| The wiccan alphabet is a script used in wicca today | | | | later part of the twentieth century the wiccan |
| which has a history that stretches back hundreds of | | | | alphabet has generally been used as a cipher or code |
| years. It was first recorded in a book published in | | | | in which practicing witches can communicate with |
| 1518 called the Polygraphia written by Johannes | | | | each other in secret or record their spells in their |
| Trithemius which drew on now long lost hand written | | | | book of shadows safe from the eyes of others. The |
| originals. In this book he attributed what we now call | | | | wiccan alphabet is also used in wicca to inscribe |
| the wiccan alphabet to Honorius of Thebes which is | | | | personal belongings and items used in ritual such as |
| why it is sometimes called the Theban alphabet or | | | | athame, bowls, candles, clothing etc. in addition to |
| the runes of Honorius. However it has no link to the | | | | being used to communicate with each other on a |
| runic script which developed in the Germanic areas of | | | | personal level. |
| north west Europe in the first millennium which was | | | | Like any other language the wiccan alphabet can be |
| used as a powerful tool in magic. | | | | learnt by anyone who is prepared to spend a little |
| Runes were commonly found inscribed on items worn | | | | time and effort. Now that practicing witches no |
| on the person for the wearers protection, much like | | | | longer have to fear persecution the need for secrecy |
| the christian crucifix or pagan Thor's hammer. Also | | | | has diminished and the simple act of typing "wiccan |
| used in ritual, recorded in ancient literature in the form | | | | alphabet" into a search engine will quickly reveal |
| of rune sticks and in Norway and Iceland as scorn | | | | several sites that illustrate it for you to study or |
| poles. Later a student of Trithemius, Cornelius | | | | download to read at your leisure. Depending on the |
| Agrippa claimed in his own work "The Three Books | | | | time you spend on this anyone with an interest in it |
| of the Occult" to have traced its origin back to Pietro | | | | can become fluent in the wiccan alphabet in a few |
| d'Albano, an Italian who lived between 1250 and 1315. | | | | weeks. Many people find that having a wiccan friend |
| This would seem a much more likely region of origin. | | | | to practice or swap notes with really speeds up the |
| Since the revival of the wicca movement during the | | | | time taken to become confident in its use. |