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The use of Sigla (the plural of Sigil), has been used for centuries, and doesn't look like it's dying out any time soon. I share with you now knowledge of Sigla, and if you have anything to contribute, feel free to contact me via the email address found on my main page.

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The Origin of Sigla

I can't really tell you about the first sigil or any histories really, because I don't know, and few actually do, if any. The term is derived from the Latin "sigilum" meaning "seal." The sigil itself does not call forth a spirit or desired effect, but serves as a physical focus through which the mage achieves the desired state of mind.

Sigla may represent complex concepts. The pentacle is the most powerful sigil used in Neo-pagan witchcraft and by many occultists. They have personal, secret meaning and are often inscribed on magical tools used in occult practices and ceremonies. Sigla also serve as amulets, talismans, or meditation tools.

There are many different types of sigla, and some of the more popular, modern-day types will be reviewed/explained here.

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Figure A-1 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
A B C D E F G H I
J K L M N O P Q R
S T U V W X Y Z

Figure A-2

Figure A-3
Figure A-4

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A. The Magick Square
(Source: http://triplemoon.com)

Each Magick Square represents a matrix of planetary energy. Magick squares are based on the original work done by ancient mathematicians in their description of numbers. Magickal practitioners expanded on this to carry over the correlation between a number and its corresponding planet, therefore representing planetary energy in a mathematical format.

Each magick square is made up using three key numbers. The first is the planetary number itself. The second is the square of the planetary number (or the planetary number multiplied by itself). The third is the sum of the square (or all the incremental numbers starting at 1 that it takes to fill the boxes in the square added together and then divided by the planetarty number).

Obviously the best way to understand this concept is by example so for the purposes of illustration we'll use the planet Saturn.

  • Saturn is represented by the number 3.

  • We start drawing our magick square with 3 boxes horizontally and vertically for a total of 9 squares (the square of 3 being 9).

  • The sum of the square in this case are 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9. This equals 45. 45 divided by saturn's planetary number of 3 equals 15.

  • Each row of numbers in our magick square both horizontally and vertically need to equal 15 (which is the sum of the square of the planetary number of 3).
When drawing the magick square all of the numbers should be placed in the square in sequence beginning with then number 1. F.A-1 is the magick square representing Saturn. Notice, as mentioned above, that our square is 3 by 3 and that all the rows equal 15.

Now, how do you determine how to draw your sigil? Using the Western system of numerology, each letter has a numerical equivilant that is detailed in F.A-2. Referring back to our work with Saturn for a favorable investment strategy, select a word of phrase that you want drawn into a sigil. We took the key word "investor" [and sorted out the numerical value of each letter - being 9,5,4,5,1,2,6,9].

Then by starting with our first corresponding number and continuing through each in order, we draw out our sigil. F.A-3.

So we're left with the following sigil representing our intention of investor. F.A-4.

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B. Letter Sigla
(Source: http://choronzon.com)

Sigils are one of the most used techniques of Chaos Magick. The theory seems to be that they will go straight to your subconscious, where they will take effect, without your conscious, realistic brain tapping you on the shoulder and telling you that what you are attempting is impossible.

Many magicians also have personal sigils, which they continuously charge and use as a magickal signature of sorts. Plus they look really cool, of course.

Example of Sigil Creation

  • Statement of Intent:
    I WANT TO ACQUIRE A COPY OF THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE

  • Now, more forcefully and correctly, this should be:
    I WILL ACQUIRE A COPY OF THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE

    It is important to state that you WILL get your desire, not that you merely WANT it.)

  • Get rid of repeating letters: I WL ACQURE OPY F TH XS N M

  • Or rather: IWLACQUREOPYFTHXSNM


You can get rid of repeating letters or get rid of the vowels, or both - or anything else you can think of that's appropriate, within all probability. You can optionally eliminate all letters that repeat instead of just each repetition after the first, which is, to be honest, more practical as it produces fewer letters.

*Eliminating all repeating letters results in:
- I WILL ACQUIRE A COPY OF THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
- QU PY F X N M
- QUPYFXNM

This is still a rather large set of letters, and will produce a more complex sigil than a smaller set, but we'll have to live with that.

Now turn the letters into a pictogram, using the shapes of the letters, but in no particular order. The sigil should not be particularly obvious as a representation of your desire

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  A B C D E F
 +-----------+
Z|           |G
Y|           |H
X|           |I
W|           |K
V|           |L
T|           |M
 +-----------+
  S R Q P O N

Figure C-1


Figure C-2


Figure C-3

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C. The Geometric Method
(Source: Phil Legard)

Take a geometric shape (if you want to, you could use a shape associated with a planet too, such as a triangle for Saturn, square for Jupiter etc.). For this example, I'll go for Jupiter, with the intent being "MY WILL TO GET RICH QUICK".

First remove reccuring characters to get "MYWILTOGERCHQUK". Now draw a square (or whatever shape you chose) and distribute the alphabet evenly around the edges of the shape. In this case, I've dropped the letters J and U so that 6 letters will go on each side of the square.F.C-1.

Now we start joining the letters in the sigil together, dot-to-dot style. So we draw a line from M to Y and from Y to W, from W to I, from I down the side to L and so on. At the end, we join the line back up to the start. F.C-3.

Now we make a new copy of the talisman and shade or colour in the enclosures - use colours associated with the intent/planet if you wish. Then decorate the borders with any symbols or patterns that appeal. You should end up with a rather groovy design.... This technique was based on the following amulet in the entry under "Grimoire" in Fred Getting's Dictionary of Demons.F.C-3.

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Implementing a Sigil & Forgetting About It
(Source: http://choronzon.com)

Implementing

Just concentrate on the sigil. It is preferable that you visualize the sigil, but I suppose in a pinch you could stick it on the wall and concentrate on it REALLY hard. But DO NOT think about your desire.

  • Visualize your sigil, while [approaching orgasm (by whatever means)]. As you [achieve orgasm], pour all your energy into the sigil. This method is particularly good for achieving sexual desires, but don't over categorize. Any method is pretty much suitable for any desire.

  • Have yourself caused great pain, and pour all that pain into the sigil. This is especially useful for curses, but again, generalization is a nasty word.

  • Visualize yourself killing someone you hate, possibly the victim of the working, if that is suitable. Then visualize your sigil and pour all the joy, and hate, and anger into it.

  • Visualize making someone you love very happy, and pour that love into the sigil.

  • Achieve a state of gnosis by meditation, exertion, whatever, and visualize the sigil (most successful methods of charging come down to this really).
Combine them any way you like!

Forgetting

Try to forget about the sigil. Good luck. It might be worth being off your face when you do all this to make forgetting the whole business easier.

I've found that sigils charged by intense orgasm are the easiest to forget. Other techniques to aid in forgetting the sigil include charging a large number at once in no particular order, getting drunk before charging them, taking vast quantities of psychadelics, charging it just as you're at the point of drifting off to sleep.

Should you want to keep a record of the sigil in a magickal diary, I'd advise having a seperate book to keep track of your sigils and to avoid looking at it (or given pages of it) as much as possible until your desire has been realised or you don't think it's going to be. You might want to have a set time at which you go through your book of sigils, for example, every 3 months or so.