbol is interpreted as the ‘Revealer of the Path’ or ‘Shower of the Way’. It is said that if you carry this pagan sign with you, you will not lose your way to any destination even if you do not know the way.

At the time of the full moon, use water scrying to aid you with divination. In Elements of Witchcraft, author Ellen Dugan suggests doing a focused meditation to communicate with water spirits such as undines. Although sometimes referred to as a Sun Wheel, this symbol represents the Wheel of the Year and the eight Wiccan sabbats. The term "sun wheel" comes from the solar cross, which was a calendar used to mark the solstices and equinoxes in some pre-Christian European cultures. In addition to being represented by a wheel or cross, sometimes the sun is portrayed simply as a circle, or as a circle with a point in the center. Charging the sigil is the first step toward activation. To actually activate the sigil, you can either focus on visualization, ritualistically destroy the symbol, or do both. Some people like to incorporate the elements into their sigil activation. The pentagram is probably one of the most easily-identified pagan symbols today. Unfortunately, that is not necessarily a good thing; many people automatically assume that it is a sign for devil worship or of Satan himself. The planet itself is a ball of life, and as the Wheel of the Year turns, we can watch all the aspects of life take place in the Earth: birth, life, death, and finally rebirth. The Earth is nurturing and stable, solid and firm, full of endurance and strength. In color correspondences, both green and brown connect to the Earth, for fairly obvious reasons.A symbol of the Philosopher's stone. Depicted on the left image is Michael Maier's Emblem XXI from Atalanta Fugiens.

The pentacle is simply the pentagram enclosed in a circle. Because pagan rituals associate the circle with power, eternity and the infinite, it can be said that the pentacle enhances and empowers the basic pentagram with an infusion of additional energy. It is connected to the East and is associated with the colors white and yellow. In modern representations, it may be shown as a fan or a feather, too. Water Occasionally, the triquetra appears within a circle, or with a circle overlapping the three pieces. To successfully make a sigil, you need to be specific about your intentions. Don’t make the statement too vague, but don’t go overboard and make it too complex. Images created for magical purposes, sometimes attributed as signatures of demons, angels, and other beings.The Egyptians identified several of their gods with a solar disc above the head, indicating that the deity was a god of the light. When you’re just on the cusp of opening your mind and are embarking on your Wiccan journey, the first thing your seniors will tell you to do is to learn how to make and activate sigils. Whereas these prongs are universally tridents in the Aegishjalmr, the Vegvisir features more elaborate design and does not abide by the limit of three points each as seen in that stave.

To appease the spirit, corn dollies were left in the field, often beside a section of the plot that was intentionally left unharvested. Before the next season’s crop was sown, the corn dolly and remaining grain were burnt and the ashes mixed into the soil to ensure a successful upcoming harvest. Because of its association with the Sun itself, this symbol is typically connected to the element of Fire. This is actually the most difficult part of making sigils because you’re supposed to balance on edge between clarity and complexity. The Eye of Horus is sometimes referred to as the wedjat, and represents Horus, the Egyptian falcon-headed god. The Eye was used as a symbol of both protection and healing. When appearing as the udjat, it represents the right eye of Ra, the sun god. The same image in reverse represents the left eye of Thoth, the god of magic and wisdom.Explanation of the Diagram of the Supreme Ultimate", which became the cornerstone of Neo-Confucianist cosmology However, the pentagram actually represents the four elements of life – air, fire, water and earth, accompanied by a fifth, the human spirit. There is a theory that the pentacle originated as the symbol of a Greek agricultural and fertility goddess named Kore, also called Ceres. Her sacred fruit was the apple, and when you cut an apple in half crossways, you find a five-pointed star! Some cultures refer to the apple-star as the "Star of Wisdom," and so apples are associated with knowledge. We’d all love to be millionaires, but for many of us, that’s a far-fetched desire and something we couldn’t will into reality, try as we might. But, for realistic desires, needs, and wants, all you have to do is focus enough intent and energy into creating, charging, and activating a sigil, and you can manifest your destiny. This is a pagan symbol whose true meaning still defies a full explanation but it has a decidedly macabre aspect.