drawing intention: sigil-making at highly flammable studio
today, 17th july, i had the pleasure of facilitating a sigil-making workshop at the vibrant and welcoming highly flammable studio in shrewsbury. organised by the brilliant pippa price, the session was well attended and full of creative energy — a space where people came together to explore the symbolic power of intention through visual form.
what is a sigil?
a sigil is a symbolic design created to represent and focus a specific intention or desire. derived from the latin sigillum, meaning “seal,” sigils are personal magical symbols — visual anchors for our inner goals. unlike traditional symbols with fixed meanings, sigils are unique to the individual and their intention. they can be used in meditation, visualisation, or simply as a quiet reminder of what we’re calling into our lives.
the offering
this was the first of a series of open studio events at hfs running throughout the summer. i was delighted to share the space with jenny o’leary, who expertly guided attendees through batik printmaking. my offering allowed participants a chance to explore sigil-making through three distinct methods:
letter-based: distilling a written intention into a symbol by removing vowels and repeating letters, then abstracting the remaining shapes
symbolic geometry: using shapes, lines, and spatial relationships to represent ideas or feelings
intuitive drawing: allowing the hand to move freely, guided by instinct and emotion, to create a form that feels right
participants were invited to follow whichever method resonated most — or to combine them in ways that felt meaningful. my role was to hold space, offer tuition, and support each person’s creative process as needed. the atmosphere was relaxed and open, with people working quietly, sharing thoughts, and experimenting with form and symbolism.
images by aaron childs / my painted life & pippa price, used with kind permission.
reflections
there’s something quietly radical about taking time to sit with your own intention and give it form. sigil-making is a practice of focus, of trust, and of creative play. it was a joy to witness the variety of approaches and the depth of thought participants brought to their work. scroll below to see the sigils produced. huge thanks to pippa and aaron for hosting, and to everyone who came along and shared their energy.
looking ahead
i’m open to exploring other workshop ideas in the future — if this kind of creative practice speaks to you, i’d love to hear from you. i’ll also be back at highly flammable studio on sunday 31st august for the mini magick market, sharing more of my work and connecting with the local creative community. come say hello.
want to know more?
if you’re curious about sigils or would like to explore this practice further, feel free to get in touch. you can explore more of my work here on the site, or drop me a message via the contact page