Avoiding The Use Of Occult Symbols
Occult symbols and hand gestures are prevalent, sometimes used without a person’s awareness of what they mean, or represent. They might have seen a celebrity, or musician make those gestures, and just think it’s cool, so they use them as well. Those who are directly involved with witchcraft, or organizations steeped in the occult, would know what they mean.
But for the rest of us, we might innocently use a symbol, or wear a piece of jewelry, or even write a poem that some could construe as being occult. As far as “The Language Of The Flowers”, which was first published in the early 1800’s, and popularized during the Victorian era, I do not see anything sinister with associating certain flowers with meanings.
If we did so, we would be seeing something dark and sinister in what is beautiful. Of course flowers have meanings to different people, and in general. Roses are traditionally the symbol of love. Lilies are symbols of purity. The list goes on an on. Until recently I had no idea the daisy had occult meaning to some people. But to me it is a bright and cheerful flower. Flowers do not have motives. People do.
Most of us have our favourite flowers. Every country and province has a flower that grows there, and becomes a symbol of that countries special beauty.
Although Canada does not have a national flower, the maple leaf is our symbol. Ontario’s official flower is the white trillium. In British Columbia it is the Pacific Dogwood, and in Alberta it is the wild rose.
Japan’s national flower is the cherry blossom, and in England it is the Tudor Rose. In China, it is the peony, while in Iran, it is the water lily. Almost every country has a national flower, which seldom has anything to do with the occult.
Flowers are romanticized, bringing fragrance and memories to weddings, and all special occasions. Even though there may be special attributes, and even imaginary fairies wearing flower shaped hats, I do not classify the creative use, design, or flower imagery as being occult. I do not recall ever seeing any bible verses placing them in the category of graven images.
The only one that comes to mind is the lotus flower. It has meaning in Buddhism and Hinduism representing a spiritual journey, divinity, and prosperity. In yoga the lotus flower also has significant meaning, such as spiritual awakening, purity, and transcendence of self.
The adornment of flowers at special occasions should never be associated with the occult, even though almost all things can take on dark shadows, if certain people attribute off-beat meanings. Many flowers contain imagery of fairies, and make believe, just as lady bugs, and butterflies might be turned into fanciful characters in cartoons, and children’s movies.
When looking at the list of occult symbols, I was surprised to see the symbols for male and female on the list. These symbols are commonly used in hospitals, as shortened versions when recording a male or female birth. When I think back, I recall avoiding the use of those symbols, and used M or F instead, even though I had no idea they had any other meaning.
Another symbol on the list is the molecular symbol for water. We can see how the occult has hijacked many symbols, including the triangle, the spiral, and fleur-de-lis, along with a bunch of lines, and squiggles that mean nothing to the average person.
We are probably familiar with the eye inside a triangle, and the evil eye as occult symbols, as well as many different hand gestures.
There is a certain common hand gesture with middle fingers folded down, and the outside fingers extended, and the thumb folded inward to hold down the two middle fingers. This is the occult symbol representing the goat horns, or devil’s horns.
The American sign language hand gesture meaning “I love you” is similar to the goat horns symbol, but has a significant difference. The two middle fingers are folded down, but the thumb is not folded inward, but rather it is fully extended.
Another symbol such as when the thumb and forefinger are pinched together, was something I always thought meant “bon-appetit” for some reason. It is actually an Italian gesture meaning “ma che vuoi” or “what do you mean”. There is an emoji for this gesture, which is often used when one is frustrated or in disbelief, or asking “what do you want?”
There is another similar hand signal with the index finger, and thumb forming a circle, which means “okay”. I suppose that is where I thought the bon appetit, or good food idea came from. This symbol is also shown on the list of occult hand gestures.
I can honestly say, I had no idea what the differences were between the devil’s horns, and the I love you sign language. Nor did I know what the thumb and index finger symbols meant. It goes to show, we have to exercise caution when using emojis.
Another hand gesture associated with the occult, is when both hands are brought together to form a triangle, or pyramid symbol. It means “confidence, authority, calm, or deep thought”.
Using two hands to make a circle means “change comes from within”. A fully extended hand means “reach high”.
Hands clasped together with the index and middle fingers extended, means “bang bang” (how bizarre). Folding all fingers downward means “you have the power”. Hands open with the fingertips curled slightly means “never give up”. Just the index finger pointed means “make a point”. The forearm extended with the hand out, somewhat like a butler carries a platter means, “question everything”.
In addition to all the occult or secret hand signal messages, there are many others used by the freemasons, illuminati etc. Another one is the insertion of the hand inside a suit coat.
We have to keep in mind that we live in a world with conflicting spiritual forces all around us. If it turns out we were wearing a piece of jewelry, or using a hand gesture associated with the occult, we can always educate ourselves, stop and repent.
So far, I cannot find anything that associates the common thumbs up hand gesture with any occult meanings. It is simply a positive gesture, often indicating agreement, good job, or well done.
Since there are so many signs, symbols and hand gestures, we need to pray for discernment. We cannot know what all these things mean, unless we dabble in the occult, which is not a good idea.
However for those who are in design, graphic design, and especially for tattoo artists, it would be wise to become familiar with messages you may not want to be a part of. For those getting tattoos, they too should exercise caution, and look up the meanings of certain imagery.
The bible does not focus on hand gestures, or the specific symbols, but does refer to graven images. There are many verses in the bible forbidding witchcraft, sorcery, fortune-telling, divinations, and attempts to communicate with the dead. We should look to the warnings in the bible about these things, rather than try to memorize all the strange symbology around us.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
Leviticus 19:31
31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 20:6
6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
2 Kings 21:6
6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
Isaiah 8:19
1 Timothy 4:1
Micah 5:12-13
12 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:
Galatians 5:
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
I am thankful to be living in a climate where roses are still blooming in December. The afternoon sun has projected the shadow on the wall.
A Shadow Of The Bloom ~ Taken December 13, 2025
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