QUOTE(Makavelli @ Aug 14 2006, 05:36 PM)
NEWBIE QUESTION: I'm new to the sigil creation, so I hope you all do not mind me asking, but were these done on a computer program (ie-paint)?. And how does one go about creating a sigil. Is there a formula, or does one simply focus on the intent and get creative...
Many Thanks,
Makavelli
These are probably used with either photoshop or painter. (I'm not entirely sure. I use photoshop and it's a bloody resource hog and drives me nuts after a while..but otherwise is great!)
Sigil creation often uses a series of formulas in order to create them. A sigil basically is a design that is drawn (or engraved) for magical power/energy. You can use already made sigils (such as planetary sigils) or you can create your own for a specific purpose. In creating your own there are a number of different ways you can go about doing it. Using the
Hermetic Rose Cross is a way of making a sigil out of a word. The letters are written in Hebrew, but you can find the translations in various books such as
Modern Magick. In order to create the sigils using the Rose Cross, you simply draw a circle around the letter you start on, connect all the letters in the word (in order) with a single line, ending with a cross wise line at the end of your word.
Other forms of sigil making use the planetary squares. When creating a sigil with a specific intent you find the corresponding planetary square. Such as, creating a sigil for wealth you would use the square for the sun, and essentially do the same with the rose cross. This is a little more tricky since it entails creating numbers from letters.
Another way, which is more so employed, is A.O. Spares way of making sigils from the letters themselves. In his method, you simply write out the phrase that states your purpose. "I want to have enough money to be financially stable." Then, take out the vowels so
your phrase reads this, "Wntthvnghmntbfnncllystbl". Take out the repeating consonants,"Wnthvgmbcls" and create a sigil from the remaining letters. Of course you might want to simplify your original statement so you don't end up with too many letters, but you can have some very beautiful sigils afterwards. You can also do this with a magical language aside from your natural speaking one, you'll end up with some interesting sigils in the end.
Other ways are to use the
Geomantic Figures. Geomancy is a form of divination that uses either sand or paper. A series of four lines of dots are created in the sand (without counting them), and when done, are added up. An odd number creates one dot while even creates two. These in the end make up the geomantic figures. I'm not quite familiar with how some of the sigils are made using them, but there are a number of sigils already made using them that you can find.
You can also use personal intuition if you feel appropriate. I've done this in the past on a whim and it's worked quite well for me. Thereare many different ways to create sigils, but it all involves personal creation. Another words, the more creativity you use to personalize it, the more meaning it has.