Wiccan Symbols

    Pagans, Witches and Wiccans of the past traditions use symbols for many things such as rituals, spells, ceremonies, enchantments , etc. They also use it for anything they need in everyday life. There are various symbols with many different connotations. Each of these symbols has a basic sense but they all mean different things and represent different feelings and actions to different people. The list I got here are the most common Wiccan Symbols courtesy of Angel Fire and Beginner Wicca. 

The pentagram is a five pointed star commonly associated with Wicca. In Wiccan/Pagan lore, the pentagram symbolizes the five elements- earth, air, water, fire, and spirit. The Wiccan emblematic pentagram faces point upward to symbolize the triumph of spirit over matter; the Satanic pentagram is transposed, point downwards, to symbolize earthly gratification. Some Wiccan grades also utilize a reversed pentacle, although for different purposes.  Based on numerology, the five points means the pentacle symbolizes the Earth element and can be used as an Earth symbol on an altar. A pentagram enclosed within a circle is known as a pentacle.

In Wiccan and Neopagan belief, the triquetra symbolizes the triple aspected goddess (maid, mother, and crone). Some Christians have protested this “appropriation” of the symbol…however, ironically enough, the original Christian fish symbol was derived from an early symbol of Venus, one representing female generative organs- making the triquetra perfectly appropriate symbol for a Goddess revival. The triquetra is also considered to represent the triplicities of mind, body, and soul, as well as the three domains of earth- earth, sea, and sky.  And yes,   this is the symbol from the popular TV show “Charmed”. Why they chose the triquetra for their Book of Shadows was perhaps for the protection the symbol carries, or possibly because it’s exotic without being threatening. Like the triskele, this Celtic symbol embodies the sacred  number 3, as seen in the 3 phases of the Goddess (maiden, mother, crone) and the 3 elements of nature (land, sky, sea). During the period of early Christianity, the triquetra took on further meaning as the Holy Trinity. This symbol is also seen with a circle going though it.

The Septagram, a continuously drawn figure having seven points, is far less common than the pentagram. It is however important in Western Kabbalah, where it symbolizes the sphere of Netzach, the seven planets, the seven alchemical metals, and the seven days of the week. It is a sacred symbol to Wiccans who follow the “Faery” tradition, where it is called the Elven or Fairy star. The seven pointed star is also an important part of the seal of the A.A., the inner order of Aleister Crowley’s OTO. The seven pointed star has a few names: septagram, septacle, Elven star or fairy star. The number seven corresponds to the spirit realm, which is why this symbol is associated with elves or fairies. There are no set representations for each of the points, but they are sometimes labeled: earth, air, fire, water, above, below and within. The septagram is also associated with astrology because the classical view of the sky contained seven planets.

The spiral is probably the oldest symbol of human spirituality. It has been found scratched into rocks from thousands of years ago, on every continent in the world. The religious significance can only be guessed, but it has been found on tombs, and possibly has a connection with the sun- the sun makes a spiral shape every three months in its travels. In modern times, the spiral is still spiritually significant. It is the symbol of spirit in Wicca, an emblem of the Goddess.

This is a representation of the Horned God, who in Wicca represents the masculine polarity of the universe.

There are several styles of the Lunar Triple Goddess symbol, representing the three aspects of the moon (waxing, waning, and full) and womankind (mother, maiden, crone), as well as the Lady, or Goddess, the feminine polarity of the universe. It is associated with feminine energy, mystery and psychic abilities. You often see this symbol on crowns or other head-pieces, particularly worn by High Priestesses.

The eight-pointed Wheel of the Year symbol marks the important holy days, or Sabbaths, in the Wiccan Ritual calendar. It is derived from the sun wheel, a pre-Christian European calendar marking the Solstices and Equinoxes.

The Cauldron is drawn from ancient Celtic mythology, and is sometimes called the Cup or Cauldron of Cerridwen. As a Wiccan ritual tool, it is mostly symbolic. Most often used to represent the fire or water elements, the cauldron is sometimes employed for scrying, for mixing herbs, for consecration, or to hold the ingredients for a spell. It is generally held to be a feminine symbol.

The Witch’s Sign is used in some traditions to mark ritual tools.

Hecate’s wheel is an ancient Greek symbol and is an emblem of the Moon Goddess Hecate.

The Emblem of Seax-Wicca, an Anglo-Saxon influenced branch of Wicca, symbolizes the sun, moon, and the eight Sabbats, or holy days.

 The short and traditional meaning for the ankh symbol is “everlasting life”. This symbol is a hieroglyph seen in countless ancient Egyptian carvings, usually held in hand by Gods and pharaohs to show how they preside over life (in other words, are immortal). In these images, the ankh is held by the loop rather than the base. The ankh is a popular symbol among Pagans, likely due to the similarity to a Christian cross which makes the ankh much less shocking to others, as compared to a pentacle.

 The unicursal hexagram is a variation of the 6-pointed star. The more traditional way of drawing a 6-pointed star is in the double triangles of the Star of David. But Aleister Crowley created his own design, to create a symbol that could be drawn in one continuous line. The number 6 represents unity and balance, specifically balance between man and the Divine.

 The Eye of Horus can be a bit of a confusing symbol. It is seen sometimes as the right or sometimes as the left eye. The left eye is Eye of Horus and is connected with the moon. When it’s the right eye, it’s the Eye of Ra, and associated with the sun. Though some sources say there is no distinction at all. The Eye represents the eye that was lost by Horus when he fought with Seth over the murder of his father, Osiris. The symbol is worn for protection and to ward off evil spirits.

 There are many variations on the basic triskele (or triple spiral) symbol. The one illustrated here is very simple to illustrate the basic look of the symbol. The triskele is a Celtic symbol, and symbolizes the power of life and rebirth. It combines the spiral (often used to illustrate the cycle of life) and the number 3 is a sacred number, as seen in the phases of the triple Goddess. This symbol is also referred to as a triskelion.