Hi, my loves and welcome to WiccaNow. Today I want to share my guide to 26 unique witchcraft symbols that you might come across during your magickal practice. Symbols are something that we’ve touched on before with these posts about protection symbols, another one about Wiccan symbols and also one explaining how sigil magick works.
While you definitely don’t have to work with symbols (remember how we’re always stressing that every practice is individual and there are no rules?) it’s good to have some basic knowledge of some of the symbols you might come across in your magickal life. Below is my guide to 26 common witchcraft symbols. This guide is in no particular order, so don’t think that the first symbol on the list holds any more importance than the last!
26 Magickal Witchcraft Symbols
When choosing which symbols you want to work with, pick ones that speak to you. Always be aware of the modern meanings of a symbol, because they might not always mean what you think they mean. I’ve added a couple of symbols here which are common within the witchcraft community yet I would NEVER use them personally.
The Solar Cross, for example, is an ancient symbol which has been used for thousands of years yet it’s been perverted into a symbol for white supremacy in recent times. Even though this is an ancient protection symbol which didn’t always mean white pride, these days that’s the main connotation for it so I refuse to use it.
All I want to say with this is that sometimes things take on meanings that weren’t originally ascribed to them. It’s good to be aware of those meanings before you use those particular symbols so you don’t end up in a situation you would rather avoid.
Witchcraft Symbol #1 Earth Element
The earth symbol is one of the 4 elemental symbols. Each of the elements also corresponds with a direction. Earth corresponds with the southern direction and is used during rituals or spells relating to motherhood, growth, life and death, nature and the divine feminine. It can also be used for money and fertility magick.
Uses in Magick – Money, abundance, fertility, personal growth
Correspondences – Green, brown and feminine energies
Witchcraft Symbol #2 Fire Element
The fire element symbolises strong masculine energies and is connected with strength of character and will. It symbolises new beginnings and purification. The fire element represents the southern direction.
Uses in Magick – Transformation, divination, purification
Correspondences – White, red and masculine energies
Witchcraft Symbol #3 Air Element
The 4 elements play an important role in witchcraft and Wicca. The air element symbol is often used in rituals or spells to do with wisdom and communication., The air element is traditionally used to represent east. It could be argued that this symbol also represents life itself as it’s been known to symbolise breath, and without breath, there is no life.
Uses in Magick – wisdom, communication, intuition and the power of the mind
Correspondences – Yellow, white and masculine energies
Witchcraft Symbol #4 Water Element
The water element is representative of the western direction and is strongly associated with feminine energies. As with air, it’s sometimes thought to represent life itself because without water we would all cease to exist very quickly. Water is associated with the Goddess and can be used to concrete tools before ritual magick or spellwork.
Uses in Magick – Purification, fertility, healing, divination, love, emotional well-being and releasing negative energies.
Correspondences – Blue, grey and female energies
Witchcraft Symbol #5 Ankh
This ancient Egyptian symbol represents eternal life with some people believing it represents the key to life. It symbolises the rising sun along with the balance of female and male energies. The Ankh is sometimes thought to be a phallic symbol due to its shape. It’s a protection symbol and can be used to mark the borders of sacred spaces.
Uses in Magick – Protection, longevity, warding away malevolent energies
Correspondences – Gold, equal energies between the genders or masculine energies.
Witchcraft Symbol #6 Circle
The circle is an ancient symbol representing wholeness and completion. It’s thought of as a symbol for perfection, infinity and eternity. It also represents the Self as well as the cycles of the natural world. The circle is also an embodiment of compassion and manifestation.
Uses in Magick – Transformation, longevity, protection, self-development and anything to do with the natural cycles of the earth.
Correspondences – The Divine Spirit, wholeness, infinity and eternity
Witchcraft Symbol #7 Celtic Shield Knot
This is an ancient protection symbol which has many variations from relatively simple to extremely complicated. The simplest form was…
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