African Symbols

Symbols used by witchdoctors and spell makers

Admin — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:25:12 +0000

Symbols used by witchdoctors and spell makers

African magic has many symbols -what I am looking for are the symbols used by witch doctors and Sangomas – The practitioners are spell makers and I am wondering about the items they use when making a spell – Traditional healers and Sangomas throw the bones – do they use any symbol for love spells?

Love does not get lost on it's way home

The Sankofa symbol from the Adinkra symbols is fantastic for jewellery – and all the other Adinkra symbols – they would make great jewellery – like this Men’s bangle I made for a customer.

Symbols used by witchdoctors and spell makers - how to spell with African symbols has got me thinking about love spells in particular – do they use a specific symbol or item? – I know a Sangoma in Gauteng, perhaps he will tell? Do any of you know – would love to hear – I want to make a piece of jewellery with it – leave me a post and if I get the right symbol I may make one for you in silver as a pendant.

Sankofa Adinkra Symbol

Admin — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:41:39 +0000

The Sankofa – meaning It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten – is an Adinkra symbol – it is a very well know symbol amongst African American – searching for their roots and taking back their culture and origins – African symbols, especially masks, are about protection and are usually fearful to look at – and with witch doctors spinning their magic in Africa it is no wonder – this symbol, the Sankofa, is about wisdom and justice.

Sankofa symbol -part of the Adinkra symbols

Like many of the Adinkra symbols, it is balanced and beautiful. An uglier symbol from Southern Africa, the nyami nyami, is well loved by many Africans – if it were not so ugly it could be called an African love symbol – but it’s snake like appearance does not give that loving feeling – if you knew the story, and your ancestors benefited from Nyaminyami – you might think differently. It is a wonderful African story and well worth a read if you want to be inspired by African mythology and culture.

African culture has many hidden gems – symbols of love and bravery, faith and symbols of hope – while many people write Africa off as a savage dark place – which it no doubt is, they forget to look for the good- often represented in Adinkra symbols. In Southern Africa – the occult looks at the tokoloshe – I say look at n and other African love symbols – the symbol for love could be nyami – like all love – you need to get past the outside and look inside – discover Africa – look inside and see the gentle nature and culture of Ubuntu. The sankofa adinkra symbol is but one symbol of hope – there are many in African symbolism and African stories – seek brother – you will find them.

African Tattoo pictures

Admin — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 05:07:29 +0000

: Bush spirit tattoo

In Africa, the warm climate and tradition allowed for minimal clothes. The operation associated with cutting and raising scars had been widespread, as tattooing was not effective on dark pigmented skin types. Scarification is a irreversible procedure intended to decorate and beatify one’s body, and was considered artistic and had cultural significance.

: Drum tattoo

The process involved puncturing or cutting of symbols, patterns and motifs into the higher layers of the skin area. Various methods produced different types of scarring, a few subtle, others obvious. Ash and specific organic saps were added to the wound to help make the scars a lot more visible. Scarifiction for Attractiveness Scars are thought to enhance the body, and this process for beautification by means of scarification often began during earlier childhood days, especially for young African girls. The scarring occurs in the course of traditional rituals to celebrate the start of age of puberty, the first menstrual period and childbirth. Whilst there are other reasons for the procedure of scarification, beauty was nearly always a part of the reason. African pictures of Tattoos. Tattoo Scarification on the face Scarification is also seen as a test of courage. Scarring is extremely uncomfortable, and demands tremendous personal strength. To be able to get through the practice without shouting out from distress was a sign of ones strength and courage. To have done so would certainly be humiliating.

Shield Tattoo

The quantity of scars on any persons body demonstrated ones bravery and toughness; the greater the scars a person had, the more honored he/she was within his or her group. Tattoo Scarification for Fertility Scarring is particularly valued in younger women who are marriageable age group. Tummy scars are seen as being an sign of a female’s willingness to have children. According to African culture this is considered a very attractive quality in a future spouse.The scars are also viewed as sexual, due to their tender nature. They are thought to make a woman a lot more receptive to her husband’s sexual attention. Other types of ritual mutilation had and have, nothing to do with beauty and every thing to do with the control of woman. Mutilation of the sexual parts is even now used today in many countries. The pleasure associated with having intercourse is damaged and this is intended to prevent the woman from becoming unfaithful. African Pictures make great tattoos. Tattoo Scarification for tribal and family honour. Scarring can also be a subject of family honour. The coming of age ceremony for any young male can include asking his sisters to endure a ritual beating which leaves their backs scarred and bloody. These scars will be seen as symbols of love and respect by the sisters for their brother. The young ladies put up with the ritual without indicating their own pain. This brings honor to the entire family. Tattoo Scarification for Protection Spirituality plays an important role in African culture, many Africans believe in the existence of spirits around them, good as well as wicked. Facial scarring is sometimes employed to help make a man or woman less desirable to the spirit of Death. In such cases, scarring is used as a means of protection. Ancient Art of Tattoo Scarring In keeping with Africa scarification background, scars were produced in various techniques, depending on their particular objective. Some slices were made with “Y” shaped cutters, whilst some were produced by drawing the skin upwards with fish hooks and slicing the flesh using a very sharp blade. Once the wounds were infected, they were further damaged through rubbing them using ash as well as various other natural herbs to ensure better scar tissue. The procedure extended the healing period and the outcome was a better scar or tattoo. Modern Day Scarification Scarring might be ancient, but it is not one that’s going out of fashion. Although scarification may be in not used as much as it used to be in Africa, many other individuals from around the globe have embraced the art. It seems that numerous forms of body art or body mutilation, such as piercings and so on have taken hold. The reason for scarification and tattoos in modern time are pretty much the same as they have always been. They’re are employed to decorate the body with exotic designs. Tattoos and scarring are additionally used as a ceremony of passage and a test of inner power. Once you’ve been through such painful experience, you are stronger in the face of normal life difficulties. How is scarifiaction carried out? In the old days primitive methods were used. Modern scarification happens in a well lit tattoo shops, using modern medical tools. The wounds are improved or “irritated” by putting peroxide and/or petroleum jelly on to them, and the scabs are peeled away in order to help to make the healling process lengthier thereby making the scar more pronounced. African Tattoo and scarification background The oldest tattoo was found on a mummy of Amunet, a priestess of the Goddess Hathor, from 2160-1994 BC.

The mummy’s simple tattoos were parallel lines on her arms, legs, as well as an elliptical pattern underneath the woman’s navel. Interestingly, no male mummies found in Egypt had tattoos. Historians believe these designs symbolized fertility and restoration in females. In other parts of Africa, male mummies have been found to have tattoos or imagesbelieved to be related to sun worship. In the burial place of Seti I, going back to 1300 BC, tattoos symbolizing Neith, a Brutal battle Goddess, have been discovered on men. The very first recognized tattoo of a human being was found on Nubian female mummies, goingback to 400 BC. The tattoo image portrayed the “God associated with Sex and overseer of orgies”, Bes. Another type of earlier body ornamentation was ‘cicatrisation’ or “scarification”. The word cicatrisation is derived from the French term, cicatrices, which means ‘scar’.

This particular type of body decoration was widespread between the darker-skinned peoples of Africa. As African pictures did not show up on the dark skin of African peoples, African tattoos were not widespread, but in saying that there were and are many black folk who have beautiful picture tattoos.

Pictures of African Tattoo Symbols

Admin — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 01:25:14 +0000

Pictures of African symbols are fairly difficult to find. African tattoos are even more rare. Most forms of skin embellishment did not involve pictures of African symbols, but rather scarring and ridges. Scarification is typically viewed as a test of braveness. Scarring is quite painful, and demands great personal strength. To be able to get through the procedure with out crying out in distress was a sign of ones strength and courage. To have done so would be humiliating.

: African power symbol

Traditional African Tattoos mostly use Adrinka symbols. They other symbols are very common all over the world – Christ, pictures of semi-naked girls etc. The cultural background of tattoos in Africa were not for fashion or to look good, but the African pictures served as symbols of protection, luck and to ward off evil spirits. The other form of marking the skin was scarification – this is the process of actually damaging the skin tissue so as to form scars. The pattern of scars held significance and often denoted tribal origins. This practice still continues today in South Africa and Africa.

: Maori Tattoo

Modern tattoos are very similar to others around the world – known as tribal tattoos these symbols originated from the Maori tribes. These pictures are intricate and stylish, and look fantastic when on the skin. Apart from the symbolism, they make a great tattoo.

: Modern African Tattoo

These intricate pictures are very popular and a competent artist is able to convert almost any African picture into a suitable design.Often people will cover their whole arm and shoulder with these designs.

: Traditional African tattoo

African Pictures of Tattoos are quite rare. Modern African Tattoos draw heavily on the Maori designs. Traditionally African tattoos did not use ink, but rather ash which was rubbed into quite deeps cuts – called scarification. I don’t know why anyone who is not from a tribal background would choose to have a traditional African tattoo – not matter how nice the African picture – it is a very painful process and leaves raised ridges and scarring. Many people around the world – not tribal people, like the technique of scarification.

Tattoos using African pictures, customs and rituals are widely used. The NyamiNyami, for instance, is used as tattoo by those people who have visited Zimbabwe and done the bungee jump. Tattoos serve as symbols and reminders of some of the great moments in our lives. The painful process of tattooing can help us to focus and change our lives. Many pictures of African tattoos can be found at African mask Jewelry.com

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Admin — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 00:38:40 +0000

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Last updated Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:13