Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions

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In ancient runic practices, the Hagalaz Rune was associated with the chaotic power of nature and so symbolized that life is unpredictable and that severe challenges and difficulties can appear at any time. Slavic symbols originate from Northern Europe and Eurasia. The Slavs, who were their creators, are an ethnic group that has existed in Europe since at least the time of the Romans. Slavs are the largest ethnic group in Europe that share a linguistic and cultural history.

At the time of the full moon, use water scrying to aid you with divination. In Elements of Witchcraft, author Ellen Dugan suggests doing a focused meditation to communicate with water spirits such as undines. As one of the oldest Celtic symbols, it reflects many areas of Celtic culture from 500 BC onwards. In Ireland, it is associated with Manannán mac Lir, the Celtic God of the Sea. It is thought to signify energies and can have different meanings depending on the era, culture, mythology, and history of its use. Starting from this point, the Labrys was associated with goddesses, priestesses, and a matriarchal society. However, fire is also the purifying element that cleanses imperfections and leaves only the essential behind. 27. Air Elemental Symbol

12. Animals

A flint knife, which became a part of rituals and a trusted ally amongst Egyptians, it finds roots in helping man’s journey in the land of the dead. This knife finds mentions across various protectors, slayers, and guardians who have stayed strong against enemies using its power. In this article, you’ll explore a few of Wicca’s key symbols and their role in the lives of modern witches and pagan traditions. History of wiccan symbols

In Elements of Witchcraft, Ellen Dugan suggests a focused fire meditation as a way of harnessing this volatile element. She associates fire with transformation and change. If you're looking at a working related to some sort of inner change and growth, consider doing some color-oriented candle magic. If you have access to any sort of flame -- a candle, bonfire, etc. -- you can use fire scrying for divination purposes. The Wheel of the Year symbolizes the cycle of seasonal and spiritual changes in various pagan traditions. The solar cross, also known as a sun cross or Wotan’s cross, is a circle bisected by four lines, with a smaller circle in the center. It can represent the sun, the earth, the four seasons, or the four elements. Another form of a solar cross is the swastika. Regardless of the exact meaning of the rays, the Awen symbol is still seen today as a symbol of divine inspiration, granted by the gods to the artists of the world. 32. Hamsa HandThe horned god is one of two primary deities worshipped in many Wicca traditions and symbolizes masculine energy. It is represented by a circle topped with a horn. In practice, this symbol is used when practitioners want to connote masculine energy. The wheel of the year helps witches navigate through the ever-changing seasons. Just like one year follows the next, one rotation around the wheel of the year is always followed by another. However, symbols can also play a role in this process through the act of carving them into your candles. The Triple Goddess symbol is a neopagan archetype used in Wiccan practices for worship and guidance. The Goddess is the embodiment of the three cycles of a woman’s life cycle, which the maiden, mother, and crone categorize. For today's Norse pagans, the triple horn often is used to represent the Asatru belief system. While the horns themselves are certainly phallic in symbolism, in some traditions the horns are interpreted as containers or cups, associating them with the feminine aspects of the Divine.

According to the Gylfaginning, there was a god named Kvasir who was created from the saliva of all the other gods, which gave him great power indeed. He was murdered by a pair of dwarves, who then mixed his blood with honey to create a magical brew, the Odhroerir. Anyone who drank this potion would impart Kvasir's wisdom, and other magical skills, particularly in poetry. The brew, or mead, was kept in a magical cave in a far-away mountain, guarded by a giant named Suttung, who wanted to keep it all for himself. Odin, however, learned of the mead, and immediately decided he had to have it. He disguised himself as a farmhand called Bolverk, and went to work plowing fields for Suttung's brother in exchange for a drink of the mead. The word “Celt” describes a collection of tribes who shared similar religious beliefs, languages, traditions, and cultures. The tribes were spread across Western Europe and included tribes from France, Spain, Britain, and, of course, Ireland. Taken individually, each element has its own unique set of strengths and weaknesses. But when combined within the sacred circle, they become a unified source of power. Earth Associated with the cycles of life, the triple moon embodies the aspects of the goddess: maiden (youth and new beginnings), mother (fertility and nurturing), and crone (wisdom and transformation).The number three symbolises multiplicity and the third dimension. The number three has always been important for Wiccans (read about how to become a Wiccan including information about the Threefold Law here) so it makes sense that the symbol of three is often used during Wiccan rituals. This shape has been around for centuries, and during that time it’s been commonly used as a means of banishing or warding off evil. However, unlike some symbols that are only represented pictorially, witches will actually use twine or rope to create this very knot. In traditions that assign colors to the points of the star, the point on the upper right is associated with air, and is typically colored white or yellow, and is connected with knowledge and the creative arts.

The maiden represents new beginnings, guided by emotions and youthful energy during a woman’s childhood, while the mother embodies fertility and nurturing qualities as she ages. Lastly, the crone embodies intuition, wisdom, and experience gained in a woman’s later years. The Maiden is the Triple Goddess in her youth. She corresponds with the waxing, growing moon in the symbol. She represents new beginnings, love, and purity. The Mother Additionally, you might find downward-pointing stars in banishment or binding spells, as some witches believe in their power to drive away negativity and bad energy. Misconception #2 A runic symbol representing the hailstone and associated with destruction, transformation,and the forging of new beginnings.In the Celtic world, the triskele is found carved in Neolithic stones all over Ireland and western Europe. For modern Pagans and Wiccans, it is sometimes adopted to represent the three Celtic realms of earth, sea, and sky.