An Encyclopedia of Symbols By Phaedron Aspiring magicians usually know too little about symbols. Fortunately, to practice magick, one need not know the academic origin of a symbol (besides, the experts often debate origins anyway!). Symbols are not just pictorial. Words are symbols too. So are stones, animals, plants, bodily movements, star arrangements, numbers, letters, stories, etc. Symbols represent forces. A symbol will attract a specific force. For example the color red, used symbolically, attracts a different type of energy than green does. This is a symbol-by-evocation. The pentagram is another such energy that attracts. It has been uniquely charged so much by so many people over the ages that anyone who looks at it picks up its energy. Loosely, it can be called a symbol-by-archetype, as it is embedded in humanity's group psyche (deliberately or not). Another type of symbol is personal. For example, a swastika means one thing to a Jew and something else to a Native American Indian or an Egyptologist. We create symbols for ourselves based on personal experience. This is especially important for magicians who try to mimic the symbols created by others for their own personal use. The symbols of Crowley and John Dee for example, meant something very intimate to them, and may not mean or convey the same power for another. In the personal training of the magician, the spiritual Teacher elaborates such intricacies to the student; but here are some general descriptions of a few of the multitude of symbols: Pentagram A star-like figure composed of 5 lines. It represents power (the number 5 being attributed to Geburah in Qabalah). DaVinci popularly depicted it as a man with his arms and legs stretched out because it represents Man, the microcosm (complementing God, the macrocosm). Man is made of the four Elements shown on the points of the pentagram: bottom right, Fire, upper right, Water; upper left, Air, lower left, Earth. Above and superior to all these is the Creative Force itself: the fifth Element, Spirit, which is at the top point. When the pentagram is inverted, it symbolizes Spirit being subordinate to the other Elements. When it is upright, it is stability by manifestation. When inverted it is generally destructive. Although the inverted pentagram is mostly used by The Dark Brothers, one must remember that a catabolic (or breaking-down) force exists in the universe—as does an anabolic (or building-up) force. So the inverted pentagram does have a place in advanced stages of magick but this is a rare exception. Generally we can say using the inverted pentagram for Man is the perverse application of curiosity and convenience in which he places Elements above Spirit. Hexagram This ancient symbol is generally known as the Star of David. The Jews are famous for using it, although much older temples in ancient Egypt employed it prolifically. It is a 6-lined star—an upward triangle intertwined with a downward one. The upward pointing one is God/Creator. The downward is Man/Creation. Similarly, the upward is consciousness, the downward is subconsciousness (which links intellect to Spirit see NMR 5:2 The Mind). They are combined in one figure as if suggesting the union between the two where no conflict between intellect and subconscious exists and where the veil that separates the two is removed. The Hexagram is a formula of attainment. Serpent The serpent or snake has an abundance of meanings. A common one can be related to the Lust card (see NMR 4:5 Magickal Use of the Tarot). This specific serpentine can be the male phallus or it can symbolize the lust for learning. The ouroboros (above) is an alchemical symbol of a serpent with its tail in its mouth. It teaches the aspirant that upon starting at the beginning and then finally reaching the end-point, one ends up where one began. The Universe Card depicts this perfectly. The search for completion is always a process of beginning. (Similarly, in a chess game, the first move is the hardest—not the easiest!) In Egyptian hieroglyphs the serpent is the corresponding sound to the Hebraic Tzaddi. Tzaddi means fish hook as if to suggest capturing attainment from the Rivers of Life which contain the seeds of all life. However, the Hebraic letter Resh has the same shape as the Egyptian serpent hieroglyph. Resh means head and the Sun card and Tiphareth on the Tree of Life are attributed to it. The head chooses between greatness or corruption. Tiphareth is the contact point between manhood and Godhood; it means Lord as one's higher self, not a separate party. So the serpent climbs the Tree of Life, superimposed there it symbolizes aspiration. A depiction of this ancient symbol is the Caduceus (left), the official symbol of the healing arts. Knowledge (of The Tree/nature) and attainment to cure others were the goals in the days when the medical profession adopted this symbol. The Greek God Mercury who delivers wisdom carries this serpent as a Caduceus. He represents science and knowledge. When such knowledge is considered a threat, invasion or attack upon those lacking such powers, symbolically the serpent becomes a sperm that steals virginity. It is also the spermatozoa that implants wisdom and life into to the barren. The serpent has a Higher or Lower side, depending upon its context. It is especially variable in dreams. There is too much attributed to the serpent to address here. The subject deserves its own book—one is badly needed. Eye The eye is a symbol of wisdom. It, like the serpent, has a plethora of meanings. One form the eye takes is the all important Egyptian Udjat (Eye of Horus, left). Horus is the god of power and vengeance dedicated to overcoming the darkness that would rule the world if it had its way. Thus, the Eye of Horus is a protective eye that the initiate takes with them on their journey. The right eye represents the sun and is Yang, expansive, going forth, etc. The left eye represents the moon and is Yin, and receptive. Both are necessary in the pursuit of spirituality. Due to its power, some cultures have perverted its symbology and created an evil eye. For example, a hand with the index and pinkie finger extended is an evil gesture. The Hermetic tradition says that if God closed His eyes, the universe would end. If one believes in the omnipresent God, than it is easy to understand how the eye sees both good and evil and can be used either way. Again, this symbol deserves its own book. Triangle The triangle symbolizes anything manifest. Dagger People consider a dagger as a weapon to be feared. In dream interpretation, sometimes a dagger can represent an imposing phallus. Television and newspapers depict such weapons used for vulgar purposes; unfortunately, this forms the only frame of reference many people have of this symbol. To the magician, however, the dagger is a wonderful weapon/tool with a different use. Symbolically it cuts through obstacles and illusions—it divides in two. Thus it separates that which is real from that which is false. The dagger represents Air and the mind. Proper use of the mind and the symbolism of the dagger go together to help the magician attain. No, it has no connotations of Hollywood flesh sacrifices to the attained white magician. The only sacrifice it implies is the symbolic cutting away of evil from the practitioner. Zodiac The constellations and planets do not exert forces on people. They are symbols representing unseen forces that do influence people! Don't fall into the popular trap that such astronomical elements have great powers within themselves. Circle The circle is female while the square is male. The circle contains—holds—like a chalice. Lamb This alchemical symbol has permeated into other traditions. It represents sacrifice. Dragon This is another conglomeration of many meanings. The dragon [in the West] generally represents the material Earth without higher spiritual constituents. Alchemically it always means the physical Elements that enshroud the inner-essence of the matter. There are a few varieties of dragons symbolizing various aspects of the sole/physical world. Fylfot Cross (Swastika) There are two fylfot crosses on the Tree. One revolves right and one revolves left. One is above the contact point (Tiphareth) and the other is below it. Since it represents the first swirlings of all creation, we cannot really see it from outside any more than we can see this galaxy from an outside view. We are impeded as a part of the Creation. Thus we see only one of the two fylfot crosses. One is the formation of creation, the other the undoing of creation. They both, however, have the arms of a cross. In the infamous Nazi symbolism, it was tilted on its side to form an X. In ancient Egypt the fylfot cross was commonly evident as a symbol of gods' creation. Every tradition used it since; Hebraic, Persian, Native American, Celtic, Greek, etc. The tips of the 4 arms represent the 4 Elements of creation: Fire, Water, Air, Earth. (All the chemical elements can be broken down into these 4 Elements.) The 4 arms themselves represent the zodiacal signs (i.e., the fields of human experiences) attributed to each Element. That leaves only the center unaccounted for. That is the harmony and giver/reconciler of all creation which is the contact point—the Sun. Cross An even more ubiquitous category of symbols with multiple variations is the cross. To differentiate crosses, think of them as drawn on a grid—which is how they used to be constructed. For example, in the common Latin cross shown in figure A, the shaft is 3 times longer than its arms. This is the cross used for the crucifix. It symbolizes the sacrifice of Spirit to matter so that manifestation may have the opportunity to become exalted. The equal armed cross (fig. F) shows balance between the horizontal bar and its opponent vertical bar. Such equilibrium is the representation of Nature. The four arms suggest the four Elements. Here they exist in union—Love. (See NMR 3:6 Why Love Is The Law and NMR 4:1 What is Qabalah.) Thus the equal armed cross is the expression of the Laws of Nature. The Tau Cross (fig. B) is sometimes called the cross of life. It symbolizes not sacrifice, but the effulgence of life when the Great Work is completed and the great experience that accompanies this. (As in the ouroboros the absence of a head is important. Similarly, there is a release of consciousness so that The Higher—which is exalted above human mind—may indwell.) The Hebraic letter Tav in Qabalah symbolizes the terrible 32nd path at the base of The Tree that the initiate begins to climb on their pursuit of enlightenment. Here they divest all self-centeredness for a deeper meaning of life. The Rosy Cross has a few variations. Here are two, the first being an abstract form. The rose superimposed upon the cross symbolizes the ancient teachings of Christian Rosenkreutz. His body lay mystically in a vault of 7 sides in a mystical mountain symbolic of Creation. Inscribed on the 7 walls, ceiling, floor and coffin were magickal formulas. Certain revealing manuscripts were found there and in his hands was a perfectly preserved rose. Strangely, when the vault was discovered, it was reported that a tiny sun had kept the vault alight. These facts are interesting but irrelevant, and commonly found in any good treatise on the subject. What is relevant is the mysteries of magick, Qabalah and Alchemy he and his place held within the cryptic Christian framework. The Crux Ansata (Ankh, left) is a form of cross that symbolizes the immortality of the soul. Although it is a very ancient Egyptian symbol, it is said to be the shape that Jesus fashioned his sandals upon so that his steps would symbolize the magickal foundation of his path. Tarot The Tarot is a thorough collection of the archetypal, universal symbols of the universe. They are expressly depicted in unbound leaves (cards, today). These symbols, when meditated upon properly, can reveal all about the forces or forms they represent. (See my article on the Magickal use of the Tarot, NMR 4:5). Qabalah Qabalah is not the memorization of set symbols but a high practice of energies found within symbols. The study of mystical Qabalah is the obtaining of wisdom through meditation and understanding of the use of these symbols. Indisputably, it is the most thorough use of symbolism for all forms of enlightenment; all symbology is based on this mystic practice. All symbols are contained on the Tree of Life (fig. 17), and thus therein all symbology can be understood. It is simple, but not easy. Thus Qabalah is the epitome of symbology, for those inclined to pursue this subject further. 1994 The Holy Order of the Winged Disk, all rights reserved. Phaedron is the G. H. Hierophant of the Holy Order of the Winged Disk, Director of its International Academy of Hermetic Knowledge and author of The Practica Arcanum. For more information call (804) 293-7485, or send $1 for information to: PO Box 4384, Charlottesville, VA 22905. | 
