Sigil Design
Sigil Design
A sigil is a symbol charged with intention. The term comes from the Latin word ‘to sign’ and has historically referred to a type of pictorial seal used to invoke an elemental or psychological force or other supernatural entity in western hermeticism, among other places. Sigils were made popular in the ‘80s and ‘90’s within the context of Chaos Magick and refer to a symbolic representation of the magician's desired outcome. I like to expand this definition to include many other instances where magical intentions have been embedded in different facets of folk culture throughout history. Examples can include designs that have been woven into textiles or built into homes for protection, charms forged into tools for potency, movement in dance and in many other places, some now forgotten and some well preserved.
I also create custom sigil designs to meet your magical needs! Variations include: Pictographic sigils, Bindrunes or Sigil Shoals (compound sigil arrangements). Designs are based on statements of intend that you provide through our order form. Your sigil will be drafted by hand and then digitized and sent as an electronic file. Please allow one week for completion.
Symbol-based sigils use key words from your statement of intent to intuitively select commonly understood symbols to be incorporated onto your sigil design. The outcome is similar to the more commonly understood text-based method of constructing a sigil (developed by artist and magician Austin Osman Spare), but is more intuitively understood - like a sentence made into an ornate pictograph.
Bindrunes are sigils made up of a combination of Nordic runes from the codex of the Elder Futhark. There are 24 individual runes, relating to the overarching arc of an individual’s lifetime, as well as other key concepts that grew out of the ancient Scandinavian frame of reference. The bindrune will be a composite of several runes relating to your statement of intent. They are a good fit if you identify with life in a Northern climate.
Ogham is an ancient language of Celtic origin and was used by the Druids in Ireland and Britain. Each character represents a specific tree energy. This stave will use an abbreviated form of your original phrase, translated into Gaelic and then into the completed Ogham stave or sigil. This is a good way to go if you identify with your Irish heritage.
Sigil Shoals are a compound sigil graphic, containing multiple sigils enclosed within a border, similar to an Egyptian Hieroglyphic stelae in format. These pieces will incorporate up to three supporting statements of intent, and work well when broken down into a statement that addresses the past (something to release), a statement that addresses the present (something to attract) and a statement to manifest a desired future outcome.
Please note that we will NOT create sigils to influence specific individuals or do harm, positive aspirations only. For instructions on cleansing, concentrating and charging of your sigil in a way that is meaningful to you and your purposes, visit our process journal here.