Articles — symbols
Magickal symbols of protection
Posted by Michelle Gruben on
Protective magick is probably the most basic of all types of spellwork. If you don't feel safe and secure, it's difficult to enjoy any of the pleasures of life. Since the beginning of time, humans have been creating protective signs and symbols to ward off evil and bad luck. Would you like to learn some protective glyphs to use in your spells and amulets? Today, we'll be taking a look at nine powerful protective symbols from the Western magickal tradition. These symbols come from diverse spiritual paths including Wiccan, Norse, Judaeo-Christian, Egyptian, and others. Just as no two words have...
How to cleanse and charge a new amulet or talisman
Posted by Michelle Gruben on
Got a shiny new piece of magickal jewelry? Before putting it on, you may wish to take the extra step of ritually activating the object to make it more effective at its purpose. Charging and wearing an amulet is one of the oldest and most widely practiced forms of spellwork. In this article, I’ll discuss some simple ways to initiate your magickal jewelry so it can start working for you. We’re often asked if we charge or activate the pendants sold in our shop. We don’t—they all come “blank” and ready to receive your intention. The most we’ll do is...
What's the difference between a triquetra and a triskele?
Posted by Michelle Gruben on
Do you know the difference between a triskele and triquetra? If you don’t, you’re not alone! Lots of people ask us this question when shopping for a special symbolic piece of jewelry. Learn about these two sacred emblems and how they’re used in Pagan practice. Triskele We’ll start with the triskele. (Sometimes it’s called a triskelion—same thing, both terms come from the Greek words for “three-legged.”) The triskele is a triple spiral with equally spaced arms or legs. There are lots of different variations of this symbol. The spirals can be curved or sharply angled, single- or double-lined. Sometimes the...
The lore of fairy doors
Posted by Michelle Gruben on
Sitting at the base of a tree, on a garden wall, or over a baseboard, fairy doors invite us to imagine a fanciful realm just beyond the threshold. Not just for children, these miniature doors pop up in backyards, homes and businesses wherever fairies are welcomed. Fairy doors are a common sight in the wooded outskirts of some UK towns (whose authorities have had to resort to removing them to curb the fairy invasion). They’re a local tradition and tourist draw in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They’ve been spotted by photographers in the unlikely environs of New York City and...
The Faery Star: Magick and meaning
Posted by Michelle Gruben on
The seven-pointed Faery Star is an emerging symbol in contemporary magick. Also known as a Fairy Star or Elven Star, it is most often used to represent the world(s) of Faery. It can be displayed as a protective shield, a focal point for meditation, or a symbol of the Shining Realms. Learn more about the star's meanings and use in this short article. The Septagram The seven-pointed star is called a heptagram, septagram, or septegram. (In a Fae-worthy fluke of language, all three versions are correct.) This glyph has had mystical associations for centuries--probably longer, since the number seven is...