Posts Tagged ‘witchcraft’

As well as using special Wicca symbols, Wiccans use various magical tools in rituals. These can include a cauldron, chalice, broom (also called a besom), altar cloth, candles, crystals, incense, pentacle, wand and Book of Shadows. Wiccans usually create a sacred circle, place an alter in the centre and then place their ritual tools and perhaps also a representation of the God and/or Goddess inside this circle.

Book of Shadows

In Wicca, a private journal, core religious text or history is kept by practitioners. In some groups, the book’s contents are kept secret from other people. There are various versions of this book and most will contain the Wiccan Rede and the “Charge of the Goddess”. Some Wiccans prefer to create their own Book of Shadows and keep the contents private.

Wiccan Altar

The Wiccan Altar can be any table or chest, as long it is not used for any other purpose. It is usually covered with a plain or elaborate altar cloth. Wiccans often place sea salt in the north of the altar to represent the earth element. In the northeast will be a sacred pentacle. In the east is incense to represent the air element. There will be a censer in the southeast area, a fire candle in the south and the Athame (Wiccan knife) in the southwest, with the black pointing to the east. There is a chalice of water in the west and a cauldron in the northwest.

There are more Wicca tools but the novice usually just sticks to these. Some Wicca practitioners might choose a more simplified altar but almost all will have a sacred altar in their home somewhere, where they can respect the Goddess, perform rituals and use it as a concentration tool.

 

Wicca Basic Symbols

Wiccans use symbols for many things, such as rituals, ceremonies, spells and in day to day life. There are various symbols with a range of meanings. Each Wiccan symbol has a basic meaning but they can represent different things to different people.

Wicca Elemental Symbols

The most commonly used symbol in wicca is the pentagram within the circle. This is a five-sided star and is used to identify yourself as a Wiccan or Pagan. The five points represent the spirit and the four elements. The circle symbolizes a connection between them all.

The seven pointed star (or septagram) is another Wiccan symbol. The number seven corresponds to the spirit realm. The points are sometimes labeled above, below, within, earth, fire, air and water. Other times there are no set representations for them. The classical view of the sky comprised seven planets so the septagram is associated with astrology too.

Another Wicca symbol is the triple moon. This is a circle with a crescent moon either side, symbolizing the maiden, mother and crone as the waxing, full then waning moon. It is associated with psychic ability, female energy and mystery. This symbol is often found on head-pieces such as crowns, especially those worn by High Priestesses.

An Ankh is an Egyptian hieroglyphic which is used as a symbol for love, life and reincarnation. It looks like a cross with a looped top.

Wicca Alphabet Symbols

The Wiccan alphabet or “Theban” alphabet has been used as a code to protect Wiccan writing from prying eyes for many years. Its exact origin is not known. To use the Theban alphabet, Wiccan practitioners substitute the Theban letter for each English letter.

There are as many explanations of Paganism as there are Pagans but one good description I’ve found is from the Ohio Chapter Pagan Unity Campaign.  They say that “Paganism may be loosely defined as any of a group of positive, life-affirming, earth-honoring faiths usually based in ancient beliefs.” Read the rest of this entry »