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There
is a secret language we all recognize, but few are fluent in- the
language of symbols. Symbols surround us in myriad forms and form
an inextricable part of our daily lives, yet unlike our spoken languages,
schooling in symbolism is left to the individual initiative. Even in
religious teaching, symbols are presented as emblems of belonging, mere
historical artifacts one wears to identify with one's faith.
Many
of the symbols we take for granted today as static signs of religious
or secular life were created long ago, representations of the movements
of earth and heaven, symbols of the seasons, and representations
of cosmic and earthly deities. Over time, they have acquired layers
of increasingly complex meaning, and this evolution of meaning
tells us much about how we developed our ideas about the nature of
life and the universe. Signs used in modern magick and Western religious
traditions share a common ancestry that dates before the creation
of writing. These symbols are powerful because they are archetypal-
even cultures that do not share language share an innate understanding
of symbols. In this article we'll explore the evolution of symbolism
by examining the basic elements that make up more complex symbolism.
The
symbols of western magic, astrology, and alchemy are based on a common
symbolic 'alphabet,' composites created from smaller symbols. Knowing
how to recognize these smaller units will allow you to decipher many
of the larger symbols whenever you encounter them. Knowing the secret
system behind these symbols can provide an incredible amount of insight
into even the most inscrutable signs.
The
basic building blocks of symbolism
The
Circle is the most common and universal signs, found in all cultures.
It is the symbol of the sun in its limitless or boundless aspect.
It has no beginning or end, and no divisions, making it the perfect
symbol of completeness, eternity, and the soul:
The
circle is also the symbol of boundary and enclosure, of completion,
and returning cycles. The circle most familiar to us is that of the
wedding ring which encircles the finger associated in ancient times
with the heart. The wedding ring symbolizes not just a pledge of
eternal ove, but the enclosure of the heart- a pledge of fidelity.
The
circle reflected represents the dyad, the introduction of duality,
and represents creation and manifestation. The symbol of the dyad
is known as the 'vesica
pisces,' or fish bladder, because it appears
as a fish.
The
equal armed solar cross is another universal symbol, which can be
found in every culture with a knowledge of the passage of time. It
is the first truly theological emblem, marking not only the points
of the solar calendar, but the juxtaposition of the realm of the
material with the realm of the divine.
The
cross is in this case actuality two separate signs-
First,
a vertical axis, representing man, the body, and our upright posture.
The vertical line symbolizes the path from earth to heaven and the
realm of spirit, symbolizing the dual nature of man, who embodies
the spiritual and the temporal.
The
vertical axis equates directly to the human spine and to the tree
of life, as well as to the axis mundi, the great pole around which
the constellations of the zodiac revolve. These seemingly disparate
ideas share a common idea- they link the earth and heavens. Thus
is the concept of the connection between earth and heaven established-
and also the divinity of man, who alone is built on this axis.
The
horizontal axis, represents the path from birth to death, beginning
to end, and linear time.
This
axis represents life on earth as a binary, linear process- life to
death, beginning to end, and the dual nature of human existence evidenced
by our symmetrical shapes: left and right, male and female, good
and evil. These ancient concepts are embodied even in our language-
our good, "righteous" side, and our dark, "sinister" side.
(sinister having the original meaning "of the left hand")
Both
axis are also representations of the sexual nature of man, the vertical
line representing the solar phallus, and the horizontal, the receptive,
female earthly nature. Many early solar temples (such as stonehenge)
are not only solar calendars, but reprentations of the earth awaiting
fertilization from the masculine energies of the sun. (The appearance
of the rays of the solstice on these ancient solar altars represents
the copulation of the gods)
The
cross, then, is the symbol of humanity- when the two axis are combined
in a cross shape, they represent the cube of space, the four elements,
and the binding together in man of matter and spirit. (The old geometrical
puzzle of 'squaring the circle' is a hidden reference to the continual
difficulty of reconciling spiritual and material concerns.) A cross within a
circle forms a solar cross or a horoscope wheel, both symbols of
spirit and matter. A horizontal bar within a circle is the alchemical
symbol for salt, pure material existence in its most exalted state.
The equal-armed cross is often disguised in religious art as a four
petalled flower, a cube, or a scepter. Examples of this cross in
it's simplest meaning will be found in primitive swastikas and sunwheels;
the more complex spiritual meanings in the symbols of alchemy, the
Templars' equal armed cross, and the symbol of the crucifix. Because
of the inherent nature of this symbol as representational of both
the sun and the divine in man, the cross is commonly associated with
redemptive solar deities. (Read more about the Dying
God archetype here)
The
Tau cross is a later variation, with a horizontal bar balanced atop
a vertical bar, creating a "Tau," or "T" shape.
With its exaggerated vertical axis, the tau cross is associated
with sacrifice of the lower, base nature, and emphasizes the earth/heaven
connection. Some examples of the Tau cross are the cross of Attis,
the egyptian Ankh (surmounted
by a loop or circle), and the Norse Irminsul.
 
The
arc found in more complex symbols, especially planetary symbols,
represents ascension or striving. The arch has been a traditional
element of architecture and often figures in commemorative monuments
of triumph and achivement. The sigils of the planet Saturn and Jupiter,
for example, combine identical symbols with very different results,
using the arc in conjunction with the cross. In the sigil of Jupiter,
the arc of aspiration rises above the struggle of matter and spirit,
and symbolizes bounty, triumph, expansion, and success. Saturn's
sigil places the cross above the arc- ascension subverted by the
material struggle, and a symbol of Saturn's power to limit and confine:
The crescent represents
the powers of the moon- reflective and receptive. (An example of
this symbol taken to its highest symbolic meaning would be the Holy
Grail) A reversed crescent often represents emptiness and illusion.
The triangle
is one of the most easily recognized religious symbols in the West,
most commonly associated with the Christian trinity or Freemasonry.
The triangle is the simplest geometric shape, and also the first
purely theological symbol. To the ancient pythagoreans, the triangle
was, as the first complete polygon, the womb of number and the essence
of stability.
The upward
moving triangle is sometimes called the blade (the chalice and blade
figure ceremonially in many ritual magic operations). It is a symbol
of aspiration or rising up, male force, and fire. It is purely phallic
in origin. The triangle represents aspiration, rising forcem and
the male principal. 
The downward
pointing triangle is sometimes referred to as the chalice. It is
the symbol of water (as it flows downward), the grace of heaven,
and the womb. it is one of the most ancient symbols of female divinity,
as a representation of the genitalia of the goddess.
When combined,
the triangles of fire and water form a potent symbol of balance and
divine union. In western tradition, it is called the Seal
of Solomon, and the symbols for air and earth are derived from
the reconciliation of water and fire in this symbol. The hexagram
has an identical meaning in Hinduism and Buddhism as well, where
it also represents the divine union, or perfect balance of male and
female energies. Kabbalistically, it is the sign of resurrection
and completeness- in Hebrew tradition, it is called perfect.
Occasionally, this conjunction forms a diamond or lozenge shape.
Next:
The Egg, the eye, and the serpent: Exploring more complex symbols
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