Ancestor symbols

Sigil Magick with our Beloved Dead

Hello everyone and welcome to Witchcraft & Metaphysics! I’m really excited about today’s topic. It’s a big part of my practice and this is my first time writing about it.

My work is entirely supported by you amazing readers and I send out my heartfelt love and gratitude to each one of you. ❤️

Some of you might already be familiar with the practice of sigil magic. This is a practice that involves creating symbols, or sigils, to manifest one's desires or intentions, and it can be traced back to ancient times.

Traditionally, the process of creating a sigil involves writing down a specific intention, removing any repeating letters, and then combining the remaining letters into a unique symbol. (One of my very favorite books on the topic is “Sigil Witchery” by Laura Tempest Zakroff and it teaches a delightful method of combining non-letter symbols into larger symbols that are full of meaning.)

After the sigil is created, it is then charged with energy through methods such as visualization, meditation, or ritual practices. Once charged, the sigil is released into the universe to work its magic.

Examples of sigil uses can range from attracting abundance to banishing negative energy or breaking bad habits. Practitioners may also choose to inscribe sigils on talismans, clothing, or even skin, to serve as constant reminders of their intentions. The versatility and personal nature of sigil magic make it accessible for anyone.

When I began working with the dead and, especially, my ancestors, I learned that they can gift us with special symbols, or sigils, to facilitate very potent magic.

The first time this happened, an ancestor guide began by showing me the path of migration of his lineage, which took place over millennia. This path began in a Scottish valley, went up into the highlands, back down to a city, then branched into three separate voyages across the sea. At the time, I thought I was only learning the history of the lineage. But the guide showed me the same thing over and over again until I saw an actual line form on this path of migration. He told me to copy down the line, which I did.

This is what I drew:

My ancestor guide told me I can use this symbol as a sort of doorway anytime I want to open a connection to him (or anyone else on the lineage). I can also use it to attune to the gifts or blessings of these ancestors. I can sketch a big version on the ground and sit on it, drawing the blessings into my body. I can draw a small one on my wrist to call these beloved ones near to me. It truly is a portal to magic.

That was just the beginning for me as far as ancestor symbols go. With every new lineage I worked with, I would receive a new symbol. Many came from migration paths just like that first one. But some of the symbols I received had actually been used in magic practices by my ancestors thousands of years ago. They would carve these symbols in stone to connect with the faces of Divinity in a certain place. Or in rituals, they would make the shape of the symbols with their bodies, calling magic directly into themselves.

One of these more ritualistic symbols that I was shown opens a portal to the underworld. For safety purposes, I probably won’t share this one publicly. Another one, that I can share, was used by a tribe of nomadic ancestors to foster connection to place. When they would arrive at a new location, they would draw it on the ground as part of a ritual to introduce themselves to the land and ask for permission to inhabit it for a time. I like to use this symbol when I travel—drawing it in the threshold of hotel rooms, for example—as a way of coming into right relationship with place. (Shown below.)

These ancestor symbols are truly one of my favorite parts of magic practice. Not only are they sacred and potent, but they also remind me that I am just one living face in a vast collective of beings; and that we are all connected across time and space.

If you already have a practice of connecting with your ancestors, I encourage you to ask them for a symbol. I think you’ll love it!

If you’re interested in learning how to work with ancestors this way, please let me know. I’m thinking about offering an ancestral healing class (once the year of downloadable packs has concluded) and would love to know if that’s something you all would find valuable.

Let’s discuss all things symbols and magic in the comments below, or by replying to this email. 🤗 Blessings to you!