Wiccans do. With practices like galdr it focuses on using runes in or as spells vizualizing them, drawing them, calling out their names. Goetia and voodoo create veves and sigils and seals to commune with lwa and demons. In dutch folk magic the use hex signs to bring prosperity. Symbols and runes are used a lot, possibly more than herbs because it is much simpler.
Indeed, but I am into white magic. I will not do voodoo. I do slip up hear and there and cast a spell for myself but I mustn't hurt anyone or harm anything. I appreciate your generosity. :)
Have you ever drawn a circle? That's a symbol. It might sound too simple and mundane to be magic, but that is already part of tradition.
Have you ever drawn a five-pointed star? That's another symbol, draw a circle around that and it's definitely used in Wicca a lot for identification, protection, connection, and for many meaningful reasons. It's called a pentagram.
All that said, I never really felt the magic in all this "sacred geometry" stuff. Galdhr, yes, because it's sound and that's just the way I feel the magic most easily is through song. But the symbols themselves? Not to say that they aren't effective, only that it's different for everyone. Lately I've been creating my own symbols, like I try to translate ideas from the astral plane into something physical, and a symbol is the easiest way to do that. Chaos magick uses something called a Monogram, which always looks different but that's the chaotic way of inventing new symbols.
I'm taking it you are very new to the world of Wicca and Witchcraft. I can see that right off the bat with you saying "white magick" and thinking voodoo isn't able to be such.
First off, in Wicca runes and symbols are used all the time. I know many Wiccans who use all kinds of symbols like the ogham alphabet, alchemy symbols, futhark runes and etc. Runes being the most popular as they are easy to draw. Many books like "Wicca" by Scott Cunningham even give you a page of symbols in the back of the book for your own personal workings. In traditional branches of Wicca, however, there are certain symbols you are supposed to engrave or paint onto your athame, wand and other tools.
So symbols are heavily used.
On to the statement of white magick. Magick isn't white or black. There is no negative or positive in magick as it is just energy which is neutral. What makes it "white" or "black" all depends on perspective. If say, you believe that anything that messes with free will is "black magick" then even a "white magick" healing spell can be such. Example: if you are casting it on someone who believes spells and witchcraft is wrong and ungodly. You have gone against their free will if you cast it without permission. You also have those who believe in any spell for personal gain to be "black magick" but isn't that what all magick is? Even if it is protection of your home and loved ones...its gaining that protection because you want it.
Lastly, Voodoo is not "black magick" or wrong in any manner. It is a valid belief system that just gets a bad rap because of Hollywood movies and such. I'm not saying it can't be used for harmful magick but so can any other spell designed by Wiccans. Don't stereotype it just because you don't understand it and have yet to research the topic. It is a very fascinating tradition.
But your question was "Why don't we try those (symbols) for our rituals and spells?"
My point is that witches already do use symbols for rituals and spells. If you say that "we" mostly use herbs, you mean "you and the people that you know." There are many, many, many, many, many other witches out there with vastly varied practices that you are missing out on.
