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Author Topic: General/Non-Specific: Sacred Alphabets  (Read 8773 times)

Sefiru

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Sacred Alphabets
« on: December 19, 2018, 06:37:17 pm »
I think most of us have heard of Runes, but there are many other writing systems out there that are or can be used for esoteric purposes.

Some religions, of course, have particular alphabets and/or languages associated with them - as a Kemetic I have hieroglyphs to work with (though honestly I only know a few). There are also alphabets used only for magic as far as I know, like Enochian.

Do you use a sacred or magical alphabet in your practice? Does your faith have a particular language connected to it?
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Redfaery

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Re: Sacred Alphabets
« Reply #1 on: December 19, 2018, 06:53:32 pm »
I think most of us have heard of Runes, but there are many other writing systems out there that are or can be used for esoteric purposes.

Some religions, of course, have particular alphabets and/or languages associated with them - as a Kemetic I have hieroglyphs to work with (though honestly I only know a few). There are also alphabets used only for magic as far as I know, like Enochian.

Do you use a sacred or magical alphabet in your practice? Does your faith have a particular language connected to it?
In Japan, Sanskrit syllables are used by Esoteric Buddhists especially of the Shingon and Tendai schools. I have pieces purchased from my patroness Benzaiten-sama's shrines which are marked with these symbols.

As a matter of fact this question reminded me of just how much power words themselves hold in Buddhist practice, and especially in Japanese practice. My brain isn't really working right now, but I can't help but think of how the spelling of Saraswati's name in kanji changes depending on the source...

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EclecticWheel

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Re: Sacred Alphabets
« Reply #2 on: December 19, 2018, 09:35:11 pm »
Does your faith have a particular language connected to it?

Though I don't use a special alphabet I do use set apart language for prayer.  I find having a special dialect for prayer is useful for creating a sacred environment and a sense that this time is special.

The set apart language I use is closely derived from the traditional forms of the Book of Common Prayer.

I also capitalize certain words in my written prayers to indicate that word has special associations and meanings in that context that are different from the ordinary usage of the word.

The closest I come to the use of a sacred alphabet is my own method of using sigils.

I don't charge them or follow closely the instructions I've read for their usage, but instead use them as a means of prayer.  While I'm creating it I pray to God or a saint or entity.

I write a prayer and craft a sigil from it.  I don't try to forget the sigil or destroy it -- it becomes rather a pictorial form of the prayer and may come to have other associations.

Sometimes I put them in a bottle with other items that have been prayed over and worked with devotionally with symbolic meanings.

This is a way for me to "pray without ceasing."  Even if I'm not focused on my intention at the moment that pictorial prayer continues to symbolize what I created it for.
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Re: Sacred Alphabets
« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2018, 07:46:06 am »
The closest I come to the use of a sacred alphabet is my own method of using sigils.

Something similar here. I crafted symbols for my gods; most of them are in the mandala in my signature to my posts, and they incorporate a bit of sacred geometry. They've grown to be associated with certain values and concepts, the myths for the gods, even certain times of year. So it's become a sort of sacred shorthand that I use to focus my thoughts--a bit of mental technology.
The first song sets the wheel in motion / The second is a song of love / The third song tells of Her devotion / The fourth cries joy from the sky above
The fifth song binds our fate to silence / and bids us live each moment well / The sixth unleashes rage and violence / The seventh song has truth to tell
The last song echoes through the ages / to ask its question all night long / And close the circle on these pages / These, the metamythos songs

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Re: Sacred Alphabets
« Reply #4 on: December 20, 2018, 10:24:01 pm »
Do you use a sacred or magical alphabet in your practice? Does your faith have a particular language connected to it?

Jewish mysticism relies heavily on the magical properties of the Hebrew alphabet, in which each letter has a number of religious meanings and associations. In this it helps that in Hebrew the names of letters substitute for the names of numbers; there's extensive Jewish numerology.

My more personal faith has no such system yet, though I've experimented with creating a set of runic forms from time to time.
"The peacock can show its whole tail at once, but I can only tell you a story."
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Sefiru

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Re: Sacred Alphabets
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2018, 06:27:18 pm »
As a matter of fact this question reminded me of just how much power words themselves hold in Buddhist practice, and especially in Japanese practice.

I'm passingly familiar with this through its use in Japanese media ... things like ofuda charms to repel demons, which I believe have passages from Buddhist texts on them.

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Sefiru

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Re: Sacred Alphabets
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2018, 06:29:54 pm »
Jewish mysticism relies heavily on the magical properties of the Hebrew alphabet, in which each letter has a number of religious meanings and associations. In this it helps that in Hebrew the names of letters substitute for the names of numbers; there's extensive Jewish numerology.

I was going to mention this is the OP but couldn't figure out how to word it. Kabalah (sp?) is probably one of the better-known examples of using an alphabet for mystical purposes.
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Sefiru

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Re: Sacred Alphabets
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2018, 06:31:58 pm »
The closest I come to the use of a sacred alphabet is my own method of using sigils.

Do you use a particular method for making the sigils themselves? I know of a few, including the Spare method and the magic-square method.
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Redfaery

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Re: Sacred Alphabets
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2018, 06:35:51 pm »
I'm passingly familiar with this through its use in Japanese media ... things like ofuda charms to repel demons, which I believe have passages from Buddhist texts on them.
Ofuda are a good example, though I'm pretty sure you may be thinking of omamori? Ofuda are normally the paper talismans used to invoke a Kami's presence into a home shrine or kamidana.

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Sefiru

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Re: Sacred Alphabets
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2018, 07:12:19 pm »
Ofuda are a good example, though I'm pretty sure you may be thinking of omamori? Ofuda are normally the paper talismans used to invoke a Kami's presence into a home shrine or kamidana.

No, ofuda was what I was thinking of -- remember, I'm most familiar with the "Anime version", not how they're used IRL.
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Re: Sacred Alphabets
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2018, 10:22:20 pm »
I'm passingly familiar with this through its use in Japanese media ... things like ofuda charms to repel demons, which I believe have passages from Buddhist texts on them.

I suspect there's cross-fertilization going on there with the concept of Kototama.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotodama
as the water grinds the stone
we rise and fall
as our ashes turn to dust
we shine like stars    - Covenant, "Bullet"

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Re: Sacred Alphabets
« Reply #11 on: December 22, 2018, 03:41:55 pm »
Do you use a particular method for making the sigils themselves? I know of a few, including the Spare method and the magic-square method.

My method is pretty standard.  I write out the prayer, cross out repeats and vowels, assemble the remaining letters into a shape.

From there I simplify the shape and modify it according to my own intuition.

It may come out looking very different altogether from how it started depending on what I'm inspired to do with it.
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Love wisely, and do what thou wilt.

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Re: Sacred Alphabets
« Reply #12 on: December 23, 2018, 09:01:56 pm »
I'm passingly familiar with this through its use in Japanese media ... things like ofuda charms to repel demons, which I believe have passages from Buddhist texts on them.

Just realized,  though it may be the Japanese who emphasize this as a magical practice most...I can now use my spellwork to practice my Cantonese and vice versa.    ;D

Redfaery

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Re: Sacred Alphabets
« Reply #13 on: December 23, 2018, 09:11:08 pm »
Just realized,  though it may be the Japanese who emphasize this as a magical practice most...I can now use my spellwork to practice my Cantonese and vice versa.    ;D
I wouldn't be surprised if there's a good bit of overlap with Chinese folk practices. In fact, I think Ofuda and Omamori originated from Chinese sources. Have you looked at Benebell Wen's "The Tao of Craft"?

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Re: Sacred Alphabets
« Reply #14 on: December 23, 2018, 09:18:21 pm »
I wouldn't be surprised if there's a good bit of overlap with Chinese folk practices. In fact, I think Ofuda and Omamori originated from Chinese sources. Have you looked at Benebell Wen's "The Tao of Craft"?

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