I Will Spell Check This Post
May 25, 2015 10:01 AM   Subscribe

Everyday Sigils: A tumblr where you can commission magical sigils and symbols to deal with everyday trials, from the mundane to the sadly common.
posted by The Whelk (57 comments total) 86 users marked this as a favorite
 
Chaos spank bank?
posted by Artw at 10:09 AM on May 25, 2015 [5 favorites]


I love this so much I would take it out for drinks.
posted by dejah420 at 10:18 AM on May 25, 2015 [4 favorites]


I prefer Problem Glyphs but that's far more on the serious side of things.
posted by komara at 10:22 AM on May 25, 2015 [12 favorites]


I'm liking this. And I need this.
posted by nubs at 10:24 AM on May 25, 2015


My Hot Pocket will cook evenly. Now there's a right proper use for magic.
posted by hoodrich at 10:41 AM on May 25, 2015 [1 favorite]


"I will have the spoons to do everything I need" *reblogs* *follows*
posted by immlass at 10:51 AM on May 25, 2015 [6 favorites]


BRB getting this tattooed on my body somewhere
posted by Hermione Granger at 11:15 AM on May 25, 2015 [9 favorites]


A good reminder.
posted by spitefulcrow at 11:29 AM on May 25, 2015 [3 favorites]


This would have been so fun to post on Barbelith back in the day.
posted by Kitteh at 11:55 AM on May 25, 2015 [11 favorites]


I love that there's one for the new Star Wars.
posted by Archelaus at 11:59 AM on May 25, 2015


BRB getting this tattooed on my body somewhere
posted by Hermione Granger at 2:15 PM on May 25 [1 favorite +] [!]


Eponysterical.
posted by andreaazure at 12:18 PM on May 25, 2015 [3 favorites]


I need one for "My son will learn to poop in the potty."
posted by Pater Aletheias at 12:24 PM on May 25, 2015 [5 favorites]


That's some deeply sublime racism. I feel guilty.
posted by adept256 at 12:32 PM on May 25, 2015


adept256: "That's some deeply sublime racism. I feel guilty."

Please feel free to fill this in a little bit more.
posted by boo_radley at 12:35 PM on May 25, 2015 [7 favorites]


Consider the lowermost circle, which I interpret as a face, with the semi yin-yang as an eyebrow. Then wonder why it's in Spanish when it would work in English. Perhaps it's a tribute to Frida Kahlo.
posted by adept256 at 12:48 PM on May 25, 2015


I could be wrong, but Pokeball?

[on edit: yep, wrong...]
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 12:50 PM on May 25, 2015


Also, that's Portuguese, not Spanish.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 12:52 PM on May 25, 2015 [2 favorites]


Adept256: It's in Portuguese, not Spanish. Presumably because that was the language it was submitted in.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 12:53 PM on May 25, 2015 [3 favorites]


Oh, man, this one from Problem Glyphs is beautiful.
posted by JDHarper at 12:55 PM on May 25, 2015 [8 favorites]


How do I know that the captions are really what they are? How do I know that I'm not summoning Cthulhu instead?
posted by Splunge at 1:04 PM on May 25, 2015 [6 favorites]


Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Hotpocket c'ooks evn'ligh fhtagn
posted by rifflesby at 1:12 PM on May 25, 2015 [25 favorites]


Rather punitive terms in the copyright license.

I only ask that no one use these sigils for commercial purposes (selling them, reposting them as if it were yours, etc.). I reserve that right for myself, and will not hesitate to make some deeply unpleasant sigils for anyone I find making money from my work.
posted by congen at 1:40 PM on May 25, 2015 [5 favorites]


The fires of eternal torment never cooked me so evenly!
posted by wenestvedt at 1:40 PM on May 25, 2015 [1 favorite]


Consider the lowermost circle, which I interpret as a face, with the semi yin-yang as an eyebrow. Then wonder why it's in Spanish when it would work in English. Perhaps it's a tribute to Frida Kahlo.

ok then
posted by poffin boffin at 1:41 PM on May 25, 2015 [2 favorites]


A common worry, Splunge. The FAQ has you covered:

"Typically, the sigils used to summon supernatural beings are pretty specific to that entity, and usually require some special ritual, token, or incantation."
posted by congen at 1:50 PM on May 25, 2015 [2 favorites]


I only ask that no one use these sigils for commercial purposes (selling them, reposting them as if it were yours, etc.). I reserve that right for myself, and will not hesitate to make some deeply unpleasant sigils for anyone I find making money from my work.

With great power comes great redponsibility...
posted by Aranquis at 1:53 PM on May 25, 2015


I can actually see some of these helping some people, positive thinking, improved focus, etc. Other problems, however, need a more practical approach.
posted by YAMWAK at 1:55 PM on May 25, 2015


fhtagn
Which is why I am confident that if Cthulhu were EVER to be summoned in my lifetime, he would have been by now by the verbal tics of The Simpsons' Professor Frink. "FHTAGN!"
But I digress.

I Will Spell Check This Post
I got "Everyday Seagulls".
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:56 PM on May 25, 2015 [1 favorite]


Is this a recommendation for Dark Side of the Moon?
posted by Metroid Baby at 2:10 PM on May 25, 2015


I drew finish the project on my vacuum chamber because it was the closest one to "get the data I need for the poster by Wednesday"

I apologize in advance if I summon ancient vengeful gods or unleash forbidden knowledge with my mass spec. In my defense, guys, I really need this data.
posted by kagredon at 2:16 PM on May 25, 2015 [16 favorites]


I think I've made this sigil on my shirt with spilled food before, and now I'm worried.
posted by DingoMutt at 2:21 PM on May 25, 2015


I drew finish the project on my vacuum chamber because it was the closest one to "get the data I need for the poster by Wednesday"
I apologize in advance if I summon ancient vengeful gods or unleash forbidden knowledge with my mass spec. In my defense, guys, I really need this data.


Heh, headed to St. Louis for the ASMS conference?

But, uh, be right back, need to affix "finish the project" sigils to our glove box. And fermenter. And crystallography shelves. Hell, for the crystal trays, it might even make a difference...
posted by ubersturm at 2:31 PM on May 25, 2015 [7 favorites]


omg yes

stop by the ion trap poster section if i haven't left the field in shame and disgrace by next week
posted by kagredon at 2:32 PM on May 25, 2015 [5 favorites]


I've followed this for awhile. Some of them make me smile and I can incorporate them into my religious workings.

This is part of various spiritual practices. Please respect that sone of us take these things seriously and find them helpful. For me it is like a prayer: slow, queit, purposeful and inherently personal.
posted by AlexiaSky at 3:04 PM on May 25, 2015 [10 favorites]


My sigil request: "a randomized controlled trial will show that all my other sigils work as advertised." Haven't heard back yet. Fingers crossed, knock wood.
posted by officer_fred at 4:09 PM on May 25, 2015 [2 favorites]


I love the prosaic nature of some of these. But often the little problems add up.
posted by BrotherCaine at 4:10 PM on May 25, 2015 [1 favorite]


This will be in the next Lil Friendys episode, right?
posted by pxe2000 at 4:11 PM on May 25, 2015 [1 favorite]


From the FAQ:

>I also do private sigil commissions if you want yours done right away, in private, and delivered to your email. It’s a flat $40 fee, and you get the sigil in a hi-res PDF / EPS / SVG, etc. I don’t really advertise it, but if that sounds more suitable for your sigil needs, simply email hello@galacticblack.com and we can work something out.

I'm a little short on cash right now. I wonder if Galactic Black will make me a sigil if I promise to strongly visualize them finding 40 bucks. Maybe it would have to be 50 bucks instead. What's the exchange rate between the astral and mundane realms?
posted by officer_fred at 4:27 PM on May 25, 2015 [1 favorite]


Yeah, we get it. Thanks, officer_fred.
posted by boo_radley at 4:30 PM on May 25, 2015 [16 favorites]


For fifty bucks visualized you get them visualizing you being inspired to come up with your own.
posted by BrotherCaine at 4:32 PM on May 25, 2015 [3 favorites]


So I'm supposed to wank over these?

I like found sigils. The moonlight through my girlfriend's window made an elaborate Celtic knot.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 4:42 PM on May 25, 2015 [1 favorite]


Put to music, would this be a Flock of Sigils?
posted by ryoshu at 6:41 PM on May 25, 2015 [3 favorites]


DONT TOUCH THIS TREASURE!

-Steven Sigil
posted by clavdivs at 9:55 PM on May 25, 2015


I wish there were an etsy store where I could get these on silver charms. I would totally wear the interview one and the self kindness one.
posted by irisclara at 11:31 PM on May 25, 2015 [2 favorites]


Love it! And the Problem Sigils!
posted by Drexen at 5:10 AM on May 26, 2015


I like these. Weird little bits of constructed folk magic but I wouldn't be surprised if a few catch on for some communities.
posted by rmd1023 at 5:17 AM on May 26, 2015


This is fabulous! Thanks for the post. Off to cross out vowels.
posted by Paris Elk at 6:38 AM on May 26, 2015


Maybe this is more appropriate for AskMe but I'm gonna put it here since we're on the subject.

So I've been reading and consuming a lot about magick and modern Occult practice and things and...I guess I just don't get it? I honestly can't tell if most people really truly have faith that sigils and ritual magick work, or if it's more of just a sort counter-cultural version of Zig Ziglar?

I grew up LDS(Mormon), which historically has a lot of ties to folk magic and consequently there's a fairly deep subtext of magical thinking within most LDS congregations (not all, but was definitely the case for my family). Over the years I've become downright skeptical of all that and at this point in my life I'd say I'm firmly in the camp of agnosticism as a worldview. I have a healthy skepticism for supernatural claims, but I also try to have a healthy skepticism for my own bias and blindspots.

Coming from a religious upbringing that has often been subjected to ridicule and dismissal, I'm sensitive to how this affects all folks and I really try not to be dismissive of anybody's beliefs or practices, no matter how strange they seem to me.

I watched Grant Morrison's talk (and read the subsequent article) and there's a part where he specifically renounces the idea that this is merely a counterculture thing and he goes on for a long time about this being really, really, really real. Is that how the majority of folks who are into this sort of thing feel?

But there's also a lot of talk about how it's "not about belief"...and I just don't get it. I guess I'm having a really hard time framing this within a rational, empirical worldview.

Is it like Tarot, where some folks believe it's legit real but others simply view it as a way jumpstart some lateral thinking about a problem?

All that said, I think the sigils are really beautiful and interesting to look at and I'm really glad these links were shared here, and I apologize if this is an inappropriate time to bring these questions up.

posted by Doleful Creature at 10:23 AM on May 26, 2015 [1 favorite]


I think it's an art project more than a religious exercise.

That isn't to say it can't be meaningful. I found the link I mentioned earlier, the "You Are Welcome Amongst The Stars" piece, to be stirring as an ex-fundamentalist myself. And that emotional connection is a real thing.

But I don't think that people are assigning actual religious faith to these drawings. I don't think painting the "My USB device will go in right the first time" sigil onto a thumbdrive will have any effect other than amusing me.

Could always be wrong about that, of course; people are funny that way.
posted by JDHarper at 11:19 AM on May 26, 2015 [1 favorite]


I think it's an art project more than a religious exercise.

Interestingly Tumblr has started showing me a lot of "kitchen witchery" and neopagan tumblrs as things I might want to look at since I followed this one.
posted by immlass at 12:13 PM on May 26, 2015


A plurality of my friends and larger social circle are capital-P Pagans, most of whom are very serious about it. But they definitely have a sense of humor and can enjoy a good tongue-in-cheek inappropriate application of magick or ritual when the intent is not to ridicule or cause harm. And of course the best humor has a kernel of seriousness to it -- if the act of drawing a sigil to remind you to water the plants helps you actually remember to water the plants, who cares if it's a mnemonic or a spell as long as your basil keeps growing?

Which is my long-winded way of saying that the pagans I know who have seen this find it delightful and fun and totally okay to discuss and question, and that it doesn't surprise me at all that enough witches subscribe to it to make Tumblr suggest more things that witches like.

And I'm now off to paint the USB orientation sigil on all my devices, because that is one problem that can't be fixed short of magick. Grr.
posted by fader at 5:22 PM on May 26, 2015 [5 favorites]


As someone who basically outsourced their superego to Captain America working on the Alan Moore principle that maybe a mild kind of belief can CBT-like induce better thought patterns and what's the harm of personal, interior belief if it drives you and reminds you of better things, I really like the sigils as nice reminders of things I should keep in mind.

Plus they're cool looking designs!
posted by The Whelk at 6:14 PM on May 26, 2015 [3 favorites]


I'm not sure I want to go into great depth on the subject because I already did a whooooole lotta talking about it when I was younger -- also, obvs, I can't talk for anybody else. But I think for me, and possibly others who are are.. 'interested' in sigils and related things, it's sort of like Schroedinger's faith. It's at once a real, deep belief that transcends the everyday perspective and the confines of logic and relates to the kind of sublime, personal spiritual experiences that can't particularly be communicated -- and an abstracted, placebo-ish method of self-motivation and inspiration partly informed by (a layman's understanding of) concepts like indeterminism and various strains of post-modernism -- and a semi-ironic, artistic pursuit. I could explain it in any and all of those terms, sincerely, despite that the different explanations would contradict each other.

But any of those 'modes' are best approached with at least a dash of humour, and obviously sigils like the 'USB' one are not meant to be taken particularly seriously! :P

I wrote a comment on the subject a while back that partly speaks to one of those aspects or approaches...
posted by Drexen at 5:18 AM on May 27, 2015 [3 favorites]


What people are saying here jibes with my experience of pagans of various stripes as well--just thought it was interesting that suddenly my entire sidebar of recommendations, which is usually full of fandom and history and art, was all neopagan and kitchen witchery tumblrs.

For those who are interested in the dichotomies of magical thinking--and I should have suggested this earlier--I recommend reading Persuasions of the Witch's Craft. It's old now and there's got to be newer research on this front, but it strongly influenced my thinking about religion and magic.
posted by immlass at 9:30 AM on May 27, 2015


I have read/heard that for this sort of thing to be most effective, you have to phrase your wishes as being in the present tense. Otherwise, they'll always be stuck in the future and can never happen. So "My USB plug fits the first time round" or "I am rich."
posted by fiercecupcake at 2:09 PM on May 27, 2015


And I'm now off to paint the USB orientation sigil on all my devices, because that is one problem that can't be fixed short of magick.

They are 4 dimensional
posted by nubs at 2:15 PM on May 27, 2015 [2 favorites]


This post --and the subsequent discussions-- have weighed heavily in my mind for the past few days. I can't seem to shake it off; I keep coming back to these notions of art, symbolism, trickery, belief, irony, silliness.

In some sense, thinking about these things has re-awakened my sensitivity to everyday superstitions. It's kind of amazing how often everybody invokes the supernatural in almost every setting. There are mantras and talismans and omens, guardian angels on bumper stickers and friends asking for good-luck wishes. Not to mention all the crosses, statues of saints, etc...

It's easy for me to dismiss or ignore mainstream religious affectations. I justify them as so heavily based on family tradition and powerful institutions. I also know those traditions very well so I feel comfortable in my personal explications. It's less easy to do the same for the occult, in part because of all the things already discussed here, but also because it's more difficult (for me anyway) to trace the traditions, to take them seriously.

I realize this bias is the by-product of my cultural upbringing. It's neither correct nor fair.

This realization causes me to step backwards, to try and get a better view of what's going on, and I remember something that I have thought before, an understanding that helps me be less hard-nosed and a little more compassionate. In other words, I remember that I can learn to stop worrying and love the magick.

No matter how smart we get, no matter how great our tools are or how closely we adhere to the scientific method, it's unlikely we'll be able to know everything in our lifetimes. There will always be a mystery, some "occult" aspect to our experience. Generally I'm comfortable saying that I don't know how a thing works and I don't need to assign a magickal or divine property to it in the meantime. On the other hand, I get why this helps a lot of people.

And if I'm being really honest with myself, sometimes it helps me too.
posted by Doleful Creature at 11:18 AM on May 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


« Older "It is a unique occurrence in the history of...   |   “This is ready to franchise. Please steal our idea... Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments