Sigils created from the poetry of Alex Gaw

She works hard to make a fair trade. 

Her sweat for the scent of pine and rosemary. 

Her deep breaths for the secrets of morning doves—purring, whispered falsetto. 

Her gaze, weightless though it is, she takes and places heavily on the far hills and the near branches and bark. Stones and leaves between. 

Her own presence and features. How she affects and is affected. 

It’s not offering nor gift. 

The pine and rocks and rosemary and her footprints in the sand know that. 

They don’t require sacrifice. They don’t accept gifts. 

They’re here for what they are. The never-ending cycle between sun and skin and wind and self. 

The living transaction. The exchange.

These images are sigils. A sigil is an inscribed or painted symbol considered to have magical powers. Traditionally, they’re made from a carefully crafted statement and pared down by removing vowels and repeated consonants. The letters are assigned numbers and then a pattern is drawn using the unique number sequence. The image works its way into your subconscious and the statement you worked to turn into art manifests itself in your life. There are actually countless ways to make sigils. This is the way that has resonated with me.

I have been making sigils out of positive affirmations that I think are useful to myself and others, I have also been making them from quotes, poetry, and important questions that have inspired me. My whole life I’ve been taking notes and highlighting while I read. There are phrases that I’ve copied down over and over again so that I’ll remember them and be able to absorb and embody the sentiment. I’m also married to an amazing writer and poet. What a natural step it seemed to make these well worn passages and poems into sigils and turn them into flowing works of art made to seep into my subconscious and enrich my life.