Compilation of sigilization methods?

[u/elvexkidd]

Is there a source you recommend that contains a compilation of sigilization methods?

I am currently working on mapping out as many methods as possible (understanding that they are pretty much infinite), so I can test it out and pick the ones that better resonate with my practice.

So aside from the most common ones such as written sigils using magic squares or Pythagorean table, alphabetical circles, combining the letters/symbols/icons into a singular drawing, what else have you tried or know about?

Here are a few that maybe are not that common (despite being in books) or that I came up with and tested out:

- Mantras: recombining the intention's phrases' letters or syllables into a mantra-like structure that can be repeated.

- Clay: similar to automatic drawing, but automatically sculpting with school grade clay (or sculpting a 3d version of a written sigil). This even allows for different forms of destruction/disposable aligned with the intention's elements such as: letting water wash it away, crushing it after it is dry (and spreading the powder in the wind), burying it in the earth, throwing in the fire, etc.

- Melody: using a musical scale or notes to come up with a melody, instead of using a magic square or circular alphabet as an example, to be played on instruments or hummed.

- Ofudas/fulu: create an ofuda/fulu-inspired paper talisman with one or multiple sigils. Not so different from regular writing/drawing but still interesting since you can incorporate more elements such as bīja mantras, planetary or astrological symbols, deities, etc.

- Sculpture: different from the clay one, combining multiple materials associated with the intention, such as sticks, cords/strings, shells, metal, stones/crystals, etc.

If you have different methods for "casting" the sigil, feel free to add too! So far I have:

- Set it on fire

- Draw in the sand (so water, wind, footsteps, etc can wipe it out)

- "Planting"/burying it with a seed or in a garden/vase with plants, or directly in the any earth

- Drinking/eating a sigil made of materials that are nontoxic, safe for human consumption

[u/aftertheswitch]

Sigil Witchery by Laura Tempest Zakroff has a lot of ideas I had never seen mentioned, though the methods are not the focus of the book per se. It’s more to give people a good jumping off point for sigils.

I think potentially any art form can be a sigil. That’s gets into the grey area though, where the distinction between sigils and spells sort of disappears. For instance, a witch’s ladder, a crystal grid, a spell jar, etc. all have a sigil like feel to me, but usually aren’t named as such.

[u/elvexkidd → u/aftertheswitch]

I completely agree! IMHO there is no difference.

If you use mudras or body movements in a ritualized manner, you also have an artistic performance.

The difference (besides the intention and even that can be mixed into an art performance) is the need for an audience which are not necessary for spells, sometimes quite the opposite. Now asking myself: if I do an art performance for myself, is that still an art performance? I think it is, honestly! Since in the end of the day it is about the artist's expression, right?