Image Magic: Creating the `PF London’ Logo

It occurred to me that I’ve gone past my 100th post/blog, and have written about varied number of things – magic, science, astrology, Gaian Times, society and such..but not said a word about something that has been so very important in my life – from about 2004 till now: The Pagan Federation – a  membership organisation that has been in existence in the UK and around the world now – `promoting and defending the pagan traditions’ (unless they’ve changed their mission statement in recent few weeks!)

I’ll go into the full history of how I became involved, the rituals, conferences, highs & lows, power politics & gossips (yeah, let’s spill it all!) another time! (awww?!)  Right now, what has been occupying my thoughts is the actual PF-London Logo!

Well, since I started taking up the responsibility for the PF London website ..must have been October 2005-6 (must check my internet hosting records…will confirm asap), I have been creating one version or another, to put on the website.  (I actually took up the `Events Manager’ post for Pagan Federation London in November 2004, from Brian & Trish – the previous District Managers for PF London).    From my graphics files, I have dug out the old versions of the PF London Logo(above).

Image Magic: 

Well, before I go further, let’s say a little about image magic.  Magic in the esoteric / psychic sense is using mind-powers or spells and incantations to gain some sort of real result or changing reality! (as opposed to the stage magician tricks.. which are in fact best described as `illusions’).    Image magic deals with creating images of one sort or another, and using that to do magic!  It’s a bit like doing a candle-spell..where one lights a candle as part of a spell, but here instead of a candle, the `magical practitioner’ creates an image.  Now, Egyptians are probably the best known example for doing image magic – what with their numerous Pyramid paintings (on the walls). Along that same thread, there’s also the ancient cave-man’s cave paintings…of hunts and festivities.  Using wax dolls, poppets are also forms of image magic!!  (ah, now you’re getting it?)

Well, my earlier logo designs were just quick art & graphics works. Then I got to thinking about using real photos of nature for the logo design. The `Pagan Federation’ logo was a scratchy hand-drawn black & white picture of a Tree, Sun & moon. It had been that way for many decades. ..even at the time of me joining the pagan federation..way back in 1995.. and around 2004 when I was taking on the task of PF London Events Manager.

I wasn’t going to be concerned with other districts, but for my part, for PF London, I started to work on logos.. (you can see older designs above). Even the 2007 design was done using photos..  That `tree’ was a photo of an Oak tree in Windsor Great park. But it was either autumn or spring, so not many leaves, and so I had to flesh out some green for leaves. I played with more or less   the same photo right up till November 2010, when I decided to well-and-truly develop good high quality graphical logo. (The PF was still using the old hand-drawn design. (shown here).

Here you can see how I began to use photos I had taken of the Sun, Moon & tree..to create the current PF London logo.  My own graphics & photography skills had been getting better (as well as my internet & website building skills).  So below, you can see all the stages.

The purpose of using the `real’ images incorporated into a logo is to tap into those real elemental energies!

I used the logo as a power-source in the websites, flyers, banners etc.  And where ever it was, it was powering the PF London to further heights, success & recognition. Am proud to say our events have been getting better and better..

Of course, I have just heard that PF in its infinite wisdom is going to do some corporate banding..and all the district logos will be removed (each district has developed and used its own) and the main PF logo will be used (forced) across all districts!

This will have far-reaching (magical) consequences..   in my view, for PF London..who knowingly or otherwise, has been riding the power-wave of the elements! When the logo goes (and I have already taken it down from all main online forums) is when suddenly the endorphins dry out.. and sobering starts…along with real hard work…for the next generation of Managers & Coordinators.

Am sure they have their magical as well as the business strategies all mapped out?

Whaaa? Magical strategies? What’s that, you ask?  You know consulting the tarot, studying astrology, sitting and mulling over what the gods want of you, what the people want, what you want..and making decisions, setting things in motion, putting magic in every step of the way…as if one is feeding a new born baby…that sorta thing!   You didn’t think I go this far on my own..or did you?

I have more blogs & a book on this topic..coming soon 🙂 Keep following my blog.. for more magical tools & tips..!

-Mani Navasothy