In real life…

The Ankh holds a lot of symbolic importance and significance.

The ankh, or in Latin the crux ansata (cross with a handle), was originally the Egyptian hieroglyph which meant “life”. Many ancient Egyptian artworks, especially funerary art, depict gods and pharaohs bearing this symbol. The ankh was also associated with Osiris, the god of death and rebirth, and ankhs were often placed with mummies in order to symbolically convey the gift of immortality. Over time the ankh came to symbolize immortality and can even be seen as a key to unlock the gates of death. The Rosicrucians and members of Hermetic orders often use this symbol in their rituals. The Coptic Christians, as well, employed it as a symbol of life after death. Ankhs incorporating mirrors into their design have sometimes been used to symbolize perception of the subtle reality. – Alchemy Gothic

With its association with the concept of eternal life/immortality, rebirth, & spiritual energy in ancient history, contemporary folklore, the Ankh has become a symbol synonymous with vampires and vampires alike.. Spiritual Vampyres are often on a quest to explore spiritual immortality, and thus the Ankh resonates as a powerful symbol. The Spiritual Energy that is able to be stored in an ankh can be a great asset to vampyric individuals and practitioners. For many Vampyres, the Ankh serves as a symbol of their identity and connection to the broader community. It acts as a unifying symbol, representing a shared understanding and acknowledgment of the vampyric nature or essence that individuals within the community perceive themselves to possess. By wearing or displaying the Ankh, community members can express their affiliation and find a sense of belonging among like-minded individuals.

Vampyre Community Assimilation & The Bladed Ankh

The Bladed Ankh was first seen in relation to vampires in the 1983 movie called “The Hunger.”

and then again in relation to Vampire the Masquerade(1991-)

In the mid 90s, Father Sebastiaan commissioned an ankh to be made by a “Master Metal Manipulator” named D’drennan (R.I.P.) to represent his Sabretooth Clan and the Sanguinarium. It was originally created as a unifying wearable symbol that vampyres of the Sabretooth Clan would wear. It started off as the Gotham Originals and those close to Father Sebastian/Sabretooth wearing the first gen Legacy Ankhs. Second and Third gen ankhs became international symbols for members of the vampyre community. The symbols became so world renowned that Alchemy Gothic even sells their own version. The symbol’s association with vampyres would grow beyond just association to Sabretooth, becoming recognized worldwide.

In the below photo you have to the far left the first Legacy Ankh, to the second left is the Sanguine Ankh that was once available with early Vampyre Almanacs, in the center is a mini 3rd gen Sabretooth Ankh. The Sabretooth Ankhs were the first to be created to represent real vampyres of the vampyre community.

After a while, House OMallie became the first independent house to break off of Sabretooth, along with a few others in the mid to late 90s. These Houses began to customize their own ankhs, sigilizing them as each Ankh contains personalization that represents who they are, their energy, and/or their Legacy. Part heraldry, part gang colors, these “sigil” pendants became calling cards or identifiers so other vampyres could tell what house you’re in. You can see the first and second gen House OMallie ankhs to the right in the above picture

Pictured above: Ankhs/Sigils of the Gotham Halo

When you hear Vampyres (especially in the North/East USA) discussing their sigils, wearing their sigils, etc… they are often referring to their ankhs or identifying jewelry.

Not every vampyre group has an ankh based sigil. You find the ankh tradition is held more closely to the heart by those who got their start in/around Gotham. The practice was adopted internationally due to the existing popularity of the ankh in vampire lore to begin with. Still, some organizations have chosen to move away in a unique direction and their wearable sigils do not reflect ankhs.

How is this similar or different than the concept of sigils in witchcraft?

The creative process one employs for sigil creation is as different as each House is. But that’s the point. Some may include more spiritual meaning and process into theirs. Some treat it more heraldic like a coat of arms. Some will adopt elements of their parentage house, which you see in many descendant of Sabretooth ankhs. But ultimately you are creating a symbol that your House or Bloodline all identifies with and unifies under. It is a physical representation of your personal current and family.

In witchcraft, sigils are often crafted to carry out a purpose or represent something/someone you want to bring into you/your sacred space. You create it, deploy it, try to forget it in some cases, and let it do its work. That’s not quite what wearable sigil pendants in the VC are for.

Some Houses will do consecrations or ritualized dedications for their sigils, while others all you need is permission and to purchase one and that’s it. In theory, Houses/Bloodlines could utilize their family sigils in a ritualized fashion to work magick with the personal family current they build, but I don’t know how many people actually choose to do such work, or trust the people in their House enough to open up to that kind of work (sad, but true)

More often than not sigil pendants are able to be worn by people who earn full membership to Houses and are trusted to fly the House’s colors in public. It’s a badge of honor to wear at vampyre community events especially, viewed as a point of family pride and outwardly honoring their own Legacy. For many, that’s where it starts and stops. For others, much deeper thought and work is done with their sigils. It’s completely up to each House to decide how they want to handle it.

The Vampyre Coven’s Sigil

For the Coven, we’ve stuck with the stylized Ankh base, but have strayed quite far away from the original Legacy Ankh path. A lot of people keep design elements of the Legacy Ankh to represent their connection to the original Legacy and the Vampyre Current born from that era. This is often represented through the shape of the blade. The Legacy Ankh’s blade is the shape of the curved simitar blade. Ours is more akin to the original Sanguine Ankh. It’s a straight symmetrical blade style rather than the curved. The Sanguine Ankh was the original sigil of the Sanguinarium in the mid to late 90s, before the community became so divided. We hope to pull inspiration from those years, rather than from all the years of problems thereafter, and thus we pull inspiration from the original design from the *before* times.

The Sanguine Ankh circa 1998-1999 – in Madame Corvidae’s Collection

Our Coven Sigil Looks Like This:

Despite being inspired by the vampyric ankh traditions of our predecessors, we were determined to make something unique and all our own as well. Thus, we incorporated a bunch of symbolism that was important to us. Like:

The Bat

1. Night and Darkness: Bats are creatures of the night, often associated with darkness and the nocturnal realm. This aligns with the vampyric spirit, as vampires are typically depicted as beings who thrive in the darkness and have an affinity for the night. Bats symbolize the mysterious and hidden aspects of life, the shadow self, and the exploration of the unknown.
2. Transformation and Rebirth: Bats undergo a remarkable metamorphosis from being small, helpless creatures to taking flight and navigating the skies. This transformative process is often seen as a symbol of rebirth and personal growth. Similarly, when it comes to vampyres, the symbolism of bats reflects the idea of embracing personal transformation, shedding old identities, and embracing a new vampyric existence.
3. Adaptability and Resilience: Bats are known for their adaptability and ability to navigate through the darkness using echolocation. They represent resilience and the capacity to thrive in challenging circumstances. This symbolism is associated with the ability to navigate the complexities of life, including societal perceptions, while staying true to one’s nature.
4. Perception and Intuition: Bats rely on their heightened senses, particularly echolocation, to navigate and find their way in the dark. This symbolism emphasizes the importance of perception and intuition. We view bats as a reminder to trust their instincts, tap into their intuitive abilities, and explore the depths of the darkness without fear.
5. Spiritual and Otherworldly Connection: Bats are seen as creatures with a connection to the spiritual realm or the supernatural. Their ability to fly and traverse between realmss evokes asense of otherworldliness. To us, bats symbolize a portal through the hedge or a cave to another realm, allowing exploration of the mystical aspects of existence. They embody connection to realms beyond the physical.

The Silver Moon

The Silver Crescent moon that crowns the design is the representation of our immortal and divine selves as nightside creatures. Being that I am “The Vampyre Witch” and this is my Coven, I’m going ahead and leaning into the spiritual nature of the Vampyrism I practice and teach. I recognize that’s not for everyone, but then again, this Coven isn’t for everyone…

Beyond that, the moon is known as a symbol of mystery and evolution. Always going through cycles and changing over time. Because of this constant mysterious and transient nature, the moon becomes our personal portal between spiritual planes. The light of the moon illuminates the deepest depths & darkest paths. It exposes our shadows and shines brightly upon our conscious and subconscious selves. The light of the moon fuels our intuition and opens us to hear the messages sent to us through aether & energy

1. Lunar Energy: The crescent moon represents the intuitive aspects of existence. It symbolizes the ebb and flow of energies, the cycles of life, and the mysteries of the night. It signifies our connection to mystical and the nocturnal forces.
2. Mysticism and Spirituality: The crescent moon has long been linked to mysticism, magic, and spirituality. It is often regarded as a symbol of the hidden and the esoteric. The silver crescent moon embodies the spiritual and mystical practices and beliefs that vampyres explore. It symbolizes our engagement with astral realms, energy work, and the pursuit of spiritual knowledge.
3. Transformation and Metamorphosis: The crescent moon’s shape resembles a gradual transformation, starting from darkness and growing into illumination. This symbolism aligns with the idea of personal transformation and metamorphosis. Members of the Coven see the silver crescent moon as a representation of our own journey of self-discovery, embracing our vampyric nature, and evolving into our authentic divine selves.
4. Lunar Magick and Divination: The moon has long been associated with magick and divination practices. The silver crescent moon symbolizes the use of lunar energy for spellcasting, rituals, and the exploration of the mystical arts. It represents the Vampyre community’s connection to the occult, our use of symbolism, and our engagement with magickal practices associated with the moon’s cycles.

The Seven Pointed Star – The Septagram

The seven-pointed star, often referred to as the heptagram or septagram, carries a long list of symbolic meanings across different belief systems. Its earliest uses are Kabbalistic and Christian in nature, actually… but the symbol has been claimed since the late 80s to correspond with the otherkin movement. We pull from the modern neo-pagan and otherkin meanings of the of the Septagram and recognize this symbolism within it:

1. 1. Key symbol within our budding magickal tradition
   2. Otherkin Community Roots – The Otherkin Community adopted the Septagram in the late 80s and it has carried forward ever since. As a Coven, our community has always been more tailored to an esoteric vampyrism and we honor our vampyric spirits through this connection. Not every vampyre feels themselves to be “alterhuman” but many of us do and have been made to feel shame about that fact over the years. We don’t find shame in it at all, we find pride in it. I find power in my vampyric spirit and that nod comes forth in this design.
   3. Fairy/Faery Symbolism: The seven-pointed star is commonly associated with the realm of fairies or faeries. It represents the magical and mystical nature of these mythical beings. The 5 pointed star or pentagram often represents the 5 points of the human body. 2 hands, 2 feet, 1 head. The Septagram adds 2 wings to make 7 points.
   4. Seven Elements: The seven-pointed star can also represent the seven fundamental elements or forces in certain spiritual systems. These elements often include Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, and Aether. The star symbolizes the integration and balance of these forces, embodying their combined power and the interconnectedness of all things.
   5. Seven Directions: North, South, East, West, Above, Below, Within.

But most of all, it represents the 7 tenets of our Covenant

 It represents the pact we all make to uphold our Code of Honor within our group and within our community.

1. Blood of the Covenant [Family]
2. Respect [For Each Other & For Reality]
3. Integrity
4. Personal Responsibility
5. Tolerance
6. Secrecy
7. Evolution

Our 7 tenets mirror the tenets of the O’Mallie Clan & House Omnia Corvus. 

Plus there’s also:

• 7 classical planets
• 7 steps in the alchemical process
• 7 major chakras
• 7 colors of the rainbow
• 7 days in the week
• 7 archangels
• 7 levels of heaven
• 7 layers of hell

7 is just a deep magic number that can resonate with anyone and that symbolism is lent to the Septagram. It is a near universal symbol of power that anyone can resonate with.

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT!