Example 4
Good Goal: Bring justice and healing for my friend Donna safely and quickly
Bad Idea: May that asshole who hurt Donna burn in a fire.
The former directly helps your friend and sets justice in motion without making how it happens your specific problem. The latter might seem like it brings justice, but it could involve other people getting hurt and doesn’t lend energy to helping Donna overcome what happened.
You can see some places above where it’s good to be specific and others where it’s better to set guidelines without getting too bogged down in details. I’m not going to lecture you on karma, a threefold law of return, or the good/evil coin. Each of us has our own perspective and set of ethics and beliefs. My only recommendation in the moral department is to be thoughtful, consider both the short- and long-term effects, be prepared to take responsibility for your actions, and be careful not to overexert or overextend yourself. Also, don’t be a jerk.
Step 2: Brainstorm a List of What Is Needed to Accomplish That Goal or Solve the Problem
Once you have considered step 1, write down what you have come up with in whatever way helps you to process and explain it to yourself. If you’re facing a particular problem, you could make a list of the issues and what things may be needed to create a solution. From there, focus on making a list of key words that summarize what you want to achieve. These words in turn will translate into the shapes and marks you will use to create the sigil. I recommend having at least three to four words to focus on, but not more than, say, ten to twelve.
Let’s take one of our “good goals” examples to use as our practice scenario:
Good Goal: Bring justice and healing for my friend Donna safely and quickly
Our key words here are:
justice | healing | Donna | safely | quickly
Step 3: Design the Sigil
Look at your list of words. What shapes, marks, or symbols do you connect with each of them? Here’s how I would go about it. Normally this all happens in my head, but for the format of this book, I’ll list it for you:
justice: the scales
healing: a heart, spiral energy
Donna: she’s a Cancer, so I could use that symbol for her, or a D for her name
safely: plus sign, upward crescent
quickly: arrow energy, all directions
At the center of all this is Donna, so I’m going to put the symbol for her down first. I want her to be protected and to focus on healing in a safe place, so I’m going to draw a heart around her symbol, with spirals curling out of the bottom of the heart. Next I’m thinking about “justice” and “safely,” so I’m going to place a plus sign coming out of the top of the heart, and build the scales coming out and down from either side of the heart. The top of the plus sign feels empty to me, so I’m going to place the horned crescent on top. That leaves “quickly,” so I’m going to draw arrows going out in the cardinal directions. Voilà! A sigil!
Donna’s Sigil
Step 4: Apply the Sigil, and Acknowledge It as Necessary
Once you have designed your sigil, it’s time to do something with it. What you do with the sigil depends on its purpose. This process is what I call the application of the sigil. Acknowledgment is what you (or the end user) may do after the sigil is applied to remember the sigil, reenergize it, or otherwise interact with it.
Some people are really keen on burning their sigils to “activate” them. I tend to look at burning in magick as a means of banishing, cleansing, or otherwise removing or releasing something, which makes burning a sigil rather ineffective if it’s not associated with any of those actions. There is a particular school of thought that strongly recommends destroying the sigil after you’ve created it. The reasoning is that in order for the sigil to work, you must forget it, thereby letting the sigil slide back into your subconscious or unconscious mind. That process dictates that the sigil will not work if you’re hyperfocused on its success. That may be a good solution if you tend to get fixated on certain things, but I think it’s overkill for most people, especially for those who are adept in metaphysics and familiar with exercising control over their mind and thoughts.
Even if the sigil is often within your field of vision (on your desk, tattooed on your arm, on your mirror, etc.), it falls into the subliminal range of observation—meaning your eyes often look at it without you actually being aware that you’re seeing it and consciously thinking about it. This subtle exposure to symbols can make for some pretty effective workings, considering that’s the same way a lot of advertising works! (If you see something enough times, you become familiar with it even if you’re not aware of it.) Basically, there are a lot of other options for applying and acknowledging your sigil (besides destroying your sigil immediately after designing it) that give you more bang for your buck. We’ll cover them extensively in the next section.
Let’s return to our practice-scenario sigil for Donna and look at a few different possibilities for application and acknowledgment.
Scenario 1: Donna requested that you make this sigil for her. She’s planning to get it tattooed over the spot where she was injured. After it’s healed, she plans to anoint it daily with a special essential oil blend made with herbs that focus on healing and justice.
Scenario 2: Donna didn’t ask for a sigil, but you wanted to do something for her. You draw the sigil in blue (her favorite color) and place in on your altar next to an item she gave you, where you see it every day.
Scenario 3: Donna asked for a sigil that she can make into a patch. She’s going to sew it inside of her favorite coat that she always wears, so when she goes out, she has the sigil with her. She will see it every time she puts the coat on and will feel protected.
Scenario 4: The sigil needs to be virtually invisible for various reasons. To achieve this invisibility, Donna or a practitioner/friend can paint the sigil with salt water on Donna’s front and back doors. It will be reapplied on a regular basis, perhaps on the anniversary of the original incident or at every full moon.
Scenario 5: The sigil will be inscribed onto a piece of jewelry by a mutual friend and given to Donna to wear when she feels like she needs something extra to help her feel physically safe and emotionally supported.
Applying Sigils, or Put a Sigil on It!
Once you’ve designed your sigil, you have a wide variety of options for its application. I’ve included a number of ideas for you to consider in the next several sections, but I want to take a moment to remind you that simple and basic works too. All you really need is something to write with and to write on. That’s it! You don’t need fancy paper or an expensive pen, or a specific time of day or moon phase to get work done. That’s the beauty of sigil witchery.
From there you could fold the paper up and keep the sigil in your wallet or tape it to your bathroom mirror where you can see it every morning and night. Maybe you have a jar of intentions you plan to put it in. Maybe it will live on a sticky note on your computer screen in your office. Or perhaps you will draw it out in black permanent marker under your chair. None of these options are particularly fancy or time-intensive, but they are practical and effective nonetheless.
But what if you want to do something a little more elaborate? There’s nothing wrong with that, so let’s explore some options that may stir your cauldron!
The Ritual Arts, or I Got That Witch a Ritual, Witches Love Ritual
Let’s say you really want to make more of a permanent object out of your sigil. Scrap paper just won’t do it for you. Then you’re looking at engaging in more of a physical practice—such as ritually making an item. Ritual is the word we use to describe the actions done to bring meaning, purpose, and order to something. It can be very elaborate or simple, as long as it works for you.
If I’m going to get working on some art, I need to set the environment. There needs to be a hot cup of tea, the righ
t lighting, a proper soundtrack, and everything I need handy. My studio is my sacred space, so it doesn’t take much to make it ready. You may wish to light a candle or burn some incense. Or you may feel best when you cast a formal circle, setting up very specific sacred space and calling in a spirit or deity to work with you, then breaking it down once you’re all done. It all depends on your own preferences and personality, the space, and the amount of time available.
So let’s consider some more involved projects for sigils. All of them require setting aside some time and having some patience, and can be altered depending upon your needs and skills.
Illuminating a Sigil with Traditional Pen and Ink on a Card
Illumination
Illumination is a reference to illuminated manuscripts—historical sacred texts carefully and lovingly illustrated, often with expensive and/or archival materials. There is an inherent sense of both dedication and attention to detail present in the illumination process. You can draw or paint your sigil on parchment or infused paper with fine ink. You can purchase some incredibly beautiful paper from art supply stores, and bless it (misting or anointing with oils, smoking with incense, etc.). Or, if you are so inclined, you can make the paper yourself. You can mix herbs into the fibers, and even press and dry it on specific days or during specific moon cycles. You can invest in beautiful India inks in a variety of colors, walnut ink (a lovely sepia tone archival ink), or metallic inks, or you can learn how to make and mix ink for yourself. Once you have all of your supplies handy, you can sit down in your ritual setting and put all of your focus into making the sigil as elaborate and ornate as you wish.
Vitality and Vision Spell Paintings by the Author
Painting
I often incorporate sigils into my paintings as part of the artwork, but you can make a painting of a sigil by itself. If you want to make something that’s sturdy, durable, and easy to hang, look for ready-made canvases on stretchers or wooden panels. If you’re going for a significant size (more than a few inches), steer clear of canvas boards, as they warp over time. I personally don’t care for the texture of the canvas getting in the way of my line work, so I prefer wooden panels, but choose what works for you and your budget. Panels and canvases come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, so select one that will fit your sigil well. For paint, I like to use Delta Ceramcoat acrylic paint. It’s inexpensive (under two dollars a bottle), easy to work with (not thick like most acrylics), and available at a wide variety of craft stores. For brushes, I like to use short-handled ones with soft synthetic bristles, like the University Series by Winsor & Newton. They’re economical and long-lasting, as long as you clean them properly. (See the next chapter for more art supply recommendations.)
Sigil Satchels—Canvas Bags Embellished with Washable Paint by the Author
Fabric Paint
I’m a fan of fabric paint. (Yes, they still make it, in case you only remember it from the late eighties or early nineties.) It comes in a huge variety of colors, is completely washable, and dries relatively quickly. I like Tulip brand paint. Their 1.25 fluid ounce paint is easy to hold and control, and they make some nice metallics. If you’re scared of freehand-drawing your sigil with a little squeeze bottle of paint, you can use chalk or a washable pen/marker/pencil to draw your sigil first, then use it as a guide to paint your sigil. One interesting place you could put a sigil is on your socks—where you’ll be able to see it when you put them on, but it will be covered by shoes otherwise. Or maybe you want to infuse your favorite tie—you can paint the sigil on the reverse side. I suppose you could even paint sigils on your underwear if that inspires you. (Perhaps a handy location for a fertility sigil, if that’s your goal? Use caution.)
My “Power Sigil” Design, Embroidered and Photographed by Kohenet Ketzirah haMa’agelet
Sewing
Depending on your familiarity with a needle and thread, you can stitch your sigil. You could make a scan of your sigil, figure out how big or small you want it to be, and print it out on a fabric sheet made specifically for your printer. Then cut it out into a patch and sew it wherever you want. I recommend using the printout as a guideline to “draw” with small thread stitches over your sigil’s lines. If you’re more advanced, you could needlepoint or cross-stitch your sigil, then frame and hang it or make it into a pillow or bag.
Wood, Bone, and Clay Make Great Bases for Sigil Pendants
Jewelry
Making a sigil into jewelry works for people with a wide variety of skill sets. Many craft and bead stores sell large beads or blank pendants that you can paint, draw, or etch onto. If you live near the ocean or can visit it, sometimes you can find cockleshells or other durable clams that already have a hole drilled in their top by some other animal. The inside is usually very smooth and ideal to paint or draw on. You can coat your painting/drawing with a clear coat of nail polish to protect it. The best part of the shell is that the sigil can be a “secret” on the inside that you wear against your skin. Another jewelry option is to look for a small bottle, vial, or locket. For these, you can draw your sigil on some fine paper, then roll or fold it up to fit in the vessel. If you’re an artisan or metalsmith, you could etch or enamel your sigil into metal, glass, bone, clay, wood, etc.—making it into beads, charms, pendants, bracelets, rings, earrings, and so on.
The Vanishing Sigil
Sometimes only you need to know where you put a sigil—no one else needs to know. Or perhaps the sigil is meant to be temporary by design. Here are some ideas for vanishing or invisible sigils.
A Chalk Sigil on a Doorstep
Chalk
Chalk is wonderful because it’s cheap, easy to use, and non-toxic to the environment, and it washes away quickly. It’s also nearly invisible on other white surfaces. There are several traditions from around the world where the front door area is decorated with chalk designs to bless the house or business and/or appease spirits. The designs are allowed to wash away with the wind, weather, and wear of being walked on, then are reapplied as needed. In many cases, the natural wearing down of the chalk markings carries a sense of sympathetic magick—that the good energy will be recognized and acknowledged as parts of it are carried away by others.
Salt
Using either table salt or sea salt, you can make a “salt” painting out of your sigil, which will eventually be washed, blown, or swept away. If your sigil has to do with purification or cleansing, this is a nice connection. You just don’t want to kill or rust out whatever you are sprinkling the salt on. Another way to use salt is to mix a pinch of it into a vessel of water, and then, using a brush, finger, or bound herbs, create a sigil to bless doorways, windows, etc. As long as you keep the salt content low, your marks will be nearly invisible.
Earth
If you need to draw a sigil outside but don’t want to use salt or chalk, you could sprinkle sand or dirt, depending on the nature of the ground. Or even more simply, if the ground is loose enough, you could use a stick or your finger to draw your sigil into the earth. With rockier ground, you could align pebbles or small rocks on a path to form the shape of your sigil. With wind, rain, animals, vegetation, and the marks of travel, sigils made of the earth will be dispersed over time.
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Earth Sigil
Drawing directly into the earth not only physically connects us to the ground and its elemental properties, but also reminds us that it is the earth we come from and return to. This connection can add meaning to sigils for prosperity and growth, when they are placed in fertile soil, or perhaps to sigils designed to put something to rest, when they are placed on rocky soil, sand, or dry earth. When visiting the ocean, I may draw sigils into the wet sand for the rising tide to take away with its waves—which combines both earth and water elemental concepts.
Water Sigil
Water
As I mentioned with the salt sigil, you can use water to draw sigils for near invisibil
ity. If the surface you’re working on is fairly absorbent, you can see the sigil there until it dries. You can bless the water, then draw with it as needed. If you draw a sigil on a steamy window or mirror, then it will vanish, but it will also reappear when that glass gets steamy again—which can be an added bonus for your own house, but no so much if you’re drawing it somewhere else. You can also make an herbal infusion with the appropriate herbs, and draw your sigil with that. This can be a good idea for a pillowcase (as long as you give it time to dry before it’s slept on) or for blessing a car.
Other possibilities for using water include drawing a sigil on the surface of water—to infuse a drink with it or bless a bath. You could also carve, etch, or mark a sigil onto a piece of ice; as the ice melts, the sigil is released—either into what the ice is placed on or in, or into the air in which the ice/water evaporates.
You can also consider the elemental associations of water as an additional connection. Water is often equated with relationships and emotional considerations (consider the cups suit in the tarot). So if your sigil has to do with balancing or building emotions, or perhaps centers around a romantic or family relationship, you might want to consider water as a possible method of application.
Fire
Sometimes fire is what you need. Burning a sigil that was created on paper in a proper container with safety precautions taken can be an effective method for some spellcraft, particularly if you are working with spirits that are associated with smoke and flame. Another possibility is having a sigil that you create for resolution—which is drawn in the ashes of whatever spell you were doing that required things to be burned. That sigil can be a seal to close up and end a situation or redirect any residual energy to a new purpose. You could also draw a sigil out of a material that will burn briefly, and light it on fire (on a safe surface). This can be seen as literally setting an idea on fire.
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