Occult symbols - defined in

The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft
by Rosemary Ellen Guiley

Blood: Called the "river of life" blood is identified the soul." Carries the vital energy of the universe through the body." Folklore: witches sprinkled blood in potions or on effigies during their charms and spells to gain control over the person."

Suck blood: 55, 119, 286, 381

Blood Sacrifice: 26, 285-286

Brooms: "In folklore, brooms are the primary means of travel for witches... Theories: 

Use today: placed at the altar during rituals, sometimes used ceremonially to sweep away evil.   33-34

Cauldron: may "represent the fifth element of Spirit and the Mystic Center." 380

An iron pot, a receptacle in which poisons, ointments and philtres were brewed. Also 

Contemporary Witches use them for burning fires and incense. In rituals, they would be placed "on the witches' altar inside the magic circle. As a vessel, it is feminine symbol and is associated with the womb of the Mother goddess."49-51

Cone of Power:  a "spiral of psychic energy" raised through ritual "dancing in a circle around a fire or candle, then linking hands and rushing toward the fire shouting the goal until everyone is exhausted or someone faints, which indicates the energy has been sent off successfully.

Contemporary witches may chant and dance in a circle to an increasing tempo to the beat of a drum. They would visualize psychic energy moving up through the charkas as in Kundalini Yoga.. The energy is "projected over the group in a cone shape," visible to clairvoyants.  

Cone shape: in ancient Syria, the cone symbolizes Astarte, the Canaanite goddess of war and fertility. Tall, conical hats are associated with magicians and folk witches of old. The cone also represents the circle, the sun, unity, eternity, rebirth and "the spiritual aspirations of all things."

"English witches used a cone of power ritual in England to curse Hitler and prevent hi from invading the country during WW II."

Magic mirror (used for "scrying" or fortune-telling): "The ancient art of clairvoyance achieved by concentrating upon an object-- usually one with a shiny surface-- until visions appear."

The term scrying comes from the English words descry which means 'to make out dimly" or 'to reveal.

 "The services of a scryer typically are sought for predictions of the future, answers to question, solutions to problems and help in finding lost objects" or tracking down criminals. 307

"Few witches throughout history have used crystal balls which are very heavy and expensive. In England, glass-ball fishing floats are commonly used, as are witch balls, colored glass balls intended to be hung in homes to keep out witches.... The favored speculum is the magic MIRROR, preferably one with a concave side painted black. Witches may make magic mirrors themselves, painting and decorating them with magic SIGILS during the waxing of  the Moon and consecrating them in rituals like other working tools.

"Another scrying tool used by witches is a cauldron painted black on the inside. The witch fills the cauldron with water and drops in a silver coin to represent the Moon in the night sky. 

"As in other magic work, witches scry within a MAGIC Circle. The best results are obtained at night when the reception of psychic vibrations is believed to be clearer." 307-308

Owl: "...associated with death, sorcery, and the dark underside of life. ...

"In the Middle Ages, demons in the forms of owls attended witches, accompanying them on their broomstick flights and running errands of evil for them. Magicians and healers used owl feathers as a charm to lull people to sleep." 251 

Wand:  used to invoke the spiritual forces. Represents the element of fire (sometimes air) and the life-force in the person. The choice wood is hazel, then ash, rowan and willow. Preferred length: 18 inches." 380 

Werewolf:

Wiccan Shamanism: 

Witch Balls: "Decorative glass balls made in England from the 18th century onward, often hung in windows to ward off witches' spells or ill fortune." Predominantly green or blue. 363

Witch's mark: "Initiation rituals in some traditions of contemporary Witchcraft call for symbolic witches ' marks in an X-shaped cross to be made with anointing oils on the body of the candidate.... The crosses are traced over the third eye, the heart and the genitals, symbolizing the freeing of mind, heart and body." 380

Witching hour: "The hour of midnight on the night of the full moon. This is a time of  transformation and change and the height of witches' spell-casting powers. The roots of this notion go back to... the worship of goddesses associated with the Moon, fertility and witchcraft." 380

Wizard: male magicians, sorcerers or witches... derived from old English term wis or wise." In the 16th and 17th centuries -- the height of the popularity of the village magicians-- it applied to a high magician but also to cunning men, cunning women, charmers, blessers, sorcerers, conjurers and witches. After 1825, wizard became almost exclusively synonymous with witch.

Virtually every village or town in Britain and Europe had at least one wizard.... respected and feared by local folk." Specialized in magical services... fortune-telling, finding missing persons or treasures, curing illness, interpreting dreams, breaking spells of witches and fairies, making amulets and love philtres.

Occult practices

Magic Circle: "a sacred and purified space in which rituals, magical work and ceremonies are conducted." It sets a boundary for the collective and concentrated power and "acts as a doorway tot he world of the  gods. It represents wholeness, perfection and unity, the womb of the Earth and the cycles of life and seasons. 

In preparation for casting the circle, 

In ancient times, they were "drawn around the beds of sick persons and new mothers as protection from demons. Stone circles in Britain.

Mirror: Used for divination - "to see the past, present and future... the magicians would stare into the polished surface until they hypnotized themselves in tight trances and saw visions that answered" specific questions. They were believed to reflect the soul.  

Sacrifice: "an offering of a gift, especially to a deity or being, in petition, thanksgiving or appeasement. The most common offerings are food, drink, fruits of harvest and the blood sacrifice of animals and fowl. The highest sacrifice is that of human life...."

 (human): 283-284, 305, 382

Shape-shifting (metamorphosis):  In the Middle Ages and renaissance, many believed that witches could assume the shape of an animal. "One of the most feared metamorphoses was that of wolf. Man-eating wolves who terrorized villages were sometimes said to be witches. The man-wolf condition known as LYCATHropy, is not the same as metamorphosis, since it is involuntary. According to one 17th century French tale, a hunter was attacked in the woods by an enormous wolf and was able to cut off one of its paws. Howling, the wolf fled. The hunter took the paw to show to a friend. When he took it from his pocket, he was astonished to see that it had changed into a woman's hand with a ring on one finger, which he recognized as belonging to his wife. He sent for his wife, who was missing one hand. She confessed to being a witch and transforming herself into a wolf in order to attend a sabbat. She was burned at the stake."

"A woman imprisoned on suspicion of witchcraft 'claimed to be able to transform herself into a wolf.' The magistrate promised not to have her executed, in case she would turn into a wolf before him. The witch rubbed her head, neck and armpits with an ointment and fell into a deep sleep for three hours. She could not be roused by 'noises or blows.' When she awakened, she claimed that she had turned into a wolf, gone a few miles away and killed a sheep and a cow. The magistrate investigated and discovered that a sheep and cow in the location described by the witch had indeed been killed. It was evident that the Devil 'did that mischief' and that the witch had merely experienced the dreams and delusions created by Satan."

"In shamanism, shamans metamorphose (shape-shift) into their guardian animal spirits or power animals (animals from whom they derive their chief power). The shape-shifting is done in an altered state of consciousness."  225-227*

Sorcery (interchanged with witchcraft): "The French "sors" refers to casting spells or the use of charms to influence love, fertility, luck, health and wealth.  The French word for "witch" is sorcier." In many societies, the assumption is made that these spells have an evil purpose and the sorcerers cast spells against others for whom they have an unjustified hatred. ... Counter-sorcerers, witch doctors or medicine men may be sought out to cast protective spells against the evil spells of another sorcerer, or to break evil spells.

"Sorcery is low magic; it is not a set of beliefs, like high magic, but is mechanistic and intuitive. Some societies still make distinctions between sorcery and witchcraft. Many African tribes view witchcraft as thoroughly evil, while sorcery is close to religion. 

"The Navajo associate witchcraft with death and the dead and sorcery with enchantment by spells; sorcerers, however, also kill others and participate in witches' sabbats." 314

Spells: a spoken or written formula intended to cause or influence a particular course of events. .. Closely related to other means to mind power such as creative visualization, positive thinking and positive imaging, all of which emphasize 

Spells may be

Contemporary witchcraft includes a set of ethics that prohibit curses. Some accept "binding spells" - intended to prevent harm or disaster or stop a particular act. 

"To cast spells, witches raise power through a blend of visualization, meditation, identification, body movement, incantation (statement of goal), petition to deities, and projection of will. ... Words, chants, songs, movements and use of objects (candles, effigies, cords, nail clippings) facilitate the process.

"Contemporary witches cast their spells within a magic circle. ... They state their goal -- or write it to strengthen the power of the will through positive thinking.

"Colored candles may be lit in preparation. A doll might be used as an effigy -- object becomes the person --in a healing or love ritual. The doll may be marked with astrological signs or hair clippings from the person.  All in the group must agree on the goal and mental image and hold it firmly in their minds. Invite a goddess, horned god or other higher forces" to work with them.

"Hand clapping, drums, rattles and other instruments might be used to create rhythm.

"Written spells are available in books, but most witches "feel that words composed from the heart are best. The recitation of a chant or charm alone will not successfully cast a spell."

"While performing the ritual, the Witch focuses intense concentration in will in achieving the goal, visualizing it and believing it is already accomplished."  (add page) 

Cone of Power:  a "spiral of psychic energy" raised through ritual "dancing in a circle around a fire or candle, then linking hands and rushing toward the fire shouting the goal until everyone is exhausted or someone faints, which indicates the energy has been sent off successfully.

Contemporary witches may chant and dance in a circle to an increasing tempo to the beat of a drum. They would visualize psychic energy moving up through the charkas as in Kundalini Yoga.. The energy is "projected over the group in a cone shape," visible to clairvoyants.  

Cone shape: in ancient Syria, the cone symbolizes Astarte, the Canaanite goddess of war and fertility. Tall, conical hats are associated with magicians and folk witches of old. The cone also represents the circle, the sun, unity, eternity, rebirth and "the spiritual aspirations of all things."

"English witches used a cone of power ritual in England to curse Hitler and prevent hi from invading the country during WW II."

Magic Circle: "a sacred and purified space in which rituals, magical work and ceremonies are conducted." It sets a boundary for the collective and concentrated power and "acts as a doorway tot he world of the  gods. It represents wholeness, perfection and unity, the womb of the Earth and the cycles of life and seasons. 

In preparation for casting the circle, 

In ancient times, they were "drawn around the beds of sick persons and new mothers as protection from demons. Stone circles in Britain.

Mirror: Used for divination - "to see the past, present and future." the magicians would stare into he polished surface until they hypnotized themselves in tight trances and saw visions that answered" specific questions. They were believed to reflect the soul.  

Black Mass: 22-23, 95, 195, 303-304, 351

Black witchcraft: 236-367

Magic

In witchcraft: 149, 159, 289, 203, 232, 278, 325, 353, 360

Black: 45, 84, 267-268, 285