Pagan Symbols

EARTH

Wiccan Tool:

Cauldron or Pentacle

Altar/Ritual Circle Location:

North

Suggestion for Representation:

To represent Earth in your Ritual circle, we suggest a cup of salt, dirt (ours rests in a porcelain pumpkin), or herbs and seeds.

Ritual Use:

The solid element.  Useful for magic which is aimed at steady progress, financial security, fertility and overall abundance.  This element is indeed good for all things worked in the physical form.  

FIRE

Wiccan Tool:

Athame, wand or sword

Altar/Ritual Circle Location:

South

Suggestion for Representation:

To represent Fire in your Ritual circle, we suggest burning a white candle.

Ritual Use:

The Element of clarity.  Fire represents passion and emotion along with the gathering of people.  It is helpful in destroying bad habits and burning away those things we don't need in our lives.  It brings purity, enlightenment, power and vision.  

WATER

Wiccan Tool:

Cauldron or Chalice

Altar/Ritual Circle Location:

West

Suggestion for Representation:

To represent Water in your Ritual circle, we suggest a bowl of holy water.  Holy water can be made by combining some of your salt (Element of Earth) with your water (we use purified water from a filter) while saying an incantation.

Ritual Use:

The element of movement.   Water cleanses and purifies, it represents the subconscious and spiritual energy, along with nurturing, abundance, movement and transformations.

SPIRIT or ALL 4 ELEMENTS or HEXAGRAM

Wiccan Tool:

Altar/Ritual Circle Location:

Center

Suggestion for Representation:

Your Altar Pentacle.

Ritual Use:

The Fifth Element (no, not the movie with Bruce Willis).  This symbol gives you command and is the binding link over all four elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water.  It is created by calling all these elements together into one circle.  The Element of Spirit is used when you want to call upon a specific deity.  This symbol is drawn by uniting the Fire and Water symbols.

PENTACLE

Other names:

Five-pointed star.  Star of the Microcosm.  Witch's Foot.  The Morning Star.  The Evening Star.  Endless knot.  

History:

The five-pointed star is the result of astrological research done over 6,000 years ago resulting in no connection whatsoever to Satanism or Christianity.  Pythagoras utilized the Pentacle to represent the human being with the points of the star representing the head, arms and legs, adding the circle unifies and creates Spirit.  On a side note, the Pentacle or Pentagram represents phi: 1.618, the perfect number.  This number symbolizes perfection in all things that exist on this plane, for one instance, the human face, broken down in shape has the basic core and structure of a Pentagram.  How's that for perfection?

The Elements:

The Pentacle represents the five elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit.

Magickal Uses:

As a protective device: Wear a pentacle around your neck to protect yourself.

Ritual Use:

A Pentacle is synonymous with Wiccan Rituals.  It represents Spirit and Protection.  A Pentacle is one of the most important devices in your Ritual Circle and can be simply represented by drawing a Pentacle in the air above your working space, in the dirt if working outside, or on a piece of paper to be discarded later.

PENTAGRAM

Other names:

Five-pointed star.  Star of the Microcosm.  Witch's Foot.  The Morning Star.  The Evening Star.  Endless knot.  The Wild Rose.

History:

The Pentagram represents the five elements and was therefore used as a Yule tree topper in ancient Celtic Traditions, hence the star on top of the Christmas Tree.  For more history, please see Pentacle above.

The Elements:

Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit are represented by the five points of the Pentagram.

Magickal Uses:

It is a sign of secrecy and can be drawn upon your Book of Shadows or your Altar Box in which you store all your Ritual materials.

Ritual Use:

Since the Pentagram represents the elements it can be used instead of a Pentacle for all ritual workings.

SPIRIT CIRCLE

Other names:

History:

The Spirit Circle is not just useful to Wiccans, in many cultural histories a person would walk around an object, person, or place during a ceremony of birth, marriage or death, or to bring good luck or destroy evil.

The Elements:

Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit

Magickal Uses:

A Spirit Circle can be used in place of a Pentacle.

Ritual Use:

The Spirit Circle represents walking or casting of the Ritual Circle.  All Rituals call for the casting of a circle and calling of quarters to seal and create a sacred working environment for the Witch.

TRIPLE CIRCLE

Other names:

History:

The Elements:

Magickal Uses:

Ritual Use:

In Ritual, the Triple Circle is used to call upon the Triple Goddess: Maiden, Mother, and Crone.  This gives power to your Ritual Circle by boosting the body, mind, and spirit.

TRIPLE MOON

Other names:

The Goddess  

History:

The Triple Moon has been associated with the life of the Goddess: Maiden, Mother, Crone.  As the moon waxes, becomes full then wanes, it is a never ending cycle which also represents life.

The Elements:

Goddess

Magickal Uses:

Some Wiccans use this symbol to simply indicate their walk of life, whether it be on a necklace or t-shirt.

Ritual Use:

This symbol can be placed anywhere on your altar to signify the turns of life, birth, living and death or also our great Mother or any Female Deity you wish to connect with.

HORNED GOD

Other names:

Green Man  

History:

The Horned God represents the male aspect in Wicca and is as old as the Goddess herself.

The Elements:

God.  Nature.

Magickal Uses:

Can be worn as a necklace to subtly represent your belief in Wicca.

Ritual Use:

The Horned God is wonderful in ritual when you want to celebrate a male deity.  When used together with the Triple Moon, it perfectly represents the nature of opposites.

HEPTAGRAM

Other names:

Seven pointed star.  The Star of Venus

History:

The original basis for the heptagram came from astrology and the seven known planets of the time along with the seven days of the week.  The heptagram, for modern day Wiccans, represents the distribution of the planetary energies through the seven days of the week.  The Heptagram has also been adopted as the symbol for magic in the Faerie Wicca traditions.

The Elements:

Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn

Magickal Uses:

Can be engraved or painted on your Book of Shadows to defend and protect the contents inside.

Ritual Use:

Used to calculate planetary hours.  In ritual, each planet holds specific elements and energies (see charts below) and the heptagram can help focus those energies on a specific planet.

CELTIC CROSS

Other names:

History:

The history of the Celtic Cross is a mishmash of information that is difficult to sort through and is also difficult to find the true history.  Following is as close to history and the truth that we could get without writing a book and spending years researching.  From a Pagan's standpoint the history goes something like this:  These crosses started out as a simple circle representing the moon.  When Christian's came to convert the Druids, they used symbols, which in their case was the cross.  They drew the cross into the circle to show that their religion was of higher value, thus creating the "Celtic Cross."  On another note from Paganism: The circle again represents the moon, while the cross or four lines intersecting represent the sun.  Therefore, the Druids were worshipping the sun and the moon.  The Christians and Catholics claim it is has always been a symbol of their religion, however to prove a point on the Pagan side, Christianity is a new religion, while Druids have been around for centuries.  Still others, claim it as a phallic symbol.  You be the judge.

The Elements:

Sun and Moon

Magickal Uses:

Can be used for beautiful decoration as most Wiccans celebrate the Celts and their beautiful artwork.

Ritual Use:

Use to represent the Sun and Moon, God and Goddess, or Male and Female

ALCHEMY

Meaning:

"Alchemy is a bridge between Earth and Heaven, matter and spirit, the solid and the fluid, the visible and the invisible, bringing the horizontal and the vertical together." ~ J. Ramsay.  Alchemy, in short, is to turn thought into matter.  By focusing on the following symbols of alchemy, one is said to reach a goal such as a change in life.  It is how you, as a Wiccan use this symbol to enrich and engage yourself in your Ritual.  Alchemy, if studied and practiced hard enough has been said to turn lead into gold.

Energy:

The Void

SUN

Energy:

Will and Success

Element:

Fire

Color:

Yellow or Gold

MOON

Energy:

Emotion

Element:

Water

Color:

White or Blue

MERCURY

Energy:

Communication and Speed

Element:

Air

Color:

Blue or Silver

VENUS

Energy:

Socialization

Element:

Air

Color:

Green

EARTH

Energy:

Strength and Stability

Element:

Earth

Color:

Yellow or Green

MARS

Energy:

Action

Element:

Fire

Color:

Red

JUPITER

Energy:

Expansion

Element:

Fire

Color:

Purple

SATURN

Energy:

Order, Restriction, Authority, Crossroads

Element:

Earth

Color:

Black or Midnight Blue

URANUS

Energy:

Experimentation

Element:

Air

Color:

Light Blue

NEPTUNE

Energy:

Transformation

Element:

Water

Color:

Aqua

PLUTO

Energy:

Regeneration

Element:

Water

Color:

Black or Brown

ARIES

Dates:

March 21 - April 20

Ruling Planet:

Mars

Element:

Fire

Body Part:

Head

Color:

Red

Energies:

The Leader:  Leadership, beginnings, action, energy

TAURUS

Dates:

April 21 - May 21

Ruling Planet:

Venus

Element:

Earth

Body Part:

Throat and Neck

Color:

Yellow

Energies:

The Pragmatist:  Security, endurance, sensuality, manifestation, persistence

GEMINI

Dates:

May 22 - June 21

Ruling Planet:

Mercury

Element:

Air

Body Part:

Lungs, Arms, Hands

Color:

Red or Purple

Energies:

The Communicator:  Talkativeness, movement, mental energy, ingenuity, versatility

CANCER

Dates:

June 22 - July 22

Ruling Planet:

Moon

Element:

Water

Body Part:

Breasts and Stomach

Color:

Green

Energies:

The Mother:  Home environment, emotions, sensitivity, affection, sympathy

LEO

Dates:

July 23 - August 22

Ruling Planet:

Sun

Element:

Fire

Body Part:

Heart

Color:

Yellow, gold, orange

Energies:

The Performer:  Confidence, self-expression, success, courage, vitality

VIRGO

Dates:

August 23 - September 22

Ruling Planet:

Mercury

Element:

Earth

Body Part:

Intestines

Color:

Sky blue, violet

Energies:

The Analyst:  Service, analysis, efficiency, discernment

LIBRA

Dates:

September 23 - October 22

Ruling Planet:

Venus

Element:

Air

Body Part:

Kidneys

Color:

Violet

Energies:

The Lover:  Diplomacy, relationship, beauty, socialization, balance

SCORPIO

Dates:

October 23 - November 21

Ruling Planet:

Pluto

Element:

Water

Body Part:

Sex Organs

Color:

Reddish brown

Energies:

The Controller:  Secrecy, power, justice, regeneration

SAGITTARIUS

Dates:

November 22 - December 21

Ruling Planet:

Jupiter

Element:

Fire

Body Part:

Hips and Thighs

Color:

Orange or Purple

Energies:

The Traveler:  Idealism, study, exploration, honesty

CAPRICORN

Dates:

December 22 - January 20

Ruling Planet:

Saturn

Element:

Earth

Body Part:

Knees and Bones

Color:

Brown or Blue

Energies:

The Father:  Rewards, building, business, ambition, diligence, conscience

AQUARIUS

Dates:

January 21 - February 19

Ruling Planet:

Uranus

Element:

Air

Body Part:

Ankles and calves

Color:

Sea blue or Green

Energies:

The Humanitarian:  Detachment, independence, humanitarian

PISCES

Dates:

February 20 - March 20

Ruling Planet:

Neptune

Element:

Water

Body Part:

Feet

Color:

White, Purple or Aqua

Energies:

The Visionary:  Spiritual, transformations, visionary, compassion, imagination, receptivity