They have been very popular at all times. There are such categories of people who strive to comprehend the mysteries and secrets of magic. For the sake of this, they are ready to look through the huge in search of answers to various questions. And it should be noted that there is simply a huge number of very different symbols that act as magical elements. All of them have a certain focus and are used to achieve different goals and for various rituals. In this review, we should talk about such a magical sign that everyone knows. This symbol has become the culprit of numerous disputes regarding its meaning and secrets. However, it was not possible to completely unravel it. This is a five-pointed star - a pentagram.

One of the most famous magical signs

Today, almost everyone can tell what a pentagram looks like. This image, reminiscent of the correct one, can be found almost everywhere. The symbol is often painted on a wall or some other surface. The pentagram can be seen as a decoration, in the form of a picture made on a book cover. Even on women's handbags there is a similar symbol that acts as a fastener.

The symbol was constantly changing and acquiring a huge number of meanings.

The pentagram is enough, which is characterized by the presence of a rich history. The pentacle (the image in a circle) was used by the Druids and Sumerians, Greeks and Egyptians, Jews and Templars, magicians and scientists. To date, the pentagram has nothing to do with scientific research. It is completely related to the occult.

During its history, the pentagram has changed quite a lot. This image is constantly transformed. The pentacle in the Jewish scriptures was part of the seven seals. It meant the name of a god. In Egypt, in ancient times, the pentagram was considered a symbol inherent in the underworld, dominated by Anubis. The Celts believed that the pentagram is a sign inherent in the goddess Morgana.

Scientists who tried to find their calling in alchemy meant a protective symbol under the pentagram. This is due to the opinion that the called demon was unable to pass through its contours. In this regard, great attention in the design of the sign was given to continuous lines. In magic, it was believed that the four rays of the pentacle implied the elements. As the fifth ray, the magician was perceived directly. And the pentagram enclosed in a circle is a symbol that speaks of the domination of the magician over the elements.

What is the meaning of the pentagram?

Each corner of such a symbol is assigned a specific meaning corresponding to the elements. The upper angle was understood as a spirit, a person. The top right beam means water, and the top left beam means air. The lower left corner should be understood as fire. The ground is enclosed in the lower right corner.

There are the most different ways with which you can draw a pentagram. Accordingly, there are different types pentacle. All methods are not equivalent, as they have differences in the starting point. And it is from her that the inscription is carried out. Also, pentagrams can differ in the last segment and in the direction in which the writing was carried out (clockwise or counterclockwise).

What types of magic symbol can be distinguished?

Among the main types of pentagram are:

1. Creative or destructive symbols.
2. Pentacles that summon or banish.
3. Pentagram in a circle, meaning the elements and the spirit.
4. Upright and inverted five-pointed star.

The pentagram should be attributed to one of the main elements inherent in ritual magic. Therefore, the choice of its style must be approached with special responsibility. It is on this that the success of the planned ritual will depend. For example, the pentagrams of the demons of the fire element imply that the latter need to draw the segment that corresponds to the element of fire.

What can you tell about the five-pointed star, which is depicted upside down?

No less popular is the pentacle, which must be drawn upside down. Such a symbol is considered to be the sign in which the corner is turned down. Quite often, an inverted pentagram is applied in the form of a goat's head, the horns of which act as the upper corners, and the beard implies a lower beam.

Such symbolism means the triumph of matter over the spiritual component, the power of black magic over all the elements. It is used to summon elemental spirits. However, in other ritual actions such a pentacle can be used. An inverted pentagram inscribed on a photograph of a certain person can either increase or decrease his strength. Much will depend on the location and method of location.

The most popular symbol among Satanists

Satanists believe that this symbol is the original image of the devil. However, this is not at all the case. Under the inverted pentagram, from ancient times, the star of the magicians was meant. She denoted power (intellectual and physical). Such a symbol is able to multiply the flow of energy.

At the present stage, the pentagram of Satan, and this is how many people call the inverted symbol, is the most popular sign among Satanists. And unlike a simple pentagram, great importance in the reverse image is assigned to a person, and not to a spiritual component.

The book that made a lot of noise at the time of its publication

Since 1966, the inverted symbol has been called nothing more than the pentagram of Satan. This year the book "The Satanic Bible" was published. It was she who infuriated all true magicians and pagans. The cover of this scripture contained an image of a reverse pentacle, next to which were applied concentric circles and five Hebrew letters that make up the name "Leviathan". In this book, the author tried to expose the vile image of the Devil. And it was he who called the inverted symbolism "the seal of Baphomet" in the book.

The image that was inherent in Baphomet

And it may seem that throughout the entire time the reverse pentagram, the pictures of which you can see in the course of reading this review, is firmly associated with the name "Baphomet". And then the question arises as to who it is. Unfortunately, in The Satanic Bible, the image was presented in a blurry form. Traditional Satanists under Baphomet mean the mistress, who sometimes washes her hands in the blood of her enemies. This name has been associated with Satan since the 10-11th century. It was during these times that the reverse pentagram was very popular. Pictures of Baphomet carried the image of a mature woman who sat naked on a pile of skulls. In her hands she held the head of a priest who had been sacrificed. And, according to experts, this image appeared long before the peak of the popularity of reverse symbolism.

What is the most common image of an inverted star?

The revival of the cult of Baphomet was due to the actions of the Templars. However, in their teachings, the inverted pentacle did not carry any esoteric meaning and was used more for its own purposes. A little later, other images of Baphomet appeared. The Order of the Nine Angles depicted him as an anthropomorphic creature with a goat's head, female breasts, cloven hooves, and a huge steel phallus.

Under the goat's head is meant the presence of devilish forces. However, the symbol on the forehead indicates that male and female magic are combined with each other. Man and beast, the lower and the divine - all this takes place in such an image. The Lady of the Blood, in turn, symbolizes everything that is associated with cruelty, darkness and temptation. She is considered the Goddess of Evil. Accordingly, it has a symbol of the reverse pentagram, which was used only for black purposes.

The signature that was characteristic of Satan

Therefore, there is no doubt that the inverted pentagram, the photo of which you can see in the review, if it was not originally a symbol of Baphomet, then became associated with it. This is a kind of signature. However, there are areas that have not been fully explored. Documentary history could not find out everything.

The inverted pentagram, the photos of which are quite common, implies not only the turning of everything righteous. It also carries everything forbidden, dark and dangerous. She is preferred by those rulers who are unable to bow before anyone. They can destroy everything for their own purposes.

Is everything as complicated as it might seem at first glance?

Is everything as clear as it was presented above? Naturally, there are a huge number of people who will associate the inverted symbolism directly with the devil. However, in ancient times, such a pentacle primarily meant the descent of the spirit into matter. And if the direct pentagram implies an active action, when it is the spiritual component that dominates the elements, then in the reverse state the spirit descends on us from above, saying that grace is descending. And it should be noted that only an experienced magician is able to work with an inverted pentagram.

Absolutely everything sinful was attributed to the inverted star

In some way, Satan means an inverted person. As a true sign, a pentagram symbol is used - a direct star with five rays, in which a person is inscribed. The inverted pentacle depicts the head of a goat, which symbolizes the animal nature. Based on all this, it is worth knowing that Satan is a person who commits sin, identifies himself with him. In a broad sense, the Devil should be understood as the whole complex of evil born of all human souls that exist on Earth. It is this meaning in some sources that the reverse star has.

The pentagram does not allow you to see what evil really is. Everyone sees in it the meaning that he wants, while focusing on his knowledge and on any sources. However, in different materials the pentacle has different meanings. And this needs to be taken into account.

A huge number of meanings and secrets that are not fully understood

The pentagram from Supernatural has gained particular popularity. In this situation, she acts as a protective symbol that is able to save from the machinations of demons and various evils. A five-pointed star can be drawn on doors, windows, or walls. It is believed that with the help of such an action a person will be able to keep his property safe and sound from damage or theft.

However, this is only one meaning that the pentagram from Supernatural had. In reality, this sign was perceived from the position of a powerful amulet, symbolizing power, power. For example, in Babylon this sign could often be found on royal seals. According to modern science, under the pentagram was a symbol of the power of the ruler, spreading to all directions of the world. The Lord, whose power can not be countered. And this is only a small fraction of the meanings that were attributed to such a symbol.

Secrets and secrets will never stop attracting attention

Based on all of the above, we can say that there is nothing strange in the fact that the pentagram has gained great popularity. Many seek power. A large number of people want to have power that is inaccessible to anyone else but them. In this regard, they often turn their attention to the secrets and mysteries of the pentagram. We hope that this review has helped you at least a little to understand what the pentacle hides under it in direct and reverse form. And if you want to fully understand what is hidden under this magical sign, then you should not focus your attention on only one source. You should look through a huge number of books to understand the small number of meanings of the five-pointed star. But there are a huge number of them. Therefore, it is worth wishing you success in this difficult task!

What is a pentagram and how does it work

Today I dined at a Japanese restaurant, before that I went to the pharmacy and the market. And everywhere good Christians squinted unkindly at my neck, where, in honor of the holiday, hung a silver inverted pentagram on a lace. I bet you anything, none of them could objectively explain this symbol. 🙂

Let's talk about the most common stereotype of the near-esoteric world - pentagram. What is this symbol, how does it work, what controls it, how is it connected with the elements and China. And most importantly - what is there demons and higher powers. At the same time, we will answer the question - how does it all work at all, this is the influence from above (lower? ...), through what happens obsession? It's all about one thing.

The symbol of the five-pointed star has been known to people and non-humans since archaic times and not only in the physical world. It was used in Babylon and Ancient Egypt, it denoted royal and divine power, in particular - it was a symbol of the goddess Ishtar, one of the seals of Solomon and one of the signs of Alexander the Great. Greek mathematicians called five-pointed star pure perfection, since it is an encrypted symbol of the golden ratio. WITH Lucifer the pentacle is connected only in the sense that the trajectory of the planet Venus, whose genius is chronically confused with the biblical Devil ohm, when observed from the Earth, forms pentagram.

And speaking without abstruseness and terms, then pentacle (pentagram or pentalf) is just a diagram 5 elements, so succinctly. Every beam pentagrams- this is a certain element and the influence coming from it. The physical world and people are characterized by 5 elements: Fire, Water, Air\Metal, Earth and Life, for other layers and worlds they can be radically different. This division did not arise from scratch - each element and its influence is determined by the planet and the planetary genius that controls it and is most active in this region. The ancient Greeks called pentagram Pentalpha, which means "five alpha letters", since the symbol consists of 5 alphas, and its scheme was displayed like this:

ύ - ύδωρ - Water, upper beam.
Γ - Γαια - Earth, upper left.
ί - ίδέα - Ether, lower right ray.
έ - έιλή - Fire, upper right corner.
ά - άήρ - Air, lower left corner.

In China, the same symbol shows the same elemental scheme, only instead of Air they highlight the element of Metal (they have one planetary patron, guess who), and instead of Ether - Wood, the element of Jupiter. This is the designation of the U-sin scheme, that is, the balance of the elements within the nth object or person, the balance of the influence of planetary geniuses on him. 5 elements controlling each other - the same 5 rays.

Wu-Sing scheme:

What is interesting here is that in itself pentacle is not static and the same for everyone. In humans, 5 elements predominate, but in other species and in other layers it will be the same pentacle with OTHER elements. For example, demons are dominated by the element of Darkness or Shadow, while the remaining rays can be occupied by anything, for example, the scheme: Darkness-Shadow-Time-Earth-Air. Where does such a variegation of this people come from, their ability to influence various spheres and sciences - whoever has something inside is in charge of it. For some elemental, elemental essence, it will be Water-Light-Earth-Life-Air. The number of variations is almost infinite, and the pattern is the same - the pentacle. There are slightly more complex schemes, for example, for the most ancient gods and inferns, this scheme may include 6 rays or duplicate one element.

The complete scheme of the elements, based on the "human" pentacle looks something like this:

According to the same scheme, it is correct to build rituals, where the elements play a big role. If you apply such a scheme instead of the Small Runic Ritual, it will turn out very strong and bright, I advise 🙂 Wiccans do this as a rule.

Technically, there's not much difference inverted pentagram or not, but traditionally an inverted star is considered a talisman against evil and influences (it is, as it were, closed) coming from the elements included in the Pentacle. She blocks work against you. Straight pentagram- direct connection to these elements, filling them.

This symbol never carried any negative meaning, on the contrary (what's wrong with help, power and protection?). But in the second half of the 19th century, at the suggestion of a French occultist Eliphasa Levi who correctly grasped the connection Satan, Lucifer and Venus, but then carried nonsense, which turned out to be very tenacious in the minds of people, the symbol gained notoriety due to the biblical Satan, satanism and evil. And the further, the more firmly the information that such a useful pentacle is evil and a sign of someone bad has gone to the masses.

Later, in the 20th century, the possessed Anton LaVey(oh-wei), head of the Church of Satan, added fuel to

fire, depicting this symbol on his Satanic Bible. They have already forgotten Venus with its trajectory, and geniuses, and Macedonian ... They forgot everything, there was a vague " pentagram means satanists!!!". Idiots, yes. And people don’t know anything more about it and don’t want to know, despite the fact that even 200 years ago this symbol was calmly depicted on Christian cathedrals and the seals of monarchs. So that.

But it is through this symbol, or rather, the elements in it, that the subtle plane affects the physical! This is the blueprint of the soul. Roughly speaking, if a certain entity influences you (whether good or bad), it acts through the element in you. The easiest way is to connect through the water, this is how most of the religious egregors work (why does baptism take place in water, didn’t you think?), They simply enter the body through the “water” angle of the pentacle, which is the soul. In exactly the same way, an essence can possess a person, entering through the element that is repeated in him with this essence. That is, the larva, roughly speaking, is a piece of earth, and enters the human body through this segment.

The influence of the “higher forces” follows exactly the same principle: a person has many channels that carry the elements through the body (you can look for a plate of the distribution of organs by elements), and if you hit any of them well (and these can!), then immediately the little man runs, screams and grabs the damaged place. Was stung in a ray.

Now think about who and why you look unkindly 🙂

(c) Mylene Maelinhon\ Material site

Article about 13 elements.

Pentacle - a symbol of the elements of the earth, and a thing useful for any practitioner. Later we want to talk about how to make it, but first, introduce the theoretical aspect of the amulet.

The pentacle is an ancient magical figure and a very important symbol in witchcraft and rituals. The pentagram is depicted as a five-pointed star with one upper ray, inscribed in a circle. Each of the five points of the pentagram denotes one of the original elements: Water, Fire, Earth, Air and Spirit (the unity of God and man).

The five-pointed star is also called the Star of Solomon, the Seal of Solomon, pentalpha, and also pentageron.

According to ancient writing, Solomon wore a pentacle on a ring, and later, after the death of the ruler, this symbol was applied to his tomb.

Depending on the purpose, pentacles are made from various materials. Their choice should be approached very carefully, depending on the type of magical activity. For example, for one-time use, pentageron can be made from paper, wax, or clay. These are very fragile and not very durable materials that are easy to destroy after use.

If the practice is to be serious and lengthy work, they usually use more durable materials, such as copper, silver (lunar metal and metal of spiritual strength), as well as gold (metal of strength and energy).

In addition to the symbolic image of the unity of the five elements, various symbols and letters are entered into the pentagram. Their use depends on the purposes and powers the witch is calling upon. It can be Kabbalistic signs, totemic animals, secret names of angels and archangels, or any other symbols that the practitioner is used to working with.

Pentageron is also a powerful security symbol, it is often used for protection. For example, some witches put this symbol on the door of their dwelling so that no entities or people with bad intentions could cross the threshold.

Often, practitioners embroider pentagrams on ritual objects, it can be clothes used in various mysteries, or a ritual cover for an altar.

Pentagrams are also used in meditations in which each point of the star is associated with a special quality, definition, concept, emotion, or name of a pagan deity.

Another way to use the pentacle is to call and exorcise spirits.

The method of summoning is very simple - this symbol is drawn on the floor or on the ground with chalk, wax or a ritual knife. The figure is supplemented with the signs necessary for the call, and candles, crystals or braziers with mixtures of incense are placed at the ends of the rays. However, when deciding to call on an entity from the subtle world, be sure that it will not bite your head off. Moreover, it can be problematic to drive such an alien back into his world. The call and control of entities is a section of higher magic - Taurgy, which we will tell you about another time.

Pentacle is the strongest accumulator and conductor of energy between the owner and the subtle world. Proper manufacture and use given character will certainly help to acquire the necessary benefits and fulfill their desires.

We will talk about the manufacture of pentacles with you next time.

Continuation of the first part: Occult and mystical symbols and their meaning. Geometric symbols, Universal symbols-images and symbols-concepts. Emblems of modern religions. Crosses: the most common forms. Time images. Symbolism of the kingdom of plants and animals. Mythical creatures.

Encyclopedia of symbols

Swastika straight (left-handed)

The swastika as a solar symbol

A straight (left-handed) swastika is a cross with the ends bent to the left. Rotation is considered to be clockwise (opinions sometimes differ in determining the direction of movement).

A straight swastika is a symbol of blessing, good omen, prosperity, good luck and aversion to misfortune, as well as a symbol of fertility, longevity, health and life. It is also a symbol masculine, spirituality, inhibiting the flow of lower (physical) forces and allowing the energies of a higher, divine nature to manifest.

Reverse swastika (right side)

Swastika on a Nazi military medal

The reverse (right-handed) swastika is a cross with the ends bent to the right. Rotation is considered to be counterclockwise.

The reverse swastika is usually associated with the feminine. Sometimes it is associated with the launch of negative (physical) energies that close the passage to the elevated forces of the spirit.

The Sumerian swastika, formed by four women and their hair, symbolizes the female generative power

Pentagram (pentacle): the general meaning of the symbol

pentagram sign

The pentagram, written in one line, is the most ancient of all the symbols that we own. It had different interpretations in different historical times of mankind. It became the Sumerian and Egyptian sign of the stars.

Later symbolism: five senses; masculine and feminine, expressed by five points; harmony, health and mystical powers. The pentagram is also a symbol of the victory of the spiritual over the material, a symbol of security, protection, a safe return home.

Pentagram as a magical symbol

Pentagrams of the White and Black Magicians

A pentacle with one end up and two down is a sign of white magic, known as the "foot of the druid"; with one end down and two up, it represents the so-called "goat's hoof" and the horns of the devil - a sign change characteristic of symbolism from positive to negative when it is turned over.

The pentagram of the White Magician is a symbol of magical influence and the dominance of a disciplined Will over the phenomena of the world. The will of the Black Magician is directed to destruction, to the refusal to perform a spiritual task, therefore the inverted pentagram is considered as a symbol of evil.

Pentagram as a symbol of a perfect person

Pentagram symbolizing the perfect man

The pentagram, a five-pointed star, is a symbol of a perfect man standing on two legs with outstretched arms. We can say that a person is a living pentagram. This is true both physically and spiritually - a person possesses five virtues and manifests them: love, wisdom, truth, justice and kindness.

Truth belongs to the spirit, love to the soul, wisdom to the intellect, kindness to the heart, justice to the will.

double pentagram

Double pentagram (man and the universe)

There is also a correspondence between human body and five elements (earth, water, air, fire and ether): will corresponds to earth, heart to water, intellect to air, soul to fire, spirit to ether. Thus, by his will, intellect, heart, soul, spirit, a person is connected with the five elements working in the cosmos, and he can consciously work in harmony with them. This is the meaning of the symbol of the double pentagram, in which the small one is inscribed in the large one: a person (microcosm) lives and acts inside the Universe (macrocosm).

Hexagram

Hexagram image

Hexagram - a figure made up of two polar triangles, a six-pointed star. It is a complex and solid symmetrical shape in which six small individual triangles are grouped around a large central hexagon. The result is a star, although the original triangles retain their individuality. Because the upward facing triangle is heavenly symbol, and facing down is a symbol of the earth, then together they are a symbol of a person who unites these two worlds. It is a symbol of a perfect marriage that binds a man and a woman.

Seal of Solomon

Seal of Solomon, or Star of David

This is the famous magical seal of Solomon, or the Star of David. The top triangle in her image is white and the bottom triangle is black. It symbolizes, first of all, the absolute law of analogy, expressed by the mystical formula: "What is below is similar to what is above."

The Seal of Solomon is also a symbol of human evolution: one must learn not only to take, but also to give, to absorb and radiate at the same time, to radiate for the Earth, to perceive from Heaven. We receive and are filled only when we give to others. This is the perfect union of spirit and matter in man - the union of the solar plexus and the brain.

five pointed star

five pointed star

star of bethlehem

The five-pointed star is interpreted in different ways, including it symbolizes joy and happiness. It is also the emblem of the Semitic goddess Ishtar in her martial incarnation, and in addition, the Star of Bethlehem. For Freemasons, the five-pointed star symbolizes the mystical center.

The Egyptians attached great importance to the five- and six-pointed stars, as is clear from the text preserved on the wall of the funerary temple of Hatshepsut.

seven-pointed star

Seven pointed star of magicians

In the seven-pointed star, the characteristic features of the five-pointed are repeated. The Gnostic star has seven rays.

Seven- and nine-pointed stars drawn in one line are mystical stars in astrology and magic.

The star of the magicians is read in two ways: sequentially along the rays (along the line of the star) and along the circumference. In the course of the rays, there are planets that control the days of the week: Sun - Sunday, Moon - Monday, Mars - Tuesday, Mercury - Wednesday, Jupiter - Thursday, Venus - Friday, Saturn - Saturday.

nine pointed star

Nine-pointed star of magicians

Nine-pointed stars, like seven-pointed ones, if they are drawn in one line, are mystical stars in astrology and magic.

The nine-pointed star, made up of three triangles, symbolizes the Holy Spirit.

Monad

The four constituent parts of a monad

It is a magical symbol called the monad by John Dee (1527–1608), advisor and astrologer to Queen Elizabeth I of England.

Dee presents the nature of magic symbols in terms of geometry and tests the monad in a series of theorems.

Dee explores the monad at such a deep level that he finds links to his theory with Pythagorean harmony, biblical knowledge, and mathematical proportions.

Spiral

Spiral structure of the Milky Way

Spiral shapes are very common in nature, from spiral galaxies to whirlpools and tornadoes, from mollusk shells to human finger prints, and even the DNA molecule has the shape of a double helix.

The spiral is a very complex and ambiguous symbol. But first of all, it is a symbol of the great creative (life) force both at the level of the cosmos and at the level of the microcosm. The spiral is a symbol of time, cyclic rhythms, the change of seasons, birth and death, the phases of "aging" and "growth" of the Moon, as well as the Sun itself.

Tree of Life

Tree of Life in a human being

Tree of Life

The Tree of Life does not belong to any culture - not even to the Egyptians. It is beyond race and religion. This image is an integral part of nature… Man himself is a miniature Tree of Life. He possessed immortality when he was associated with this tree. The Tree of Life can be thought of as the arteries of a large cosmic body. Through these arteries, as through channels, the life-giving forces of the cosmos flow, which nourish all forms of existence, and the cosmic pulse of life beats in them. The Tree of Life is a separate section, part of the scheme of the universal code of life.

Sphere

Armillary sphere (engraving from Tycho Brahe's book)

A symbol of fertility (like a circle), as well as integrity. In ancient Greece, the sign of the sphere was a cross in a circle - the ancient emblem of power. A sphere made up of several metal rings, illustrating the cosmogonic theory of Ptolemy, who believed that the Earth is at the center of the universe, is an ancient emblem of astronomy.

Platonic Solids

Platonic solids inscribed in a sphere

The Platonic solids are five unique shapes. Long before Plato, Pythagoras used them, calling them ideal geometric bodies. Ancient alchemists and such great minds as Pythagoras believed that these bodies are associated with certain elements: cube (A) - earth, tetrahedron (B) - fire, octahedron (C) - air, icosahedron (D) - water, dodecahedron ( E) - ether, and the sphere - emptiness. These six elements are the building blocks of the universe. They create the qualities of the universe.

Planet symbols

Planet symbols

The planets are depicted by a combination of the simplest geometric symbols. This is a circle, a cross, an arc.

Consider, for example, the symbol for Venus. The circle is located above the cross, which personifies a kind of "spiritual attraction" that pulls the cross up into the elevated areas belonging to the circle. The cross, subject to the laws of generation, decay and death, will find its redemption if it is raised within this great circle of spirituality. The symbol as a whole represents the feminine in the world, which is trying to spiritualize and protect the material sphere.

Pyramid

The Great Pyramids of Cheops, Khafre and Menkaure

The pyramid is a symbol of the hierarchy that exists in the universe. In any area, the pyramid symbol can help move from the lower plane of plurality and fragmentation to the higher plane of unity.

It is believed that the initiates chose the form of a pyramid for their shrines because they wanted the lines converging towards the top, rushing towards the Sun, to teach humanity the lesson of unity.

star tetrahedron

star tetrahedron

A star tetrahedron is a figure consisting of two mutually intersecting tetrahedra. This figure can also be perceived as a three-dimensional star of David.

Tetrahedra manifest as two opposite laws: the law of the spirit (radiation, bestowal, selflessness, selflessness) and the law of matter (drawing inward, cooling, freezing, paralysis). Only a person can consciously combine these two laws, since he is the link between the world of spirit and the world of matter.

The star tetrahedron thus represents the two poles of creation in perfect balance.

Universal symbols-images

A thing is not just because God wills it, but God wants it precisely because it is just.

Image symbols are often objects (things) or graphic images that imitate the shape of the creature or object with which they are associated. Their meanings are sometimes unexpected, but more often obvious, as they are based on some quality that these objects or creatures are originally inherent in: a lion - courage, a rock - stamina, etc.

arch, arc

Sacrifice to an astral deity (from a 13th-century Arabian manuscript)

The arch (arc), first of all, is a symbol of the vault of heaven, the god of Heaven. In the rites of initiation, passing through the arch means a new birth after the complete rejection of one's old nature. In ancient Rome, the army passed through the triumphal arch after defeating the enemy.

The arch and arc are common elements in the culture of Islam. Mosques often have arched entrances. It is believed that a person entering the mosque through the arched door will be protected by the symbolic forces of the spiritual (higher) sphere.

Ba-gua

Ba-gua and the Great Monad (charm against evil forces, China)

Ba-gua (in some sources, pa-kua) - eight trigrams and pairs of opposites, usually arranged in a circle, which symbolizes time and space.

Scales

Outweighing scales. The lung gives way. heavy overtights

Libra symbolizes justice, impartiality, judgment, evaluation of the merits and demerits of a person. A symbol of the balance of all opposites and complementary factors. Attribute of Nemesis - the goddess of fate.

Disk

Solar winged disk (Egypt)

The disk is a multifaceted symbol: a symbol of creation, the center of the Void, the Sun, Heaven, deity, spiritual and heavenly perfection. The disk of the rising Sun is a symbol of the renewal of life, life after death, resurrection. The disk of the Sun with the horned Moon or with horns means the union of solar and lunar deities, the unity of two in one.

The winged disk is a solar deity, the fire of Heaven, a combination of the solar disk and the wings of a falcon or eagle, the movement of the celestial sphere around the axis, transformation, immortality, the productive force of nature and its duality (protective and deadly aspects).

Wand, staff, scepter

Staff with hook and flail of Tutankhamun

The wand, staff, and scepter are ancient emblems of supernatural power.

The wand is a symbol of transformation associated with witchcraft and mysterious creatures. The staff is a symbol of male strength and power, often associated with the energy of trees, phallus, snake, hand (pointing finger). It is also an attribute of pilgrims and saints, but it can also mean knowledge, which is the only support of a person. The scepter is more ornate and is associated with higher deities and rulers, with spiritual power and at the same time compassionate wisdom.

Mirror

Divination scene depicted on the back of a bronze mirror (Greece)

It symbolizes truth, self-realization, wisdom, reason, soul, a reflection of the supernatural and divine intellect, reflected in the Sun, Moon and stars, the clearly shining surface of divine truth.

It is believed that the mirror has magical properties and is the entrance to the mirror world. If a mirror is hung with its reflective face down in a temple or over a tomb, it opens the way for the soul to ascend. In magic, mirrors serve to develop the gaze.

Snake Ouroboros (Oroboros, Ouroboros)

snake biting its own tail

The ring-shaped figure depicting a snake biting its own tail is a symbol of eternity, indivisibility, the cyclical nature of time, alchemy. The symbolism of this figure is interpreted in different ways, as it combines the creative symbolism of an egg (the space inside the figure), the earthly symbolism of a snake, and the heavenly symbolism of a circle. In addition, a snake biting its tail is a symbol of the law of karma, the wheels of samsara are the wheels of Incarnation.

Caduceus

Caduceus

Caduceus (Greek - "staff of the messenger") is often called the rod of Hermes (Mercury), the ancient god of wisdom. This is a “magic” wand with small wings, which is wrapped around two snakes, intertwined so that the bodies of the snakes form two circles around the wand, symbolizing the merging of two polarities: good - evil, right - left, light - darkness, etc., which corresponds to nature of the created world.

Caduceus is worn by all messengers as a sign of peace and protection, and it is their main attribute.

Key

Saint Peter with the keys to the gates of paradise (detail of a stone image, Notre Dame, Paris, 12th century)

The key is a very powerful symbol. This is power, the power of choice, breath, freedom of action, knowledge, initiation. The crossed golden and silver keys are the emblem of papal authority, the symbolic "keys to the Kingdom of Heaven" that Christ gave to the Apostle Peter. Although keys can both lock and unlock doors, they are almost always symbols of access, liberation, and (in initiatory rites) initiation, progression from one stage of life to another. In Japan, the keys to the rice vault are a symbol of prosperity.

Wheel

wheel of law

Wheel of existence (samsara)

The wheel is a symbol of solar energy. The sun is the center, the spokes of the wheel are the rays. The wheel is an attribute of all solar gods and earthly rulers. It also symbolizes the life cycle, rebirth and renewal, nobility, variability and changes in the material world (the circle is the limit of the material world, and the center is the “immobile engine”, the cosmic source of light and power).

The spinning wheel is associated with the cycles of manifestations (birth, death and rebirth) and the fate of man.

At the ordinary level, the wheel of Lady Luck (wheel of fortune) is a symbol of ups and downs and the unpredictability of fate.

Chariot

Antique hero on a chariot, symbolizing his readiness for battle

A dynamic symbol of power, power and speed of movement of gods, heroes or allegorical figures. The chariot is also a symbol of human essence: the charioteer (consciousness), using the reins (willpower and mind), controls the horses (vital forces) carrying the cart (body).

The chariot (in Hebrew - Merkaba) is also a symbol of the chain of descent from God through man into the world of phenomena and then the triumphant ascent of the spirit. The word Merkaba also means the body of light of a person.

Cauldron, bowl

Ritual cauldron (China, 800 BC)

Carl Jung sees the cup as a female symbol that takes and gives. On the other hand, the cup can be a symbol of a difficult fate ("bitter cup"). The so-called poisoned bowl promises hope, but brings trouble.

The cauldron is a more powerful symbol and is often associated with ritual and magic, representing transformative power. The cauldron is also a symbol of abundance, an inexhaustible source of life support, revival forces, the reproductive forces of the earth, the revival of warriors for a new battle.

Blood

Detail of the painting by Fey Pomeranes "The Sixth Palace of the Underworld": the last drops of blood, a symbol of life, flow out of a glass resembling an ankh in shape

Ritual symbol of vitality. In many cultures, the blood is believed to contain some of the divine energy, or more generally the spirit of the individual.

Blood is red solar energy. It embodies the principle of life, soul, strength, including rejuvenating. To drink someone's blood means to become related, but you can also absorb the strength of the enemy and thereby secure him after death. The mixing of blood is a symbol of union in folk customs (for example, blood brotherhood) or an agreement between people, as well as between a person and God.

labyrinth

Plan of a medieval labyrinth dance on the marble floor of the cathedral in Chartres (France)

The labyrinth symbolizes the world, the Universe, incomprehensibility, movement, a complex problem, an enchanted place. This is a symbol of mystery, mystery, having many various interpretations often contradictory, sometimes frightening.

Images of a labyrinth on houses are considered an amulet for protection from hostile forces and evil spirits.

Burials, burial caves and labyrinth-shaped burial mounds protect the dead and prevent them from returning.

Lotus

Vishnu and Lakshmi watching the creation: Brahma grows from a lotus flower originating from the navel of Vishnu

The amazing veneration of the lotus in various cultures is explained both by the extraordinary beauty of the flower, and by the analogy between it and the idealized form of the vulva as the divine source of life. Therefore, the lotus, first of all, is a symbol of fertility, birth and rebirth. Lotus is the source of cosmic life, a symbol of the gods who created the world, as well as the gods of the sun. The lotus symbolizes the past, present and future, as each plant has buds, flowers and seeds at the same time. This is a symbol of a noble person who has grown out of mud, but not stained with it.

Moon

Above - the growing moon and the full moon; below - the waning moon and the new moon

The moon is the ruler of the feminine. It symbolizes abundance, cyclical renewal, rebirth, immortality, occult power, volatility, intuition and emotions. The ancients measured time by the cycles of the moon; determined the timing of the onset of tides; predicted what the future harvest would be like.

Although the moon is usually symbolized in a positive way, in some cultures it is represented as an evil eye watching what is happening, associated with death and the ominous darkness of the night.

magic circle

Dr. Johann Faust and Mephistopheles (from Christopher Mardlowe's book " tragic story Doctor Faust, 1631)

The magic circle is the basis of ceremonial magic. It serves as a symbol of the will of the magician and at the same time a protective barrier that protects the magician from the negative influence of the invisible world. In such a circle, all magical operations are performed. Different circles are used for different purposes. The drawing of a circle is a certain magical ritual that must be performed according to all established rules. In addition, it is believed that the inscription of magic circles and inscriptions contributes to the development of self-control and gait.

Mandala

The circle and square of the mandala represent the spherical shape of Heaven and rectangular shape Earth. Together they symbolize the order of things in space and in the human world.

This is a geometric composition, symbolizing the spiritual, cosmic or psychic order. In Sanskrit, "mandala" means "circle". Even when this geometric composition is based on squares or triangles, it still has a concentric structure. The overall meaning of the composition remains unchanged and symbolizes the guiding mind, supernatural structures, the clarity of enlightenment.

Mandorla, or Vesica Piscis (surrounds the entire body of the person)

Mandorla, or Vesica Piscis

Image of an almond-shaped halo (radiance), which was used in medieval Christian art to highlight the figure of Christ ascending into heaven, and sometimes ascending saints.

In mysticism, "almond" (in Italian - mandorla) is a symbol of purity and chastity. Mandorla due to its oval shape was in ancient times a symbol of the vulva. It is also a graphic image of a flame, a symbol of spirituality. On the other hand, it symbolizes the dualistic unity of Heaven and Earth, depicted as two intersecting arcs.

Halo

halo buddha

A kind of halo: a luminous circle surrounding a person's head. The golden halo symbolizes the sanctity of the individual or confirms the fact that a person communicates directly with a higher plane.

The image of the halo is borrowed from the magical symbolism of the Egyptians, as evidenced by images from the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead.

Nimbus

The halos and halos surrounding the heads of the saints symbolize the Light of God emanating from them.

Nimbus - a kind of halo: a luminous ring around the head. It symbolizes spiritual strength, as opposed to secular power, represented by the crown. Sometimes a halo is used as an attribute of the Phoenix bird as a symbol of solar power and immortality.

The halo can be blue, yellow or rainbow colored. In Greek mythology, a blue halo is an attribute of Zeus as the god of Heaven. The Romans have a blue halo - an attribute of Apollo and Jupiter. A triangular nimbus or a nimbus in the form of a rhombus means God the Father.

Sword

Inlaid swords found by Schliemann at Mycenae (Athens, National Museum)

The sword is one of the most complex and most common symbols. On the one hand, the sword is a formidable weapon that brings life or death, on the other hand, it is an ancient and powerful force that arose simultaneously with the Cosmic Balance and was its opposite. The sword is also a powerful magical symbol, the emblem of witchcraft. In addition, the sword is a symbol of power, justice, supreme justice, all-pervading reason, insight, phallic strength, light. The sword of Damocles is a symbol of fate. A broken sword is a defeat.

bird feather

Aztec feather headdress (drawing from the Codex Mendoza)

The bird feather symbolizes truth, lightness, Heaven, height, speed, space, soul, the element of wind and air, opposed to the principle of moisture, dryness, travel beyond the material world. In a broader sense, feathers worn by shamans, priests or rulers symbolized a magical connection with the spirit world or divine power and patronage. Wearing feathers or feathered hairstyles means taking the power of a bird into yourself. Two feathers symbolize light and air, two poles, resurrection. The white feather symbolizes clouds, sea foam and cowardice.

Horns

Depiction of a Persian king from the Sasanian period

The horns symbolize supernatural power, divinity, soul power, or the life principle arising from the head. Horns are both a solar and a lunar symbol. Being sharp and piercing, the horns are a phallic and masculine symbol; being hollow, they signify femininity and receptivity. Horned gods symbolize warriors, fertility for both people and animals. Horns with a long ribbon falling from them signify the god of the storm. In more recent times, horns have become a symbol of shame, contempt, depravity, and a deceived husband.

Hand

"Hand of Fatima" (Muslim carved pendant)

Power (worldly and spiritual), action, strength, domination, protection - this is the main symbolism that reflects the important role of the hand in human life and the belief that it is capable of transmitting spiritual and physical energy.

The hands of kings, religious leaders, and miracle workers are believed to have healing powers; hence the laying on of hands in religious blessing, confirmation and ordination. They bless with the right hand, they curse with the left. In Islam, the open palm of Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad, symbolizes the five pillars: faith, prayer, pilgrimage, fasting, mercy.

Sun

Variants of the image of the disk of the Sun

The sun is one of the twelve symbols of power, the main symbol of creative energy.

As a heat source, the Sun represents vitality, passion, courage, and eternal youth. As a source of light, it symbolizes knowledge, intelligence. In most traditions, the Sun is a symbol of the masculine. The sun is also life, vitality, the embodied character of the personality, the heart and its aspirations. Sun and Moon are gold and silver, king and queen, soul and body, etc.

tetramorphs

Image of Christ with tetramorphs in the corners (from a manuscript of the 12th-13th centuries)

Tetramorphs are considered a synthesis of the forces of the four elements. In some cults, these are four-headed guards of the four cardinal directions. In many traditions, they symbolize the universality of divine protection and protection from the return of primary chaos.

The four biblical tetramorphs have the heads of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. Subsequently, in Christianity, these images began to be identified with the apostles - Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, as well as with the incarnation of Jesus Christ, his resurrection and ascension.

Thyrsus

Thyrsus

Thyrsus is the rod of the Greek god of wine Dionysus (in Roman mythology Bacchus). It is a spear-shaped pole (originally from a hollow stem of dill) topped with a pine cone or bunch of grapes and entwined with vines or ivy. It symbolizes fertilizing, fertile power - both sexual and vegetative.

The bump is present on the thyrsus, probably because fermented pine resin was mixed with the wine that was drunk during bacchanalia - it was believed that this enhances sexual sensations.

Ax (axe)

Great Mother with a double ax in her hands (the ax here is a phallic symbol)

The ax is a symbol of power, thunder, fertility, rain brought by the heavenly gods, and stormy winds, correction of mistakes, sacrifice, support, help. It is also a common symbol of sovereignty associated with the ancient sun gods.

The double ax (double-sided ax) denotes the sacred union of the god of Heaven and the goddess of the Earth, thunder and lightning. Sometimes the blades of a double-sided ax, resembling crescents, symbolize the Moon or the unity of opposites. It is also a symbol of supreme power and strength.

Trident

Vishnu's trident as a symbol of his triune essence: creator, keeper and destroyer (from a painting from Rajasthan, 18th century)

The trident is the most famous symbol of power over the sea and an attribute of the ancient Greek god Poseidon (in Roman mythology - Neptune).

The trident symbolizes thunder and lightning, three flames, triple weapons - the forces of heaven, air and water. This is the weapon and attribute of all heavenly, thunder gods and goddesses of the storm, as well as all water gods, the strength and fertility of the waters. It can symbolize the Heavenly Triad, as well as the past, present and future.

Trigrams

Eight trigrams underlying the "Book of Changes"

Trigrams are a triple combination of continuous (yang) and broken (yin) lines. There are eight of them, and they formed the basis of the great Chinese book of predictions "The Book of Changes" ("I-Ching"). Trigrams symbolize the Taoist doctrine that the cosmos is based on constant flows of complementary forces: male (active, yang) and female (passive, yin).

Trigrams also personify the three essences of a person - his body, soul and spirit; irrational emotions, rational mind and suprarational intellect.

Trikvetra (three-pronged swastika)

Triquetra

The triquetra is largely swastika-inspired. This is also the movement of the Sun: at sunrise, at the zenith and at sunset. There have been suggestions about the connection of this symbol with the lunar phases and the renewal of life. Like the swastika, it is a symbol of good luck. He often appears with solar symbols; it can be seen on ancient coins, on Celtic crosses, where, as they say, this sign symbolizes the triad and is a symbol of the sea god Manannan. It is also present in Teutonic symbolism, where it is associated with Thor.

Triskelion

Triskelion

The symbol of dynamic energy in the form of three legs connected together. It is similar to the swastika, but with three rather than four bent arms, creating a cyclic effect. As a motif in Celtic art and on Greek coins and shields, the triskelion has less to do with the solar and lunar phases (one of the supposed meanings) than with power and physical strength. In addition, the triskelion is a symbol of victory and progress.

Shamrock

Shamrock

Heraldic shamrock

The shamrock-clover symbolizes unification, balance, and also destruction. The sour shamrock, which the Arabs call shamrah, symbolizes the Persian triads. The shamrock is generally a symbol of triads, it is the Mystic Tree, the “solar wheel”. In Christianity, it is a symbol of the Trinity, as well as the emblem of St. Patrick and the coat of arms of Ireland.

To always be profitable, carry a dried shamrock with you.

Trimurti

Trimurti - the Indian Trinity (a sketch of a very ancient image on granite, India House Museum)

Holy Hindu Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Symbolizes the three cycles of life: creation, preservation and destruction. Despite similarities to the Christian Trinity, the Trimurti is not a monotheistic concept of a "triune god".

Trimurti is sometimes depicted as a tortoise. She also symbolizes the Great Mother - both in her terrible manifestation (with symbols of flame and skulls), and in her beneficial (as Lotus, Sophia, Tara, as wisdom and sympathy).

Trinity

Symbol of the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - as One God

The trinity differs from the triad in that it is unity, the union of three in one and one in three. It is a symbol of unity in diversity.

In Christianity, this is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit or Mary, Joseph and Jesus. The symbols of the Trinity are the hand (symbol of the Father), the lamb (symbol of the Son), and the dove (symbol of the Holy Spirit).

The Trinity is symbolized by the colors yellow, red and green; three qualities - Love, Faith and Hope.

Human

Symbolic representation of man as the Universe: a square in a circle (China)

The crown of all living things. A symbol of what is capable of improvement. Created in the image and likeness of God, it combines the material and the spiritual, the heavenly and the earthly. This is a microcosm, symbolically containing all the elements of the universe (macrocosm). The human body in the Pythagorean tradition is depicted as a pentagram consisting of arms, legs, and a head. In man, three principles are united together, which modern scientists call the body, life and will. Symbolically, this can be represented by three points (beginnings) enclosed in a circle.

Universal symbols-concepts

The knowledge of ideas reveals in temporal phenomena their timelessly eternal meaning.

Andrey Bely

Concept symbols are numbers or geometric shapes that reflect ideas, feelings, or abstract qualities of something directly related to the inner world of a person.

Duality of the world

Solomon's Double Triangle Diagram: God of Light and God of Reflection

The duality of the world - the interaction of the two polarities behind the created universe (light and darkness, good and evil, etc.) - is reflected in many symbols. The most famous of these is the yin-yang symbol. Also of interest are the symbols presented by the famous occultist Eliphas Levi, such as the "Double Triangle of Solomon" diagram.

The main symbol used by people far from the occult to depict duality is the most common number two, although, nevertheless, it also has a magical nature.

Yin-yang (principle)

Yin-yang sign

The Chinese call the symbol "yin-yang" Tai Shi - the circle of existence. The circle is divided into two equal parts by an S-shaped curve: dark, feminine (yin), and light, masculine (yang). The circle seems to rotate, the darkness is replaced by light, and then the light is replaced by darkness. The Chinese claim that even in the purest light there is an element of darkness, and vice versa. Therefore, in the center of each part, a small circle of the opposite color is depicted: black on a white background and white on a black one. This image symbolizes the balanced dynamism of opposing forces and principles in the cosmos.

Rays

Sun with zigzag rays (golden mask of the Incas)

It is a symbol of fertilizing power, holiness, spiritual enlightenment and creative energy, creative power. The rays can depict the hair of the sun god, a manifestation of the divine essence, or a radiance (halo) emanating from the saints. In solar symbolism, the seventh ray is the main path to heaven.

Wisdom

ancient greek goddess wisdom Athena (in Roman mythology Minerva) with a coiled snake at her feet

The main symbols of wisdom are the snake (daytime, solar, but feminine flexible male sign) and the owl (night, lunar, acting imperceptibly, silently, but resolutely and quickly masculine female sign). It is the combination in each of them of the most important properties of the male and female principles that very accurately corresponds to wisdom. Other symbols of wisdom: dragon, griffin, peacock, sphinx, unicorn, bird, bee, rat, lotus, heart, number seven, scepter, scroll, ring, etc.

“Out of many roses, a drop of oil; out of many torments, a drop of wisdom” (Persian saying).

world axis

Tet of Osiris

In the esoteric tradition, the symbols of the axis of the world, the World Tree, are the spear, sword, key and scepter.

The Egyptians as a symbol of the world axis and the North Pole use Tat (or Tet) - the spine of Osiris, which, in addition, personifies stability, strength, immutability, preservation.

Light

Light emanating from the Buddha

Light is the first creation. It is associated with the beginning and the end. Light and darkness are two aspects of the Great Mother: life and love, death and burial, creation and destruction.

The light of the Sun personifies spiritual knowledge, and the reflected light of the Moon represents rational, analytical knowledge.

Light is usually depicted as straight or undulating rays, the disk of the Sun, or a halo. As a rule, a straight line represents light, and a wavy line represents heat. Light and heat symbolically complement each other and are the two poles of the element of Fire.

Death and rebirth

Death and rebirth of human beings. Detail of symbolism on a gravestone in Dieste (Belgium)

This image in Christianity is expressed by ancient complex symbols. The above composition combines two pairs of "circle-cross", each pair personifies death and rebirth. The lower pair is represented by crossbones and a rounded skull (a symbol of death). From the lower circle (skull) grows a cross similar to the one on which Christ died - the cross of resurrection, rebirth. This whole allegory is inscribed in a larger circle - a sign that the death and rebirth of human beings are within the great spiritual sphere of the cosmos.

Consciousness (three aspects)

Symbols representing the three aspects of consciousness

Usually the three aspects of consciousness are depicted as three animals: one of them lives underground, the other on the ground, and the third flies above the ground. The animal that lives underground represents the microcosm; that which flies in the air is the macrocosm; and the animal that walks the earth represents the middle step between the first two - like us, for example. The most common symbols are: in Egypt - a cobra, the right eye of Horus, a hawk; in Peru - rattlesnake, puma and condor; the American Indians have a rattlesnake, a mountain lion and an eagle; in Tibet - a snake, a pig and a rooster.

Dance

Dervish dance (the grace of God descends to the dancer through the raised hand, penetrates through his body and spirit and, leaving him, unites with the earth through the lowered hand)

The main symbolism of the dance: cosmic creative energy, the transformation of space into time, the rhythm of the universe, the imitation of the divine "game" of creation, the maintenance of strength, emotions, and activity.

Circle dances are an imitation of the movement of the Sun in the sky. Dancing in a chain is a symbol of the connection between a man and a woman, Heaven and Earth. When the dance is performed around an object, it is thereby closed, enclosing in a magic circle, protecting and giving strength.

Shadow

Priestly Esotericism: The Sign of Anathema (from Eliphas Levi's Transcendental Magic, 1896)

A symbol of the negative beginning, as opposed to the positive solar. In some primitive tribes, the shadow symbolizes the human soul, the same is in witchcraft and conspiracies. To fall into the shadow of another person is a bad omen.

The above engraving depicts a human hand performing an act of blessing. A strong beam of light casts a shadow from the blessing hand on the wall, and this shadow is the image of the horned head of the Devil. The main idea of ​​the allegory is this: evil and good are intertwined, and darkness and light oppose each other in a kind of moral duel.

Emblems of modern religions

It is difficult to find the Creator and Father of this universe, but even having found Him, it is impossible to express Him in a language understandable to everyone.

In our time, there are three world religions on the globe - Christianity, Islam (Muslim) and Buddhism. Each of them is accepted in many countries. They arose a long time ago: Christianity is 2000 years old, Islam is almost 1400 years old, and Buddhism is about 2500 years old.

There are other religions, which, although not global, are also widespread.

Christianity

Cup and cross

One of the symbols of Christ's love is the combination of the cup and the cross. The cup, or goblet, in this case indicates the great suffering that Jesus endured, calling it "the cup."

The image of the bowl indicates the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Father! Oh, that You would be pleased to carry this cup past me! however, not my will, but yours be done.”

The cross is depicted as pointed. Its sharp ends, like swords of sorrow and pain, pierce the suffering soul.

Islam

Star and crescent of Islam

The main emblem of the youngest world religion, Islam, founded by the Prophet of Allah, Muhammad (570-632), is a crescent with a star inside. The emblem denotes divine patronage, growth, rebirth, and, together with the star, paradise. The star is a traditional symbol of independence and divinity. The crescent is one of the true forces capable of resisting evil, a powerful talisman.

The crescent in Islamic countries replaces the cross in Red Cross organizations.

Buddhism

Maitreya

In Buddhism, Maitreya is the name of the Buddha of the coming world order. This is the only Bodhisattva ("whose essence has become the mind"), which is recognized by all major branches of Buddhism. The essence of a Bodhisattva is the act of sacrifice: giving up the bliss of nirvana in order to help humanity within the limits allowed by karmic limitations.

Maitreya is depicted sitting on a throne in a "European pose" (with legs down), which indicates a sign of the haste of his arrival; it is golden in color. Next to Maitreya, it is customary to depict the wheel of dharma, a stupa and a vase.

Judaism

Mogendovid, or Shield of David

Judaism is the oldest of the monotheistic world religions (it arose in the 1st millennium BC in Palestine 4000 years ago). The main provisions of Judaism were later incorporated into Christianity and Islam.

The symbol of Judaism is Mogendovid, or the Shield of David. Most commonly associated with the six-pointed Star of David. A less common name is the Star of the Creator; each end of the star symbolizes one of the six days of creation, and the central hexagon symbolizes Shabbat (the holy day of rest).

Zoroastrianism

Ahura Mazda

Zoroastrianism is an ancient spiritual tradition, founded about 2500 years ago by the prophet Zoroaster, and now, unfortunately, forgotten. The supreme god is Ahura Mazda. The sacred canon is the Avesta ("law").

Zoroastrianism proceeds from the doctrine of the justice of the world order and the triumph of justice in the world struggle between good and evil, in which the free choice of man, his Active participation play a decisive role. Zoroastrian morality contains an ethical triad: a good thought, a good word, a good deed.

Hinduism

One of the symbols of the Trimurti

Hinduism combines elements of different creeds, rooted in the mists of time. Sacred books - Vedas (Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda). The three main gods make up the Trimurti (triad): Brahma is the creator of the world, Vishnu is the keeper of the world and Shiva is the destroyer. Their images symbolize the fundamental processes of change in nature (prakriti).

The basis of Hinduism is the doctrine of the reincarnation of souls (samsara), which occurs in accordance with the law of retribution (karma) for virtuous or bad behavior.

Confucianism

The symbol of Confucianism is the figure of the “Highest Saint” himself

Confucianism and Taoism are the most famous of the philosophical currents that existed in China even before its unification (221 BC). Gradually intertwined with the traditions of Buddhists and Taoists, the teachings of Confucius acquired a religious connotation. According to Confucius, one must live in such a way that human behavior reflects the laws of the universe, which exists according to a certain order. “The master teaches his students the four disciplines: culture, behavior, loyalty and faith” (Lun Yu, 7.25).

Taoism

Tai Chi (yin-yang circle)

Taoism literally means "School of the Tao". (Tao means “way”). This is an integral part of the philosophical and religious triad (Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism). The Chinese apply all three teachings in practice, depending on the life situation. As part of his personal life, the Chinese profess Taoism, but when it comes to social norms of behavior, he becomes a Confucian, and when faced with troubles and life's hardships, he turns to Mahayana Buddhism.

Graphically, the concept of Taoism is expressed by tai chi (in some sources - Tai Shi) - a symbol of a single limit.

Shinto (Shinto)

Horin-rimbo - the wheel of the law (Japan)

Shinto is the Japanese national religion, its name comes from the Chinese word "shen-dao" ("sacred path" or "path of the gods"). At the heart of Shinto is the cult of the deities of nature and ancestors. The highest deities are Amaterasu (goddess of the Sun) and her descendant Jimmu. Jimmu is the first emperor of Japan, the mythical ancestor of Japanese emperors. Day February 11, when, according to myths, in 660 BC. e. Jimmu ascended the throne, is considered the founding day of the empire and is celebrated as a holiday.

Crosses: the most common forms

The cross is a cosmic symbol that should be studied and treated with the greatest respect.

"The Science of Initiation"

common symbol humanity is the cross. It can be found in the most ancient religions, among the most ancient civilizations: in Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, etc. Who invented the cross? Nobody - because it exists in nature. This is an ancient universal symbol and, above all, a symbol of the connection of micro- and macrocosm, spirit and matter in their combination. The cross symbolizes the involvement of the spirit (vertical line) in time (horizontal line).

The forms of the cross are various. They differ in the number of crossbars, and the number of ends of the cross, and proportions.

Greek cross

Greek cross

The cross of the simplest form: square, with ends of equal length, the horizontal crossbar is located in the middle of the vertical one. Cross of Saint George. This sign, also called crux quadrata, has been used since prehistoric times in a variety of meanings - as a symbol of the god of the sun, the god of rain, the elements from which the world is created: air, earth, fire and water. In early Christianity, the Greek cross symbolized Christ. It is also a symbol of secular, earthly power, but received from God. Used in medieval heraldry.

cross hammer

cross hammer

The hammer cross is a variation of the Greek cross. One of the main heraldic crosses, so named from the French potenee - "support", because its shape is similar to the supports used in antiquity.

latin cross

latin cross

Another name for the Latin cross is the long cross. Its horizontal bar is located above the middle of the vertical bar. This is the most common Christian symbol in the Western world. It is believed that it was from such a cross that Christ was taken down, hence his other names: the cross of the Crucifixion, the cross of the West, the cross of Life, the cross of Suffering. This form, so similar to a man with outstretched arms, symbolized God in Greece and China long before the advent of Christianity. For the Egyptians, the cross rising from the heart symbolized kindness.

Cross of Saint Peter

Cross of Saint Peter

The cross of St. Peter is an inverted Latin cross. Since the 4th century, it has been one of the symbols of Saint Peter, who is believed to have been crucified upside down on an inverted cross in 65 CE. e. during the reign of Emperor Nero in Rome.

An inverted Latin cross, that is, the cross of St. Peter, with pointed ends is the emblem of the Knights Templar.

St. Andrew's Cross (oblique cross)

St. Andrew's Cross (oblique cross)

It is also called diagonal or oblique. On such a cross, the apostle Saint Andrew was martyred. The Romans used this symbol to mark the border, the passage beyond which was forbidden. The oblique cross also symbolizes perfection, the number 10. In heraldry, this cross is called the saltire.

St. Andrew is the patron saint of Russia, and when Peter the Great created the Russian navy (in the 1690s), he adopted a blue oblique cross on a white background for the flag of the fleet.

Tau Cross (St. Anthony's Cross)

tau cross

Cross of Saint Anthony

The tau cross is so named because of its resemblance to the Greek letter "T" (tau). It symbolizes life, the key to supreme power, the phallus. In ancient Egypt - a sign of fertility and life. In biblical times - a symbol of protection. The Scandinavians have Thor's hammer. In Christian churches - the cross of St. Anthony (the founder of Christian monasticism, IV century). Since the beginning of the XIII century - the emblem of Francis of Assisi. In heraldry, this is the Almighty Cross. Also known as the "Gallows Cross" due to its resemblance to the gallows, as it was made in antiquity.

Ankh (Egyptian cross)

Ankh - the key to the gates of death

The ankh is the most significant symbol among the ancient Egyptians, also known as the "cross with a handle." This cross combines two symbols: a circle (as a symbol of eternity) and a tau-cross suspended from it (as a symbol of life); together they denote immortality, eternal life. Ankh also personifies "the life that will come", "the time that will come", hidden wisdom, the key to the secrets of life and knowledge, as well as the key that opens the gates of death. Perhaps it symbolizes the Tree of Life, as well as the sun rising over the horizon.

Maltese cross

Maltese cross

The Maltese cross is also called the eight-pointed. It symbolizes the four great gods of Assyria: Ra, Anu, Belus and Hea. Emblem of the Knights of Malta. The white cross of this form on a black background was from the very beginning the emblem of the military and religious order of the Hospitallers (Johnites), who moved their headquarters to Malta (in 1529) - hence the name.

In philately, the Maltese cross is the first postmark used to cancel postal items from 1840 to 1844.

Patriarchal Cross

Patriarchal Cross

The patriarchal cross is used by archbishops and cardinals. It is also called the cardinal's catholic cross and the two-bar cross. The upper crossbar is a titulary (board for writing a name), introduced by order of Pontius Pilate. Under the name of the archbishop's cross, it is often found on the coats of arms of archbishops.

This cross is widespread in Greece and is sometimes called Angevin or Lorraine. It is sometimes erroneously called the Lorraine cross.

papal cross

papal cross

The papal cross with three horizontal bars is also known as the triple cross. Used in processions in which the pope participates. Three cross lines symbolize power and the Tree of Life.

Russian cross

Russian cross (cross of St. Lazarus)

This eight-pointed cross is the cross of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is also called the eastern cross or the cross of St. Lazarus. Symbol of the Orthodox Church in the Eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Europe and Russia.

The upper of the three transverse crossbars is the titulary, where the name was written, as in the patriarchal cross, the lower crossbar is beveled.

Cross of Constantine (sign "Chi-Rho")

Cross of Constantine

Magic seal with the symbol "Chi-Rho" (Agrippa, 1533)

The Cross of Constantine is a monogram known as "Khi-Rho" ("chi" and "ro" are the first two letters of Christ's name in Greek). The legend says that the emperor Constantine saw this cross in the sky on the way to Rome, along with the cross he saw the inscription “Conquer this”. According to another legend, he saw the cross in a dream the night before the battle and heard a voice: “With this sign you will win”). It is said that it was this prediction that converted Constantine to Christianity. And the monogram became the first generally accepted symbol of Christianity - as a sign of victory and salvation.

Rosicrucian cross

Cross with a rose (Rosicrucian)

Another name is the cross of the rose (five-petal). Emblem of the Rosicrucian Order. Symbol of harmony, center, heart. The rose and the cross also symbolize the Resurrection and Atonement of Christ. This sign is understood as the divine light of the Universe (rose) and the earthly world of suffering (cross), as the feminine and masculine, material and spiritual, spiritual and sensual love. The cross with a rose is a symbol of the initiate, who, thanks to the work on himself, has managed to develop in himself love, life-giving and transforming matter.

Masonic cross

Masonic cross (cross in a circle)

The Masonic cross is a cross inscribed in a circle. It means a holy place and a cosmic center. The four dimensions of space in the celestial circle symbolize the totality that includes the Great Spirit. This cross represents the Cosmic Tree extending horizontally over the Earth and touching the Heavens through the vertical central axis. Such a cross was either made in stone or depicted on the walls of Roman Gothic temples, symbolizing their sanctification.

Pacifist Cross

Pacifist cross (peace cross)

This symbol was designed by Gerald Holtom in 1958 for the then emerging movement for nuclear disarmament. To develop the symbol, he used the semaphore alphabet: he made a cross from its symbols - for "N" (nuclear, nuclear) and "D" (disarmament, disarmament) - and placed them in a circle, which symbolized a global agreement. Soon this cross became one of the most common signs of the 60s of the twentieth century, symbolizing both peace and anarchy.

images of time

The wise turn years into months, months into weeks, weeks into days.

Everything is perishable in this world.

The image of inexorable time is the road. The symbol of time is sand flowing through the fingers. Attributes of measured time - a clock, a burning candle; it is a symbol of the elusiveness of the present moment.

In the pantheon of gods of almost all ancient cultures, there is also the god of Time.

Abraxas

Abraxas - a symbol of time (gnostic gem)

Abraxas is the personification of the divine cycles of the solar year. This is the mystical image of the Supreme Being, the highest of the seven. It consists of five emanations (radiations): Nus (Mind), Logos (Word), Phronesis (Reason), Sophia (Wisdom), Dynamis (Power). The human body in the image represents God. The two serpent-supports emerging from it are Nus and Logos (intuition and quick understanding). The head of a rooster means foresight and vigilance (mind). Two hands hold the symbols of Sophia and Dynamis: the armor of wisdom and the whip of power.

Kalachakra

Namchu-vanden - emblem of Kalachakra

Kalachakra - literally "wheel of time", "course of time". Secret Doctrine in Vajrayana Buddhism. An astrological and astronomical system that entered Tibet from India. Kalachakra introduces the concept of the cyclical nature of time with periods of 12 and 60 years (Tibetan calendar). According to legend, the Kalachakra teaching was given by the Buddha Shakyamuni. According to other sources, this teaching was brought to Tibet by Pitop, or the Great Kalachakrapada, who, having miraculously found himself in Shambhala, was initiated there by the king of Kalki into the teachings of Kalachakra.

Kronos

Kronos (Rom. Saturn), XV century

The ancient Greek symbol of time - the titan Kronos - became the ancestor of many words in Russian (the particle “chrono” is part of compound words indicating their relationship to time): chronic, chronology, chronometer, etc.

Kronos (Rom. Saturn) - the god of Time, in the form of a fading autumn or the departing Sun, sometimes, along with his sickle, also has a hood, which symbolizes invisibility, death and retreat. Since the hood covers the head, it also signifies thought and spirit.

Ourobor (serpent that bites its own tail)

Ourobor as an Emblem of Death (from George Wheater's A Collection of Emblems, Ancient and Modern, 1635)

The most obvious meaning of the symbol is associated with the concept of time: the passage of time is accompanied by destruction, since the past seems to be irretrievably lost. This is reflected in the fact that the serpent "devours" its own tail, like time, which apparently consumes itself. It can be said that time has a cyclical nature (day follows night, the seasons repeat themselves, etc.), and this has found its expression in the form of a snake, in the fact that he curled up in a circle. The symbol of the emblem can be expressed by the phrase: "In my beginning lies my end" or "The end is in the beginning."

Tempus

Image of Time - Tempus (Rome)

The Romans depicted time in the form of a male winged figure with goat legs, with a scythe in his hands (“the inexorable scythe of time”) - this is Tempus (from Latin tempus - time).

The figure of Tempus personifies the frailty and transience of all living things, and therefore is associated with the symbol of Death.

"Clock" of our body

The “clock” of our body (the numbers in the inner circle are the time of day)

The Chinese consider it useful to influence the organs of the body in a strictly defined period of the day (stimulate - during activity, and vice versa).

Twelve major organs, according to medical practice, have two hours of activity (see figure). Designations: GB - gallbladder: (from 23 to 1 hour); Liv - liver; Lu - lungs; Li - large intestine; St - stomach; Sp, spleen; H - heart; Si, small intestine; UB, urinary bladder; K, kidneys; P - brain; TW - spinal cord.

Symbolism of the plant kingdom

The beauty of plants is the common heritage of the world, that is, it is always macrocosmic, not microcosmic.

The symbol of the plant kingdom is the tree. Its branches, representing diversity, depart from a common trunk, which is a symbol of unity. A green, flowering tree is a symbol of life; dead, withered - a symbol of death. An old, gnarled tree can mean wisdom and strength.

The flower is the emblem of the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. Flowers represent beauty (especially feminine), innocence, divine blessing, spring, youth, but also the brevity of being. Everything in a flower can carry a certain symbolism: its shape, and the number of petals, and color, and smell ...

Vine

Ornament - vine motif

Grapes are one of the oldest symbols of fertility, abundance and vitality. The vine is one of the symbols of Christ. The importance of wine in many religious rituals is based on the symbolic association of grapes with divine blessings. The vine was the first plant Noah planted after the flood.

Grape juice resembles human blood. In some mysteries, grapes are a symbol of lust and debauchery, greed and drunkenness. The bunch of grapes is sometimes presented as a phallic symbol. But grapes are also seen as a symbol of the solar spirit.

Cherry

Sakura (19th century Japanese print by Utagawa Kunisada)

In Christian iconography, cherry is sometimes depicted instead of an apple as a fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil; sometimes Christ is depicted with cherries in his hand. In China, the cherry tree is a symbol of good luck, spring (due to early flowering) and virginity; The vulva is called the "spring cherry". Cherry blossoms (sakura) - a symbol of Japan; it is cultivated as an ornamental tree; its fruits are inedible. The Japanese identify cherry blossoms with the rising sun. Cherry, in addition, is the emblem of the samurai.

Pomegranate

Popping pomegranate

The opening pomegranate (fruit) symbolizes the Easter Resurrection of Christ, gives Christians confidence in forgiveness, faith in the life to come and resurrection. Due to the abundance of seeds, pomegranates are a symbol of fertility. It is also the ancient eastern emblem of the sun god and the emblem of life, a divine symbol called the "forbidden secret."

The remains of a flower (thorn) on the upper part of the fruit serve as an image of a crown in heraldry. The pomegranate is always depicted as golden. And pomegranate seeds are always twelve - a number symbolizing perfection since ancient times.

Oak and acorn

Acorn

Oak is a symbol of power, endurance, longevity and nobility, as well as glory. In ancient Rome, a wreath of oak leaves was the highest award for a victorious commander.

As an emblem of valor and courage, oak (oak leaf, oak branch, oak wreath, oak garland) is used in military insignia in many countries.

Oak with acorns - the emblem of maturity, full of strength. An oak without acorns is the emblem of youthful valor. The acorn is a symbol of fertility, prosperity, spiritual energy growing from the grain of truth.

Kabbalistic Tree

Kabbalistic Tree (drawing from the book by R. Fludd, 1574–1637)

This is an inverted Cosmic Tree. Its crown touches the ground, and its roots are fixed in the spiritual world and feed on the spiritual energy of the sky, spreading it to the outer world and down. This is a favorite image in Kabbalism and other mystical and magical teachings. It testifies that human life is the descent of the spirit into the body and back. It is also a symbol of philosophical growth, growth inwards.

In the Bhagavad Gita, an inverted tree means the origin of everything from a single root, in Islam it is a symbol of happiness and good luck.

Cypress

Seven cypresses and twelve branches - the personification of the universe and its eternal truths (Istanbul, Turkey)

In the West, cypress is a mystical symbol of death and mourning, the personification of sadness and sorrow, as it was used for embalming the body and for making coffins. In Asia, it is a symbol of longevity and immortality. The Arabs call the cypress the Tree of Life. In Greece, the cypress has always had a dual reputation: it was a symbol of the gloomy god of the underworld, Hades, but at the same time, more cheerful gods - Zeus, Apollo, Aphrodite and Hermes. Therefore, it has become a symbol of rebirth and life after death. In China, the smoke of cypress branches is a symbol of light forces, a talisman against misfortune.

Clover

Clover with four petals

The three-leaf clover (shamrock) is a symbol of the Christian Trinity. The rare quatrefoil is a symbol of good luck; there is a belief that Eve took one quatrefoil as a memory of the lost paradise. But a five-leaf clover brings bad luck.

In China, clover is the emblem of spring. The Irish use clover leaves as their national emblem, which probably goes back to the veneration of this plant by the Celts for its active growth in spring.

Roots

Seed and roots

A symbol of connection with the earth, with the family.

"A man with roots" - they say about a man who stands firmly on his feet.

"Look at the root" - pay attention to the most essential, delve into the essence.

The "root of evil" is the source, the core of evil.

"Uproot" - take away life, cut off access to food, radically solve the problem.

laurel

Laurel wreath

Laurel symbolizes immortality, but also triumph, victory and success. He personifies peace, purification, protection, divinity, secret knowledge. According to ancient Greek myth, Apollo, the god of the Sun, dawn and poetry, pursued the nymph Daphne, who, running away from him, turned into a laurel bush (in Greek, "laurel" - "daphne"). In the arms of Apollo was a tree, with the branches of which he decorated his head and lyre. That is why in ancient Greece musicians, poets, dancers, whose patron was Apollo, were awarded with laurel wreaths. The Romans extended this tradition to military victors.

Lily

Fleur-de-lys, coat of arms of the French kings

One of the most versatile and even controversial characters. The triple lily is a symbol of the Trinity and three virtues: Faith, Hope and Mercy. Lily is an attribute of many saints, including the Archangel Gabriel. White lilies can sometimes symbolize death. The lily is also associated with fertility and erotic love because of its arrow-shaped or spear-shaped (phallus-like) pistil and specific strong fragrance. Lily - a sign of prosperity and royal power in Byzantium, later - the emblem of the French kings.

Palm branch

Palm branch

This is the main symbol of victory and triumph ("palm tree").

In ancient Greece, a palm branch was awarded along with a wreath to the winner. Olympic Games as a personal wish for health and longevity. In ancient Rome, they were also awarded to victorious soldiers and gladiators. In celebration Palm Sunday in Jerusalem, priests distribute consecrated palm leaves in the form of a cross. In Russia, they are replaced by willows. The palm branch is a symbol of longevity and one of the emblems of the world, and unlike the dove, it is a secular emblem.

Rose

ten petal rose

The rose has polar symbolism: it is heavenly perfection and earthly passion, time and eternity, life and death, fertility and virginity. It is also a symbol of the heart, the center of the universe, the cosmic wheel, divine, romantic and sensual love. Rose - completeness, the mystery of life, its focus, the unknown, beauty, grace, happiness, but also voluptuousness, passion, and in combination with wine - sensuality and seduction. The rosebud is a symbol of virginity; withered rose - the transience of life, death, sorrow; its thorns are pain, blood and martyrdom.

roses heraldic

Heraldic roses: 1 - Lancaster; 2 - Yorks; 3 - Tudors; 4 - England (badge); 5 - German Rose Rosenov; 6 - Russian stamp

The heraldic medieval rose has five or ten petals, which connects it with the Pythagorean pentad and decade. A rose with red petals and white stamens is the emblem of England, the most famous badge of the English kings. After the "War of the Scarlet and White Roses", named after the breastplates of the families that fought for the English crown, the scarlet rose of Lancaster and the white rose of York were combined in the form of the "Tudor Rose". The bright crimson rose is the unofficial emblem of Bulgaria. The famous tea rose is the emblem of Beijing. Nine white roses are in the coat of arms of Finland.

sprouts

Fern sprouts (four-part scheme)

Sprouts (heart-shaped scheme)

The sprout is a symbol of the awakening of life. The simplest species is a grain “hatching out of its shell”, a sprout resembling a folded fern leaf. These images are accompanied by a rounded or heart-shaped stripe. The heart-shaped scheme (point up) is a stable expression of the agrarian ornament. A four-part composition with fern sprouts (a sacred plant among many peoples) is widely used, the leaves of which are directed in all directions.

Pumpkin

Painted gourd, vessel and talisman (China, 19th century)

The gourd in Chinese culture is a symbol of health, wisdom, and even the entire universe.

In America, a pumpkin is the main attribute of the traditional holiday of evil spirits - Halloween. For this holiday, faces are carved on pumpkins, and candles are inserted inside the pumpkins and they go home with such “lamps”.

In humiliated symbolism, a pumpkin is called a head.

Thistle

Thistle

Emblem of Scotland

Thistle means challenge, asceticism, vindictiveness, misanthropy. Donkey food. It also symbolizes sin, sorrow, the curse of God when expelled from paradise; according to Genesis, Adam was punished with thistles. In Christian art, the thistle is the emblem of martyrdom.

But there is another side to the thistle symbolism. Like some other thorny plants, it is considered a talisman and is endowed with the ability to heal wounds. It is a plant with strong magical properties.

Apple tree, apple

Sovereign apple - one of the symbols of monarchical power

The apple tree is a symbol of fertility, one of the symbols of Mother Earth. Blooming apple tree - eternal youth, and in China - peace and beauty. An apple is a symbol of bliss, especially sexual, a symbol of restoration of potential, integrity, health and vitality. The apple represents love, marriage, spring, youth, longevity or immortality, in Christianity it is associated with temptation, the fall of man and his salvation. A bitten apple is a symbol of sin, anarchy, but also knowledge and hope. In art, an apple in the mouth of a monkey or a snake is a symbol of original sin.

Symbolism of the animal kingdom

The animal kingdom in its different breeds embodies the different impulses of the human psyche.

N. P. Rudnikova

In the human mind, animals (animals, birds, fish, insects, etc.) act as symbols, on the basis of which figurative pictures of certain aspects of being are compiled. The symbolism of animals also extends to the highest foundations of man himself (for example, ideas about the soul are expressed in the form of a bird).

The ancient Egyptians believed that certain animals could embody cosmic and divine energies. The twelve animals of the zodiac are archetypal symbols and represent a closed cycle of energies.

Stork

“He who has gained immortality flies on a stork into the sky” (stork and crane are symbols of immortality)

The stork symbolizes new life, the arrival of spring, good luck, child or son affection. In Christianity, the stork personifies purity, chastity, piety, vigilance. In the East, the stork is a symbol of immortality. Among the Slavs, the stork is an ancient totem bird, a symbol of the motherland, family well-being, home comfort, love for one's home. The punishment for destroying a nest or killing a stork is a fire that incinerates the killer's house or himself. There is a belief that a stork brings newborn babies. A stork carrying a baby is a symbol of christening.

Butterfly

Butterfly image

At present, the symbolism of the butterfly is dominated by the meaning of the anemone, a carefree creature, but also pure joy. In ancient times, it was represented as a symbol of transformation and immortality due to its life cycle: life (bright caterpillar) - death (dark chrysalis) - rebirth (free flight of the soul). The butterfly is a symbol of the soul in many regions of the world. In China, it is a symbol of light entertainment and a sign of lovers. In Japan, a butterfly is a symbol of a fickle and windy lover, as well as female fussiness and the craft of a geisha; two butterflies - marital happiness.

Ram (ram)

ram head

One of the most important symbols and one of the most widespread emblems in the world (variants: lamb, golden fleece, ram's head, ram's horns). The ram symbolizes fire, solar energy, passionate passion, courage, impulsiveness, stubbornness. In many cultures since ancient times it means male power and sexual potency. The symbol of the elements - both creative and destructive, requiring sacrifice.

In the modern everyday sense, the word "ram" is often synonymous with stupidity or stupid stubbornness.

Bull

Sacred bull Apis (Egypt)

Symbol of the fertility of the earth. The most common symbol of sexual power, as well as violence and rage. This is the embodiment of power, power, male fertility. A symbol of divinity, royalty, the elemental forces of nature, which changed meanings in different eras and in different cultures. The bull's horns are a sign of the full moon, its huge body is the pillar of the world in the Islamic and Vedic traditions; its abundant seed is nourished by the Moon in Iranian mythology; his bellowing, hoof-stomping, and horn-shaking are universally associated with thunder and earthquakes.

Wolf

She-wolf feeding Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome (bronze figure, 6th–5th century BC)

The symbolism of the wolf is dual.

Negative symbolism: ferocity, deceit, greed, cruelty, evil, gluttony and sexuality. Stories of witches turned into wolves and men turned werewolves epitomize the fear of demonic possession and male violence.

Positive symbolism: courage, victory, concern for the food of the family. The wolf is a common symbol of knowledge through experience, the emblem of warriors.

IN heraldry the wolf is a symbol of anger, gluttony, greed.

Raven, crow

The raven on the shield is a symbol of purification

“Daughters of Jerusalem! I am black, but beautiful ”(alchemical symbol)

Raven and crow have similar symbolism. On the one hand, crows are associated with war, death, desolation, evil and misfortune. Because of their blackness, they are considered symbols of chaos and darkness that preceded the light of creation. On the other hand, the raven is a symbol of wisdom and justice. The raven has a connection with the world of the dead, he can get living and dead water. There is an opinion that the raven is a travel assistant and a fortune teller. There is a belief that when crows begin to leave their nests, this portends famine or other misfortunes.

Pigeon

Dove as a symbol of peace

Peace, purity, love, serenity, hope. Traditional Christian symbol of the Holy Spirit and baptism. There is a legend that the devil and witches can turn into any creature except a dove and a sheep. Pigeon cooing is associated with both sex and the birth of children. A pair of doves is a symbol of sexual harmony; so the dove became the personification of the tender wife. A dove with a laurel branch is a symbol of peace, a dove with a cornucopia is a happy accident. In the East, the dove is one of the many symbols of longevity.

Dolphin

"Boy with a Dolphin" (Andrea del Verrocchio, 1475. Sculpture for a fountain)

The dolphin symbolizes love, the power of the sea, speed, salvation, transformation. This is a friend of man in the sea element and its symbol. The dolphin is also a symbol of boundless joy, playfulness, unpredictability and even spiritual enlightenment. In ancient Greece, the lord of the waters, Poseidon, (the Roman counterpart is Neptune), was often depicted in a cart pulled by dolphins. As a symbol of the sacrifice of Christ, the dolphin is often depicted with a pierced trident or anchor (the secret symbol of the cross). Intertwined with an anchor, the dolphin is a symbol of caution, speed limits: "Hurry slowly."

Toad, frog

Stylized image of a frog

The toad is one of the attributes of witchcraft. According to European superstitions, this is a companion of witches, reminiscent of the death and torment of sinners. At the same time, the toad, which in the Middle Ages personified darkness and evil, greed and lust, is associated with birth and rebirth. A symbol of ugliness, behind which a beautiful soul can lurk. It also symbolizes longevity and wealth: it is believed that the toad, like a snake, carries a gem in its forehead that attracts good luck.

The frog is a widespread symbol of fertility, a harbinger of spring rains and the awakening of nature.

Crane

Dancing Cranes (bracelet from Kyiv)

In China and Japan, the crane symbolizes vigilance, longevity, wisdom, devotion, honor. The image of a crane flying towards the Sun is a symbol of social aspirations, its snow-white body is a symbol of purity, its red head is the fire of life. In India and in some Celtic regions, the crane is a symbol of betrayal, a harbinger of misfortune. In Rus', cranes, along with storks and nightingales, are considered "God's birds", their symbolism is associated with the Sun.

Throughout the world, the crane is a symbol of communication with the gods.

Snake: general symbolism

Python (Greece)

The snake is the most versatile and most complex of all animal symbols, as well as the most common and perhaps the most ancient of them. The snake signifies death and destruction, but also life and resurrection. This is both the solar and the lunar, light and darkness, good and evil, wisdom and blind passion, healing and poison, the keeper and the destroyer. Such a duality of symbolism forces one to balance between fear and worship, the snake appears either as a hero or as a monster.

Snake: positive symbolism

"Snake Power"

An example of the positive symbolism of a snake is the concept of kundalini: a symbol of inner strength, psychic energy, a snake-like ball of vital energy dormant at the base of the spine. The kundalini energy is called the "serpent power". Sometimes she is depicted as a coiled snake with heads at both ends. In India and other regions, snakes are often seen as guardians of shrines, water sources, and treasures. This tradition is associated with the symbolism of fertility inherent in the snake, and with the belief that precious stones are the frozen saliva of snakes.

Snake: negative symbolism

Illustration for the "Poem of Gilgamesh" (seal of the Sumero-Akkadian kingdom)

If we consider the frightening part of the symbolism of the snake, then it is a clear prototype of dragons and sea snakes or snake-like hybrids, symbolizing the many dangers that await a person in life. The snake is one of the worst omens, a symbol of darkness, evil, hatred, sin, temptation, deceit. The snake is blamed for the fact that because of it people lost God's gift of eternal life.

Snakes were an indispensable attribute of sorceresses, witches' potions included some parts of snakes.

Snake: cosmogonic symbolism

Snake and egg (the image of a snake that supports the world)

The snake is primarily a magical symbol of the forces that gave birth to life. A snake biting its own tail is a symbol not only of eternity, but also of divine self-sufficiency. The image of a snake guarding the eggs it lays is associated with a huge snake that wraps around the whole world and supports it or helps the earth's disk to swim in the surrounding Ocean. The snake is in constant contact with the forces of the earth, waters, darkness and the underworld - lonely, cold-blooded, secretive, able to rejuvenate by shedding its skin.

The snake as a symbol of wisdom

A snake wrapped around a wand

Totem symbolism, combined with the belief that snakes know the secrets of the earth and are able to see in the dark, endows snakes with wisdom or the gift of divination. “Be wise as serpents and simple as doves,” Christ said to his disciples (Matthew 10:16). The Greek word for "dragon" (which not only refers to a monster, but which also means "serpent with piercing gaze”) is etymologically related to vision. In the art of the snake - an attribute of the goddess of wisdom Athena (Minerva) and the allegorical figure of Prudence, meaning the gift of foresight.

Snake: Alchemy and Healing

Rod of Mercury (caduceus)

Staff of Asclepius (Aesculapius)

The snake coiled around the wand is the alchemical symbol of the Philosophical Mercury in its primary state.

According to mythology, Hermes (Mercury), the messenger of the gods, received a caduceus - a winged staff with the power to reconcile opponents. When he placed it between two fighting snakes, they peacefully coiled around the staff and calmed down. The snakes wrapped around the caduceus symbolize the interaction of opposing forces. The snake wrapped around a knotty staff is the emblem of the Greek god of healing Asclepius (Aesculapius), who, it is believed, could even resurrect the dead.

Ibis

Ibis (Egyptian papyrus from the 19th Dynasty, 1295-1186 BC)

The ibis is the sacred bird of the Egyptians. Symbol of wisdom. In ancient Egypt, the ibis was considered the incarnation of the lunar deity Thoth, the greatest god of Egypt, the patron of occult knowledge, who gave mankind writing. He is depicted as a man with the head of an Ibis. This bird is also called the guardian of the harvest. Killing an ibis, even by accident, was considered a heinous crime.

It is believed that the ibis can only live in Egypt and, transported to other countries, dies of boredom there.

Goat

Goat

The goat is a symbol of potency, vitality, masculinity, but also cunning, lust and stupidity; he personifies destructive tendencies in a man. In Western tradition, a goat is often referred to as an old, lustful man. In China and India, the goat is a positive male symbol. In Christianity, the goat is the personification of impurity and base lust.

The goat is often used for sacrifice ("scapegoat"). The goat is closely related to Dionysus (Bacchus).

Cow

Holy cow

For many peoples, this animal symbolizes fertility, prosperity, as well as patience and passive endurance. The cow is an ancient symbol of mother's milk and (like the bull) the cosmic forces that created the world. In many cults, from Ancient Egypt to China, the cow personifies Mother Earth. She also symbolizes the moon and the sky, because her horns resemble a crescent moon, her milk is associated with the Milky Way. The heads of the goddesses of the moon in various cultures are decorated with cow horns. The cow enjoys exceptional honor in India.

a lion

The lion is the symbol of the sun

The lion, commonly referred to as the king of beasts, has been one of the most frequently seen symbols of power and majesty for thousands of years. General symbolism: divine, solar energy (symbol of fire and the Sun), royal power, strength, courage, wisdom, justice, patronage, protection, but also cruelty, all-devouring ferocity and death. The lion is the image of all the great and terrifying forces of nature. He is considered both a destroyer and a savior, he is able to represent both evil and the fight against evil. The lion is one of the hypostases of the Sphinx.

Lions heraldic

heraldic lions

In heraldry - the most common and favorite image of an animal. Attributes of a heraldic lion: a bow and arrows, a saber, a sword, an ax, an ax, halberds, etc. The main heraldic form is a lion on its hind legs and in profile. In this case, one eye and one ear are indicated on the head. The bloody tongue sticks out of the mouth. This lion is a symbol of strength, courage, generosity. There are other image options. In state emblems, a crowned lion is an emblem of power over subjects.

Bear

heraldic bear

The bear is a symbol of good nature and rage, heroic strength and clumsiness, laziness and tender maternal feelings, gluttony and asceticism (albeit involuntary: he sleeps all winter without any food, “sucks his paw”). The bear personifies unpredictability, bad temper, evil, rudeness, greed, sinfulness, the devil, as well as cruel primitive force. Badge of warriors in Northern Europe and Asia.

In addition, the bear is a symbol of the moon and resurrection. K. Jung believes that the bear symbolizes the dark side of the subconscious.

Mouse, rat

mouse wedding

In Russia, the mouse is often called the "grey thief". The mouse is also a symbol of timidity, invisibility. The mouse helps to find the loss in the house: "Mouse, mouse, play and give it back." The mouse gives an increase. In China, the mouse is one of the popular deities of wealth.

The general symbolism of the rat is destruction, aggressiveness, greed; the rat is associated with disasters (pestilence) and death, but it is also the embodiment of perseverance, dexterity, cunning and fertility, and also has the gift of foresight (the legendary ability to foresee the death of ships).

Monkey

Hanuman, Monkey God Playing with the Peaches of Immortality (from a Chinese dish)

The symbolism of the monkey is controversial. Most often, the monkey personifies sin, in particular physical. She is also a symbol of cunning, deceit, the pursuit of luxury, spitefulness, laziness (due to her angular movements), drunkenness, sometimes a symbol of learning. The monkey (along with the white elephant and the cow) is the third sacred animal in India. Even now, insulting a monkey by action causes great resentment among religious people. In Japan, the cry of a monkey is a symbol of deep longing. Carvings of three monkeys are considered in the East as a talisman protecting from slander.

Deer

Stag (badge of Richard II, late 14th century)

A universal symbol associated with the East, sunrise, light, purity, renewal, creation and spirituality, but also with loneliness. Characteristic qualities of a deer: swiftness, grace and beauty. Deer are wonderful messengers and guides. They are credited with healing powers, especially the ability to seek healing herbs. The deer, in addition, is a symbol of caution and keen hearing. In China, the deer is associated with wealth (abundance) and good luck. The deer is a strong magical intercessor, one of the patron spirits of the Siberian peoples.

Eagle

The eagle as a symbol of the supreme power and solar nature of the lord of heaven and the head of all the gods Zeus (painting on a Greek bowl, 6th century BC)

The eagle is the lord of the air, the embodiment of power, speed. Solar symbol of the sun gods, rulers, warriors. Associated with greatness, power, dominance, courage, inspiration. It personifies the midday Sun, liberation from bonds, victory, pride, contemplation, royal origin, height. It is believed that the eagle is able to fly to the Sun, so it is called the messenger of heaven. Double-headed eagles can mean omniscience and dual power. An eagle with a snake in its claws symbolizes the victory of the spirit. In this fight, the eagle is the personification of the power of good, and the snake is the power of evil.

Eagles heraldic

Double-headed eagle (Russian embroidery)

Eagle - the emblem of the United States

In heraldry, the eagle is a symbol of power, dominance, generosity and insight. On coats of arms, the eagle is most often depicted flying chest forward, with wings raised up or soaring. It happens one- or two-headed. Since the time of the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, it has been depicted on the standards as the “bird of Jupiter”. After the Christians conquered Palestine, the double-headed eagle became the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire, and later of the Austrian (Austro-Hungarian) and Russian empires. The American bald eagle with outstretched wings has become the emblem of the United States.

Peacock

Peacock (medieval Persian drawing)

This is shining glory, immortality, greatness, incorruptibility. The magnificent tail of a peacock is a symbol of the all-seeing Sun and eternal cosmic cycles, as well as the starry firmament and, as a result, unity and interconnectedness. In ancient Rome, the peacock was considered the emblem of the empress and her daughters, while the eagle was the bird of the emperor. In Islamic decorative art, the unity of opposites (the Sun at its zenith next to the full Moon) is depicted as two peacocks under the World Tree. In Christianity, the peacock, on the one hand, is a symbol of eternal life, and on the other, a symbol of pride, luxury and vanity.

Spider

Spider depicted on an American Indian amulet

feminine beginning. The Great Mother, in her terrible form as weaver of fate, is sometimes depicted as a spider. All moon goddesses are spinners and weavers of fate. The web that the spider weaves is woven from the center in a spiral - a symbol of the creative forces of the Universe, a symbol of the universe. The spider in the center of the web symbolizes the center of the world; Sun surrounded by rays; The moon, personifying the cycles of life and death, spinning the web of time. The spider is often associated with good luck, wealth or rain. Killing a spider is bad luck.

Pelican

Plate of red stone mass depicting a pelican feeding its chicks with its blood (Staffordshire, circa 1660)

Pelican symbolizes self-sacrifice and parental love, as well as mercy. In heraldry, this bird, as a rule, is depicted as looking like an eagle or a crane, standing in a nest and trying to feed the chicks with its blood. Early Christian writers compared the pelican, feeding offspring with its flesh, with Jesus Christ, who donated his blood in the name of the salvation of mankind. The pelican is also a symbol of European occultism (primarily alchemists and Rosicrucians), expressing the feat of self-sacrifice and the eternal rebirth of life.

Rooster

Rooster - a solar bird (image-amulet, China, XX century)

The rooster is vigilance, courage, courage, foresight, reliability. Herald of the dawn, symbol of the Sun and spiritual rebirth. These qualities of his prevail over pride, arrogance, lust, also inherent in him. The Romans mean "the third watch of time": between midnight and dawn. The rooster is a protector from all kinds of evil. It is believed that night ghosts and evil spirits disappear with the first cock crow. The red rooster takes away the fire from the house, and the white one - ghosts. The Eastern Slavs, before moving into a new house, launched a rooster there. If he spent the night safely, then it was possible to move in.

Bee

Young woman collecting bee honey (15th century herbalist)

The bee personifies hard work, diligence, organizational and creative abilities, cleanliness, sociability, modesty, spirituality, courage, wisdom, selflessness, eloquence (“honey speeches”). In the Greek, Middle Eastern, Islamic traditions, the bee is an allegory of the soul. The Chinese associate the bee with the fickleness of "choosy brides." Among the ancient Slavs, the bee was a symbol of love, as it combined "the sweetness of honey and the bitterness of the sting." Queen bee, mother goddess, symbol of supreme power, fertility.

Scorpion

Scorpio (gnostic gem)

Scorpio is a symbol of evil, self-destruction, death, punishment, retribution, revenge, betrayal, but also a deep understanding of the world. Sometimes the scorpion serves as a talisman and an amulet - Paracelsus advised people suffering from diseases of the reproductive system to wear it. In Africa, it was believed that the scorpion itself allocates funds against its poison, so it was a symbol of not only murder, but also healing. The red star Antares on the "back" of the celestial constellation Scorpio was considered in Europe the worst fire in the sky.

Elephant

White elephant

At present, the huge mass and slowness of the elephant have become metaphorical. However, the elephant, first of all, is a symbol of strength: both gentle, loving, and furious, destructive. Elephants are considered vindictive, as they never forget the wrongs and abuse done to them. The thick skin of an elephant symbolizes spiritual invulnerability. The elephant is also a symbol of power, insight, prosperity, happiness, personifies the element of the Earth, memory, wisdom, longevity, fidelity, patience, compassion. The elephant is often depicted on good luck charms.

Dog

Neter Anubis (dog god)

In some countries, a dog is a sacred animal, in others it is considered an unclean, greedy, even vile creature and personifies evil. According to Islamic beliefs, angels will never visit a house where a dog lives. But most often the dog is a symbol of protection and self-sacrifice. As well as hunting (sometimes this symbol carries a negative connotation - persecution).

In ancient Egyptian mythology, dogs, as good guides and guards in the afterlife, were considered companions of Anubis, depicted with the head of a jackal or a dog.

Owl

Wise owl - attribute of Athena (Greece)

The owl is a traditional symbol of wisdom, an allegorical figure of Night and Sleep. In some ancient cultures, especially in China, the owl has an ominous symbolism, signifying darkness, personifying the yang principle with a negative, destructive connotation. Due to the noiselessness of night flight, glowing eyes and eerie screams, the owl is associated with death and occult forces. She is also credited with the gift of prophecy. At present, the owl is mainly a symbol of insight and book erudition. "Scientific owls" are called people of mental labor.

Falcon

Falcon - the image of the rising sun

The falcon, like the eagle, is a solar symbol of victory. The personification of superiority, strong spirit, light, freedom. In ancient Egypt, the falcon was a sacred symbol of the Sun, temples were dedicated to it, killing a falcon was considered a grave sin. In Western tradition, the falcon is a symbol of hunting. A falcon with a cap on its head is a symbol of hope for light and freedom. The falcon as a symbol of aggression is rare. Among the Slavs, this bird is a symbol of strength, courage, a good fellow. The falcon is opposed to the crow (as the embodiment of evil forces): "Where the falcons fly, they don't let the crow in."

Ostrich

Australian coat of arms

In ancient Egypt, the ostrich feather is an attribute of the goddess of truth and justice, Maat. This feather, according to legend, was placed on the scales when weighing the souls of the dead to determine the severity of their sins. Since ostrich feathers are the same length, they were used as a symbol of justice. The belief that an ostrich hides its head in the sand when danger appears (a symbol of avoiding problems) probably came from the threatening posture of the ostrich, when it bends its head to the ground itself.

In the Australian coat of arms, the emu is the shield-holder along with the kangaroo.

Tigers

“The tiger spring contains the tiger. Having mastered the contents of the tiger cave, the perfect man who subjugated yin and yang "

The tiger is a symbol of energy, strength, speed and talent. This image is both lunar and solar at the same time. He is both the creator and the destroyer. A tiger fighting a snake is a symbol of solar power. In a battle with a lion or dragon, he becomes a symbol of the moon, cruel and ferocious. In Europe, the tiger is a symbol of power and bloodlust. On Far East it is a symbol of nobility and happiness. In the cultures of Asia and India, it can be a symbol of aggression and protection, life and death, evil and good.

Turtle

Turtle wrapped in a snake

The turtle symbolizes strength, patience, endurance, constancy, slowness, fertility, longevity, senile strength, wisdom. In many cultures, the turtle is the most ancient symbol of cosmic order surrounded by special reverence. According to ancient beliefs, a turtle entwined with a snake is a symbol of the creation of the world. In India, the symbolism of stability is expressed in the idea that the Earth rests on four elephants, which stand on a huge turtle, slowly making its way through chaos. The turtle is also a symbol of protection from fire and water.

Lizard

Pumpkin with a lizard

This nimble, fast animal is a symbol of agility, elusiveness, and also rebirth (the latter) is associated with the ability of a lizard to leave its tail to the one who caught it, which then grows back. Lizards, because they hide in the shade during the heat of the day, are considered the guardians of the shadows, as well as the guardians of sleep and dreams. The lizard, in addition, can symbolize the subconscious and the shadows of our inner peace.

The lizard was considered a good sign in Egypt and in the ancient world, where it was sometimes associated with wisdom. It has become an attribute of allegorical images of Logic. The symbol of Mercury, the messenger of the gods.

Mythical creatures

Imaginary animals are found throughout the world in myths and folklore ... They enable us to clearly characterize phenomena that would otherwise be difficult to identify.

J. Tresidder

Mythical creatures are, as a rule, a combination of several animals, which allows the human imagination to endow them with unusual abilities, including freedom from the usual principles of our world. Monsters, combining the appearance of several different animals, are a symbol of the initial chaos or the terrifying forces of nature, they also personify the evil forces in the nature of man himself. Fairytale animals are often depicted guarding treasures or hidden, secret knowledge.

Ba (bird)

The bird of the soul Ba, bent over the mummy before flying to another world (Egypt)

The Ba bird is an Egyptian symbol of the soul of a person, which flies away after his death to another world. This bird has the body of a falcon (according to some sources, a hawk) and a human head.

Basilisk (cockatrice)

Rooster head basilisk

Basilisk is one of the deadliest creatures of medieval symbolism. According to some sources, the basilisk looks like a simplicissimus, but with the head and legs of a rooster. In occult and magical symbolism, the basilisk is depicted as a crowned serpent. Since, as is commonly believed, the basilisk destroys everything with its gaze, it has been adopted as a magical symbol of wisdom, devouring a person with it symbolizes the process of initiation. It is believed that the only way to defeat a basilisk is to place a mirror in front of it.

Harpies

Harpy (XVI century)

These are half-woman, half-bird (female head and chest, and claws - a vulture) of a disgusting appearance. Associated with sudden death, whirlpools and storms. The feminine principle in its destructive aspect.

Garuda

Garuda (emblem of Thailand)

Bird of Life, Heaven, Sun, victory. Sometimes identified with the Phoenix. She is also the vehicle of the god Vishnu, the creator and destroyer of everything ("Vishnu's horse"). She emerges from the egg already an adult and nests in the Tree of Life, which fulfills all desires. The head, chest (female), torso, legs to the knees at the garuda are human, beak, wings, tail, hind legs (below the knees) are eagle.

The garuda is often depicted fighting nagas (serpents) who personify evil.

Hydra

Hydra (Greece, 16th century)

In Greek mythology, the Hydra is a dragon-serpent with seven heads. She symbolizes the difficulties in the fight against evil: as soon as one of her heads is cut off, a new one immediately grows. Blind, animal force of life.

Griffin

Griffin-protector (XVI century)

A solar hybrid creature that combines the head, wings and claws of an eagle with the body of a lion - these animals personify power over air and earth (the king of birds and the king of beasts), so the griffin is a symbol of strength and vigilance. In Greece, the griffin was dedicated to Apollo, whose chariot he drove through the sky, for Athena he personified wisdom, for Nemesis - retribution. Legends say that the griffins guarded the gold of India and the Scythians. There is also a legend that griffins living in the Far North guard the gold of Zeus, located in the country of the Hyperboreans.

The Dragon

Chinese dragon Chiao, a symbol of a happy occasion

The dragon - "winged serpent", but only with paws like an eagle - combines a snake and a bird, spirit and matter. This is one of the most versatile and most complex symbols. The dragon can be solar and lunar, good and evil. This is the keeper of treasures and secret knowledge. Longevity symbol. In the East, the dragon, as a rule, is the Power of Heaven, bringing good, in the West - a destructive and evil force. In Russia, the dragon is a sign of Satan, the devil. The victory over the dragon means the victory of light over darkness, over one's own nature.

Unicorn

Heraldic image of a unicorn

A unicorn is a mystical creature, an animal with the body of a horse or deer, which has a long, sharp horn. In the general case, it symbolizes the feminine, lunar principle, purity, purity, chastity. In China, it represents abundance and longevity. According to the legends, it can only be caught by a chaste maiden sitting alone in the forest: sensing her purity, the unicorn can come up to her, lay her head on her lap and fall asleep. On the basis of these legends, he became a symbol of purity, in particular feminine.

Centaur

Centaur, lore hunter

According to Greek myths, a centaur is a creature with the body of a horse and the torso of a man. This is a symbol of the lower nature of man (lust, violence, drunkenness), his animal nature, connected with a higher nature by human virtues and the ability to judge. It is a symbol of the conflict between the ferocious and good aspects of human nature.

There is also a version about morally impeccable centaurs (among them - Chiron), descended from Kronos. They symbolize the superiority of reason over instinct.

Makara

Makara

In the Western tradition, makara is a fantastic sea monster of enormous size (a fish with the head of a crocodile). Symbol of the power of the seas and oceans, rivers and lakes. In Hinduism, Makara has the appearance of a fish with the head and front legs of an antelope. This is one of the creatures on which Vishnu travels. It is a positive symbol associated with the rainbow and rain, with the lotus rising from the water, the return of the Sun after the winter solstice. Makara in a number of legends is associated with deities acting as guardians of the world - lokapal (Varuna, Soma, Indra, Kubera ...).

Medusa Gorgon

Medusa Gorgon (Greece) - horror

Medusa Gorgon - a female monster with snakes instead of hair, boar teeth, golden wings and bronze legs. This is the most blatant personification of hostile evil, the Great Mother in her terrible aspect of the destroyer, the embodiment of horror. One look at her turned people to stone, so her image later became a protective amulet. After Perseus cut off Medusa Gorgon's head, the giant Chrysaor and the winged horse Pegasus were born from her blood.

Nagas

Buddha sitting on a coiled naga, symbolizing the knowledge hidden in instinct (statue from the temple of Angkor)

In Hinduism, these are demigods depicted with a snake body and one or more human heads (sometimes they are just many-headed snakes). They, according to legend, own the underworld - Patala, where they guard the countless treasures of the earth. According to legend, the nagas washed Gautama Buddha at his birth, and also protected his remains after death. Nagas are the guardians of treasures and esoteric knowledge, serpent kings and queens, the vital forces of the waters, passionate nature. These are the guardians of natural forces that can be controlled.

Pegasus

Pegasus (XVI century)

This is the winged horse of Muses, which emerged from the neck of Medusa when Perseus cut off her head. Pegasus, on which Bellerophon defeated the Chimera, personifies the combination of the lower and higher nature, striving for the higher, and symbolizes the superiority of the spiritual over the material. It is also a symbol of eloquence, poetic inspiration and contemplation. In European heraldry, Pegasus is depicted on the coats of arms of thinkers. Today it is often used as an emblem of air transport.

Mermaid

Mermaid (XV century)

A fish woman capable of living in the human world and the supernatural world. The magical symbol of initiation. The mermaid is a marine version of the Centaur. However, it also has more positive symbolism, according to the sailors. In Slavic mythology, mermaids (bathing, vodonitsy, rags, pitchforks, undines) are harmful creatures, especially dangerous in the mermaid week (following the Trinity). Often mermaids are confused with such creatures of ancient Greek mythology as Nereids, naiads, water nymphs. But these eternally young maidens do not have, unlike mermaids, a fish tail.

Salamander

salamander on fire

Salamander is a mythical creature in the form of an ordinary animal, but with supernatural powers. The salamander is usually depicted as a small lizard or wingless dragon, sometimes with a human or dog-like figure amidst flames. These creatures are considered the most poisonous of creatures, their bite is deadly. The salamander is the element of fire and is able to live in fire because it has a very cold body. It is a symbol of the fight against sensual temptations. Since the salamander is considered a sexless creature, it also symbolizes chastity.

Simplicissimus

Harold's emblem

Simplicissimus is a fictional beast that looks like a dragon, but with two eagle legs and a tail in the shape of a spearhead twisted in a loop. Symbolizes war, envy, stench, disaster, Satan, but also vigilance.

Simplicissimus was the personal emblem of King Harold (on the French carpets from Bayeux, telling about the Battle of Hastings and the death of Harold in 1066, the simplicissimus is depicted twice).

Fo dog

Dog Fo (China)

“Fo” means “great luck” in Chinese. This is a symbol of valor and energy, a talisman for the home. Pho dogs should be purchased in pairs and placed side by side. If you put them (or hang their images) in front of the front door, they meet all incoming people and protect each family member from troubles and failures. Placed in the Wealth Zone (Southeast), Pho dogs contribute to the well-being and prosperity of the home. Located in the central sector, they will bring wealth to the house faster.

Sphinx

Egyptian coin depicting the Sphinx

The Sphinx is a creature with the body of a lion and a human head (male or female) or with the head of a ram. The oldest and largest is the Great Sphinx in Giza (Egypt). This is an ancient image, personifying a mysterious, solar power, a symbol of dignity, royalty, wisdom, power, a symbol of the union of physical power with the highest intellect.

The Egyptian sphinx has nothing to do with the later Greek legend of the "mystery of the Sphinx", which made it a symbol of mystery, a keeper of ancient wisdom, but Jung considered the sphinx a symbol of female greed, as well as the "Terrible Mother".

Scylla and Charybdis

Scylla (Greece) - danger

In Greek mythology, these are two monsters of the Sicilian Sea, who lived on both sides of a narrow strait and killed sailors passing between them. Ruthless manifestations of the forces of the sea. Once upon a time, from beautiful nymphs, they were turned into monsters with six heads, with three rows of teeth in each head, with ugly long necks. These roaring, rumbling monsters swallowed the sea and spat it back out (the image of an opening sea abyss). Being between Scylla and Charybdis means being in danger from different directions at the same time.

Triton

Triton (Greece) - wave calmer

Depicted as an old man or a young man with a fish tail instead of legs. In Greek mythology, it is considered a sea deity - the son of Poseidon and the mistress of the seas, Amphitrids. Triton blows a horn from a shell and rules over the powers of the waters. A marine version of a mermaid, but male.

Phoenix

Phoenix (XVI century)

Phoenix is ​​the most famous of all symbols of resurrection, an ancient symbol of immortality, the Sun. An animal that has a normal appearance, but with supernatural powers. This legendary bird is reborn every 500 years from the ashes in a fire. Phoenix has become an emblem of the rebirth of the human spirit in the eternal struggle with the difficulties of the material world. From Ancient Egypt, this symbol passed into Slavic mythology (Firebird, Finist-Clear Falcon) in full integrity.

Chimera

Chimera (Vatican)

According to Homer's description, this is a monster with the head of a lion, the body of a goat and the tail of a snake. Feeds on fire, was killed by Bellerophon, who rules the winged pegasus.

In heraldry, the chimera is sometimes depicted with the head and chest of a woman and the tail of a dragon.

The Chimera causes winds and storms on land and sea. Symbolizes danger, as well as delusion (may give rise to illusions). In addition, it is a symbol of non-existence.

Book one
(application)

sacred pentacles

Order of Pentacles

♦ The seven pentacles dedicated to Saturn are black.

♦ The seven pentacles dedicated to Jupiter are blue.

♦ The seven pentacles dedicated to Mars are red.

♦ The seven pentacles dedicated to the Sun are yellow.

♦ The five pentacles dedicated to Venus are green.

♦ Five of pentacles dedicated to Mercury - mixed colors.

♦ The six pentacles dedicated to the Moon are silver.

This is the main pentacle, called the great (or great) pentacle.

It should be inscribed on paper made of sheepskin, or on virgin parchment, which paper should be dyed green. The circle containing the 72 divine letters must be red, but the letters may also be gold. All letters inside the pentacle should be of the same red color or sky blue, but the great name of God should be inscribed in gold. This pentacle serves to summon all spirits; if you show it to them, they will bow and obey you.

Saturn

First Pentacle of Saturn. This pentacle is very useful and effective for terrifying the spirits. One has only to show it to them, how they humble themselves and, kneeling before him, obey [the caster].

Second Pentacle of Saturn. This pentacle is very useful as a remedy against enemies and is especially effective in subduing the pride of spirits.

Third Pentacle of Saturn. It should be made inside the magic circle; it is useful for the nocturnal evocation of spirits of the nature of Saturn.

Fourth Pentacle of Saturn. This pentacle serves mainly for all experiments and operations that cause ruin, destruction and death. Being made in all perfection, it also serves to [summon] those spirits that bring news when you call them from the south side.

Fifth Pentacle of Saturn. This pentacle protects those who invoke the spirits of Saturn at night and drives away the spirits that guard treasures.

Sixth Pentacle of Saturn. In a circle on this pentacle, each name is indicated by the proper symbol. The person you use it against will become possessed by demons.

Seventh and last pentacle of Saturn. With the help of this pentacle, earthquakes can be caused, for the strength of each of the angelic ranks called in it will be enough to shake the whole universe.

Jupiter

First Pentacle of Jupiter. It serves to invoke the spirits of Jupiter, especially those whose names are written on the outer circle of the pentacle. Among them Parasiel (Parasiel) - the lord and lord of treasures, who teaches how to recognize the places where they are.

Second Pentacle of Jupiter. It serves to gain fame, honors, high ranks, wealth and all sorts of benefits, coupled with great peace of mind, as well as to find treasures and drive out the spirits that guard them. It should be inscribed on virgin paper or parchment with the feather of a swallow and the blood of a long-eared owl.

Third Pentacle of Jupiter. He provides protection and patronage to those who invoke spirits. When they appear, show them this pentacle and they will immediately obey.

Fourth Pentacle of Jupiter. It serves to acquire wealth, honors and great abundance. His angel is Bariel. This pentacle is to be engraved on silver in the day and hour of Jupiter when he is in the sign of Cancer.

Fifth Pentacle of Jupiter. He is endowed with great power. It helps to receive truthful visions. Jacob, with the help of this pentacle, saw a ladder going from earth to heaven.

Sixth Pentacle of Jupiter. It serves to protect against all earthly dangers, if reverently contemplate it every day and repeat the verse written in a circle. "And you will never perish."

Seventh and last pentacle of Jupiter. It has great power against poverty if one contemplates it piously by repeating the verse. In addition, it serves to exorcise the spirits guarding the treasures and helps to find them [i.e. e. clade] .

Mars

First Pentacle of Mars. Designed to invoke spirits of the nature of Mars, especially those whose names are inscribed in a pentacle.

Second Pentacle of Mars. This pentacle works with great success against all kinds of ailments, if applied to a sore spot.

Third Pentacle of Mars. It is extremely effective for inciting war, anger, strife and enmity, as well as for resisting enemies and inspiring terror in disobedient spirits. It is clearly inscribed with the names of God Almighty.

[EDIT: THIS PENTACLE IS DRAWN WITH A MISTAKE! OTHER HEBREW WORDS SHOULD BE INSERTED IN THE OUTER RING: LEFT - אין , AT THE BOTTOM - צור , ON RIGHT - כאלהנו . The letters should be placed "bottom" to the center of the circle.]

Fourth Pentacle of Mars. He is very strong and mighty in matters of war, and therefore without a doubt he will grant you victory.

Fifth Pentacle of Mars. Draw this pentacle on virgin parchment or paper, for it frightens the demons, and at the sight of it they will obey you, for they cannot resist in his presence.

Sixth Pentacle of Mars. Its strength is so great that, armed with it, you will remain safe and sound in any attack, and if you enter into battle with someone, then his own weapon will turn against him.

Seventh and last pentacle of Mars. Draw it on virgin parchment or paper with the blood of a bat in the day and hour of Mars; open it inside the circle, calling on the demons whose names are written on it, and immediately hail and storm will break out.

Sun

First Pentacle of the Sun. The face of Almighty Shaddai, at the sight of which all creatures obey and angelic spirits kneel in reverence.

Second Pentacle of the Sun. This pentacle, like the previous and the next, corresponds to the nature of the Sun. All of them help to pacify the pride and arrogance of the solar spirits, which by nature are proud and arrogant beyond measure.

Third Pentacle of the Sun. Possessing the properties of the two previous pentacles, it also serves to gain kingdom and dominion, to cause [anyone] damage and to achieve fame and glory, which is especially facilitated by the Divine name Tetragrammaton, which is written on it twelve times.

Fourth Pentacle of the Sun. It will give you the opportunity to see the spirits that come to the caster invisible: as soon as you open this pentacle, they will immediately take on a visible form.

Fifth Pentacle of the Sun. It serves to invoke those spirits that can take you from one place to another, over a long distance and in a short time.

Sixth Pentacle of the Sun. Properly crafted, it serves admirably for stealth operations.

Seventh and last pentacle of the Sun. If it happens that anyone is imprisoned or imprisoned in fetters of iron, then in the presence of this pentacle, engraved on gold in the day and hour of the Sun, he will be immediately released and set free.

Venus

First Pentacle of Venus. It, like the following ones, serves to control the spirits of Venus, especially those whose names are inscribed in it.

Second Pentacle of Venus. These pentacles also serve to gain favor, honor and everything else that relates to Venus, as well as to fulfill all your desires related to this.

Third Pentacle of Venus. It serves to attract love, for which purpose it is enough just to show it to any person. His angel Monachiel should be invoked on the day and hour of Venus, at the first or eighth hour.

Fourth Pentacle of Venus. It is very powerful, for it leads to the obedience of the spirits of Venus and can force any person at your request to immediately come to you.

Fifth and last pentacle of Venus. One has only to show it to someone, and it will miraculously inflame and induce this person to love.

Mercury

First Pentacle of Mercury. It serves to invoke the spirits living under the Firmament of Heaven.

Second Pentacle of Mercury. The spirits whose names are inscribed here fulfill and fulfill desires that are contrary to the order of nature and do not belong to any of the other sections. They easily give an answer, but it is difficult to see them.

Third Pentacle of Mercury. He and the one following him serve to invoke spirits subordinate to Mercury, especially those whose names are inscribed in this pentacle.

Fourth Pentacle of Mercury. It is intended to gain understanding and knowledge of everything created, and to open and comprehend the hidden, and to command those spirits that are called allators (? Allatori) and serve as messengers. They obey with all readiness.

Fifth and last pentacle of Mercury. He commands the spirits of Mercury and serves to open doors, however closed they may be, and nothing can stand against him.

Moon

First Pentacle of the Moon. He and the one following him serve to call and invoke the spirits of the moon, as well as to open doors, in whatever way they are locked.

Second Pentacle of the Moon. He helps against all dangers and disasters associated with water; and if it happens that the spirits of the moon make a great downpour and raise a storm around your circle to shock and terrify you, show them this pentacle, and immediately everything will stop.

Third Pentacle of the Moon. Carrying it at all times while traveling, it will serve as a defense against all attacks of the night and against all dangers and disasters connected with water.

Fourth Pentacle of the Moon. He will protect you from all evil misfortunes and from any damage to the soul and body. His angel Sophiel bestows knowledge of the properties of all herbs and stones, and whoever calls him, he will reveal all this knowledge.

Fifth Pentacle of the Moon. It serves to get answers [to questions] in a dream. His angel Iachadiel serves to cause destruction and damage, and to exterminate enemies. You can also call him by the names Abdon (Abdon) and Dale (Dale) against all the ghosts of the night and to call the souls of the dead from the underworld.

The sixth and last pentacle of the moon. It is surprisingly good and excellently used to cause heavy rains; if you engrave it on a silver plate and put it under water, then it will rain as long as it [the pentacle] remains there. It should be engraved, drawn or inscribed on the day and hour of the moon.

[Appendix 1: nine of pentacles from the Hebrew Key of Solomon (Gollanz, 1914)]

[Appendix 2: twenty-four pentacles from the Greek "Key of Solomon" (Harley 5596)]

© Translation: Anna Blaze

This pentacle and its description are found only in Mich. 276 and Aub. 24. Obviously, this is some kind of "Sigillum Dei Aemeth". Mathers' edition replaces it with the "Great Pentacle of Solomon" from Lansdowne Ms. 1202 and 1203 (see pp. &) with the following note: "This is the Secret Figure of Solomon. It appears in only two manuscripts (Lansdowne 1202 and 1203). It is given by Eliphas Levi in ​​his Doctrine and Ritual of Higher Magic and by Tycho Brahe in his Calendarium Naturale Magicum, but in both cases without Hebrew words and letters (probably because it was impossible to make out them due to distortions introduced by illiterate scribes). Having done a lot of work and carefully studied this figure, I came to the conclusion that the words within the symbol denote ten sephiroth arranged in the form of the Tree of Life, to the right and left of which the name of Solomon is inscribed; the signs arranged in a circle are the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Thus, I restored all the inscriptions contained in this figure. The secret figure of Solomon is depicted on the frontispiece of both manuscripts mentioned.

- Note. J. Peterson.

"Sigillum Dei Aemeth" ("Seal of the God of Truth") is a Kabbalistic seal, first depicted in a grimoire of the 14th century. "Liber iuratus" and made famous by the writings of John Dee, an English occultist of the 16th century.

Calendarium Naturale Magicum Perpetuum (Eternal Magical Calendar) is a collection of calendar engravings with magical correspondences, first published in 1620. The creator of the "Calendar" was actually Johann Baptiste Grosschedel (1577 - after 1630), however, according to him, calendars compiled by Tycho Brahe were used in this work.

Pentacles are not numbered in the manuscripts, and it is only in the Lansdowne manuscripts of 1202 and 1203 that most of them are distributed among the planets. This pentacle is given in Agrippa's Occult Philosophy (Book III, Chapter XI). In Aub. 24, Add. 10862 and Mich. 276 it is also placed first in the row of pentacles, and in W. 4670 it is placed seventeenth. The third divine name is distorted in the manuscripts and in most cases is given in the form IRAH; there are variants IZAH, IVAH and IARL. A variant of this pentacle is also given in Pope Honorius' Grimoire (1800). - Note. J. Peterson.

The Hebrew letters inside the square are the four great four-letter names of God:יהוה - Yod, Heh, Vav, Heh;אדני - Adonai; ייאי - Iiai) (this name has the same numerical value as the name El) andאהיה - Ehehe. The Hebrew saying surrounding the square is taken from Ps. 71:9: “The inhabitants of the desert will fall before him, and his enemies will lick the dust” [“Posuerunt in caelum os suum et lingua eorum transivit in terra”]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

In Agrippa (op. cit.), this pentacle contains a different saying and is described as follows:<…>sacred seal,<…>effective against all human ailments and against all sorrows. On its front side there are four names of God from top to bottom, inscribed in the cells of the square, and the inscription in the ring around them reveals their meaning [יהוה אלהיכו יהוה אכד , "IHVH our God is IHVH one", Mk. 12:29]. On the reverse side, the seven-letter name of Ararita is placed and in the ring around it is its interpretation, namely, the verse from which this name is extracted [אחד ראש אחותו ראש ייחורו תמורתו אחד , “the beginning of His unity is one, the beginning of His personality is one, His transformation is one”]. This seal should be cut out of the purest gold or virgin parchment, pure, untouched and unstained, and the inscriptions should be made with ink made especially for this purpose from the smoke of consecrated wax candles or incense [i.e., from the soot formed during the burning of candles or incense] with holy water; and if the performer of this desires that the seal would certainly acquire its divine power, he must be pure and cleansed by sacrifice, and his hope must be unshakable, faith - firm, and mind - exalted to the Almighty.

This pentacle is in second place in Mich. 276 and Aub. 24, on the third - in Sloane 1307, on the thirtieth - in Add. 10862 and on the eighteenth at W. 4670. In Sloane 1307, the SATOR square is filled with Latin characters. - Note. J. Peterson.

This is the famous square:

The most perfect in the arrangement of letters of all known double acrostics. It is repeatedly mentioned in medieval magical texts, but the fact that it comes from this pentacle was still known only to very, very few. It immediately catches the eye that this is the square of the number five, consisting of twenty-five letters, which, when added to one, give twenty-six - the numerical value יהוה. The Hebrew saying surrounding the square is taken from Ps. 71:8: "He shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth" ["Et dominabitur a mari usque ad mare et a flumine usque ad terminos orbis terrarum"]. In the original, this verse also consists of twenty-five letters, and its full numerical value (including the final letters), when added to the number of the name Elohim, is exactly equal to the numerical value of the twenty-five letters that make up this square. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

For the SATOR square, see also note. & on page &. The exact origin and age of this letter square is unknown, but, one way or another, it began to be used for magical purposes no later than the 1st century BC. - long before the first pentacles of this pattern appeared.

This pentacle is in third place in Add. 10862 and Mich. 276, on the sixth - in Aub. 24 and on the nineteenth - in W. 4670. Names are everywhere written in Latin letters. - Note. J. Peterson.

The signs at the ends of the rays of this mystical wheel are the magical signs of Saturn. The names of the angels are located in a circle: Omeliel, Anachiel, Arauchiah and Anazachia, written in Hebrew letters. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in second place in Add. 10862, on the fifth - in Aub. 24 and on the twentieth in W. 4670. In Sloane 1307 the same psalm verse is used in the tenth pentacle, but with a different image within the circle. - Note. J. Peterson.

The Hebrew words surrounding the triangle are from Deut. 6:4: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one." The saying, written in a circle, is taken from Ps. 108:18: “Let him be clothed with a curse, like a garment, and let it enter like water into his insides, and like oil into his bones” [“Et induit maledictionem sicut vestimentum et intravit sicut aqua in interiota eius et sicut oleum in ossibus eius"]. In the center of the pentacle is the secret letter Yod. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in the twenty-eighth place in Add. 10862 and on the thirteenth - in W. 4670. - Note. J. Peterson.

The Hebrew letters in the corners between the arms of the cross make up the name Yod-He-Vav-He. The letters in the corners of the square are the name of Eloah. The names of the angels are written on the four sides of the square: Arehanah, Rakhaniel, Roelhaiphar and Noaphiel. The saying inscribed in the outer ring is taken from Deut. 10:17: "God is great, mighty and terrible" ["Deus magnus et potens, et terribilis"]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in the twenty-ninth place in Add. 10862, thirty-fourth in Aub. 24 and on the fourteenth in W. 4670. In Aub. 24 indicates that this pentacle should be "all black", and in Add. 10862 - "red" [i.e. colors of Mars]. - Note. J. Peterson.

This pentacle is made up of the secret signs of Saturn. Around the circumference is written in Hebrew: “Set the wicked over him, and let the devil stand at his right hand” [Ps. 108:6, "Constitue super eum impium et Satan astet a dextris eius"]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in the thirty-first place in Add. 10862.- Note. J. Peterson.

Inside the pentacle are the names of nine angelic ranks. Six of them are written in ordinary Hebrew letters, the rest are written in letters of the alphabet known as "Crossing the River". These nine ranks are: 1. HAYOT HA-KADOSH (חיות הקדוש ), “holy animals”; 2. OFANIM (אופנים ), "wheels"; 3. ARALIM (אראלים ), "thrones"; 4. HASHMALIM (חסמלים ), "shining"; 5. SERAPHIM (שרפים ), "fiery"; 6. MALAKIM (מלכים ), "kings"; 7. ELOHIM (אלהים ), "gods"; 8. BENI ELOHIM (בני אלהים ), "sons of Elohim"; 9. KERUBIM (כרובים ), "cherubim". The saying is taken from Ps. 17:8: "The earth quaked and shook, the foundations of the mountains trembled and moved, for [God] was angry" ["Et commota est et contremuit terra et fundamenta montium conturbata sunt et commota sunt quoniam iratus est eis"]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

Crossing the River, also known by the Latin name Transitus Fluvii, is an occult alphabet of 22 letters derived from the Hebrew alphabet (see table on p. &). Described in Agrippa's Occult Philosophy (book III, chapter 30). The name allegedly goes back to the Old Testament tradition about the return of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity - to the episode with the crossing of the Euphrates River, followed by the restoration of the Jerusalem temple.

This pentacle is in fifth place in Add. 10862, on the seventh - in Aub. 24 and on the fifteenth - in W. 4670. - Note. J. Peterson.

This pentacle is made up of the secret signs of Jupiter. The names of the angels are written around it in Hebrew: Netoniel, Devachiah, Tzedeqiah, and Parasiel. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in fourth place in Add. 10862, on the eighth - in Aub. 24 and on the sixteenth in W. 4670. In Aub. 24 and Add. 10862 it is said that it should be depicted with the blood of a bat (lat. noctula, it. noctula), and in French manuscripts - owls (fr. chouette). Since in Latin the common name for a bat is vespertilio, this may mean that the French version is a translation from Latin and not from Italian. In Aub. 24, an indication is added that this pentacle can be engraved on metal. - Note. J. Peterson.

In the center of the hexagram are the letters of the nameאהיה , Eheie, in its upper and lower corners are the letters of the nameאב , Ab ("Father"), in the other corners - the letters of the name Yod-He-Vav-He. I believe that the letters placed around the hexagram, in obtuse angles, refer to the first two words of Ps. 111:3: “Plenty and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever” [“Gloria et divitiae in domo eius et iustitia eius manet in saeculum saeculi”; the same verse is used in the fourth pentacle of Jupiter]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in the twenty-sixth place in Add. 10862, twenty-second in Aub. 24, on the first - in W. 4670 and on the sixth - in Sloane 1307. - Note. J. Peterson.

In the upper left corner is the magical seal of Jupiter with the letters of the name Yod-He-Vav-He. In the other corners - the seal of the Mind of Jupiter, as well as the names ADONAI and Yod-He-Vav-He. Circle inscription - Ps. 124:1: “He who trusts in the Lord, like Mount Zion, will not be moved: he abides forever” [“Qui confidunt in Domine sicut mons Sion non commovebitur in aeternum qui habitat”]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

The magical seal and seal (or rather, the sigil) of the mind of Jupiter, bearing the name Jophiel (יופיאל ), derived from the magic square of Jupiter (4 x 4), as described in Agrippa's Occult Philosophy (book II, chapter XXII).

This pentacle is in the twenty-seventh place in Add. 10862, twenty-fifth in Aub. 24, on the second - in W. 4670 and on the eighth - in Sloane 1307. - Note. J. Peterson.

Above the magic symbol is the nameיה , I. Below him are the names of the angels: Adoniel (אדניאל ) and Bariel ( בריאל ); the letters of the last name [also] surround a square divided into four parts. Circle inscription - Ps. 111:3: "Plenty and riches in his house, and his righteousness abides forever" ["Gloria et divitiae in domo eius et iustitia eius manet in saeculum saeculi", the same verse is used in the second pentacle of Jupiter]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

According to classical astrology, in the sign of Cancer, Jupiter is in exaltation - one of its strongest positions. Since Jupiter's orbital period is just under 12 years, suitable periods for making this pentacle do not happen very often, but last about a year.

This pentacle is in sixth place in Add. 10862, twenty-ninth in Aub. 24 and on the third - in W. 4670. - Note. J. Peterson.

The Hebrew letters inside the pentacle are taken from the last five words of the verse, written in a circle, each with five letters. These letters are redistributed in a new way and form some secret names. The verse itself is taken from Ezek. 1:1: "While I was among the settlers at the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God [Elohim]" ["Cum essem in medio captivorum iuxta fluvium Chobar, aperti sunt caeli, et vidi visiones Dei"]. In my opinion, the inscription should consist of only the last five words of this verse; thus, it will be possible to avoid the anachronistic neighborhood between the mention of Jacob using this pentacle and the saying from the Book of the prophet Ezekiel. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in seventh place in Add. 10862 and on the fourth - in W. 4670. - Note. J. Peterson.

Four names inscribed in the sleeves of the cross - Seraph (שרף ), Kerub ( כרוב ), Ariel ( אריאל ) and Tarsis ( תרסיש ), the four rulers of the elements. The saying going around in a circle - Ps. 21:16-17: They pierced my hands and my feet. All my bones could be counted” [“Foderunt manus meas et pedes meos: dinumeraventur omnia ossa mea”]. - Note. S, L. Mathers.

The names of the four rulers of the elements are given by Agrippa (“Occult Philosophy”, Book III, Chapter XXIV): “There are also [angels] corresponding to the elements, namely: Air - Cherub (Cherub), Water - Tarsis (Tharsis), Earth - Ariel (Ariel), Fire - Seraph (Seruph) or, according to Philo, Nathaniel (Nathaniel)." In later occult classifications, Kerub is often associated with Earth and Ariel with Air.

This pentacle is in the thirty-third place in the Aub. 24.- Note. J. Peterson.

Secret signs of Jupiter and Ps. 112:7-8: “He lifts up the poor from the dust, raises the poor from the dust, to set him down with the princes, with the princes of his people” sui']. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in the twenty-fourth place in Add. 10862, on the ninth - in Aub. 24 and on the sixth - in W. 4670. - Note. J. Peterson.

Inside the pentacle are the secret signs of Mars; the names of four angels are written in Hebrew around the circumference: Madimiel (מאדימיאל ), Bartsakhia ( ברצחיה ), Echiel ( אשיאל ) and Ithuriel [Atavriel?] (אתאוריאל ). - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is given in Harley 3981, but Mich, 276, Add. 10862, Sloane 3091, Lansdowne 1202, Kings 288, Aub. 24 and W. 4670 it is missing. - Note. J. Peterson.

The letter He is placed in each corner of the hexagram. Inside the hexagram are the names Yod-He-Vav-He, Yegeshua (יהשוה , the secret Hebrew name Yeshua, or Jesus, formed from the usual Yod-He-Vav-He by introducing the letter Shin, symbolizing the Spirit) and Elohim. Inscription around the circle - Jn. 1:4: "In him was life, and the life was the light of men" ["In ipso vita erat et vita erat lux hominum"]. Theoretically, this can be taken as evidence that the opening mystical verses of the Gospel of John belong to a deeper antiquity than is commonly believed. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in tenth place and in Add. 10862, and in Aub. 24.- Note. J. Peterson.

Letters of Eloah's names ( אלה ) and Shaddai ( שדי ). In the center is the large letter Vav, the sign of the Kabbalistic Microprosopus. In a circle - Ps. 76:14: "Who is a God as great as God (Elohim) [ours]!" - Note. S.L. Mathers.

In fact, a passage from 1 Sam. 2:2: "There is no stronghold like our God" ("Non est fortis sicut Deus noster").

This pentacle is in the eleventh place in Add. 10862, twenty-fourth in Aub. 24 and fifth in Sloane 1307. - Note. J. Peterson.

In the center - the great name Agla, on the right and left - the letters of the name Yod-He-Vav-He, above and below - El. Around the circumference - Ps. 109:5: "The Lord is at your right hand. On the day of His wrath He will smite kings” [“Dominus a dextris tuis confregit in die irae suae reges”]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in eighth place in Add. 10862, on the thirty-first - in Aub. 24 and thirty-second - in W. 4670. - Note. J. Peterson.

Around the image of a scorpion - the wordהול . In a circle - Ps. 90:13: “You will step on the asp and the basilisk. You will trample on the lion and the dragon” [“Siper aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis et conculcabis leonem et draconem”]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

Word הול means "fear", which is consistent with the purpose of this pentacle.

This pentacle is in ninth place in Add. 10862.- Note. J. Peterson.

Around the eight rays inside the pentacle, the words are inscribed in the secret alphabet Malachim, or angelic writingsאלהים קבר , Elohim keber, which means "Elohim covered (or protected)". In a circle - Ps. 36:15: “Their sword will enter into their own heart, and their bows will be crushed” [“Gladius eorum intret in corda ipsorum et arcus ipsorum confringarur”]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

"Alphabet Malachim": see note. & on page & and table on page &.

This pentacle is in the thirty-fourth place in W. 4670 and in the twenty-third place (simplified) in Add. 10862.- Note. J. Peterson.

In the center of the pentacle are the names of God El and Iiai, which, being written in Hebrew, have the same numerical value. The letters of Hebrew and the secret alphabet called heavenly make up the names of the spirits. Circle inscription - Ps. 104:32-33: “Instead of rain, he sent hail upon them, burning fire on their land, and crushed their vines and fig trees” »]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

The "celestial alphabet" (see table on p. &) was created on the basis of the Hebrew in the 16th century. Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa. Sometimes it is also called angelic, but it should be distinguished from the "Malachim alphabet".

This pentacle is in the twenty-second place in Add. 10862, twenty-sixth in Aub. 24, twenty-second at W. 4670 and eleven at Sloane 1307. - Note. J. Peterson.

On this pentacle is depicted the head of the great angel Metraton, or Metatron, the viceroy and representative of Shaddai, also called the Prince of Faces; this is the male cherub of the ark, standing on the right hand of it, opposite the female cherub Sandalphon, standing on the left hand. On the sides of the image is the name of El-Shaddai. In a circle - an inscription in Latin: "Behold the face and image of the One who created all things and to whom all things obey" ["Ecce faciem et figuram eius per quem omnia faceta et qui omnes obediunt creature"]. - Note. S.L. Mathers. This pentacle is in the fifteenth place in Add. 10862 and twelfth in Sloane 1307. In Add. 10862 specifies that it should be painted sky blue. - Note. J. Peterson.

The names Yod-He-Vav-Khe and Adonai are written in Hebrew in the center. At the ends of the beams are the mystical letters "Crossing the River". In a circle - Ps. 12:4-5: “Enlighten my eyes, that I may not fall asleep [the sleep] of death; let not my enemy say: “I have overcome him” [“Inlumnia oculos meos ne umquam obdormiam in mortem nequando dicat inimicus meus praevalui adversus eum”]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in twelfth place in Add. 10862 and thirty-sixth in Aub. 24. The inscriptions around the square, made with the letters "Crossing the River", are distorted in various ways in different manuscripts, but, in all probability, should form the phraseאתה גביר לעלם אדני (“Ate Gibor le-Olam Adonai” - “You, Lord, are strong forever”), from which the divine name Agla is formed. - Note. J. Peterson.

The names of the spirits are written in the letters "Crossing the River". In a circle - Ps. 90:11-12: “For he will command his angels about you to guard you in all your ways: they will carry you in their hands” [“Quoniam angelis suis mandabit de te ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis in minibus portabunt te”]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in the sixteenth place in Add. 10862 and fifth in Aub. 24.- Note. J. Peterson.

In the center is the secret letter Yod, taken from the heavenly alphabet. Three letters, inscribed with the characters of the alphabet "Crossing the River" at the corners of the triangle, make up the great name of Shaddai. The words written in the same alphabet on three sides around the triangle, in my opinion, are taken from Gen. 1:1: "In the beginning God created (Elohim)", etc., but the signs are heavily distorted in the manuscript. Around the circumference are Ps. Ps. 134:16: "They have eyes, but they do not see" ["Oculos habent et non videbunt"]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in the eighteenth place in Add. 10862 and on the thirty-first - in W. 4670. - Note. J. Peterson.

Names are written on the sleeves of the cross: Hasan (angel of Air), Arel (angel of Fire), Forlach (angel of Earth), and Taliahad (angel of Water). Between the four arms of the cross are written the names of the four rulers of the elements: Ariel, Seraph, Tarsis and Kerub. In a circle - Ps. 115:7-8: “You loosed my bonds. I will offer you a sacrifice of praise and the name of the Lord (Yod-He-Vav-He) I will call” [“Disrupisti vincula mea Tibi sacrificabo hostiam laudis et in nomine Domini invocabo”]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

On the rulers of the elements, see note. &. The inside of the pentacle with Latin inscriptions looks like this:

This pentacle is in the fourteenth place in Add. 10862, on the thirteenth - in Aub. 24 and on the eighth - in W. 4670. - Note. J. Peterson.

The secret signs of Venus and the names of the angels: Nogahiel, Achelia, Sokodia [or Sokokhia] and Nangariel. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in the seventeenth place (and contains no Bible verse) in Add. 10862, on the fourteenth - in Aub. 24 and on the first in Sloane 1307 (where the inscriptions inside the pentacle are in Latin letters, not Hebrew). - Note. J. Peterson.

The letters around and inside the pentagram are the names of the spirits of Venus. The inscription around the circle - Song. 8:6: "Put me like a seal, on your heart like a ring, on your hand: for love is strong as death" »]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in the nineteenth place in Add. 10862 and on the thirtieth in Aub. 24.- Note. J. Peterson.

The following names are written inside the figure: Yod-He-Vav-He, Adonai, Ruach, Ahides (, Egalmiel [Olmiel?], Monakhiel and Degaliel. In a circle - Gen. 1:28: “And God (Elohim) blessed them, and God (Elohim) said to them: be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it” [“Benedixitque illis Deus, et ait: Crescite et multiplicamini, et replete terram, et subiicite eam”].- note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in thirteenth place in Add. 10862, twenty-eighth in Aub. 24 and on the tenth - in W. 4670. - Note. J. Peterson.

At the four corners of the figure are four letters of the name Yod-He-Vav-He. Other letters make up the names of the spirits of Venus: Shii, Eli, Aib, etc. The inscription around the circle - Gen. 2:23-24: “This is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. And [two] will be one flesh” [“Hoc nunc, os ex ossibus meis, et caro de carne mea… et erunt duo in carne una”]. - note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in the thirty-fifth place in the Aub. 24 and on the twelfth - in W. 4670. - Note. J. Peterson.

Around the central square are the names of Elohim, El Gebil, and two other names that I cannot decipher, so I simply quote them as they are given [in the manuscript]. The names are written in letters from Crossing the River. Circle inscription - Ps. 15:21: “My heart has become like wax, melted in the midst of my insides” [“Mea factum est cor meum tamquam cera liquescens in medio ventris mei”]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in third place in Aub. 24.- Note. J. Peterson.

The letters make up the names of the spirits: Iekahel and Agiel. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in fourth place in Aub. 24.- Note. J. Peterson.

The letters form the name Boel and other spirit names [Ibb and Kav]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in the fifteenth place in Aub. 24.- Note. J. Peterson.

The secret signs of Mercury and the names of the angels: Kokaviel, Gedoriya, Savania and Hokmahiel. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

Note. J. Peterson.

In the center is the divine name El. The Hebrew letters around the dodecagram make up the phrase "Yod-He-Vav-He, fix the volatile, and let the void be limited." Around the circle is written: "Wisdom and virtue in his house, and the knowledge of all things will be with him forever." - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in the sixteenth place in Aub. 24.- Note. J. Peterson.

Inside the pentacle are the names El Ab [“God the Father”] and Yod-He-Vav-He. The inscription around the circle - Ps. 23:7 "Lift up, you gates, your heads, and lift up, you eternal doors, and the King of glory will enter!" ["Adtollite portas principes vestras et elevamini portae aeternales et introibit rex gloriae"] - note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is missing from Lansdowne 1202, Mich. 276, Sloane 1307 and Add. 10862. In Aub. 24 it stands in the seventeenth place and is accompanied by the following description: “This pentacle and the next four after it are the pentacles of the Moon. They serve to summon the spirits whose names are written inside the pentacles. This one is designed to open any door. It is depicted in silver paint. - Note. J. Peterson.

This pentacle is a symbolic representation of a door or gate. The name Yod-He-Vav-Aleph is written in the center. On the right are Yod-He-Vav, Yod-He-Vav-He, El and Yod-He-He. On the left are the angelic names: Shioel, Vaol, Iashiel and Vehiel. The saying above the names on both sides is Ps. 106:16: "For He has broken the gates of brass and broken the bands of iron" ["Quia contrivit portas aereas et vectes ferreos confregit"]. - Note. S.L. Mathers

The divine name Eheye Esher Eheye and the angelic names Yahel and Sophiel. The inscription around the circle - “Let my persecutors be ashamed, but I will not be ashamed; let them tremble, but I will be fearless” [“Confundantur qui persequuntur me et non confundar ego paveant illi non pavean ego”, Jer. 17:18]. - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is in the twenty-first place in the Aub. 24 and on the second - in Sloane 1307. - Note. J. Peterson.

The divine names Yod-He-Vav-He and Elohim, the secret sign of the Moon and the angelic names Yahadiel and Azarel. In a circle - Ps. 67:2: "Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee from His presence." - Note. S.L. Mathers.

This pentacle is the twenty-seventh in Aub. 24 and ninth in Sloane 1307. - Note. J. Peterson.

The Pentacle is made up of the secret signs of the Moon. In a circle - Gen. 7:11–12: "All the fountains of the great deep were broken up<...>and rain fell on the ground” [“Rupti sunt omnes fontes abyssi magnae, et facta est pluvia super terram”].

This is where the description of the holy pentacles ends. In all of them I restored the Hebrew letters and secret signs as best I could. In addition, I cited almost all the verses in Hebrew with vowel marks, and not in Latin, thanks to which the student, if necessary, can easily find them in the Hebrew Bible. The work of restoring the Hebrew letters inside the pentacles proved to be extremely difficult and took several years. - Note. S.L. Mathers.