Traditional symbols for the Four Elements: air, fire, water, and earth. The upright triangle is considered to be masculine (think upright phallus), while the downward triangle is feminine (think hanging breast).
Symbols for the planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Astrology has had a prominent place in religion and magic
since its development by the ancient Sumerians, although ancient astrology, of course,
only used the five planets visible to the naked eye--Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and
Saturn. Astrology continues to be a force in modern spellcraft, as planetary hours and
aspects are often considered in spellwork. Astrology is also valuable as a tool for
promoting self-awareness and as a map of the cosmos.
The ankh is an Egyptian symbol of everlasting life, and the
Egyptian gods are most often shown holding it in one hand. An important symbol,
naturally, within the Fellowship of Isis. Note the resemblance to the symbol for Venus.
The athame, a traditional tool of Wicca. In some traditions, this
is a black-hilted knife used only in ceremony, kept distinct from the bolline, a
white-hilted knife used for more practical matters like cutting herbs. In other
traditions, one knife serves both purposes. Ruled by Air in most traditions but by Fire in
some. Also represents the God.
The chalice, a traditional Wiccan tool. The chalice holds the
sacred ritual drink, and represents the Goddess and the element of water. Related
symbolically to the cauldron, and to the Holy Grail: this is the tool of transformation
within the Goddess.
The pentacle, a traditional Wiccan tool. A symbol of protection,
of the witch within the circle, or of the elements within the circle, of the element of
earth. Used sometimes to help in charging a magical item, sometimes to hold cakes for
ceremony. Usually it is painted or engraved on a plate (in "kitchen witch" style
traditions) or on a piece of copper (for a more ceremonial effect). Sometimes other
symbols or words are included around the outside.
The cauldron. This is the womb of the Goddess, the pot in which
Cerridwen created the magical potion that ultimately gave Taliesin his powers, the
stereotypical brew of the Witch. The three legs are sometimes related to the Triple
Goddess. In practical terms, its symbology is usually played out in ritual by the chalice,
but the cauldron remains a powerful symbol and a desirable "prop."
The symbol of the Triple Goddess. From left to right, it consists
of a waxing moon, representing the Maiden; a full moon, representing the Mother; and a
waning moon, representing the Crone.
The symbol of the Horned God. He is the Sun crowned by the Moon;
His sovereignty comes through the blessing of His lover, the Goddess. Note the resemblance
to the top half of the symbol for Mercury.
Directions are important to magickal work. Clockwise, called
DEOSIL, is the path of the Sun; it is the direction of creation, of moving forward, of
conscious nature, and it is the usual direction in which we cast the Circle.
Counterclockwise, called WIDDERSHINS, is the path of the Moon; it is the direction of
banishing, moving backward, of subconscious nature, and it is the usual direction in which
we uncast the Circle. In some traditions Widdershins is thought of as an "evil"
direction, but we believe that this is a remnant of overly solar and masculine thinking of
this age. The feminine, the dark, the destructive, have their proper place.
*These jpg images were derived from Curtis Clark's "Woolbats" font. My original plan was simply to use that font on this page, but this does not seem to have worked out the way I thought, so I've made images out of them.