Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions

Product Information

However, the symbol of the triple moon extends deeper than this—it’s also a sign of the Triple Goddess, the most important representation of feminine divinity within Wicca. This symbol, sometimes called the Triple Goddess symbol, represents the three phases of the moon -- waxing, full, and waning. According to Robert Graves' The White Goddess, it also represents the three phases of womanhood, in the aspects of Maiden, Mother, and Crone, although many scholars have questioned Graves' work. Images of Mjolnir were used throughout the Scandinavian countries. It was often found replicated at Blóts and at other rituals and ceremonies like weddings, funerals, or baptisms. In areas of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, small wearable versions of this symbol have been unearthed in graves and burial cairns. Interestingly, the shape of the hammer seems to vary a bit by region -- in Sweden and Norway, Mjolnir is portrayed as rather t-shaped. Its Icelandic counterpart is more crosslike, and examples found in Finland have a long, curved design across the bottom brace of the hammer. In contemporary Pagan religions, this symbol can be invoked to protect and defend. Thankfully, in the world of Wicca, you have plenty of options for displaying them and experiencing their power. The following are just a few suggestions of how to try them out. Altar Design The symbol for Water as one of the four classical elements in alchemy is an upside down traingle. Water is used in rituals when a Wicca practitioner is drawing attention to feminine energy. It can also be used to symbolize the east or breath (life in general).

For this reason, modern paganism views Lugh’s Knot as a symbol that representsstrength, balance, and a person’s mastery of diverse talents and qualities. 29. Hagalaz Rune The Wheel of the Year symbolizes the cycle of seasonal and spiritual changes in various pagan traditions. The Celtic knot (also known as the triquetra) is a symbol of threes. The single line it is made from intersects itself exactly three times, creating three leaf-like sections in the design. While this pagan religion has many powerful symbols, these are the most commonly used within the practice. PentagramAmong modern occultists and magic practitioners, fire is an essential element since it is the one that transforms and combines all the others, and in this sense, it is similar to water. The potion itself represents the mystical aspects of the Universe, and the process of transformation and spiritual growth that happens when one explores and studies the mysteries of the world. 14. Algiz rune Whatever its history, the horned god is commonly depicted as a manwith antlers or horns, or even an animal head.This combination of man and beast symbolizes duality: a man’s rational and instinctive sides, light and dark, summer and winter, night and day. The Oak King represents the waxing half of the year (spring and summer), meaning growth, vitality, and the triumph of light over darkness. Only one out of 10,000 acorns successfully grows into a mature oak tree, which symbolically makes the oak tree a symbol of realizing one’s true potential, even when confronted with life’s many hardships.

The knot’s intertwining design represents the binding of magical forces, and the “trapping” of negative energies or intentions.It creates a rhythm that allows us to sync ourselves with the natural process of birth, life, death, and rebirth. The hexagram is considered an evil symbol because it has 6 points and 6 sides (referring to 666, the number of the devil). It consists of two triangles intersecting to form a star. A pentacle has magical properties associated with the element of Earth, but it contains aspects of all the other elements as well. In June 2007, thanks to the efforts of many dedicated activists, the United State Veteran's Association approved the use of the pentacle for display on the headstones of Wiccan and Pagan soldiers killed in action. The symbol featuresa female shaped figure with a spiral within her abdominal area and represents the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, as well as the phases of the moon.

Additionally, you might find downward-pointing stars in banishment or binding spells, as some witches believe in their power to drive away negativity and bad energy. Misconception #2 Another common theme of the bow and arrow symbolisprecision and focus, as seen in stories of Greekarcher gods suchas Apollo and Artemis. We’ll take a closer look at them later in the article, but for now, all you need to know is that these elements, when taken as a whole, signify the physical, material world.Dividing the year into different sections, each with its own important day, is a way to help witches make sense of the passage of time.

When invoking the Triple Goddess and the Horned God as a pair, you may hear them referred to the Lord and Lady of Wicca. This is simply another way we symbolically link the power of the God with the power of the Goddess. Elemental Symbols The Yggdrasil symbol has its origins in Norse mythology and represents the World Tree, where it functions as a cosmic axis that connects all nine realms of existence. 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. The symbol for Earth as one of the four classical elements in alchemy is an upside down triangle with a line through it. Earth is used in rituals when a Wicca practitioner is drawing attention to the divine feminine, motherhood, growth, life, and/or nature.Although we now know that our universe is made up of much more than these four things, they continue to be used as representations for the natural world. One of the most common misconceptions about the two goes a little like this: it’s a pentacle if the star is pointing up, and it’s a pentagram is the star is pointing down.