Hi, my loves and welcome to WiccaNow. Today I want to cover something that can be a vital part of witchcraft, namely, Wiccan symbols. Symbols can provide extra power to your spellwork, and as such are really interesting to learn about. If you’re new and want to learn more about Wicca and Witchcraft, check out these posts on Sigil magic, learn about what Wicca actually is, dive into things to research as a beginner Witch and this post on what witchcraft actually is.
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What are Wiccan Symbols?
If you’re anything like me, you can be reliably found scouring weekend fleamarkets and antique bookshops for new ideas and inspirations to take your Wiccan practice to the next level. In fact, my altar at home features a shimmering assortment of beautiful crystals and stones (which I often pick for crystal healing or anti-anxiety properties) which I have collected over the years. I also happen to be the proud owner of a number of antique books about witchcraft and spellwork which are proudly displayed in my living room.
However, even with all of my collecting and learning I consistently find huge gaps in my knowledge of witchcraft and Wicca. Lately, I’ve been obsessing about Wiccan symbols and because this was one of the areas where I found my knowledge to be rather lacking I decided to delve deep into the world of witch and Wiccan symbolism and would love to invite you on this journey with me.
I mean, wouldn’t it be nice to wear a piece of jewellery which offers protection from negative energies, or to incorporate powerful symbols into your Wiccan rituals to help take your spellwork to the next level? By understanding and working with witch and Wiccan symbols you’ll be able to effectively tap into these powerful energies and elevate your Wiccan practise exactly as I have mine.
So what exactly are Wiccan symbols anyway? An easy way of understanding a Wiccan symbol is to picture a concept or idea being reduced to a very simple pictorial image. In this way, the entirety of the idea or concept can be simply and easily communicated through a direct and effective visual trigger.
In the specific case of Wiccan symbols, a whole range of powerful concepts has been encapsulated within a set of simple-looking symbols. Working with these symbols helps to create a fast and easy channel through which to connect with the greater concepts and ideas that the symbols represent. This can be extremely useful in terms of increasing the potency of your spellwork and overall Wiccan practice. Many Wiccan symbols have also been adopted as witch symbols.
For example; you may be interested in increasing the love energy in your life. How, you ask, can a symbol be used for this? Well, to begin with, you may like to choose one of the Wiccan symbols associated with love and wear this daily in the form of a necklace or ring. By engaging with the concept and feeling of love directly through wearing its symbolic representation you could be said to be increasing the energy of love within your specific vibration and thereby, according to some Wiccans, attracting more of the same ‘love’ energy into your life.
Of course, this means that it’s really quite important to understand the concepts behind the symbols you work with. I mean, you wouldn’t want to be asking for protection and accidentally work with a symbol associated with, for example, fire as this would have quite the opposite effect of what you were hoping for. In the spirit of learning together and enhancing our practices, I have compiled a list below featuring the most important Wiccan symbols. I hope that learning about these symbols will help to enhance and elevate your Wiccan practice exactly as it has mine.
If you want to learn how to make your own witchy and Wiccan symbols, check out this post on sigil magick.
Enjoy the process and blessed be.
Wiccan Symbols
Below is my guide to 13 common witchy and Wiccan symbols. This list covers the basic witchy symbols for protection, symbols for love and symbols for wealth. I’ve also written a longer post for symbols for protection so check that out if you want to delve a little deeper.
Wiccan Symbols for Protection
Wiccan Symbols #1 The Pentacle
The pentacle is probably the most well-known of all Wiccan symbols. In fact, did you know that it has even been approved by the United States Government as decoration of gravestones and tombs? The pentacle features a star enclosed in a circle. The star represents the four elements (earth, air, water and fire) plus the spirit. The circle represents the interconnectedness of all of the elements and communicates that together the elements form a holistic whole.
The pentacle offers protection in a similar way to that of casting a circle during spellwork. It shields and unifies, offers a circle of protective energy and deflects negativity. Wearing the pentacle offers the wearer daily protection and reminds us to consider the interconnectedness of all life rather than becoming fixated on specific small-minded goals and desires.
Another interesting association with the pentacle is that of the gods. The pentacle is said to represent the 3 aspects of the Triple Goddess (Maiden, Mother and Crone) as well as the 2 aspects of the Horned God (Life and Death).
Wiccan Symbols #2 The Eye of Horus
The eye of Horus represents the right eye of Ra, the sun god and is also known as Wadjet. It is considered to be one of the most powerful available symbols of protection and healing. Popular throughout the ages, ancient Greek, Middle Eastern and Egyptian sailors would paint the eye of Horus onto their boats to offer protection for the vessel and its crew. The eye symbolizes divine power and is said to protect and heal anything that it looks upon. This symbol has proven to be a popular amulet and is often worn in the form of a necklace to protect against ill-wishers and negativity.
Wiccan Symbols #3 The Triquetra (or Celtic Shield)
The Triquetra (or Celtic Shield) is sometimes used as a protective symbol by Wiccans and Pagans. The three-cornered knot represents eternity or to some, the division of the world into the realms of land, sea and sky. Wiccans also believe that the Triquetra represents the triple Goddess or holy trinity. The nature of the knot implies that it cannot be broken and as such, it is believed to be a protective symbol which strengthens the wearer’s connection to the unified divine.
Wiccan Symbols #4 The Hexagram of Solomon also known as the Star of David
The hexagram of Solomon was originally believed to be the signet ring of King Solomon and was thought to gave Solomon the power to speak to animals as well as to command jin and demons. Coins from 1290 AD are imprinted with the symbol. It came to be seen as a protective amulet and talisman during the middle ages. The hexagram is said to represent the authority of God and to offer the wearer protection from evil. It is often inscribed with divine names and other symbols and words of power.
Wiccan Symbols #5 The Solar Cross
The solar cross is one of the oldest known symbols and has been dated back to neolithic stone age cave paintings. It is thought to represent the light and movement of the sun, hence the modern English term “sun cross”. The cross symbolises the life-giving energy of the sun as well as depicting the predictable cycles of the days and seasons. As a protective symbol, the solar cross evokes the power of the Sun God. To meditate on the Sun Cross is extremely centring as the intersectionality of the 4 sides represent both balance and infinity.
Wiccan Symbols #6 Bind Rune
The Bind Rune is an unusual rune composed of two letters. The Bind Rune combines the properties of each rune into a single symbol. Some people believe that Bind Runes were used primarily for magical purposes. Another common reason to create a Bind Rune was for the purpose of creating a protective amulet. The exact meaning of the Bind Rune was known only to its creator and it was worn or carried to provide protection to the wearer-
Pictured is an example of a protective Bind Rune. The rune incorporates the rune of Inwaz and Isa. It is meant to confer harmony and inner strength upon the wearer.
Wiccan Symbols #7 Hamsa Hand
Hamsa is a hand-shaped symbol, popular both in the Middle East and Africa. With its all-seeing eye, the Hamsa is thought to ward off the Evil Eye. The open hand represents an openness to blessings and power. Modern Wiccans sometimes believe that the five fingers represent the five blessings of Love, Money, Health, Wisdom and Power. Wiccans often personalise the Hamsa with additional words or symbols of protection and power.
Wiccan Symbols for Love
Wiccan Symbols #8 The Heart
Even though it might feel a little cliched the heart is none-the-less a powerful symbol for all things related to love. Incorporating the heart symbol into your love rituals or wearing heart jewellery signals your hearts ‘opening’ and allows love to flow to you freely. Hearts work best for spells relating to romantic love but you can also use a heart to symbolise other platonic types of love.
Wiccan Symbols #9 The Circle
The circle with its unbroken singular line represents infinity and unity. As a symbol, the circle can represent unbroken continuous love, be it romantic love or the platonic love between friends. Wiccans believe that the circle represents the union of the Horned God and the Triple Goddess. The union, symbolised by the circle, combines the male and female energies of the divine. As such, the circle is an important symbol for Wiccans.
Wiccan Symbols #10 The Knot
The knot represents binding things together and as such, it makes a perfect symbol for love. Knots form an essential part of Wiccan wedding (handfasting) rituals during which the couple is symbolically bound together. Knots can also be used symbolically within Wiccan rituals to help strengthen other kinds of love bonds such as between family members or close friends.
Wiccan Symbols for Wealth
Wiccan Symbols #11 The Key
The key symbolises the ‘unlocking’ of doors and the discovery of new opportunities. Keys are often used by Wiccans symbolically to represent the unlocking of as yet unmanifested potentials and to bring about luck and good fortune. Wiccans sometimes use keys symbolically in sets of three as this is thought to further enhance their magical properties during ritual work.
Wiccan Symbols #12 The Number Three
The number three symbolises multiplicity and the third dimension. The number three has always been important for Wiccans (read about how to become a Wiccan including information about the Threefold Law here) so it makes sense that the symbol of three is often used during Wiccan rituals.
The number three represents the power of three, the holy trinity, birth life and death and the tripartite nature of the world as heaven, earth, and waters. The number three is believed to help increase the flow of abundance and good fortune into the lives of those who know how to tap into its power. Some Wiccans engrave the number three onto jewellery or carry a symbolic three as a good luck amulet.
Wiccan Symbols #13 The Wheel
Within Wicca, we often talk about ‘turning the wheel’ as a way to describe the ever-changing cycles of life. The wheel makes a great symbol for luck and wealth as it reminds us that the wheel is always turning and that nothing is permanent: a situation can always be turned around. The wheel gives us the strength to keep going and reminds us that nothing lasts forever.
So my dears, I hope this has given you a deeper insight into some common Wiccan symbols.
Until next time,
Blessed Be,
Amythest