Cyber-Sigils and the Talismanic Nature of Smartphones
by Tyler Daneman
Introduction
The confluence of technology and magic is ancient and arguably inextricable from their respective histories. In this burgeoning epoch of generative AI technologies, AI generated sigil magic provides a rich opportunity to explore the nature of this relationship in a new light. Within this meeting of esoteric and exoteric technology, new possibilities arise and renewed epistemologies are intimated. This paper will offer a brief introduction to AI generated sigil magic from both a theoretical and practical perspective. I hope that it may provide clear instruction and inspire future conversation.
Background
The origins of this research began for me over two decades ago when I became interested in digital art and the esoteric. While these began as separate strands, years of dedication to the exploration of consciousness ultimately wove them together creating the foundation for my inquiry into the fusion of AI-generated art and sigil magic.
One of the key catalysts was my introduction to psychedelics and visionary art. I witnessed the remarkable capacity for symbolically rich visual mediums to act as an extension of the exotic and esoteric inner landscapes to which psychedelics may grant access – not merely as static representations, but as active agents in conversation with the more ineffable realms of personal and collective consciousness. Faced with the boundless realities that psychedelics implied, symbolic visual mediums took on a magical potential that has stayed with me ever since. From this place of openness to the possibility of art and symbol as agents of magical change, sigil magic came into my life as a concentrated articulation of what I sensed in visionary art.
The term sigil most broadly refers to “an occult sign or device supposed to have mysterious powers” (OED) and was used in this way as far back as the mid-1600s. However, sigilry likely has its roots in prehistoric humanity with ancient cave paintings providing the first possible evidence of humans using symbols for magic (sympathetic hunting magic to be precise). (Zakroff, 2018) Emerging into historical view, ongoing sigilistic thought and praxis is seen in ancient writing systems such as Egyptian hieroglyphics, Arabic, and Hebrew – all of which was/is understood to possess spiritual power (Zakroff), and in many of the medieval grimoires (for example, in The Key of Solomon, sigils appear as key elements in various magical rites and rituals). However, the creation and use of original sigils changed drastically in the early 20th century when artist and occultist Austin Osman Spare published a manuscript detailing a clear and reproducible technique for creating bespoke sigils as primary magical instruments. It is from the theory and praxis of Austin Osman Spare’s writings that much of today’s awareness and understanding of sigil magic grew.
Theory
Contemporary sigil magic, especially prevalent in the chaos magic tradition, focuses on distilling a specific desired outcome into a symbol. This symbol is then imbued with intention and traditionally destroyed to facilitate its assimilation into the subconscious, symbolizing the release and activation of the desired change. Magical practitioner, Joseph Max elucidates the idea further: “A sigil is an original artistic creation, produced by conceiving a sentence that expresses a magical intent, and converting that sentence into a pictorial representation.”(2012) Most often this is accomplished by reconfiguring the shapes of the unique letters that appear in the written intent into a sigil (as prescribed by Austin Osman Spare), configuring the sigil from a personal lexicon of intuitive rudimentary symbol associations, or some combination thereof. In all instances “the point is to obtain an image that can carry the intent past the psychic censor and into the subconscious mind, where it becomes magically effective.” (Max)
The approach proposed in this paper adapts the conventional practice by employing generative AI art programs, such as Midjourney, to craft these sigils. This innovative method not only streamlines the creation process through automation but also significantly reduces the potential for conscious attachments that may impair the effectiveness of the sigils. By leveraging technology, this technique enhances the potential impact of the sigil, aligning it more closely with the unconscious forces it seeks to engage.
The theoretical foundation for integrating AI in sigil magic centers on its capacity to circumvent the conscious involvement typically required in crafting a sigil. By removing the conscious mind's role, the AI ensures that the sigil remains a pure, symbolic key, devoid of any conscious biases or attachments that might trace back to its original intention. This detachment aids the sigil in acting directly upon the subconscious, thus enhancing its potential to effectuate change. Moreover, the choice to host the sigil on a digital device, such as the wallpaper on a smartphone, exploits the device's inherent attributes, effectively leveraging its occult talismanic nature.
Research has demonstrated that engaging with smartphones can induce a hypnotic like state (Olson, Stendel, & Veissière, 2020), making them ideal conduits for activating sigils. This trance state, akin to hypnosis, primes users for subtle influences, effectively engaging the subconscious where the sigil's power can manifest. Through the routine use of smartphones, sigils displayed on these devices become subliminal, seamlessly integrating into daily life. This constant, yet unobtrusive exposure ensures that the sigil is absorbed into the subconscious, effectively "hiding in plain sight" and detaching from active, conscious focus. This process is crucial for maintaining the potency of the sigil while removing it from direct scrutiny.
Furthermore, smartphones act as powerful psychological signifiers of desire and manifestation. The perceived magical efficacy of the smartphone creates a subconscious entourage that enhances the trust and belief in the sigil's power. Regular interactions with these devices performing seemingly magical tasks—connecting us to people across the globe, navigating us to locations unknown, or summoning food and services to our doorsteps—reinforces our belief in their capability to actualize our desires. Just as smartphones fulfill complex commands through simple gestures of our hands, so they may too fulfill the power of sigils.
Practice
To begin the process of creating a sigil using generative AI, launch an AI art program1 and enter a carefully crafted prompt that reads “A magick sigil that X,” where “X” succinctly encapsulates your desired outcome. The phrasing of this prompt should be thoughtfully adjusted to align precisely with the specific magical intent you wish to achieve. 2This initial step sets the foundation for the sigil’s creation – you may now enter your prompt into the gen AI model.
Following the submission of your prompt, the software generates four unique images, each representing a potential sigil. It is crucial at this stage to engage deeply with these images, examining them to determine which one most powerfully resonates with your intention – this is an intuitive process, mostly relying on gut reaction and less on cognitive reasoning. Should none of the initial images feel moving, refine your prompt—potentially specifying additional details such as materials or symbolic qualities (e.g., “made of ancient iron nails”)—and rerun the process. This prompt tuning may not be necessary much of the time but it is good to be aware of it as a way to ensure that the sigil you select is optimally attuned to your magical needs.
Once an image that feels instinctively “right” is generated, proceed to the refinement phase. Here, have the model generate further variations of the chosen sigil image. Engage with each variation, trusting your intuition to guide you to the image that most embodies the sigil’s intended power and purpose. This step is vital, as overthinking can cloud judgment; instead, allow your intuitive response to lead. Now compare the variation with the original version of the image. Ask yourself, “is one of these the best sigil to manifest my intention?” Once again, do not overthink it. If the answer is “no”, then rerun this refinement phase as needed. If the answer is “yes”, then tune in to which of the two feels most “alive” to you—that is your chosen sigil.3
After finalizing the sigil, save and enlarge the image for practical use. A highly effective method for integrating the sigil into your daily life is by setting it as the wallpaper on your phone, specifically on the lock screen. Ensure that the image is prominently displayed and minimally obscured by any icons or widgets.
Conclusion
The utilization of AI-generated art in the realm of sigil magic marks an overt confluence of ancient spiritual technologies and contemporary technological advancements. It presents a unique opportunity to expand the horizons of magical practice, adapting its methodologies to the digital era. Operating within and beyond traditional boundaries, practitioners now have a new avenue to harness the esoteric potential embedded within contemporary technological artifacts. The exponentially evolving world of enigmatic and consciousness-bending technologies reveals an open-ended landscape of techno-magical possibilities generating before us.4
References
Laura Tempest Zakroff. (2018). Sigil witchery : a witch’s guide to crafting magick symbols. Llewellyn Publications.
Max, J. (2012, January 4).
Olson, J. A., Stendel, M., & Veissière, S. (2020). Hypnotised by Your Phone? Smartphone Addiction Correlates With Hypnotisability. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00578
Payne, P. (2013). Digital Sigil Magick: The relevance of sigil magick in contemporary art and culture. Technoetic Arts, 11(3), 297–305. https://doi.org/10.1386/tear.11.3.297_1
sigil, n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary. (2023).
Note: This work includes text that has been refined for grammar and clarity with the assistance of ChatGPT v4. All concepts and ideas are either my own or have been appropriately cited.
I utilize MidJourney and based this guide off of the work-flow it provides while aiming to keep the steps generalizable to other models available.
There are veritable tomes of advice on the subject of crafting statements of desire/intent – while essential to the process, further words on the topic are outside of the scope of this paper.
Some additional tips for choosing a sigil-image: When looking at a sigil-image, if you feel a psychosomatic sensation of something “clicking into place” followed by a feeling of completion, that is likely the right sigil for the job. Overall, I find it best to engage the process with an attitude of earnest play. If it feels like you’re starting to spin your wheels, take a break for a while and come back to it with fresh eyes. Just remember, there is nothing to be solved, there is no right answer.
There is a vast wealth of further discussion on this topic that is not covered in the scope of this paper. This includes the greater historical context of techno-magical practice, possible objections to this methodology – be they ethical or practical – as well as further techno-magical practices and theoretical frameworks that this particular methodology intimates. Existent and future writing on this subject will cover these areas further.
Striving for a grounded and integral praxis rooted in reverence, respect, and reciprocity, Tyler has dedicated himself to the practical and theoretical study of non-ordinary states of consciousness, indigenous wisdom traditions, ancestor and earth-spirit veneration, divination, and ritual craft. He is also certified as a Death Coach and End-of-Life Doula.
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