During my time in Kemetic groups and forums, I’ve realized that very little is ever shared or discussed about basic ‘magix’. No one really talks about cleansing items or your house. Making amulets or sigils are almost never discussed. And there has never been discussion about warding or barrier creation. I personally think this is a shame, as you never know when things could go wrong, or when you might need extra protection in a situation.
To help with this, I have decided that I will create a series of blog posts relating to these exact things. I want to discuss my methods and means to cleanse, create and protect in a more ‘magical’ sense. My methods are by NO MEANS the only methods. They just happen to be what works for me.
If you enjoy this series, or want me to discuss different aspects or topics of a similar nature, please feel free to post your ideas in the comments section. If there is anything that you would like clarification on, don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need/would like 🙂
This time I will be discussing sigils. I find sigils to be funny because almost every single sigil I’ve ever seen looks like this:
And almost every single sigil I’ve seen is tied to something demonic or Christian in nature- neither of which appeals to me. However, a sigil is more than this. The simplest definition of a sigil is:
A sign or an image considered magical
Well that seems pretty simple. Much like an amulet, a sigil can be anything you want it to be. It could be a picture of a deity, a thumbprint or a banana. Sigils can be written on paper, painted onto items, etched into items, drawn on the skin… they can pretty much be put anywhere! The beauty of a sigil is that you can put it on an item, charge it, and wash it away- leaving behind the protective properties without any sign that the item has ever been touched (which can be useful when you have prying eyes or parents that don’t understand what it is you’re doing).
As an example of what sigils can look like, here are a couple of the sigils I’ve used in the past:
As you can see, I prefer simpler designs.
Shinto gofu.
And as a special treat, here are some sigils that two awesome bloggers have used in the past (please support them by clicking the images and giving their blogs a look-through):
Sigils used by the Rose Bell (click image to view blog)
Sigil used by the Dusken Path (click image to view blog)
Sigil used by the Dusken Path (click image to visit blog)
As you can see, sigils can be anything and everything you can imagine.
So how you do make a sigil?
Technically, there is a traditional way to make a sigil. You can read about that here, here and here if you like. However, I was not taught using this traditional method. The methods I was taught with are very similar to creating an amulet, honestly. So for those of you who have already read that post, this might have a bit of cross over.
The steps I use to create a sigil:
- Determine what I want the sigil to do.
- Determine what symbols would suit this need best.
- Design said sigil.
- Apply the sigil to appropriate item.
- Charge and use the sigil.
The first step, again, is to determine what you want this sigil to do. This step is particularly important because it can determine what types of symbols you use in the sigil and how complex you need it to be. For example, if I wanted to use a sigil for my protection, I would opt for a simple symbol that I can focus on in times of crisis. The same could be said of a sigil that I want to use for creating serenity or clarity in my life. When times are stressful, the mind often short circuits, and simpler symbols are easier to recall. However, if I wanted to protect an item (as an example), I would opt for something more complex. In this situation, the sigil is acting as a lock, and you want that lock to have some complexity to it (generally speaking).
Another consideration for your sigil design would be where you are placing the sigil and what you are creating the sigil out of. For example if you are placing a sigil on an item that is the size of a quarter (such as… a pet’s name tag), you might want to make your symbols simple. Or, if you’re planning to draw your sigil out in sand on the floor, you might opt for a design that is simple- so that you don’t pull your hair out trying to get it right!
A final consideration to make in what you want your sigil to be is how confident you are in your sigils, and how much power you need them to have. If you are unsure about your abilities, you are short on time, or you want something that has been charged by lots of people, you might opt to pick a sigil that has already been created and used by others, such as these or these.
Once you’ve decided the purpose and complexity of the sigil, you will need to design the sigil. Sigils can be just about anything- they can contain pictures, lines, things that we recognize (ankhs, crosses, birds, trees), or contain absolutely nothing that is familiar. What types of symbols you choose to use are entirely up to you. I used to like to use runes for my sigil making because I preferred the aesthetics, and I could fit tons of symbols into one sigil (click here for some examples of runic sigils). As I’ve gotten more into Kemetic stuff, I much prefer using simplified forms of Egyptian symbols (djed pillars, ankhs, etc). I always recommend you use symbols that contain what you are trying to achieve. When I was looking for a job a couple of years ago, I used Tyr as a sigil. I put that thing on everything I could. I felt it worked in multiple ways- it is a rune of strength and courage, but also- it’s shape is of a sword to me. So essentially, I tacked on additional personal meanings of cutting through obstacles and bad situations. Tyr contained elements that I needed and wanted from my situation, and I used that to my advantage when creating my sigils. When picking your signs, I recommend that you do similarly.
After you have designed your sigil, you will need to draw it out and to charge it. When choosing what you draw the symbol out with, there are some things to consider:
- How long does the sigil need to last? If you will be wearing the sigil, perhaps etching or permanent marker is better suited.
- What is the purpose of the sigil? What you use to draw the sigil can layer extra meaning into the practice. For example, salt and sand are purifying and if I wanted to create an erasable sigil to cleanse my house, I might consider using either. If I wanted a sigil for execration, I might choose red ink due to it’s uses in heka, etc.
- How complicated is the sigil? If your sigil is rather complex, you might want to sketch it out with a pencil before doing a final, more permanent version (in, say… permanent marker).
As I draw my sigil out, I focus my mind on what I want it to do. If the sigil is for protection, I will envision myself in an impenetrable fortress. If the sigil is for communication, I might envision myself talking openly and freely with others. Get creative. While I am drawing, I visualize my energy coming through my arm, into the media I am using to create the sigil (marker, pen, etc) and into the drawing itself. You can visualize this energy however you want.
Once the sigil has been drawn out, I charge it a little bit more, just for good measure. In many of my magix, I recommend that you can leave these things out for gods and other entities, but usually with sigils- I charge it up by myself. I hold onto the item, paper, etc. and I flow as much energy as I can through my body and into the item. As I do this, I will continue to visualize what it is I want this sigil to do. You could even add words of power to this to make it even more potent.
I have my sigil. What now?
That depends entirely upon what the sigil is made to do. If you are using the sigil to protect, you could wear it, place it in the area that needs protection, or hide it in a safe location (shrine box, witch bottle, box of rocks, in a book, etc). If it is for banishing things or execration, burning, flushing or destroying the sigil might be ideal. If the sigil is for a pet, you could place it on their collar and recharge it as needed. Once a sigil is created, it can be used very similarly to an amulet.
Taking it to the next level.
These are just the basics of sigil making. There is a lot more than can be done within sigil creation, such as layering multiple sigils into one larger sigil (you dawg, we heard you like sigils, so we put a sigil in your sigil so you can sigil while you sigil) for extra protection and security. There are so many ways to use sigils beyond what has been discussed here. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different methods, symbols, and applications. Your imagination is the only limit on how these can be used!
Other posts in the ‘Magix’ Series:
The Twisted Rope 