Sigils

Sigils

Sigils: whether you pronounce them sij-jills or cig-uls (either is correct as the origin of the the word could be Latin or Hebrew) this kind of magick is often misunderstood and misused.

Being British I say the word sij-jil, probably because most magical users were school in Latin and presumed it was pronounced as a Latin word.

To understand what a sigil is it is important to understand writing. Writing and the written word has always been seen as a magickal act. Taking an idea, a word or phrase and making have solid physical form is the basis of many spells and magicks. From Babylon to Eygpt, from Norse runes to Chinese script, the act of writing was sacred and powerful.

The act of writing was seen as one of magickal creation. The creation or use of a sigil is much the same. As reading and writing became more widespread in different cultures codes, cyphers and abstract symbols of groups and people's began to form. It was a way of passing on knowledge and also hiding it. A way to differ and align yourself.

The Hewbrew connection (drawing much from the Babylonians) used much from mathematical squares (kameas) converting names into numbers and then abstract shapes. This way of making the ethereal tangible, manifesting a idea and focusing on it completely as a foci or meditative practice is the core of sigil work.

Much like a mandala it is the process rather than the completion that tend to be important. In fact the destroying of the sigil is often seen as the way to release it's magick and allow it to manifest as the magic worker wishes.

Sigils are also used to call or a specific energy or entity to a place or person. Some practitioners use sigil to summon. 

Summoning is, in my humble opinion, stupid.

Beings do not like being "summoned" and it creates a tension and power dynamic I would avoid at all costs.

From Paracelsian to Dr John Dee sigil work continued to grow and develop into ever more complicated cyphers and codes from the Middle Ages to the Elizabethan eras mixing with alchemy and Middle Eastern ideas (brought back from crusaders).

Modern use of sigils tends to draw Chaos magicians. I have nothing against Chaos magicians per say,  I just tend to find their self centred world view a bit...narcissistic? Short sighted? Too neat and simple?

Sigil work can be amazingly beautiful as well as magickally powerful but like all ancient and powerful thing respect is key. Ideas are, after all terribly powerful things. Words even more so.

Bright Blessings xxx