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Talisman
&
Power
symbols

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Hidden pentacles
are pentacles disguised in more intricate designs, and may be worn when
it is not safe or appropriate to wear a standard pentacle. Many such
stylized designs are worn which can be recognized by other believers,
but less apparent to intolerant family or in the workplace. |
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This
is a stylized representation of the
Horned God, who in
Wicca represents the masculine polarity of the universe. The horned god
is the archetypal horned Shaman, related to the ancient Gods of
vegetation and the hunt: Greek Pan, the Celtic
Cernunnos, and the Egyptian Ammon. This
symbol is sometimes referred to as the "horn moon," and as such, is a
symbol of the Goddess Diana, especially in Dianic Wicca. |
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Another Horned God image, created from a pentacle: |
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A
similar symbol, drawn from Egyptian hieroglyphs representing the Cow
Goddess Hathor,
is sometimes used by egyptian or feminine centered Pagans: |
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Cernunnos, an ancient Celtic horned
deity who is often considered the origin of the concept of the Wiccan
Horned God, symbolizes the masculine power of nature, especially the
domain of forests and the animals that dwell in them: |
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Green man |
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There are several styles of the Lunar
Triple Goddess
symbol, representing the three aspects of the moon (waxing, waning, and
full) and womankind (mother, maiden, crone), as well as the
Lady, or Goddess, the
feminine polarity of the universe: |
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The
familiar symbol below is a simplified silhouette of a paleolithic
Egyptian mother Goddess, probably a prototype of the Goddess Isis, and
is often used to symbolize the "Lady," the feminine deity of Wicca: |
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Hecate's wheel
is an ancient Greek symbol, and is an emblem of the Moon Goddess
Hecate
(Diana Lucifera), and her triple aspect. It is generally used by
practitioners of Hellenic Recon or Dianic Traditions: |
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The
Solar cross
is probably the oldest religious symbol in the world, appearing in
Asian, American, European, and Indian religious art from the dawn of
history. Composed of a equal armed cross within a circle, it represents
the solar calendar- the movements of the sun, marked by the solstices.
Sometimes the equinoxes are marked as well, giving an eight armed wheel.
(The swastika is also a form of Solar cross.)
The
sun cross in its most simplified form (shown above) is known in Northern
Europe as Odin's cross, after the Chief God of the Norse pantheon. It is
often used as an emblem by Asatruar, followers of the Norse religion.
The word "cross" itself comes from the Old Norse word for this symbol:
kros. |
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The
Celtic cross
is a symbol of the Celtic Christian Church, borrowed from the
pre-Christian Celtic Pagan emblem of the sun God Taranis: |
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The
eight-pointed Wheel of the
Year symbol marks the important holy days, or Sabbats,
in the Wiccan Ritual calendar. It is derived from the sun wheel, or
solar cross, a pre-Christian European
calendar marking the Solstices and Equinoxes: |
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The
Elven Star,
or seven pointed star, is associated with practitioners of "Fairy"
Wicca: |
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The
Cauldron is
drawn from ancient Celtic mythology, and is sometimes called the Cup or
Cauldron of Cerridwen. The ancient Celts used cauldrons for food and in
ritual as an emblem of abundance and divine inspiration. In Celtic
mythology and folklore, the cauldron provides infinite sustenance or
artistic inspiration. |
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The
cup or chalice
is a symbol of the element of water, a feminine element representing
intuition, gestation, psychic ability, and the subconscious. The Cup
also stands in as a symbol of the Goddess, of the womb, and the female
generative organs. : |
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The
athame or
ritual dagger (sometimes, a sword), is a symbol of fire. The Athame
represents the fire element, and the masculine qualities of
consciousness, action, force, and strength. The athame is used to direct
energy and is employed in the casting of circles. An athame is
traditionally black handled and dull, but as the knife is considered a
personal emblem, there is a lot of variety in actual practice- one might
see anything from a hunting knife to a deer antler used as an athame. |
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The
White-handled knife
is used by Gardnerian and other traditional Wiccan groups for ritual
cutting of cords and other used where a dull athame would not be used,
and in the construction of other magical tools. |
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The
Boline or
Bolline is a small, sickle shaped knife used to gather herbs used in
rituals and spells. The sickle shaped knife can be traced to Druid
mistletoe customs, and is a lunar tool. |
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The
dish, or paten, also known as a
pentacle in most
Wiccan and Ritual Magick tradition. This item originated with the
Catholic Church, and was one of the four Grail Hallows and came to Wicca
via Ritual Magick, where it was a symbol of the element of earth: |
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The
wand is a
symbol of air. It should be noted that in Ritual Magick, wands are of
the fire element, and the dagger is of air. Wiccan practice generally
reverses these designations, largely due to the union of the chalice
with the dagger in ritual. Wiccan wands are usually made of wood,
copper, or crystal, and can be quite ornate and personal in their
design. Of all the witch's tools, it is the most personal: |
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The
Besom, or Broom, fills a largely symbolic role in Wiccan practice.
Derived from European witchcraft folklore of broom dancing and flying,
the broom is used today for symbolic cleansing or purification. A
typical besom ritual uses the broom to "sweep" negative energy from a
home or other space. |
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The
Scourge is
usually seen only in older Wiccan traditions. The scourge is an
implement, usually a small leather whip or cat'o'nine tails, used to
gently strike a member for purposes of purification of purging in
rituals. The scourge is also symbolic of spiritual discipline. It is
derived from the symbolic ritual tools of the Egyptian god Osiris.
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The
so-called Witch's Sign
is used in some traditions to mark ritual tools. It is similar to the
solar cross, but its exact origin is
unknown (It is similar to the Roman numeral thirteen, and reader
suggests this may represent the coven of thirteen members) (Similar
devices were used in the medieval period to mark time): |
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The
Emblem of Seax-Wicca,
an Anglo-Saxon influenced branch of Wicca, symbolizes the sun, moon, and
the eight Sabbats, or holy days:
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