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The use of symbols for magical or cultic purposes has been widespread since at least the Neolithic era. Use of pictorial representations of gods and desired items began with the ancient [[Egyptian religion]]. The Egyptians believed that hieroglyphics were sacred to [[Thoth]], the god of writing and therefore, only specially designated priests and scribes were permitted to create them. They held that a pictorial representation of something became that thing in the spiritual realm, which is why funerary art was so important and widespread in Egyptian tombs. | The use of symbols for magical or cultic purposes has been widespread since at least the Neolithic era. Use of pictorial representations of gods and desired items began with the ancient [[Egyptian religion]]. The Egyptians believed that hieroglyphics were sacred to [[Thoth]], the god of writing and therefore, only specially designated priests and scribes were permitted to create them. They held that a pictorial representation of something became that thing in the spiritual realm, which is why funerary art was so important and widespread in Egyptian tombs. | ||
Belief in the sacred power of hieroglyphics was adopted by the Greeks and Romans in the form of protective | Belief in the sacred power of hieroglyphics was adopted by the Greeks and Romans in the form of protective [[amulet]]s and [[talisman]] pendants, which became widespread throughout the Roman Empire. The [[Chi-Rho]], a symbol representing [[Jesus Christ]] used by Emperor [[Constantine I]] as a battle flag would be an example of Roman use of a magical sigil. | ||
The [[Judaism|Hebrews]] also followed the Egyptian belief in sacred writing and considered their own written characters to be sacred. This belief system gave rise to the mystical tradition of the [[Kabbalah]], which seeks to connect with divine forces by decoding the words and numbers of the [[Bible]]. The various prohibitions on using divine letters, such as [[Tetragrammaton|YHWH]] show how respect for symbols are ingrained throughout all sects of [[Judaism]] to the present day. The [[Seal of Solomon]] is one of the earliest and most commonly-used sigils. | The [[Judaism|Hebrews]] also followed the Egyptian belief in sacred writing and considered their own written characters to be sacred. This belief system gave rise to the mystical tradition of the [[Kabbalah]], which seeks to connect with divine forces by decoding the words and numbers of the [[Bible]]. The various prohibitions on using divine letters, such as [[Tetragrammaton|YHWH]] show how respect for symbols are ingrained throughout all sects of [[Judaism]] to the present day. The [[Seal of Solomon]] is one of the earliest and most commonly-used sigils. | ||
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==Creating sigils== | ==Creating sigils== | ||
[[File:Aquarius Sigils.png|350px|thumb|Signs and seals of [[Aquarius]], showing its magical triangle]] | [[File:Aquarius Sigils.png|350px|thumb|Signs and seals of [[Aquarius]], showing its magical triangle]] | ||
A common method of creating the sigils of certain spirits was to use a magic | A common method of creating the sigils of certain spirits was to use a [[magic square]]s in which the names of the spirits were converted to numbers, which were then located on the magic square. The locations were then connected by lines, forming an abstract figure. | ||
Artist and occultist Austin Osman Spare (1886–1956) developed his own unique method of creating and using sigils, which has had a huge effect on modern occultism. Spare did not agree with medieval practice of using these, arguing that such supernatural beings were simply complexes in the unconscious, and could be actively created through the process of sigilization. | Artist and occultist Austin Osman Spare (1886–1956) developed his own unique method of creating and using sigils, which has had a huge effect on modern occultism. Spare did not agree with medieval practice of using these, arguing that such supernatural beings were simply complexes in the unconscious, and could be actively created through the process of sigilization. | ||