Post by moonwind333 on Apr 12, 2006 14:13:49 GMT -5
SYMBOLS & SYMBOLISM
The subconscious mind works in symbols, so it is important to cultivate the ability to interpret these symbols, to decipher their meaning for your use in magick.
There are many, many things that have come to be seen as symbols: sigils, runes, signs, etchings, markings, items, etc. that have over the years come to traditionally have the same basic meanings. But always remember this: NO ONE BUT YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT A PARTICULAR SYMBOL MEANS TO YOU BUT YOU. SYMBOLS CAN BE VERY PERSONAL THINGS, DREDGED UP FROM YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND. Precisely what a dog means to me probably won’t be quite the same as what it means to you, though our interpretations may be close enough for both of us to use the symbol for the same operation (loyalty, friendship, etc.) … or they may be totally different. So if you disagree with any of the traditional interpretations of symbols in your workings, go with your own intuition and use a different symbol that you feel more in tune with, or even better, make your own.
Learning to decipher symbols on your own can be a major asset in working magick, especially if the answer to your operation comes as a symbol. Let’s say the symbol that you received was a turtle. What comes immediately to your mind when you think about a turtle? A slow moving creature? A hard shell for protection? An animal that can retreat into that shell? Now ask yourself how any of that may fit with your question or problem. Could the turtle be telling you to slow down? Or maybe that you are going too slow? Or perhaps your subconscious is telling you that you have built a shell around yourself that is keeping you from some type of progress. Or could it be telling you that you need to back off (retreat) from something?
This, hopefully, gives you an idea on how to interpret symbols. While this process is sometimes difficult and requires some time, work, and thought, it can be very helpful in many magickal operations.
I will be posting many symbols with their traditional meanings that can be used in many different workings, from every day items to more esoteric symbology on different threads.
PLEASE ADD YOUR OWN THOUGHTS ON SYMBOLS AND HOW THEY ARE USED TO THIS AND THE OTHER THREADS!
The subconscious mind works in symbols, so it is important to cultivate the ability to interpret these symbols, to decipher their meaning for your use in magick.
There are many, many things that have come to be seen as symbols: sigils, runes, signs, etchings, markings, items, etc. that have over the years come to traditionally have the same basic meanings. But always remember this: NO ONE BUT YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT A PARTICULAR SYMBOL MEANS TO YOU BUT YOU. SYMBOLS CAN BE VERY PERSONAL THINGS, DREDGED UP FROM YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND. Precisely what a dog means to me probably won’t be quite the same as what it means to you, though our interpretations may be close enough for both of us to use the symbol for the same operation (loyalty, friendship, etc.) … or they may be totally different. So if you disagree with any of the traditional interpretations of symbols in your workings, go with your own intuition and use a different symbol that you feel more in tune with, or even better, make your own.
Learning to decipher symbols on your own can be a major asset in working magick, especially if the answer to your operation comes as a symbol. Let’s say the symbol that you received was a turtle. What comes immediately to your mind when you think about a turtle? A slow moving creature? A hard shell for protection? An animal that can retreat into that shell? Now ask yourself how any of that may fit with your question or problem. Could the turtle be telling you to slow down? Or maybe that you are going too slow? Or perhaps your subconscious is telling you that you have built a shell around yourself that is keeping you from some type of progress. Or could it be telling you that you need to back off (retreat) from something?
This, hopefully, gives you an idea on how to interpret symbols. While this process is sometimes difficult and requires some time, work, and thought, it can be very helpful in many magickal operations.
I will be posting many symbols with their traditional meanings that can be used in many different workings, from every day items to more esoteric symbology on different threads.
PLEASE ADD YOUR OWN THOUGHTS ON SYMBOLS AND HOW THEY ARE USED TO THIS AND THE OTHER THREADS!