Kamea/Magic Square Sigil Creation

BY NICOLE LAU

Long before Austin Osman Spare revolutionized sigil magic with his letter-reduction method, ancient practitioners were creating powerful symbols using a different technique: magic squares, or kameas.

This method combines numerology, sacred geometry, and planetary correspondences to create sigils with specific vibrational qualities. It's more structured than Spare's intuitive approach, more mathematical, and for practitioners who resonate with numbers and patterns, it can be extraordinarily powerful.

Let's explore how to create sigils using this ancient technique—and why it still works beautifully in modern practice.

What is a Kamea?

A kamea (plural: kameas or kameoth) is a magic square—a grid of numbers arranged so that each row, column, and diagonal adds up to the same sum. These squares have been used in various magical traditions for thousands of years, from ancient Babylon to medieval European grimoires.

In Western occultism, seven primary kameas are associated with the seven classical planets:

• Saturn Kamea: 3×3 grid (protection, boundaries, discipline)
• Jupiter Kamea: 4×4 grid (abundance, expansion, success)
• Mars Kamea: 5×5 grid (courage, action, victory)
• Sun Kamea: 6×6 grid (vitality, success, recognition)
• Venus Kamea: 7×7 grid (love, beauty, harmony)
• Mercury Kamea: 8×8 grid (communication, intellect, travel)
• Moon Kamea: 9×9 grid (intuition, emotions, cycles)

Each kamea contains numbers arranged in a specific pattern. By plotting your intention through these numbers, you create a sigil that carries the planetary energy of that kamea.

Why This Method Works

The Mathematical Perspective

Magic squares are mathematically elegant structures. Their internal harmony—every row, column, and diagonal summing to the same number—creates a sense of balance and completion.

When you create a sigil by connecting points on a kamea, you're working with these inherent mathematical relationships. The resulting symbol carries that structural integrity.

The Symbolic Perspective

Numbers are archetypal. They represent fundamental principles of reality. By encoding your intention numerically and then geometrically (through the kamea), you're translating your desire into the language of universal structure.

The Planetary Perspective

Each kamea corresponds to a planetary energy. When you use the Venus kamea for a love intention or the Jupiter kamea for abundance, you're aligning your sigil with cosmic forces that naturally support that type of manifestation.

This isn't superstition—it's working with archetypal patterns that have been observed and codified across cultures for millennia.

How to Create a Kamea Sigil: Step by Step

Step 1: Choose Your Kamea

Select the kamea that corresponds to your intention:

For Protection: Saturn (3×3) or Mars (5×5)
For Abundance/Wealth: Jupiter (4×4) or Sun (6×6)
For Love/Relationships: Venus (7×7)
For Communication/Learning: Mercury (8×8)
For Intuition/Emotional Healing: Moon (9×9)
For Success/Recognition: Sun (6×6)
For Courage/Action: Mars (5×5)

Our Protection Sigil designs, for example, could be enhanced by working with the Saturn or Mars kamea during creation.

Step 2: Convert Your Intention to Numbers

Use the standard numerological conversion where A=1, B=2, C=3, etc.

Example: Let's create a sigil for WEALTH using the Jupiter kamea (abundance).

W = 23
E = 5
A = 1
L = 12
T = 20
H = 8

So WEALTH becomes: 23, 5, 1, 12, 20, 8

Step 3: Reduce Numbers to Fit the Kamea

The Jupiter kamea is a 4×4 grid containing numbers 1-16. If your numbers are higher than 16, reduce them by adding the digits together.

23 → 2+3 = 5
5 = 5
1 = 1
12 = 12
20 → 2+0 = 2
8 = 8

So our sequence is: 5, 5, 1, 12, 2, 8

(Note: We have a repeated 5, which means we'll pass through that point twice when drawing the sigil.)

Step 4: Plot the Numbers on the Kamea

The Jupiter kamea looks like this:

4   14   15   19    7    6   125   11   10   816   2    3   13

Find each of your numbers on the grid and mark them in sequence.

Step 5: Connect the Points

Draw lines connecting your numbers in order. This creates the basic structure of your sigil.

Traditional conventions:

• Start with a small circle at the first number
• End with a small perpendicular line or cross at the last number
• If a number repeats, add a small loop at that point

The resulting pattern of connected lines is your kamea sigil.

Step 6: Refine and Personalize

The basic kamea sigil can be used as-is, or you can:

• Simplify the lines for a cleaner look
• Add decorative elements
• Incorporate the planetary symbol
• Combine it with other sigil methods

The core structure (the connected points) should remain, but you can stylize it to your preference.

Working with Each Planetary Kamea

Saturn Kamea (3×3) - Protection & Boundaries

The smallest and most concentrated kamea. Use for:

• Protection from negative energy
• Setting boundaries
• Banishing unwanted influences
• Discipline and structure
• Grounding

Timing: Saturday, during waning moon, or when you need strong protective energy.

Perfect for creating Protection Sigils with added planetary power.

Jupiter Kamea (4×4) - Abundance & Expansion

Use for:

• Financial abundance
• Business success
• Opportunities and luck
• Growth and expansion
• Generosity and prosperity

Timing: Thursday, during waxing moon, or when seeking expansion.

Ideal for Abundance Sigil work.

Mars Kamea (5×5) - Courage & Action

Use for:

• Courage and confidence
• Victory in conflicts
• Physical energy and vitality
• Overcoming obstacles
• Assertiveness

Timing: Tuesday, during waxing moon, or when you need warrior energy.

Sun Kamea (6×6) - Success & Vitality

Use for:

• Success and achievement
• Recognition and fame
• Vitality and health
• Leadership
• Confidence and charisma

Timing: Sunday, at noon, or during summer months.

Our Success Sigil designs align with this solar energy.

Venus Kamea (7×7) - Love & Harmony

Use for:

• Romantic love and attraction
• Self-love and beauty
• Harmony in relationships
• Artistic inspiration
• Pleasure and enjoyment

Timing: Friday, during waxing moon, or on Venus-ruled days.

Perfect for Love Sigil creation.

Mercury Kamea (8×8) - Communication & Intellect

Use for:

• Communication skills
• Learning and study
• Travel (especially short trips)
• Business and commerce
• Mental clarity

Timing: Wednesday, during waxing moon, or when Mercury is direct.

Moon Kamea (9×9) - Intuition & Emotion

Use for:

• Intuition and psychic abilities
• Emotional healing
• Dreams and subconscious work
• Cycles and rhythms
• Feminine energy

Timing: Monday, during full moon, or when working with lunar cycles.

Advanced Techniques

Combining Multiple Words

You can create more complex sigils by plotting multiple related words on the same kamea. For example, on the Venus kamea, you might plot both LOVE and HARMONY, creating a sigil that incorporates both intentions.

Using Names

Kamea sigils can be created from names—your own name for personal empowerment, or (ethically) someone's name when doing healing work with their permission.

Layering with Other Methods

Combine kamea sigils with other creation methods. For example, create a basic sigil using the Spare method, then overlay it with a kamea sigil for the same intention. The combination can be powerful.

Planetary Hours

For maximum effect, create and activate your kamea sigil during the planetary hour that corresponds to your chosen kamea. This adds another layer of alignment.

Activating Kamea Sigils

Kamea sigils can be activated using any of the standard methods (we'll cover 15+ in upcoming articles), but some particularly effective approaches include:

• Planetary candle magic: Use candles in colors corresponding to the planet
• Crystal grids: Place the sigil at the center of a crystal grid aligned with the planetary energy
• Meditation during planetary hours: Activate during the hour ruled by your chosen planet
• Elemental activation: Use the element associated with the planet (fire for Mars, water for Moon, etc.)

Kamea vs. Spare Method: Which to Use?

Both methods are effective. Choose based on:

Use Kamea method when:

• You resonate with numbers and mathematics
• You want to work with specific planetary energies
• You prefer structured, traditional approaches
• You're timing your magic with astrological factors

Use Spare method when:

• You prefer intuitive, freeform creation
• You want maximum simplicity
• You're working with complex intentions that don't fit planetary categories
• You're new to sigil magic and want an easier starting point

Use both when:

• You want to experiment and find what works best for you
• You're creating sigils for different types of intentions
• You want to combine methods for more powerful results

The Mathematical Magic

There's something profound about kamea sigils that goes beyond their practical effectiveness: they demonstrate that magic and mathematics are not opposites but complementary languages for describing reality.

The magic square's internal harmony—its perfect balance of numbers—creates a template of order. When you encode your intention within that template, you're aligning your desire with fundamental patterns of structure and balance.

This is why kamea sigils feel different from other methods. They have a precision, a geometric elegance, that appeals to the part of consciousness that recognizes pattern and order as sacred.

In our next article, we'll explore the Pictorial Sigil Method—perfect for visual thinkers who want to create sigils that directly represent their intentions through imagery rather than abstract symbols.