Witchcraft symbols are many and varied, and just as there is no agreement about the definition of witchcraft, there is no agreed lexicon of witchcraft symbols. This is a listing of some of the more common witchcraft symbols, and their more generally-accepted meanings.

The Pentagram

The Pentagram has a long and complex history. Found scrawled in caves near ancient Babylon, the five pointed star was copied from the star shaped pattern formed by the travels of the planet Venus in the sky. The emblem remained popular through many cultures and time periods – for example, it was called the pentalpha by the Greeks, who believed it had magical properties.

Among witchcraft symbols, the pentagram symbolizes the five elements – earth, air, water, fire, and spirit. The Wiccan emblematic pentagram faces point upward to symbolize the triumph of spirit over matter.

The Zodiac

The Zodiac plays an important role in the timing of rituals, and the witchcraft symbols for the signs of the Zodiac are often used to refer to related properties of person or spirit.

The Elements

The elements represented by the Pentagram each have their own witchcraft symbols. The witchcraft symbols for air, fire, and earth are based on triangles, while the symbol for water is, unsurprisingly, the Zodiac symbol for Aquarius.

For more about witchcraft symbols, read the full Witchcraft Symbols article.