What is a Sigil? Creating a Wearable Symbol of Intention

Over the last year of running workshops from my studio at The Fold, one thing has become very clear: people are craving moments where they can slow down, create with their hands, and connect with something meaningful.

One of the most powerful ways I’ve found to do this is through sigils — symbols created from intention, designed to hold meaning far beyond their shape.

In this post, I want to share what a sigil is, how it works, and how you can begin turning your own intention into something wearable.

What Is a Sigil?

A sigil is a symbol created from a word, phrase, or intention.

Rather than writing something out in full, the letters are distilled, reshaped, and transformed into a unique mark — something that speaks to the subconscious rather than the logical mind.

Sigils have been used for centuries in different forms, but at their core, they are about focus, intention, and embodiment.

From Words to Symbol

In the workshop, we begin by choosing a phrase that represents something you want to cultivate in your life.

This might be something like:

• Success in my life

• I trust my path

• I move forward with courage

• I create with confidence

The phrase is then broken down into capital letters and gradually transformed into a flowing symbol. Repeated letters are removed, shapes are combined, and the design is refined until the words have become something new.

That symbol is then sand cast into pewter, turning the idea into a piece of jewellery that can be worn every day.

Why Intention Matters

The idea of manifesting can sometimes feel vague or overly mystical, but in practice it is deeply connected to something very simple: clarity of intention.

One phrase I often return to is:

“Say what you mean and mean what you say.”

So often we speak about what we want while simultaneously doubting it.

We say we want confidence, but internally we believe we are not ready.We say we want success, but we question whether we deserve it.

When our words and beliefs don’t match, our intention becomes diluted.

Manifestation becomes far more powerful when those things align.

When you clearly state your intention, believe in it, and connect emotionally with it, your actions naturally begin to move in that direction.

The sigil becomes a physical anchor for that process.

A Symbol You Carry With You

The beautiful thing about creating a sigil necklace is that it becomes something tangible.

Rather than simply writing a phrase in a notebook, you wear the symbol close to your body. Each time you see it or touch it, you reconnect with the intention that created it.

It becomes a quiet reminder of the path you are choosing to walk.

Making Jewellery with Meaning

Many of the workshops I run centre around the idea of creating jewellery that carries power, symbolism and intention.

The Sigil Workshop feels like a natural extension of that theme.

Participants leave not only with a piece of jewellery they have made themselves, but with a symbol that represents something deeply personal.

And there is something incredibly powerful about that.

Because when you create something with your own hands—something born from your own intention—it holds a meaning that no mass-produced object ever could.

See what one of my previous creators had to say...

'I changed my choice of words from 'resilient warrior', to 'loved', 'calm' and  'warrior', as you helped me realise I've had to be resilient for so long, it was time to try and attract some softer qualities to help carry me through this phase of my life. I kept 'warrior', as it is a quality lovely K (my partner in workshops, and crime, should the need arise!) gave me - both meaning courageous, and as a mediator, or voice, for those who perhaps aren't feeling heard. I took it in the spirit in which it was meant, and carry it close to my heart. I felt very emotional that I could think of myself in those terms.

The process was more involved than I thought it might be, but also helped me appreciate how much skill, care and knowledge goes into a piece of bespoke jewellery. It also carries energy from the one who made it, so I choose my jeweller very carefully.

I would absolutely recommend the day to anyone seeking to 'try something different'. We tend to attract people with similar values, and similar thought processes, as friends, and I know a selection who would appreciate the spiritual, and absorbing process of creating a truly unique piece of jewellery.

My favourite part of the day was when I got home, and had a chance to REALLY think, and look, at what I had created. I love the weight of the pewter, and I don't necessarily need for it to be visible, but the warm weight reminds me it's there, and to channel loving calmness - with a bit of Warrior Queen thrown in for good measure. That sounds like I didn't enjoy the actually process - I truly did, but quiet reflection can reveal deeper thoughts and feelings.' H.

Wearing Your Intention

Sigil jewellery allows you to carry something deeply personal with you — not as something you need to think about constantly, but as something you can return to.

A quiet reminder. A point of focus. A symbol that holds meaning in a way words sometimes can’t.

Whether you create your own through a workshop or choose a piece that already resonates, symbolic jewellery becomes more than adornment — it becomes part of your everyday ritual.