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A serpent or dragon consuming its own tail, it is a symbol of infinity, unity, and the cycle of death and rebirth. Pentacle: Mesopotamia: An ancient symbol of a unicursal five-pointed star circumscribed by a circle with many meanings, including but not limited to, the five wounds of Christ and the five elements (earth, fire, water, air, and soul).
The terms esoteric and arcane can also be used to describe the occult, [4] [5] in addition to their meanings unrelated to the supernatural. The term occult sciences was used in the 16th century to refer to astrology , alchemy , and natural magic , which today are considered pseudosciences .
The Theban alphabet, also known as the witches' alphabet, is a writing system, specifically a substitution cipher of the Latin script, that was used by early modern occultists and is popular in the Wicca movement.
In medieval France, the language of the birds (la langue des oiseaux) was a secret language of the Troubadours, connected with the Tarot, allegedly based on puns and symbolism drawn from homophony, e. g. an inn called au lion d'or ("the Golden Lion") is allegedly "code" for au lit on dort "in the bed one sleeps".
These symbols were believed to possess protective and transformative powers, particularly when used in rituals, amulets, and tomb inscriptions. [4] Similarly, in Mesopotamia, the cuneiform script was employed in incantations and rituals designed to invoke divine powers, demonstrating an early link between written language and magical practices. [5]
[8]: 176 Magical language, according to C. K. Ogden and I. A. Richards's (1923) categories of speech, is distinct from scientific language because it is emotive and it converts words into symbols for emotions; whereas in scientific language words are tied to specific meanings and refer to an objective external reality.
A sigil (/ ˈ s ɪ dʒ ɪ l /) [1] is a type of symbol used in magic. The term usually refers to a pictorial signature of a spirit (such as an angel , demon , or deity ). In modern usage, especially in the context of chaos magic , a sigil refers to a symbolic representation of the practitioner's desired outcome.
Various folk cultures and traditions assign symbolic meanings to plants. Although these are no longer commonly understood by populations that are increasingly divorced from their rural traditions, some meanings survive. In addition, these meanings are alluded to in older pictures, songs and writings.