sigils

Sigil is a symbol created for a specific magical aim. The term sigil derives from the Latin sigillum, meaning seal or sign. Throughout history, symbols have been used to signify power, protection, or requests for luck; in medieval and early modern Europe, talismans and seals often incorporated sigils believed to enact hidden forces. In modern occult language, sigil refers to a symbol consciously designed to represent a desired outcome and then charged with will or intention during a ritual or contemplative practice.

Creation and use vary by tradition. A widely cited modern method, associated with the occultist Austin Osman Spare, involves formulating a concise statement of intent, removing vowels and repeating letters, and combining the remaining letters into a unique glyph. The sigil is then charged through focus, meditation, or ritual, and subsequently dispatched by discarding or concealing the symbol so it operates at the subconscious level. Some practitioners draw, paint, tattoo, or place sigils in everyday objects or environments.

Scholarly and practitioner interpretations of sigils differ. Some view sigils as containers for psychological focus or cognitive bias that can influence behavior and perception; others uphold that they affect external conditions through energetic or magical means. Regardless of interpretation, sigil practice emphasizes intent, personal symbolism, and the creation of a compact, memorable mark. In contemporary culture, sigils appear in fantasy fiction, role-playing games, and various forms of spiritual and occult practice.