Witchcraft And Occult Symbols: What Christians Should Actually Avoid
The world is a confusing place. We live in a pluralistic society, with our culture influenced by the prevalence of the internet and the many worldviews around us. In such a pluralistic society, it’s becoming harder to discern what’s harmless and what’s spiritually dangerous. From pentagrams on jewelry to tarot decks sold next to candles in big-box stores, the occult has gone mainstream. Some Christians panic, others dismiss concerns as superstition, and still others dabble without realizing the risks.
So, what should Christians avoid when it comes to witchcraft and occult symbols? The answer isn’t found in blind legalism or fear, but in sound biblical theology, historic Church teaching, and the lived wisdom of those engaged in spiritual deliverance and exorcism ministries. Yes, deliverance and exorcisms are real, and they do happen.
Before discussing symbols, we need clarity on the terms we will be discussing.
Witchcraft refers to spiritual practices outside the boundaries of biblical revelation that seek power, control, or insight through supernatural means. This includes spells, hexes, rituals, or invocations, whether labeled “white” or “dark” magic. Doesn’t matter if they do it for good or for harm, witchcraft is still witchcraft.
The occult (from the Latin occultus, “hidden”) refers to secret knowledge or mystical systems that claim access to hidden realities. Tarot, astrology, spiritism, numerology, and divination all fall under this category.
The Bible is not vague here. Deuteronomy 18:10–12 is blunt:
“Let no one be found among you who... practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells... Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.”
That may sound unusually harsh to our Western ears, but it is rooted in the very real presence of demonic forces. By practicing magick, you are becoming an active participant with demonic forces. In a similar way to Satan, you are trying to place yourself above God by forcing your own will on his creation, rather than relying on his provision.
From the earliest days of the Church, Christians have seen occult involvement not merely as misguided curiosity but as spiritual treason, a turning away from God’s sovereignty toward demonic influence. There is no neutral ground in Spiritual Warfare. If you are not with God, you are siding with the Devil, whether you acknowledge it or not.
The Didache (1st-century Church manual) warned against magic and sorcery. Augustine condemned astrology and divination as attempts to bypass God’s will. Thomas Aquinas affirmed that demons can attach themselves to rituals, even if they seem to work.
In more recent history, Catholic exorcists like Fr. Gabriele Amorth, former chief exorcist of Rome, warned that many cases of possession and spiritual oppression began with seemingly innocent exposure to occult practices. Protestant deliverance ministers such as Derek Prince and Bob Larson report the same: games, symbols, or “just-for-fun” dabbling can open real doors to demonic harassment.
Here’s where things get practical. This list is not exhaustive, but represents items and symbols that Catholic exorcists, charismatic deliverance ministers, and historic theology consistently warn against:
Pentagrams and Sigils
The five-pointed star, especially inverted, is commonly used in occult rituals and Satanic worship. Sigils, personalized magic symbols, are even more insidious, crafted for spiritual summoning. Even if worn as “fashion,” these are recognized as invitation symbols by exorcists. Fr. Amorth recounted exorcisms where demonic activity intensified in the presence of objects bearing sigils or pentagrams, even if the wearer didn’t know their meaning.
Tarot Cards and Divination tools
Though often marketed as fun or artistic, tarot cards are designed for divination, which is an explicitly forbidden spiritual practice. The same applies to angel cards, oracle decks, and pendulums. Charismatic deliverance ministers like John Ramirez, a former Satanist turned Christian evangelist, describe how such tools aren’t neutral, they are designed for contact with the demonic realm.
Ouija Boards
Though sometimes sold as games, these boards are direct portals for spirit communication. Every exorcist and deliverance minister, Catholic or Protestant, unanimously warns that ouija boards open doors to unclean spirits. Many documented possessions began with “harmless” ouija sessions.
Crystals for Healing Energies
Crystals as decorative items are harmless. But when used for spiritual healing, energy balancing, or vibration elevation, they become tools of occult manipulation. Scripture does not grant power to objects; it grants healing through the Holy Spirit, not geological minerals. Exorcists report spiritual interference when such objects are present in homes with heavy spiritual oppression. Now, to be clear, it is NOT the crystal itself that is the issue. I have crystals. My wedding ring has amethyst stones inlaid into it as decoration. Where crystals become problematic is when they are used as tools to usurp the natural order God has instilled into the universe, becoming tools of spiritual power, rather than what they really are, which is pretty rocks.
Astrology and Horoscopes
Horoscopes are based on the belief that the stars dictate human fate, a direct contradiction to biblical teaching about God's sovereignty (Isaiah 47:13–14). Even if read “just for fun,” astrology is a gateway into a deterministic worldview and often leads deeper into esoteric practices. If you look into church history, you will see certain theologians talking about astrology. That is different than how we now view it. Historically, astrology was an area of scientific inquiry. They were seeing if astrological signs had an impact on how life on Earth worked. Today, we know it does not, and astrology has been moved from a scientific field to a pseudoscience.
Spirit Animals, Totems, or Idols
Any item that invokes power, protection, or wisdom from a non-Christian spirit or force should be avoided. While some cultural symbols may be redeemed, others remain tied to spiritual worldviews incompatible with biblical Christianity. There’s a lot to say here, but I encourage you to be mindful, discerning, and do your own research into the vast field that is religions across the globe.
What isn’t Dangerous?
Not every symbol with an ancient or pagan origin is inherently evil. Many have been moved from the realm of spiritual tool to cultural or historic icon, or even simply secular entertainment, without any inherent spiritual value.
Dreamcatchers hung as cultural artifacts are not always occult, but when used for spiritual protection, they move into dangerous ground.
Yoga poses for fitness are not intrinsically demonic, but incorporating mantras or chakras changes that.
Fantasy media that includes magic isn’t the same as actual practicing witchcraft, but discernment is needed.
The difference often lies in intention and spiritual function. If an object is used to invoke, channel, or manipulate spiritual power apart from Christ, it crosses into occult territory.
Case Study
With the theoretical groundwork out of the way, let’s move on and see how this could look in reality. This is a fictional case, but it represents certain themes that deliverance ministers and exorcists have encountered in their ministry.
Sarah, a college student, came to her local pastor for prayer after years of anxiety and night terrors. She was a Christian, but had kept a collection of tarot cards “as art,” and often joked about being a “baby witch” with friends. She states she doesn’t necessarily believe in their actual spiritual power, but has played around with the tarot cards before and laughed with her friends when some of the predictions turned out to be disturbingly accurate. She chalked it up to coincidence, but did notice that her bad dreams would become worse after she engaged in such sessions. Her friends involved in witchcraft encouraged her to burn sage to cleanse her apartment, but she says she declined, not wanting to burn anything within the apartment because of her lease, but also due to her allergies around smoke.
After counsel, she was told to destroy the items. The pastor told her it was possible the tarot cards, and subsequent usage, had offered an invitation to demons that she was open to receiving messages from them and welcoming them into her life. During prayer, she felt an intense pressure lift. She went home and got rid of the cards. Her anxiety subsided, and her sleep improved dramatically. No one told her she was possessed, but the spiritual oppression she experienced correlated with her dabbling in occult objects.
If you’ve owned or used occult symbols or tools, even unknowingly, here’s a pastoral, biblical path forward:
Repent honestly. God is not shocked. Confess and turn away.
Destroy the items. Don’t sell or donate. Burn, break, or discard.
Renounce their influence. Out loud, say: “In Jesus’ name, I renounce all influence of [item or practice] in my life.”
Pray for cleansing and protection. Invite the Holy Spirit to fill and renew your space.
Seek prayer and counsel. If you’ve experienced spiritual backlash, reach out to a mature Christian, pastor, or trained deliverance minister.
Christians are sealed with the Holy Spirit, but Scripture still warns us: “Do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:27). Occult objects, symbols, and practices, even if engaged with ignorance or mockery, can provide those footholds. This isn’t about fear, it’s about faithfulness. We are temples of the Holy Spirit. What we welcome into our minds, homes, and habits shapes our spiritual atmosphere.
If you've dabbled in the occult, collected questionable objects, or been unsure where to draw the line, this article is not here to shame you. It's here to equip you.
Jesus has already defeated the powers of darkness (Colossians 2:15). The enemy has no lasting authority over the believer. But we must walk in that victory by choosing what honors God and protects our spiritual lives.