Symbols for Amulets, Charms and More

Symbols in Wicca and witchcraft are used as a form of sacred language, representing spiritual concepts, elemental forces, and deities. They are not merely decorative but are imbued with meaning and are used in rituals, spellcasting, and for personal and magical protection.

These symbols can be very useful in creating spells, bind runes and sigils. You can also use them in your journalling or other spell creation. You can even use them to study (ex. print out the astrological signs – make sure you can recognize them and then list some of the facts that you remember [dates, color, ruler, etc]).

This post is a work in progress, and probably always will be. It serves as an index of symbols and ideas that you can use in your magic and your book of shadows that serve as a sort of short hand that has been developed from astrology and alchemy and modern Wicca, You can use it as a starting point for your own book of shadows, and I will add to it, as I think of new sections.

Wicca / Witchcraft Symbols

Derived from ancient Greek philosophy, these four elements were believed to be the fundamental building blocks of all matter. Their symbols are based on simple triangles, with the addition of a horizontal line to denote a difference in quality.

Quick helpful mnemonic device that I use to remember these symbols:
“Fire flows up, Water flows down, Air flows side to side, Earth stands still.”

Astrological Symbols

The zodiac symbols in astrology are a set of 12 signs that represent a 360-degree band of the sky, divided into 12 sections of 30 degrees each. Each symbol is a stylized glyph that acts as a visual shorthand for the specific energy, traits, and themes associated with its corresponding sign.

The symbols’ origins are a blend of ancient Babylonian astronomy, Greek and Roman mythology, and later interpretations. The word “zodiac” itself comes from the Greek term meaning “circle of animals,” which is fitting since most of the signs are represented by animals or mythical creatures.

Planetary Symbols

In astrology, planetary symbols are a kind of shorthand, representing not just the celestial bodies themselves but also the specific energies, archetypes, and psychological functions they govern. When an astrologer reads a birth chart, these symbols are placed within a larger “map” of the sky at the moment of a person’s birth, and their position tells a complex story.