About the Book
Sigils are powerful magickal marks designed to invoke spirits and deities, influence people, or designate sacred places. This illustrated book breathes fresh life into the contemporary practice of sigil magick, showing you an innovative approach to using marks, lines, dots, and colors to manifest your will in the world. Learn how to create designs that best support your intention by exploring the traditional and contemporary meanings of shapes, numbers, letters, language, and color. Sigil Witchery includes tips for choosing locations, materials, and surfaces, as well as important considerations for permanent, temporary, and wearable sigils. Sample scenarios, exercises, examples, and techniques for handdrawing lines will help you build skills and insights as you develop your own powerful sigil magick.
Table of Contents:
Contents
Illustrations and Photographs . . . xv
Foreword by Anaar Niino . . . xxi
Introduction............................................................................................................. 1
Our Journey Ahead 3
The Modern Tradition of Witchcraft 4
What Is a Sigil? 6
What Is Sigil Magick? 6
Chapter 1: A History of Mark Making......................................................................... 9
Eye—Brain—Hand—Art 9
Signs, Symbols, and Societies 17
Simple Yet Sophisticated, Sacred, and Secular 18
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words … or at Least One 22
Embodying Symbols 27
Gateway of the Divine 31
The Timelessness of Tagging 34
Symbol Genesis 36
Chapter 2: The Meaning of the Mark........................................................................ 37
The Symbolism That Lives in Lines 38
Basic Shapes and Signs 39
Elements 75
Directions 76
Numbers 77
Zodiac and Astrological Signs 79
Letters 81
Colors 82
Other Symbol Systems 83
Finding Symbolism in Words: Building a Symbol Library 84
Chapter 3: Making Magick........................................................................................ 91
Understanding Magick and Spellcraft 91
How Does Drawing Sigils Work? 93
Uses for Sigil Witchery 95
Step by Step: How to Plan and Create Your Sigil 96
Applying Sigils, or Put a Sigil on It! 102
The Ritual Arts, or I Got That Witch a Ritual, Witches Love Ritual 103
The Vanishing Sigil 109
Sigils on Skin 118
Acknowledging Your Sigil 122
Devotional Sigils 123
Devotional Design Ritual 124
Sigils in Motion 125
Be Present in Your Body Exercise 127
Comparing Sigil Methods 129
Left Brain versus Right Brain? 131
Chapter 4: Design Guidance....................................................................................135
Setting Up for Sigil Witchery 135
An Instant Sacred Sphere 136
Getting Over Getting It Wrong 137
Simple versus Complex 138
Avoid Pictures and Pantomime 138
Why Draw Your Own Sigil? 139
Drawing Tech 140
About Tracing 141
Drawing Instructional 141
OMG Art Supplies! 148
Chapter 5: Practice Exercises...................................................................................157
Scenarios 157
Solutions 162
Chapter 6: Gallery...................................................................................................179
The Power Sigil 179
Festival Sigils 183
The Artist’s Sketchbook 187
Mago Djinn Sigil 190
Custom Sigils 191
The Mother Matrix 199
Other Artwork 202
Conclusion . . . 207
Resources . . . 209
Bibliography and Suggestions for Further Research . . . 211
Index of Symbols . . . 217
About the Author :
Laura Tempest Zakroff (she/ they) is a professional artist, author, performer, and Modern Traditional Witch based in New England. She holds a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, and her artwork has received awards and honors worldwide. Her work embodies myth and the esoteric through her drawings and paintings, talismans, and other designs. Laura is the author of several bestselling Llewellyn books including Weave the Liminal, Sigil Witchery, Visual Alchemy, and Anatomy of a Witch, as well as the artist and author of the Sigil Witchery Oracle, Anatomy of a Witch Oracle, and The Liminal Spirits Oracle. Laura is the creative force behind several community events and teaches workshops online and worldwide. Visit her at LauraTempestZakroff.com.
Review :
Praise:
"To the best of my own knowledge, Tempest has invented an entirely new approach to making and using sigils here, and I think it is an extremely powerful one . . . I recommend this book in the highest possible terms."—Robert Mathiesen, Professor Emeritus, Brown University, and co-author of The Rede of the Wiccae
"This wonderful book takes the concept of sigil well beyond the simplistic, basic notions of the [Austin Osman] Spare method, and opens the door on the deeper art and potential of sigils as it applies across the spectrum of spellcraft. Any student of the occult with an interest in sigils and sigil crafting: this is a book you need."—Arjil, teacher of Just Effing Magick and creator of the Ellis Sigil
"With style, wisdom, and a generous dose of humor, artist and author Laura Tempest Zakroff offers us a new look at an ancient magical practice: the creation and use of sigils, as well as modern tools to take this practice to the next level. From the historical and ritual use of symbols, signs, seals, and marks to the creative process itself, including tools and artistic techniques, Sigil Witchery makes an impressive contribution to a traditional body of occult knowledge."—Storm Faerywolf, author of Betwixt and Between
"Sigil Witchery pulls together a number of threads in contemporary magic with insight and intelligence while keeping the applications of magical symbolism front and center. Zakroff's study ranges from the tattoo patterns of the Amazigh people to graffiti tags found in urban alleys, yet the wide scope of her interests never gets in the way of her clear writing. Her approach to sigil craft is rooted, practical, imaginative, and inspiring."—Cory Thomas Hutcheson, author and co-host of New World Witchery
"Full of original art, sigils, massive research, and a clear writing and teaching style, this is definitely the best book on the subject of sigils that has ever been written, hands down. This book isn't just a showcase of historical sigil methods or rehashed information. Tempest brings new creative ideas to the table while placing a focus on directly interacting with the book's material to make sigil magick your very own personalized form of witchery."—Mat Auryn, professional psychic, witch, writer, and blogger at Patheos Pagan
"Sigil Witchery perfectly combines the history and art of mark-making with the science and art of magick."—Chris Orapello, author, artist, and co-host of Down at the Crossroads
