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

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This symbol holds particular importance in modern pagan and Wiccan traditions, signifying the sacred trinity of femininity, the lunar connection, and the eternal cycle of birth, life, and death. 6. Horned God In the specific case of Wiccan symbols, a whole range of powerful concepts has been encapsulated within a set of simple-looking symbols. Working with these symbols helps to create a fast and easy channel through which to connect with the greater concepts and ideas that the symbols represent. This can be extremely useful in terms of increasing the potency of your spellwork and overall Wiccan practice. Many Wiccan symbols have also been adopted as witch symbols. The athame is aceremonial dagger and is used extensively in modern occult practices and Wiccan paganism. Even today, modern paganism sees the Labrys as a symbol of female strength, wisdom, and empowerment. 16. Sun Cross The Yggdrasil symbol has its origins in Norse mythology and represents the World Tree, where it functions as a cosmic axis that connects all nine realms of existence.

Images of Mjolnir were used throughout the Scandinavian countries. It was often found replicated at Blóts and at other rituals and ceremonies like weddings, funerals, or baptisms. In areas of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, small wearable versions of this symbol have been unearthed in graves and burial cairns. Interestingly, the shape of the hammer seems to vary a bit by region -- in Sweden and Norway, Mjolnir is portrayed as rather t-shaped. Its Icelandic counterpart is more crosslike, and examples found in Finland have a long, curved design across the bottom brace of the hammer. In contemporary Pagan religions, this symbol can be invoked to protect and defend. Book of Shadows is a sacred book for Wiccan practitioners, containing spells, rituals, and other important information about their craft. The Book of Shadows symbol usually consists of a pentagram encircled by another circle or form, such as an infinity symbol. Symbolizing a powerful spirit, Lightning connects the passion of the rain, the beauty of the Thunderbird and the power of light. An honest blessing, the Lightning symbol protects mankind from the hidden shadows of hell. 36.CactiThe exact meaning of the Valknut symbol remains debated, however, but it’s thought to symbolize concepts such as protection, strength, and victory. 5. Triple Moon When invoking the Triple Goddess and the Horned God as a pair, you may hear them referred to the Lord and Lady of Wicca. This is simply another way we symbolically link the power of the God with the power of the Goddess. Elemental Symbols As a modern-day artifact, it has been signifying the heavenly cycle ever since the bronze age. In the old days, an actual dung beetle was used to make Scarab rings, to let the life force of the beetle increase the manifestation of the symbol. 13. Egyptian Knife Protection Symbol #25 Egyptian Knife Through its connection to Odin, the Valknut is believed to represent the idea of slain warriors being chosen to enter Valhalla, the warrior’s afterlife. Furthermore, the sun cross, or variations of it, have been found in numerous cultures: Norse, Native American, ancient Egyptian, etc.

The Labrys is a double-headed axe whose symbolic meaning is strongly associated with the ancient Greek culture of the island state of Minos.The ankh,a cross-like shape with a loop at the top, was one of the most important symbols in ancient Egyptian culture. There is a theory that the pentacle originated as the symbol of a Greek agricultural and fertility goddess named Kore, also called Ceres. Her sacred fruit was the apple, and when you cut an apple in half crossways, you find a five-pointed star! Some cultures refer to the apple-star as the "Star of Wisdom," and so apples are associated with knowledge. During pagan rituals, the athame is used to cast circles, invoke energies, direct psychic energies, and manipulate etheric fires. The athame also represents masculine divine energy and, by extension, the powers of transformation. The Celtic knot (also known as the triquetra) is a symbol of threes. The single line it is made from intersects itself exactly three times, creating three leaf-like sections in the design.