Besides perhaps conspiracy theorists, who come to all the wrong conclusions, most people (including many witches and magicians) are unaware of the latent use of sigils in mass political movements and warfare. It is not impossible that some of the people who designed recognizable political symbols over the past hundred years have been occultists, but even if they weren’t, it is not unreasonable to recognize that such symbols often act as sigils regardless.
Many of us are likely familiar with the story of how Churchill’s famous “V for Victory” hand gesture may have a had an occult origin. Allegedly, Allied occultists (perhaps even Aleister Crowley) felt the Typhonian V symbol to be an effective counter to the forces represented by the swastika, which resembled the ritual sign known as the Mourning of Isis. This is an unconfirmed tale, naturally, but may well be true, even if only on the level of the collective unconscious.
Born from roughly the same time period, the Kotwica (Polish for “anchor,” due to its shape), has a long and storied history. Not only was it used by those resisting the Nazis, but it also played a role amongst groups opposing the communist regime that followed. I personally believe that this is one of those symbols that acts as a latent sigil, and has been charged and cast millions of times in the cause of fighting tyranny and oppression.
The origins of the symbol resemble those of most sigils, to a degree. As one can probably see, it’s a combination of the Latin characters “P” and “W.” This is an abbreviation of the Polish phrase “Pomścimy Wawer,” which means “Avenge Wawer,” and refers to the Wawer Massacre, where atrocities were committed against Polish civilians by the Nazis. A later association for the initials was “Polska Walcząca,” which means simply, “Fighting Poland.” It seems that the symbol has many different connotations. The majority, though, are centered around combating tyranny.
Perhaps the most interesting part of this story is the symbol’s initial dissemination. It was coined by Polish Boy Scouts who worked to sabotage Nazi efforts, and was summarily tagged everywhere. If you wander Warsaw today, you’ll find examples of it from that time period still relatively intact on walls and buildings.
It is still used relatively frequently in a memorial sense, an thus, it is ubiquitous. Stories of early and later efforts to spread resistance via the symbol call to mind the 21st-century use of the LS linking sigil. Though some chaotes might find this disappointing, I would argue that the Kotwica is far more powerful than LS, mostly because of the sheer drive, emotion, and utter raw need behind it, both in its nascent forms and throughout the years.
In today’s world, I believe it is still useful, and likely just as effective as ever. The creators of this symbol may not have been occultists, but it is, in my mind, utterly a sigil against the rank forces of evil that infest this world.
modern-day protective sigil against white supremacists??
To foil their efforts for fucking sure.
As someone from a polish family, this is a very comforting symbol to me. I hadn’t thought of using it as an antifascist sigil but in the times ahead it might be necessary to start circulating it again, even if it’s just symbolically.
Darkness, chaos, the
esoteric, the infernal, “demons,” but on a more personal level: things
forgotten, the subconscious, fear and the primal aspects of the psyche.
While
she can be sharp, her teachings are rooted in cosmic understanding – she is the
ever-present, the one who sees all, but remains passive and patient, biding her
time until her force might be unleashed with catastrophic fervor. Do not fear
her – for despite her power and frightful epithets – she is nonetheless a
great, maternal force. “To understand, one must be demanded – for Truth is an elusive concept.”
Offerings, including but not limited to:
Blood – of most any
variety (dark wine will also suffice), meat (raw or otherwise), black candles
(turned upside down), ashes, water – rain, sea, spring, river, lake, black
soil, obsidian, sulphur, spiderwebs, etc. No
fire or lit candles.
Ideal locations for workings:
The darkness – night, caves,
empty fields, near water, anywhere dark and secluded, but even a dark room
stripped of as much light as possible will do.
To Call Her
Gather a collection of offerings, a square of black cloth, and
(optionally) a bell with a low, vibrational tone – a gong or singing bowl would
also work. Before the working, on the black cloth, mark her Seal (above) in ash
(chalk or paint would also suffice). Upon this, the offerings will be
presented. It is important to do this beforehand, as the working should take
place in complete darkness (or as complete as can be arranged). Given that this
should be done blindly, there is no hymn to be sung or prayer to be read –
instead, speak from the heart. Ask her to come, trust your intuition and delve
into recesses of the mind. Present a desire, ask for her help, ask for her presence.
While those with Sight may catch a glimpse of her, she prefers to remain
shapeless, present as a serpentine energy – one that coils about in the shadows
and reassures the practitioner. Do not fear,
but trust the Darkness.
Once the connection has been made, you might make a plea to
her. What that will be is entirely dependent on what you need, but do so
honestly – there are no secrets, she knows – do not try to mask your true
intentions or desires, for they are already apparent to her. Be forward, be
genuine and she will do what she believes is right.
When you are through, leave the offerings for her. Leave the
scene by taking three steps backwards, turning and walking away without looking
back. If you choose to work within a dark room, leave through the door, at
which point, you may reenter and turn the light on to clean up. The offerings
should nonetheless be left somewhere dark (a basement would do), remote, or
buried.
It is recommended that upon the completion of your request
that you leave another offering to her as a gift of thanks.
