Bobileth
|
A late period Celtic alphabet which is thought to have possibly been used within a magickal context.
![]() ![]() Resource
![]() Pennick, Nigel. Magical Alphabets. (ME: Samuel Weiser, 1992.)
![]() |
||
Elder Futhark - Denmark Variety
|
![]() |
There are quite literally some thousand of the Elder Futhark which exist. This alphabet is from Zealand, Denmark and dates from around 900 CE.
![]() In general, the Elder Futhark is probably the best known and used alphabet within contemporary Paganism. Historially, there are quite literally several thousand variations on this alphabet, with the one represented below being just one of those variations. Although the order of occurring letters is fixed, the actual number of letters is not. It is also interesting to note that in 1639 AD, in Iceland, a law was passed which forbade the use of the futhark on pain of death - specifically written as punishment by death by burning.
![]() ![]() Resource
![]() Pennick, Nigel. Magical Alphabets. (ME: Samuel Weiser, 1992.)
|
||
Etruscan
|
![]() |
The Etruscan alphabet, known also as the North Italic alphabet, was primarily used from 700 to 200 BC. The Etruscan culture reached its golden age around 500 BC, and began its gradual decline around 400 BC. The primary cause of this cultural decline is attributed to the Gaulic invasions and Roman conquests of that period. The Etruscan language is not classified with other Indo-European languages or any other recognizable linguistic family. However, the structure of the alphabet appears to be similar to the anicent Greek alphabet which was utilized by the Dorios of Sicily. It is believed by some that this alphabet was actually the product of the Phoenician alphabet, but this remains unproven. The Etruscan people traded extensively and carried the use of their alphabet northward, toward the Baltic, along amber trade routes. Thus, the Etruscan alphabet also helped to give birth to such other alphabets as the Elder Futhark.
![]() ![]() Resource
![]() Pennick, Nigel. Magical Alphabets. (ME: Samuel Weiser, 1992.)
|
||
Gothic
|
![]() |
The story of this alphabet is a little odd. The Goths had an alphabet which was later modified by Bishop Ulfilas during the fourth century. Ulfilas combined th Gothic alphabet with that of the Greek alphabet written in cursive lettering to create a script which could be used to write with. The result was the alphabet which would become the Gothic alphabet itself. Although there were many books written using this alphabet, many were destroyed by order of the Council of Toldeo in 1018 because they felt that the alphabet was Pagan and thus should be destroyed - even though the alphabet itself was devised by a bishop.
![]() ![]() Resource
![]() Pennick, Nigel. Magical Alphabets. (ME: Samuel Weiser, 1992.)
|
||
Linear A
|
![]() |
Cypriot syllabry. The values of xa, xe, and zo are not entirely certain. Ga is only used at certain sites. This alphabet is from Cyprus. It is one of the earlier alphabets and is derived partially from cuneiform. Linear A was primary used for record keeping. It was the first alphabet to be used within Europe.
![]() ![]() Resource
![]() Chaldwick, John. Linear B and Related Scripts. (UK: University of California Press/British Museum, 1987.)
|
||
Theban
|
![]() |
The Theban alphabet is probably one of the most widely recognized alphabet besides the Elder Futhark within Paganism. It is often incorrectly called the "Witches' Runes." This alphabet emerged during the medieval period when Cabbalistic studies were prominate in the practices of European magicians. The other name for the alphabet is the Runes of Honorius.
![]() ![]() Resource
![]() Pennick, Nigel. Magical Alphabets. (ME: Samuel Weiser, 1992.)
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
The pentacle is also representative of the five points on the human body. The circle is considered feminine and is indicative of the womb and the points represent the male member. Sometimes the inverted pentacle is used to signify the God and the upright pentacle is used to represent the goddess. This method is not often used, however, as it has very evil connotations in other religions. In many other pagan religions, the pentacle was the symbol of the earth or the earth-womb and is often used to signify the earth. It is also used to represent the God and Goddess at each point. The top three points represent the aspects of the goddess: Maiden, Mother and Crone. The bottom two are the aspects of the god: Oak King - light, and the Holly King - dark. It also represents the 5 stages of life: birth, Maiden, Mother, Crone, death. The Wiccan kiss, or the five-fold kiss is used in ritual and is represented by the pentacle: feet, knees, womb, heart and lips.
The pentagram, or five-pointed star, may be the most misunderstood religious symbol around these days. Being the most common symbol of Neo-Pagan Witchcraft, it has nevertheless been denigrated by movie and publishing industries which seem 'hell-bent' on connecting it with Satanism and other malevolent practices. However, like the Roman Cross or Crucifix, it is only when the symbol is INVERTED that it alludes to negativity. And even then, there are exceptions, as we shall see.
In its usual upright position (one point uppermost), the pentagram is an ancient symbol of protection from evil. Also called 'the endless knot' (in its interlaced form), the pentagram was often displayed on doors, windows, and hearths of houses throughout pre-Christian Europe. It can be traced back to Egyptian and Sumerian cultures, and has even been found on Native American medicine tools. Sometimes mistakenly confused with the Star of David, or hexagram (a six-pointed star emblematic of Judaism), the pentagram is sometimes called the Star of Solomon, especially by ceremonial magicians.
To many, the lower four points represent the classical elements of earth, air, fire, and water, while the fifth point, surmounting the others, represents spirit, the fifth element or quintessence. Thus, the pentagram symbolizes the four elements of the material world connected with, but ruled by, the spirit. When the pentagram is placed within a circle (symbol of unity and wholeness), it stresses our connection with the universe as a whole.
Another interpretation is that there is not one point upward -- but three! In numerology, three is the number of harmony, best expressed in the classical formula: thesis, antithesis, and synthesis. In other words, it is the middle point that harmonizes the opposing outer points. The Celtic love of triads (the most common form of their 'wisdom literature') has its roots in this model. The upper three points are thus placed above the lower two points, which represents dualistic opposites that cannot be integrated or harmonized (seeing everything in black and white).
Yet another interpretation of the upright pentagram is that it symbolizes the most common view of deity in Witchcraft. The upper three points represent the Goddess in her threefold aspect of Maiden, Mother, and Crone. The lower two points represent her consort God, in his twin aspects of God of Light and God of Darkness. However, in all these interpretations, it is important to remember that all the points are connected -- each an aspect of the other, all part of the same whole.
But when the pentagram is inverted, so is its meaning. Thus, an inverted pentagram may represent the physical world (four material elements) in domination of the world of spirit (the fifth element). (This may be why Satanists and other 'demonistic' groups use this symbol.) With two points uppermost, it may also express a Neo-Platonic dualism (the old 'war in heaven', good vs. evil theme) -- as opposed to the Pagan monistic view of reality ('the Force') seen in the single point upward. The most common exception to this rule is that some traditions of Witchcraft (chiefly British) employ the inverted pentagram as a POSITIVE symbol of advanced degree. In this case, the two points uppermost represent the horns of light, symbol of 'the Horned God', consort to the Great Goddess (like the Greek god Pan).
The word 'pentacle', sometimes mistakenly substituted for pentagram, really refers to a shallow dish (usually inscribed with a pentagram) and used as an altar tool by modern Witches, serving a purpose similar to the 'patten' at a Roman Catholic Mass. Common variations of this tool include a dish of earth, a disk of copper, a dish of silver, or a disk of wax.
The suit of pentacles (or 'coins') in the Tarot deck, the Stone of Fal (coronation stone of kings) in ancient Ireland, the sangreal of the Holy Grail processions, and the 'Universal Man' of Leonardo da Vinci, are all related to the pentagram, stressing its ties to the earth and nature, making it a symbol par excellence of an earth or nature religion. The five points also represent the five physical senses and allude to approaching the spiritual realm THROUGH the sensual -- in fact, the meaning of the Ace of Pentacles in Tarot. In numerology, 5 is the number of sexuality, combining the feminine 2 with the masculine 3. Thus, the pentagram also represents the opposite of asceticism.
But wherever the pentagram is displayed, one message is clear: evil has no power there.
|