Symbols are a basic, fundamental building block. Below you will find a short list of symbols (with links to images) commonly found in paganism. Learning symbols and symbolism is an excellent beginning step for any practitioner. What symbols appear in your tradition or craft? Which of what I shared below do you recognize or utilize in your tradition or craft? Let me know in the comments below, or connect with me on social media!
Celtic Shield Knot – Protective and warding use. The corners of the knot represent the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water.
Hecate’s Wheel – Symbolizes the three facets of the goddess: the maiden, the mother, and the crone. Before becoming a goddess of magic and sorcery, Hecate was renowned as a crossroads protector. Hecate is associated with a labyrinth that snakes its way around. Hecate’s Wheel, also known as the Stropholos of Hecate, is a reference to the influence of knowledge and life.
Horned God – Represents an archetype that is frequently represented by Cernunnos, Herne, and other fertility gods. A nature god with horns who represents masculine energy. When performing fertility rituals or invoking the God use this sign.
Pentacle – A circle enclosing a five-pointed star. The star’s five points stand for the four traditional elements as well as a fifth element, usually either Spirit or Self. A pentacle has characteristics of all the other elements as well as the magical qualities connected to the Earth element. This symbol is often mistakenly referred to as a “pentagram” – the term “pentagram” only applies to the five-pointed star and not to the circle that encircles it in a pentacle.
Triple Moon/Triple Goddess – The waxing, full, and waning phases of the moon are represented by what is sometimes referred to as the “Triple Goddess” sign. Additionally, it symbolizes the three stages of women in the forms of Maiden, Mother, and Crone. The first crescent symbolizes the waxing moon’s new beginnings, renewal, and new life. The full moon, when magic is strongest and most potent, is represented by the circle in the middle. The last crescent, meanwhile, symbolizes the waning moon, a time for banishing magic and sending things away.
Triskele/Triskelion/Triple Spiral – Symbolizes the three Celtic worlds of earth, sea, and sky. As a three-faceted spiral, three interlocking spirals, or another version of one form repeated three times, it can be found in a number of different places.
Triquetra – A triple goddess emblem and a Celtic symbol of feminine spirituality that depicts the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and soul. The triquetra, which is made up of three interlocking sections like the triskele, symbolizes the region where three circles would converge.
***Disclaimer: Everything written within this blog is formulated by my own opinions, ideas, thoughts, insights, and experiences. I am a solitary practitioner of an eclectic celtic-pagan path. I am not formally initiated in a coven or traditional Wiccan path. My ideas and works are my own.***
Shrieking Banshee 