![]() ![]() Gargoyles, Grotesques, Sheela Na Gigs and Green Men They often appear on or in medieval and later churches, and medieval and later stone and timber-framed halls, manor houses, farmhouses and cottages, as well as public houses, shops, and agricultural buildings, but are much rarer on later and other types of buildings, although there are instances of similar devices being re-created on later buildings, in a copy cat fashion. A lot of study has taken place in recent decades, recording and researching these interesting protective devices. Their practice, use and meaning, in our less superstitious times has waned, so like the Green Man, their interpretation and meanings, are fraught with difficulty and much debate. The practice of protecting a home is ancient, and many examples of apotropaic devices may be found throughout history, and across the world, and its many cultures. ![]() They have been created by craftsman, such as stonemasons and carpenters, or cunning men or women, as well as the householders themselves. There are a whole host of forms these protection devices take, from carvings in stone and wood, to magical symbols carved or scratched onto stone and timber, as well on other building materials, to objects left within the fabric of buildings, and even burn marks made by candles upon timber-framed buildings. They are also known as ‘ritual protection marks’ or ‘witch marks’ as they warded off evil from magic or curses wrought by witches, from witches themselves, or from any form of demonic attack, and often were created via some form of ritual, whether as a process, an offering in the form of a spiritual midden, or burial, or part of a physical act accompanied by prayer, a spell, hex or curse. They are known under the term of ‘apotropaic’ which means something which has the power ‘to turn away’ evil. ![]() These devices, objects, symbols, graffiti or marks were thought to protect buildings and their occupants from evil entities, such as the Devil, demons, witches, fairies, etc. In recent decades, especially in the last twenty years, protective devices and marks against forces of evil are being recorded and investigated across the country. Please use our Sigil Creator responsibly.īy creating and employing these sigils, you agree to accept any and all risks and liabilities that may result from their use.Protective Devices, Apotropaic Symbols and Witch Marks on Historic Buildings with examples from Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire The images are royalty free and you can use your sigils in any way you like.īut please link back to this page if you share them on a website or social media. ![]() The images can be saved so that you can print them out, add them to your photo collection, or share them. Also, your words cannot be directly inferred by anyone who views your sigil. They are NOT sent to our server, or recorded by us. IMPORTANT NOTE: The words you type in remain private. You should aim to make your intention as specific as possible. Simply type in your intention or other key idea (such as a concept or personal name), then watch as your personalized sigil is drawn. The system and algorithms we use to create the sigils are based on traditional magical methods that translate your written words into an attractive pictorial image. Our Sigil Creator will automatically design sigils to represent your own magical intentions. ![]()
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