SYMBOLISM

THE PHILOSOPHICAL RESEARCH SOCIETY

Manly P. Hall
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O"R RELATIO$SHIP 'ITH O"R (O"$)ER
Manly P. Hall was a see"er and lover of wisdom, the very definition of a
philosopher. 'e had the courage and the raw intellectual energy to loo" for wisdom
in places most men had long since forgotten about, or never "new e(isted. 'e lived
in an era when most )mericans did not loo" toward other cultures and traditions,
without loo"ing down. *et during such times, +anly ,. 'all spo"e, and wrote
e(tensively, of the wisdom found in all ancient traditions. -n an age when serious
study of &other religions& was anathema to most, +anly found deep cross.cultural
threads and revealed many interconnected roots of modern religious e(pression.
/either 0uru nor Saint, he made no claim of perfection, far from it1 but his wor" is
e(ceedingly rare in its grand scope, detail and synthesis. 'e embraced the wisdom
of every tradition, and, with a fluid command of their obscure and comple(
contents, wor"ed to e(press their unifying truths. 'is legacy is over 233 printed
volumes, 4333 lectures, a hand pic"ed library which is one of the finest in the field,
and a Society and !niversity that continue in his spirit of universal e(ploration and
learning.
"Hence the disciple of the Ancient Wisdom is taught to realize
that man is not essentially a personality, but a spirit."+anly ,.
'all
Manly P. Halls greatest legacy, the PRS L*+rary, houses
some of the rarest collections in consciousness studies,
psychology, eastern 5 western religions, mysticism,
metaphysics, classical and modern philosophy. The primary
aim of the 6ibrary is to provide researchers and students
with hard.to.find materials. The 6ibrary also supports the
"n*,ers*ty o- Ph*losoph*al Researh through the development and
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!irtually uni"ue in the !nited States as a wisdom literature resource, the ,7S
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THE P.R.S. %ALLERY
"#o learn is to li$e, to study is to gro%, and gro%th is the measurement
of life. #he mind must be taught to thin&, the heart to feel, and the hands
to labor. When these ha$e been educated to their highest point, then is
the time to offer them to the ser$ice of their fello%man, not before." 8
MPH
$ithin these pages the visitor will find a wealth of symbolic art compiled from the
many rare and esoteric manuscripts and boo"s that are part of the ,7S 6ibrary.
+any of these diagrams were used by +anly ,. 'all to illustrate #he Secret
#eachings of All Ages .
9e sure to visit the 'ndian and Persian 0alleries, featuring color reproductions of
rare 1:th and 14th century ,ersian illuminated manuscripts, the illustrated -ndic
+anuscript leaves of the Mt. Abu Rajputa na ;6ate 1:th to 14th century< and
other 7a%put and +oghul style illustrations.
Alhe!y . Mag* Astrology
Chr*st*an Sy!+ols
Class*al Myth .
Myster*es
Egypt*an Myster*es
Esoter* S*ene .
Mathe!at*s
(ran*s #aon/s
C*phers
In0*an Art .
Man1sr*pts
Isla!* . Pers*an
Art . Man1sr*pts
&a++alah
Mason* Sy!+ols
Ros*r1*an
Sy!+ols
Gallery of Alchemy & Magic
The )eath o- S*!on the
Mag**an
(ro! The $1re!+erg (hronicle
Simon +agus, having called upon the Spirits
of the )ir, is here shown being pic"ed up by
the demons. St. ,eter demands that the evil
genii release their hold upon the magician.
The demons are forced to comply and Simon
+agus is "illed by the fall. MPH
Her!es Mer1r*1s Tr*s!eg*st1s
(ro! H*stor*a )eorum *atidicorum
+aster of all arts and sciences, perfect in all
crafts, 7uler of the Three $orlds, Scribe of the
0ods, and =eeper of the 9oo"s of 6ife, Thoth
'ermes Trismegistus8the Three Times
0reatest, the &>irst -ntelligencer& 8was
regarded by the ancient ?gyptians as the
embodiment of the !niversal +ind. $hile in all
probability there actually e(isted a great sage
and educator by the name of 'ermes, it is
impossible to e(tricate the historical man from
the mass of legendary accounts which attempt
to identify him with the @osmic ,rinciple of
Thought. MPH.
Chart show*ng the Relat*onsh*p +etween the H1!an #o0y an0
the E2ter*or "n*,erse
(ro! &*rher3s +,dipus A,gyptiacus
The ornamental border contains groups of names of
animal, mineral, and vegetable substances. Their
relationship to corresponding parts of the human
body is shown by the dotted lines. The words in
capital letters on the dotted lines indicate to what
corporeal member, organ, or disease, the herb or
other substance is related. The favorable positions
in relation to the time of year are shown by the
signs of the Aodiac, each house of which is divided
by crosses into its three decans. This influence is
further emphasiAed by the series of planetary signs
placed on either side of the figure. MPH
Le,*/s &ey to the #e!+*ne Ta+let
(ro! Le,*3s History of Magic
&The -siac Tablet,& writes 6evi, &is a =ey to the )ncient 9oo" of Thoth, which has survived to
some e(tent the lapse of centuries and is pictured to us in the still comparatively ancient set
of Tarocchi @ards.
To him the 9oo" of Thoth was a rBsumB of the esoteric learning of the ?gyptians, after the
decadence of their civiliAation, this lore became crystalliAed in an hieroglyphic form as the
Tarot1 this Tarot having become partially or entirely forgotten or misunderstood, is pictured
symbols fell into the hands of the sham diviners, and of the providers of the public amusement
by games of @ards. The modern Tarot, or Tarocchi pac" of cards consists of :4 cards of which
22 form a special group of trumps, of pictorial designC the remaining DE are composed of four
suits of 13 numerals and four court cards, =ing, Fueen, =night and =nave or Galet1 the suits
are Swords ;+ilitaryism<, @ups ;Sacerdocy<, @lubs or $ands ;)griculture<, and She"els or
@oins ;@ommerce<, answering respectively to our Spades, 'earts, @lubs and Hiamonds. Iur
purpose is with the 22 trumps, these form the special characteristic of the pac" and are the
lineal descendants of the 'ieroglyphics of the Tarot. These 22 correspond to the letters of the
'ebrew and other sacred alphabets, which fall naturally into three classes of a Trio of +others,
and 'eptad of doubles, and a duodecad of simple letters. They are also considered as a triad
of 'eptads and one apart, a system of -nitiation and an !ninitiate.&

'estott/s &ey to the #e!+*ne Ta+le
(ro! 'estott3s #he 'siac #ablet
If the -siac Table, )le(andre 6enoir writesC &The -siac Table, as a wor" of art, is not of great
interest. -t is but a composition, rather cold and insignificant, whose figures, summarily
s"etched and methodically placed near each other, give but little impression of life. 9ut, if on
the contrary, after e(amining it, we understand the purpose of the author, we become soon
convinced that the -siac Table is an image of the heavenly sphere divided in small parts to be
used very li"ely for general teaching. )ccording to that idea, we can conclude that the -siac
Table was originally the introduction to a collection followed by the +ysteries of -sis. -t was
engraved on copper in order to be used in the ceremonial of initiation.&
The Three-ol0 L*-e o- the Inner Man
Re0rawn -ro! %*htel3s #heosophia Practica
Johann 0eorg 0ichtel, a profound philosopher and mystic, the most illumined of the disciples
of Ja"ob 9Khme, secretly circulated the above diagrams among a small group of devoted
friends and students. 0ichtel republished the writings of 9Khme, illustrating them with
numerous remar"able figures. )ccording to 0ichtel, the diagrams above represent the
anatomy of the divine ;or inner< man, and graphically set forth its condition during its human,
infernal, and divine states, The plates in the $illiam 6aw edition of 9Khmes wor"s are based
apparently upon 0ichtels diagrams, which they follow in all essentials. 0ichtel gives no
detailed description of his figures, and the lettering on the original diagrams here translated
out of the 0erman is the only clue to the interpretation of the charts. MPH

The )*,*ne Tree *n Man 4o+,erse5
(ro! Law3s *igures o- 6a7o+ #8h!e
) tree with its roots in the heart rises from the +irror of the Heity
through the Sphere of !nderstanding to branch forth in the Sphere of
the Senses. The roots and trun" of this tree represent the divine nature
of man and may be called his spirituality1 the branches of the tree are
the separate parts of the divine constitution and may be li"ened to the
individuality1 and the leaves8because of their ephemeral nature8
correspond to the personality, which parta"es of none of the
permanence of its divine source. MPH

The )*,*ne Tree *n Man 4re,erse5
(ro! Law3s *igures o- 6a7o+ #8h!e
Just as the diagram representing the front view of man illustrates his
divine principles in their regenerated state, so the bac" view of the same
figure sets forth the inferior, or &night,& condition of the soul. >rom the
sphere of the )stral +ind a line ascends through the Sphere of 7eason
into that of the Senses. The Spheres of the )stral +ind and of the Senses
are filled with stars to signify the nocturnal condition of their natures. -n
the sphere of reason, the superior and the inferior are reconciled, 7eason
in the mortal man corresponding to -llumined !nderstanding in the
spiritual man. MPH

The Consonanes o- the M1n0ane
Monohor0
(ro! (l1003s )e Musica Mundana
This diagrammatic sector represents the ma%or
gradations of energy and substance between
elemental earth and absolute unconditioned force.
9eginning with the superior, the fifteen graduated
spheres descend in the following orderC 6imitless and
?ternal 6ife1 the superior, the middle, and the
inferior ?mpyrean1 the seven planets1 and the four
elements. ?nergy is symboliAed by >ludd as a
pyramid with its base upon the concave surface of
the superior ?mpyrean, and substance as another
pyramid with its base upon the conve( surface of the
sphere ;not planet< of earth. These pyramids
demonstrate the relative proportions of energy and
substance entering into the composition of the
fifteen planes of being. -t will be noted that the
ascending pyramid of substance touches but does
not pierce the fifteenth sphere8that of 6imitless and
?ternal 6ife. 6i"ewise, the descending pyramid of energy touches but does not pierce the first
sphere8the grossest condition of substance. The plane of the sun is denominated by the
sphere of e#uality, for here neither energy nor substance predominates. The mundane
monochord consists of a hypothetical string stretched from the base of the pyramid of energy
to the base of the pyramid of substance. MPH
The M1n0ane Monohor0 w*th *ts
Proport*ons an0 Inter,als
(ro! (l1003s )e Musica Mundana
-n this chart is set forth a summary of >ludds theory of
universal music. The interval between the element of earth
and the highest heaven is considered as a double octave,
thus showing the two e(tremes of e(istence to be in
disdiapason harmony. -t is significant that the highest
heaven, the sun, and the earth have the same tone, the
difference being in pitch. The sun is the lower octave of the
highest heaven and the earth the lower octave of the sun.
The lower octave ;> to 0< comprises that part of the
universe in which substance predominates over energy. -ts
harmonies, therefore, are more gross than those of the
higher octave ;0 to g< wherein energy predominates over
substance. &-f struc" in the more spiritual part,& writes
>ludd, &the monochord will give eternal life1 if in the more
material part, transitory life.& -t will be noted that certain
elements, planets, and celestial spheres sustain a harmonic
ratio to each other. >ludd advances this as a "ey to the
sympathies and antipathies e(isting between the various departments of /ature. MPH

The Theory o- Ele!ental M1s*
(ro! (l1003s )e Musica Mundana
-n this diagram two interpenetrating pyramids are again
employed, one of which represents fire and the other
earth. -t is demonstrated according to the law of
elemental harmony that fire does not enter into the
composition of earth nor earth into the composition of fire.
The figures on the chart disclose the harmonic
relationships e(isting between the four primary elements
according to both >ludd and the ,ythagoreans. ?arth
consists of four parts of its own nature1 water of three
parts of earth and one part of fire. The sphere of e#uality
is a hypothetical point where there is an e#uilibrium of two
parts of earth and two parts of fire. )ir is composed of
three parts of fire and one part of earth1 fire, of four parts
of its own nature. Thus earth and water bear to each other
the ratio of 4 to 3, or the diatessaron harmony, and water
and the sphere of e#uality the ratio of 3 to 2, or the
diapente harmony. >ire and air also bear to each other the
ratio of 4 to 3, or the diatessaron harmony, and air and
the sphere of e#uality the ratio of 3 to 2, or the diapente
harmony. )s the sum of a diatessaron and a diapente e#uals a diapason, or octave, it is
evident that both the sphere of fire and the sphere of earth are in diapason harmony with the
sphere of e#uality, and also that fire and earth are in disdiapason harmony with each other.
MPH
The (o1r Ele!ents an0 the*r
Consonantal Inter,als
(ro! (l1003s )e Musica Mundana
-n this diagram >ludd has divided each of the four
primary elements into three subdivisions. The first
division of each element is the grossest, parta"ing
somewhat of the substance directly inferior to itself
;e(cept in the case of the earth, which has no state
inferior to itself<. The second division consists of the
element in its relatively pure state, while the third
division is that condition wherein the element parta"es
somewhat of the substance immediately superior to
itself. >or e(ample, the lowest division of the element of
water is sedimentary, as it contains earth substance in
solution1 the second division represents water in its most
common state8salty8as in the case of the ocean1 and
the third division is water in its purest state8free from
salt. The harmonic interval assigned to the lowest
division of each element is one tone, to the central
division also a tone, but to the higher division a half.tone
because it parta"es of the division immediately above it. >ludd emphasiAes the fact that as the
elements ascend in series of two and a half tones, the diatessaron is the dominating harmonic
interval of the elements. MPH

The Mant*hora
(ro! Re0gro,e3s -ygone -eliefs
The most remar"able of allegorical creatures was the mantichora, which @tesias describes as
having a flame.colored body, lionli"e in shape, three rows of teeth, a human head and ears,
blue eyes, a tail ending in a series of spi"es and stings, thorny and scorpionli"e, and a voice
which sounded li"e the blare of trumpets. This synthetic #uadruped ambled into mediaeval
wor"s on natural history, but, though seriously considered, had never been seen, because it
inhabited inaccessible regions and conse#uently was difficult to locate. MPH
The Sorp*on Tal*s!an
(ro! Paraels1s3 Archido.es Magicae
The scorpion often appears upon the talismans and charms of the +iddle )ges. This
hieroglyphic )rachnida was supposed to have the power of curing disease. The scorpion shown
above was composed of several metals, and was made under certain planetary configurations.
,aracelsus advised that it be worn by those suffering from any derangement of the
reproductive system. MPH
The S1n-lower
(ro! &*rher3s Magnes si$e de Arte Magnetica +pus #ripartitum
The above diagram illustrates a curious e(periment in plant magnetism reproduced with
several other e(periments in )thanasius =irchers rare volume on magnetism. Several plants
were sacred to the ancient ?gyptians, 0ree"s, and 'indus because of the peculiar effect which
the sun e(erted over them. )s it is difficult for man to loo" upon the face of the sun without
being blinded by the light, those plants which turned and deliberately faced the solar orb were
considered typical of very highly advanced souls. Since the sun was regarded as the
personification of the Supreme Heity, those forms of life over which it e(ercised mar"ed
influence were venerated as being sacred to Hivinity. The sunflower, because of its plainly
perceptible affinity for the sun, was given high ran" among sacred plants. MPH
The Tree o- Alhe!y
(ro! Musaeum Hermeticum Reformatum et Amplificatum
The alchemists were wont to symboliAe their metals by means of a tree, to indicate that all
seven were branches dependent upon the single trun" of solar life. )s the Seven Spirits
depend upon 0od and are branches of a tree of which 'e is the root, trun", and the spiritual
earth from which the root derives its nourishment, so the single trun" of divine life and power
nourishes all the multitudinous forms of which the universe is composed.
-n Gloria Mundi, from which the above illustration is reproduced, there is contained an
important thought concerning the plantli"e growth of metalsC &)ll animals, trees, herbs,
stones, metals, and minerals grow and attain to perfection, without being necessarily touched
by any human handC for the seed is raised up from the ground, puts forth flowers, and bears
fruit, simply through the agency of natural influences. )s it is with plants, so it is with metals.
$hile they lie in the heart of the earth, in their natural ore, they grow and are developed, day
by day, through the influence of the four elementsC their fire is the splendor of the Sun and
+oon1 the earth conceives in her womb the splendor of the Sun, and by it the seeds of the
metals are well and e#ually warmed, %ust li"e the grain in the fields. ...>or as each tree of the
field has its own peculiar shape, appearance, and fruit, so each mountain bears its own
particular ore1 those stones and that earth being the soil in which the metals grow.&
#apho!et9 the %oat o-
Men0es
(ro! Le,*/s #ranscendental Magic
The practice of magic8either white or blac"
8depends upon the ability of the adept to
control the universal life force8that which
?liphas 6evi calls the great magical agent or
the astral light. 9y the manipulation of this
fluidic essence the phenomena of
transcendentalism are produced. The
famous hermaphroditic 0oat of +endes was
a composite creature formulated to
symboliAe this astral light. -t is identical with
9aphomet, the mystic pantheos of those
disciples of ceremonial magic, the Templars,
who probably obtained it from the )rabians.
MPH
A Mag*al Swor0
(ro! Le,*/s #he Magical Ritual
?liphas 6evi describes the preparation of a magical sword in substance as followsC The steel blade should be forged in
the hour of +ars, with new tools. The pommel should be of hollow silver containing #uic"silver, and the symbols of
+ercury and the moon and the signatures of 0abriel and Samael should be engraved upon it. The hilt should be encased
with tin, with the symbol of Jupiter and the signature of +ichael engraved upon it. ) copper triangle should e(tend from
the hilt along the blade a short distance on each sideC These should bear the symbols of +ercury and Genus. >ive
Sephiroth should be engraved upon the handle, as shown. The blade itself should have the word &+alchut& upon one
side and &Fuis ut Heus& upon the other. The sword should be consecrated on Sunday. MPH
A Mag* C*rle
(ro! #he (omplete -oo& of Magic Science 41np1+l*she05
The above figure is a complete and faithful representation of a
magic circle as designed by mediaeval con%urers for the invocation
of spirits. The magician accompanied by his assistant ta"es his
place at the point formed by the crossing of the central lines
mar"ed +)0-ST?7. The words about the circle are the names of
the invisible intelligences, and the small crosses mar" points at
which certain prayers and invocations are recited. The small circle
outside is prepared for the spirit to be invo"ed, and while in use
has the signature of the desired intelligence traced within the
triangle. MPH
The Pentagra!
(ro! Le,*/s #ranscendental Magic
The pentagram is the figure of the microcosm8the magical formula of man. -t is the one rising out of the four8the human soul rising from the
bondage of the animal nature. -t is the true light8the &Star of the morning.& -t mar"s the location of five mysterious centers of force, the
awa"ening of which is the supreme secret of white magic. MPH
(or! o- Pat w*th the Sp*r*t o- 61p*ter
(ro! #he (omplete -oo& of Magic Science
&The aforesaid 9ond of Spirits, together with the seal and character of the
planetary angel, must be written on virgin parchment and laid before the
Spirit Lfor signatureM when he appears1 at that time the invocant must not
lose confidence but be patient, firm, bold, and persevering, and ta"e care
that he as"s nor re#uires nothing of the Spirit but with a view to the glory
of 0od and the well.being of his fellow creatures. 'aving obtained his
desires of the Spirit, the invocant may license him to depart.& MPH
The Pentales o- the Se,en Planets an0 the
Seals an0 Charaters o- the Planetary Angels
(ro! a !e0*ae,al -oo& of Spirits 41np1+l*she05
The seven large circles are the pentacles of the planets, while the
two small circles under each contain the seal and the character of
the controlling intelligence of the planet. MPH
A Sala!an0er9 Aor0*ng to Paraels1s
(ro! Paraels1s/ Auslegung $on /0 Magischen *iguren
The ?gyptians, @haldeans, and ,ersians often mistoo" the salamanders for
gods, because of their radiant splendor and great power. The 0ree"s,
following the e(ample of earlier nations, deified the fire spirits and in their
honor "ept incense and altar fires burning perpetually. MPH
Con,ent*onal %no!es
(ro! %:eller1p/s )en A,ldre ,ddas 1udesange
The type of gnome most fre#uently seen is the brownie, or elf, a
mischievous and grotes#ue little creature from twelve to eighteen
inches high, usually dressed in green or russet brown. +ost of
them appear as very aged, often with long white beards, and their
figures are inclined to rotundity. They can be seen scampering out
of holes in the stumps of trees and sometimes they vanish by
actually dissolving into the tree itself. MPH
A Mer!a*0
(ro! Lyosthenes/ Prodigiorum ac +stentorum (hronicon
,robably the most famous of the undines were the mythological mermaids,
with which early mariners peopled the Seven Seas. 9elief in the e(istence
of these creatures, the upper half of their bodies human in form and the
lower half fishli"e, may have been inspired by floc"s of penguins seen at a
great distance, or possibly seals. -n mediaeval descriptions of the
mermaids, it was also stated that their hair was green li"e seaweed and
that they wore wreaths twisted from the blossoms of suba#ueous plants
and sea anemones. MPH
A Sylph
(ro! s7eth +y Howar0 'oo7ey
The sylphs were volatile, changeable entities, passing to and fro
with the rapidity of lightning. They wor" through the gases and
ethers of the earth and are "indly disposed toward human beings.
They are nearly always represented as winged, sometimes as tiny
cherubs and at other times as delicate fairies. MPH
The Phoen*2 on *ts $est o- (la!es
(ro! Lyosthenes3 Prodigiorum ac +stentorum (hronicon
The phoeni( is the most celebrated of all the symbolic creatures fabricated by the ancient +ysteries for the purpose of concealing the great
truths of esoteric philosophy. Though modern scholars of natural history declare the e(istence of the phoeni( to be purely mythical, ,liny
describes the capture of one of these birds and its e(hibition in the 7oman >orum during the reign of the ?mperor @laudius. MPH
T*tle Page o- the #oo7s o- Al;e
(ro! Musaeum Hermeticum Reformatum et Amplificatum
This title page is an e(ample of 'ermetic and alchemical symbolism. The
seven.pointed star of the sacred metals is so arranged that one blac" point
is downward, thus symboliAing Saturn, the Hestroyer. 9eginning in the
space immediately to the left of the blac" point, a reading cloc"wise
discloses the cryptic word G-T7-I6 formed by the capital letters of the
seven 6atin words in the outer circle. MPH
6ohann*s #apt*stae <on Hel!ont
(ro! ,on Hel!ont/s Ausgang der Artznen23unst
)t the beginning of the 1:th century, von 'elmont, the 9elgian alchemist, while e(perimenting with the root of
)..., touched it to the tip of his tongue, without swallowing any of the substance. 'e himself describes the
result in the following mannerC
&-mmediately my head seemed tied tightly with a string, and soon after there happened to me a singular
circumstance such as - had never before e(perienced. - observed with astonishment that - no longer felt and
thought with the head, but with the region of the stomach, as if consciousness had now ta"en up its seat in the
stomach. Terrified by this unusual phenomenon, - as"ed myself and in#uired into myself carefully1 but - only
became the more convinced that my power of perception was become greater and more comprehensive. This
intellectual clearness was associated with great pleasure. - did not sleep, nor did - dream1 - was perfectly
sober1 and my health was perfect. - had occasionally had ecstasies, but these had nothing in common with this
condition of the stomach, in which it thought and felt, and almost e(cluded all cooperation of the head. -n the
meantime my friends were troubled with the fear that - might go mad. 9ut my faith to 0od and my submission
to 'is will, soon dissipated this fear. This state continued for two hours, after which - had some diAAiness. -
afterwards fre#uently tasted of the )..., but - never again could reproduce these same sensations.&
$*holas C1lpeper
(ro! C1lpeper3s Semeiotica 4ranica
This famous physician, herbalist, and astrologer spent the greater part of his useful life ranging the hills
and forests of ?ngland and cataloguing literally hundreds of medicinal herbs. @ondemning the unnatural
methods of contemporaneous medicos, @ulpeper wroteC &This not being pleasing, and less profitable to
me, - consulted with my two brothers, H7. 7?)SI/ and H7. ?N,?7-?/@?, and too" a voyage to visit my
mother /)T!7?, by whose advice, together with the help of Hr. H-6-0?/@?, - at last obtained my desire1
and being warned by +7. 'I/?ST*, a stranger in our days, to publish it to the world, - have done it.&
;>rom the -ntroduction to the 143D ?dition of The @omplete 'erbal.<
Che!*al Sylla+les
(ro! )e Monte-Sny0ers3 Metamorphosis Planetarum
He +onte.Snyders declares that each of the above characters forms one syllable of a word having
seven syllables, the word itself representing the materia prima, or first substance of the universe. )s
all substance is composed of seven powers combined according to certain cosmic laws, a great
mystery is concealed within the sevenfold constitution of 0od, man, and the universe. If the above seven characters, He +onte.Snyders writesC
&$hoever wants to "now the true name and character of the materia prima shall "now that out of the combination of the above figures syllables
are produced, and out of these the verbum significativum.& MPH
A Sy!+ol* )*agra! o- the Operat*ons o- $at1re
(ro! (l1003s (ollectio +perum
This plate, engraved by de 9ry, is the most famous of the diagrams illustrating the philosophic principles of 7obert >ludd.
The Alhe!*al An0rogyne
(ro! the #urbae Philosophorum
The Turbae ,hilosophorum is one of the earliest "nown documents on alchemy in the 6atin tongue. -ts e(act
origin is un"nown. -t is sometimes referred to as The Third ,ythagorical Synod. )s its name implies, it is an
assembly of the sages and sets forth the alchemical viewpoints of many of the early 0ree" philosophers. The
symbol reproduced here is from a rare edition published in 0ermany in 1:D3, and represents by a hermaphroditic
figure the accomplishment of the magnum opus. The active and passive principles of /ature were often depicted
by male and female figures, and when these two principles were harmoniously con%oined in any one nature or
body it was customary to symboliAe this state of perfect e#uilibrium by the composite figure above shown. MPH
The Ele!entary 'orl0
(ro! Musaeum Hermeticum Reformatum et Amplificatum
The outer circle contains the figures of the Aodiac1 the second, their signs and that part of the human body which they rule1 the third, the
months of the year, with brief notes concerning temperaments, etc. The fourth circle contains the elements accompanied by their appropriate
symbols, and the following seven circles mar" the orbits of the planets1 also the planetary angels, the seven ma%or members of the !niversal
+an, and the seven metals, each division appearing under its appropriate element according to the elemental names in the fourth circle. -n the
twelfth circle appear the wordsC &There are Three ,rinciples, Three $orlds, Three )ges, and Three =ingdoms.& -n the thirteenth circle appear the
names of the twelve arts and sciences which are considered essential to spiritual growth. -n the fourteenth circle is the word /ature. The
fifteenth circle contains the following wordsC &-t is the great honour of faithful souls, that from their very birth an angel is appointed to preserve
and "eep each of them.& ;See first ?nglish translation, 6ondon, 1493.< MPH
Paraels1s
(ro! #he (omplete Writings of Paracelsus of Hohenheim
-n his 9iographia )nti#ua, >rancis 9arrett appends to the name of
,aracelsus the following titles of distinctionC &The ,rince of
,hysicians and ,hilosophers by >ire1 0rand ,arado(ical ,hysician1
The Trismegistus of SwitAerland1 >irst 7eformer of @hymical
,hilosophy1 )dept in )lchymy, @abala, and +agic1 /atures >aithful
Secretary1 +aster of the ?li(ir of 6ife and The ,hilosophers
Stone,& and the &0reat +onarch of @hymical Secrets.&
Al+ert1s Magn1s
(ro! 6o,*1s3 !itae 'llustrium !irorum
)lbert de 0root was born about 123E and died at the age of :4. -t has been said of him that he was
&magnus in magia, ma%or in philosophia, ma(imus in theologia.& 'e was a member of the Hominican
order and the mentor of St. Thomas )#uinas in alchemy and philosophy1 and 9ishop of 7egensburg.
'e was beatified in 1E22. )lbertus was an )ristotelian philosopher, an astrologer, and a profound
student of medicine and physics. Huring his youth, he was considered of deficient mentality, but his
sincere service and devotion were rewarded by a vision in which the Girgin +ary appeared to him and
bestowed upon him great philosophical and intellectual powers. 'aving become master of the magical
sciences, )lbertus began the construction of a curious automaton, which he invested with the powers
of speech and thought. The )ndroid, as it was called, was composed of metals and un"nown
substances chosen according to the stars and endowed with spiritual #ualities by magical formulae and
invocations, and the labor upon it consumed over thirty years. St. Thomas )#uinas, thin"ing the device
to be a diabolical mechanism, destroyed it, thus frustrating the labor of a lifetime. -n spite of this act,
)lbertus +agnus left to St. Thomas )#uinas his alchemical formulae, including ;according to legend<
the secret of the ,hilosophers Stone.
In one occasion )lbertus +agnus invited $illiam --, @ount of 'olland and =ing of the 7omans, to a
garden party in midwinter. The ground was covered with snow, but )lbertus had prepared a sumptuous ban#uet in the open grounds of his
monastery at @ologne. The guests were amaAed at the imprudence of the philosopher, but as they sat down to eat )lbertus uttered a few words,
the snow disappeared, the garden was filled with flowers and singing birds, and the air was warm with the breeAes of summer. )s soon as the
feast was over, the snow returned, much to the amaAement of the assembled nobles. ;>or details, see The 6ives of )lchemystical ,hilosophers.<
MPH
T*tle Page o- Alhe!*al Trat attr*+1te0 to 6ohn Cre!er
(ro! M1sae1! Hermeticum Reformatum et Amplificatum
John @remer, the mythical )bbot of $estminster, is an interesting personality in the alchemical imbroglio
of the 14th century. )s it is now reasonably certain that no abbot by such a name ever occupied the See of
$estminster, the #uestion naturally arises, &$ho was the person concealing his identity under the
pseudonym of John @remerO& >ictitious characters such as John @remer illustrate two important practices
of mediaeval alchemists1 ;1< many persons of high political or religious ran" were secretly engaged in
'ermetic chemical research but, fearing persecution and ridicule, published their findings under various
pseudonyms1 ;2< for thousands of years it was the practice of those initiates who possessed the true "ey to
the great 'ermetic arcanum to perpetuate their wisdom by creating imaginary persons, involving them in
episodes of contemporaneous history and thus establishing these non.e(istent beings as prominent
members of society8in some cases even fabricating complete genealogies to attain that end. The names
by which these fictitious characters were "nown revealed nothing to the uninformed. To the initiated,
however, they signified that the personality to which they were assigned had no e(istence other than a
symbolic one. These initiated chroniclers carefully concealed their arcanum in the lives, thoughts, words,
and acts ascribed to these imaginary persons and thus safely transmitted through the ages the deepest
secrets of occultism as writings which to the unconversant were nothing more than biographies. MPH
%oo0 an0 E,*l onten0*ng
-or the "n*,ersal Egg
(ro! Ma1r*e3s 'ndian Anti"uities
9oth +ithras, the ,ersian 7edeemer,
and Serapis, the ?gyptian 0od the
?arth, are symboliAed by serpents
coiled about their bodies. This
remar"able drawing shows the good
and evil principles of ,ersia8)hura.
+aAda and )hriman8contending for
the ?gg of the ?arth, which each is
trying to wrench from the teeth of the
other. MPH
A Car0 -ro! the Mantegna Pa7
)mong the more curious e(amples of playing cards are those of the +antegna
dec". The D3 sub%ects composing the dec", each of which is represented by an
appropriate figure, areC 1! A beggar" #! A page" $! A golds%ith" &! A
%erchant" 5! A gentle%an" '! A (night" )! *he +oge" 8! A (ing" ,! An
e%peror" 1-! *he Pope" 11! .alliope" 1#! /rania" 1$! *erpsichore" 1&!
0rato" 15! Pol1h1%nia" 1'! *halia" 1)! Melpo%ene" 18! 0uterpe" 1,!
.lio" #-! Apollo" #1! Gra%%ar" ##! 2ogic" #$! Rhetoric" #&! Geo%etr1"
#5! Arith%etic" #'! Music" #)! Poetr1" #8! Philosoph1" #,! Astrolog1"
$-! *heolog1" $1! Astrono%1" $#! .hronolog1" $$! .os%ogon1" $&!
*e%perance" $5! Prudence" $'! 3ortitude" $)! 4ustice" $8! .harit1" $,!
Hope" &-! 3aith" &1! the Moon" &#! Mercur1" &$! 5enus" &&! the 6un"
&5! Mars" &'! 4upiter" &)! 6aturn" &8! the eighth 6phere" &,! the
Pri%u% Mobile" 5-! the 3irst .ause. The =abbalistic significance of these
cards is apparent, and it is possible that they have a direct analogy to the fifty
gates of light referred to in =abbalistic writings. MPH
The Sy!+ols o- A+raha! the 6ew
(ro! (la!!el3s Hieroglyphical *igures
7obert '. >ryar, in a footnote to his reprint of the Hierogl1phical 3igures by /icholas >lammel, saysC &Ine
thing which seems to prove the reality of this story beyond dispute, is, that this very boo" of P)braham the
Jew, with the annotations of P>lammel, who wrote from the instructions he received from this physician,
was actually in the hands of @ardinal 7ichelieu, as 9orel was told by the @ount de @abrines, who saw and
e(amined it.& MPH
The Lea,es o- Her!es Sare0 Tree
Re0rawn -ro! an or*g*nal !an1sr*pt 0ate0 =>??
-n his =ey to )lchemy, Samuel /orton divides into 14 parts the
processes or states through which the alchemical substances pass
until ready as medicines for plants, minerals, or menC
1. Solution, the act of passing from a gaseous or solid condition into
one of li#uidity.
2. *iltration, the mechanical separation of a li#uid from the un.
dissolved particles suspended in it.
3. ,$aporation, the changing or converting from a li#uid or solid
state into a vaporous state with the aid of heat.
4. )istillation, an operation by which a volatile li#uid may be
separated from substances which it holds in solution.
D. Separation, the operation of disuniting or decomposing
substances.
E. Rectification, the process of refining or purifying any substance by
repeated distillation.
:. (alcination, the conversion into a power or cal( by the action of
heat1 e(pulsion of the volatile substance from a matter.
4. (ommi.tion, the blending of different ingredients into one
compound or mass.
9. Purification ;through putrefaction<, disintegration by spontaneous decomposition1 decay by artificial
means.
13. 'nhibition, the process of holding bac" or restraining.
11. *ermentation, the conversion of organic substances into new compounds in the presence of a
ferment.
12. *i.ation, the act or process of ceasing to be a fluid and becoming firm1 state of being fi(ed.
13. Multiplication, the act or process of multiplying or increasing in number1 the state of being multiplied.
14. Pro5ection, the process of transmuting the base metals into gold.
A Ta+le o- Me0*ae,al Alhe!*al Sy!+ols
(ro! <alent*ne3s #he 6ast Will and #estament
'ermetics used the curious symbols shown in this rare table to
represent various chemical elements and alchemical processes.
The characters concealing effectually within their own forms the
occult secrets regarding the spiritual nature of the metals and
elements which they represent. -n their allegories the alchemists
also used human, animal, and plant emblemsC sometimes weird
composite figures, such as the dragon, the winged serpent, the
unicorn, and the phoeni(. -n almost every case they symboliAed
gold as a "ing with a crown on his head and often with a scepter
in his hand. Sometimes they depicted him with the face of the
solar disc surrounded by rays. Silver was personified as a woman,
whom they called the #ueen. She wore no crown but often stood
upon a lunar crescent, much after the fashion of the +adonna.
+ercury was typified as a youth with wings, often with two heads,
carrying serpents or sometimes the caduceus. 6ead they
symboliAed by an old man with a scythe in his hand1 iron by a
soldier dressed in armor. To a#ua fortis was given the curious
name &the ostrichs stomach,& and to the attainment of the &0reat
$or"& they assigned the symbol of the phoeni( sitting upon a
nest of fire. The union of elements they symboliAed by a
marriage, the process of putrefaction by a s"ull, antimony by a
dragon. MPH
The &ey to Alhe!y aor0*ng to the
Egypt*ans
(ro! &*rher3s +,dipus A,gyptiacus
The priests of ?gypt not only used the scarab as a symbol of
regeneration but also discovered in its habits many analogies to
the secret processes whereby base metals could be transmuted
into gold. They saw in the egg of the scarab the seed of the
metals, and the above figure shows the path of this seed through
the various planetary bodies until, finally reaching the center, it is
perfected and then returns again to its source. The words in the
small spiral at the top readC &The spiral progress of the mundane
spirit.& )fter the scarab has wound its way around the spiral to the
center of the lower part of the figure, it returns to the upper world
along the path bearing the wordsC &7eturn of the spirit to the
center of unity.& MPH
The In,*s*+le Mag*al Mo1nta*n
(ro! Ph*lalethes3 6umen de 6umine
In page 24 of 6umen de 6umine, ?ugenius ,hilalethes describes the magical
mountain as followsC &This is that emblematical magical type, which Thalia
delivered to me in the invisible 0uiana. The first and superior part of it
represents the +ountains of the +oon. The philosophers commonly call them
the +ountains of -ndia, on whose tops grows their secret and famous 6unaria.
-t is an herb easy to be found, but Lfor the factM that men are blind, for it
discovers itself and shines after night li"e pearl. The earth of these mountains
is very red and soft beyond all e(pression. -t is full of crystalline roc"s, which
the philosophers call their glass and their stoneC birds and fish ;say they<
bring it to them. If these mountains spea"s 'ali the )rabian, a most
e(cellent %udicious authorC P0o, my son, to the +ountains of -ndia, and to
their #uarries or caverns, and ta"e thence our precious stones, which dissolve
or melt in water, when they are mingled therewith. +uch indeed might be
spo"en concerning these mountains, if it were lawful to publish their
mysteries, but one thing - shall not forbear to tell you. They are very
dangerous places after night, for they are haunted with fires and other
strange apparitions, occasioned ;as - am told by the +agi< by certain spirits,
which dabble lasciviously with the sperm of the world and imprint their
imaginations in, producing many times fantastic and monstrous generations. The access and pilgrimage to
this place, with the difficulties which attend them, are faithfully and magisterially described by the 9rothers
of 7.@.& ;See accompanying letter.< MPH
&ey to the %reat Ph*losoph*al Seret
(ro! Ash!ole3s #heatrum (hemicum -ritannicum
This plate, which is the "ey to mystic @hristian alchemy, is missing
from almost every copy of the Theatrum @hemicum 9ritannicum, a
wor" compiled by ?lias )shmole and containing about a score of
pieces by ?nglish poets treating of the ,hilosophers Stone and the
'ermetic mysteries.
-n view of the consistent manner in which the plate disappeared, it
is possible that the diagram was purposely removed because it
revealed too plainly the 7osicrucian arcana. ?lias )shmoles plate
shows the analogies between the life of @hrist and the four grand
divisions of the alchemical process. 'erein is also revealed the
teaching that the ,hilosophers Stone itself is a macrocosm and a
microcosm, embodying the principles of astronomy and
cosmogony, both universal and human. MPH
The "n*,erse Create0 +y the )1al Pr*n*ple
o- L*ght an0 )ar7ness
(ro! (l1003s Philosophia Mosaica
The Supreme Heity is symboliAed by the small globe at the top,
which is divided into two hemispheres, the dar" half representing
the divine dar"ness with which the Heity surrounds 'imself and
which serves as 'is hiding place. The radiant hemisphere signifies
the divine light which is in 0od and which, pouring forth,
manifests as the ob%ective creative power. The large dar" globe to
the left and beneath the dar" half of the upper sphere signifies the
potential dar"ness which was upon the face of the primordial deep
and within which moved the Spirit of 0od. The light globe to the
right is the Heity who is revealed out of the dar"ness. 'ere the
shining $ord has dissipated the shadows and a glorious universe
has been formed. The divine power of this radiant globe is
congniAable to man as the sun. The large central sphere divided
horiAontally into a light and a dar" section represents the created
universe parta"ing of the light and dar"ness which are in the
nature of the @reator. The dar" half represents the Heep, or @haos, the ?ternal $aters pouring forth out of
the Heity1 the light half, the power of 0od which animates the waters and establishes order in @haos. The
light half.circle containing the figure of )pollo represents the diurnal hemisphere of the world, which in the
ancient +ysteries was ruled over by )pollo. The dar" half.circle is the nocturnal hemisphere ruled over by
Hionysius ;Hionysos<, whose figure is faintly visible in the gloom. MPH
An Alhe!*al Cryptogra!
(ro! #rown3s History of (hemistry
James @ampbell 9rown reprints a curious cipher from =ircher. The
capital letters of the seven words in the outer circle, when read
cloc"wise, form the word SG6,'G7. >rom the five words in the
second circle, when read in a similar manner, is derived >-NG+.
The capitals of the si( words in the inner circle, when properly
arranged, also read ?ST SI6. The following cipher is thus
e(tractedC &Sulphur >i(um ?st Sol,& which when translated isC
&>i(ed sulphur is gold.& MPH
An Alhe!*al
Cryptogra!
(ro! 1eheime *iguren der
Rosen&reuzer
9eginning with the word G-S-T) and
reading cloc"wise, the seven initial
letters of the seven words inscribed in
the outer circle readC G-T7-I6. This is
a very simple alchemical enigma, but
is a reminder that those studying
wor"s on alchemy should always be on
the loo"out for concealed meanings
hidden either in parables and
allegories or in cryptic arrangements
of numbers, letters, and words. MPH
A Crypt* )ep*t*on o- )*,*ne an0 $at1ral
61st*e
(ro! Selen1s3 (ryptomenytices et (ryptographiae
The first circle portrays the divine antecedents of %ustice, the
second the universal scope of %ustice, and the third the results of
human application of %ustice. 'ence, the first circle deals with
divine principles, the second circle with mundane affairs, and the
third circle with man. In the throne at the top of the picture sits
Themis, the presiding spirit of law, and at her feet three other
#ueens8Juno, +inerva, and Genus8their robes ornamented with
geometric figures. The a(is of law connects the throne of divine
%ustice above with the throne of human %udgment at the bottom of
the picture. !pon the latter throne is seated a #ueen with a
scepter in her hand, before whom stands the winged goddess
/emesis8the angel of %udgment.
The second circle is divided into three parts by two sets of two
horiAontal lines. The upper and light section is called the Supreme 7egion and is the abode of the gods, the
good spirits, and the heroes. The lower and dar" section is the abode of lust, sin, and ignorance. 9etween
these two e(tremes is the larger section in which are blended the powers and impulses of both the superior
and the inferior regions. -n the third or inner circle is man, a tenfold creature, consisting of nine parts8
three of spirit, three of intellect, and three of soul8enclosed within one constitution. )ccording to Selenus,
mans three spiritual #ualities are thought, speech, and action1 his three intellectual #ualities are memory,
intelligence, and will1 and his three #ualities of soul are understanding, courage, and desire. The third circle
is further divided into three parts called agesC the 0olden )ge of spiritual truth in the upper right section,
the -ron )ge of spiritual dar"ness in the lower right section, and the 9ronAe age8a composite of the two8
occupying the entire left half of the inner circle and itself divided into three parts. The lowest division of the
9ronAe )ge depicts ignorant man controlled by force, the central the partly awa"ened man controlled by
%urisprudence, and the upper the spiritually illuminated man controlled by love. 9oth the second and third
circles revolve upon the a(is of law, but the divine source of law8'eavenly Justice8is concealed by clouds.
MPH
The Mystery o- the Maroos!
Re0rawn -ro! (esarianos ,dition of !itru$ius
SummariAing the relationship between the human body and the
theory of architectonics, Gitruvius writesC &Since nature has
designed the human body so that its members are duly
proportioned to the frame as a whole, it appears that the ancients
had good reason for their rule, that in perfect building the different
members must be in e(act symmetrical relations to the whole
general scheme. 'ence, while transmitting to us the proper
arrangements for buildings of all "inds, they were particularly
careful to do so in the case of temples of the gods, buildings in
which merits and faults usually last forever. ...Therefore, if it is
agreed that number was found out from the human fingers, and
that there is a symmetrical correspondent between the members
separately and the entire form of the body, in accordance with a
certain part selected as standard, we can have nothing but respect
for those who, in constructing temples of the immortal gods, have
so arranged the members of the wor"s that both the separate parts
and the whole design may harmoniAe in their proportions and
symmetry.& MPH
The Mystery o- the M*roos!
Re0rawn -ro! (esarianos ,dition of !itru$ius
'erein is depicted the mysterious $ord of ,lato which was
crucified in space before the foundation of the world. The
anonymous author of the @anon writesC &The 6ogos or soul of the
world, according to ,lato, the 0ree" 'ermes, and the @hrist,
according to the @hristian 0nostics, are all one and the same as
the 'ebrew )dam =admon, who is the second person of the
cabalistic triad. The @yllenian 'ermes, described by 'ippolytus, so
e(actly resembles the lesser man found in @esarianos edition of
Gitruvius, that they may be %ustifiably considered to be identical.&
)fter relating the figure to Hionysos because of the vine leaves
wound in the hair, the same writer concludesC &'ere we have
clearly and distinctly a curious survival of the cosmic deity of
0reece, copied and disfigured by the crude draughtsmen of the
+iddle )ges, but faithfully preserved, and recogniAable to the
last.& Similar figures are to be found in )grippas He Icculta
,hilosophia. 6i"e @esarianos diagrams, however, the "ey given for their interpretation is most inade#uate.
)grippa declares that, being a type of the lesser world, man contains in himself all numbers, measures,
weights, motions, and elements. MPH
6a7o+ #8h!e9 the Te1ton* Theosopher
(ro! '*ll*a! Law3s Translat*on o- #he Wor&s of 7a&ob
-8hme
Ja"ob 9Khme was born in the year 1D:D in a village near 0orlitA,
and died in Silesia in 1E24. 'e had but little schooling and was
apprenticed at an early age to a shoema"er. 'e later became a
%ouyrneyman shoema"er, married and had four children. Ine day
while tending his masters shoe shop, a mysterious stranger
entered who, while he seemed to possess but little of this worlds
goods, appeared to be most wise and noble in spiritual
attainment. The stranger as"ed the price of a pair of shoes, but
young 9Khme did not dare to name a figure, for fear that he
would displease his master. The stranger insisted and 9Khme
finally placed a valuation which he felt was all that his master
possibly could hope to secure for the shoes. The stranger
immediately bought them and departed. ) short distance down
the street the mysterious stranger stopped and cried out in a loud
voice, &Ja"ob, Ja"ob, come forth.& -n amaAement and fright,
9Khme ran out of the house. The strange man fi(ed his eyes upon
the youth8great eyes which spar"led and seemed filled with
divine light. 'e too" the boys right hand and addressed him as
followsC &Ja"ob, thou art little but shall be great, and become another +an, such a one as at whom the
$orld shall wonder. Therefore be pious, fear 0od, and reverence 'is $ord. 7ead diligently the 'oly
Scriptures, wherein you have @omfort and -nstruction. >or thou must endure much +isery and ,overty, and
suffer ,ersecution, but be courageous and persevere, for 0od loves, and is gracious to thee.& Heeply
impressed by the prediction, 9Khme became ever more intense in his search for truth. )t last his labors
were rewarded. >or seven days he remained in a mysterious condition during which time the mysteries of
the invisible world were revealed to him. -t has been said of Ja"ob 9Khme that he revealed to all man"ind
the deepest secrets of alchemy. 'e died surrounded by his family, his last words being &/ow - go hence
into ,aradise.& MPH
The @)*,*ne@ Cagl*ostro
(ro! Ho10on3s #1st o- Cagl*ostro
The @omte di @agliostro is described as a man not overly tall, but s#uare
shouldered and deep of chest. 'is head, which was large, was
abundantly covered with wavy blac" hair combed bac" from his broad
and noble forehead. 'is eyes were blac" and very brilliant, and when he
spo"e with great feeling upon some profound sub%ect the pupils dilated,
his eyebrows rose, and he shoo" his head li"e a maned lion.
'is hands and feet were small8an indication of noble birth8and his
whole bearing was one of dignity and studiousness. 'e was filled with
energy, and could accomplish a prodigious amount of wor". 'e dressed
somewhat fantastically, gave so freely from an ine(haustible purse that
he received the title of &>ather of the ,oor,& accepted nothing from
anyone, and maintained himself in magnificence in a combined temple
and palace in the 7ue de la SourdiQre. )ccording to his own statement
he was initiated into the +ysteries by none other than the @omte de St..
0ermain. 'e had traveled through all parts of the world, and in the ruins
of ancient 9abylon and /ineveh had discovered wise men who
understood all the secrets of human life. MPH
The Entrane to the Ho1se o- the Myster*es
(ro! &h1nrath3s A!ph*theatr1! Sap*entae9 et
This symbolic figure, representing the way to everlasting life, is described by =hunrath in substance as
followsC &This is the portal of the amphitheater of the only true and eternal $isdom8a narrow one, indeed,
but sufficiently august, and consecrated to Jehovah. To this portal ascent is made by a mystic, indisputably
prologetic, flight of steps, set before it as shown in the picture. -t consists of seven theosophic, or, rather,
philosophic steps of the Hoctrine of the >aithful Sons. )fter ascending the steps, the path is along the way
of 0od the >ather, either directly by inspiration or by various mediate means. )ccording to the seven
oracular laws shining at the portal, those who are inspired divinely have the power to enter and with the
eyes of the body and of the mind, of seeing, contemplating and investigating in a @hristiano.=abalistic,
divino.magical, psysico.chemical manner, the nature of the $isdom, 0oodness, and ,ower of the @reator1
to the end that they die not sophistically but live theosophically, and that the orthodo( philosophers so
created may with sincere philosophy e(pound the wor"s of the 6ord, and worthily praise 0od who has thus
blessed these friends of 0od.&
Gallery of Astrological Images
The L*on o- the S1n
(ro! Maurices 'ndian
Anti"uities
The sun rising over the bac" of the
lion or, astrologically, in bac" of the
lion, has always been considered
symbolic of power and rulership. )
symbol very similar to the one above
appears on the flag of ,ersia, whose
people have always been sun
worshipers. =ings and emperors have
fre#uently associated their terrestrial
power with the celestial power of the
solar orb, and have accepted the
sun, or one of its symbolic beasts or
birds, as their emblem. $itness the
lion of the 0reat +ogul and the
eagles of @aesar and /apoleon. MPH
The Three S1ns
(ro! L*lly3s Astrological Predictions for 9:;<, 9:;= and 9:>0
*he follo7ing description of this pheno%enon appears in a letter 7ritten b1
4ere%iah 6ha(erle1 in 2ancashire8 March &th8 1'&89
&In +onday the 24th of >ebruary last, there arose with the Sun two ,arelii,
on either side one1 their distance from him was by estimation, about ten
degrees1 they continued still of the same distance from the Renith, or height
above the 'oriAon, that the Sun did1 and from the parts averse to the Sun,
there seemed to issue out certain bright rays, not unli"e those which the Sun
sendeth from behind a cloud, but brighter. The parts of these ,arelii which
were toward the Sun, were of a mi(t colour, wherein green and red were
most predominantC ) little above them was a thin 7ainbow, scarcely
discernible, of a bright colour, with the concave towards the Sun, and the
ends thereof seeming to touch the ,areliiC )bove that, in a clear diaphanous
ayre LairM, appeared another conspicuous 7ainbow, beautified with divers
colours1 it was as neer as - could discern to the Renith1 it seemed of
something a lesser radius that the other, they being bac" to bac", yet a
pretty way betweenC )t or neer the apparent time of the full +oon, they
vanished, leaving abundance of terror and amaAement in those that saw
them.& MPH

The Solar (ae
(ro! Mont-a1on3s Anti"uities
The corona of the sun is here shown
in the form of a lions mane. This is a
subtle reminder of the fact that at one
time the summer solstice too" place
in the sign of 6eo, the @elestial 6ion.
MPH
The EA1*no2es an0 Solst*es
The plane of the Aodiac intersects the celestial e#uator at an angle of
appro(imately 23S 24T. The two points of intersection ;) and 9< are called
the e#uino(es. MPH
The M*roos!
(ro! Shot1s3 Margarita
Philosophica
The pagans believed that the Aodiac
formed the body of the 0rand +an of
the !niverse. This body, which they
called the +acrocosm ;The 0reat
$orld<, was divided into twelve
ma%or parts, one of which was under
the control of the celestial powers
reposing in each of the Aodiacal
constellations. 9elieving that the
entire universal system was
epitomiAed in mans body, which
they called the +icrocosm ;the 6ittle
$orld<, they evolved that now
familiar figure of &the cut.up man in
the almanac& by allotting a sign of
the Aodiac to each of twelve ma%or
parts of the human body.
The C*r1lar Bo0*a o- Tentyra
(ro! Cole3s #reatise on the (ircular ?odiac of #entyra, in ,gypt
The oldest circular Aodiac "nown is the one found at Tentyra, in ?gypt, and
now in the possession of the >rench 0overnment. +r. John @ole describes
this remar"able Aodiac as followsC &The diameter of the medallion in which
the constellations are sculptured, is four feet nine inches, >rench measure. -t
is surrounded by another circle of much larger circumference, containing
hieroglyphic characters1 this second circle is enclosed in a s#uare, whose
sides are seven feet nine inches long... The asterisms, constituting the
Rodiacal constellations mi(ed with others, are represented in a spiral. The
e(tremities of this spiral, after one revolution, are 6eo and @ancer. 6eo is no
doubt at the head. -t appears to be trampling on a serpent, and its tail to be
held by a woman. -mmediately after the 6ion comes the Girgin holding an ear
of corn. >urther on we perceive two scales of a balance, above which, in a
medallion, is the figure of 'arpocrates. Then follows the Scorpion, and
Sagittarius, to whom the ?gyptians gave wings, and two faces. )fter
Sagittarius are successively placed, @apricornus, )#uarius, ,isces, the 7am,
the 9ull, and the Twins. This Rodiacal procession is, as we have already
observed, terminated by @ancer, the @rab.& MPH
H*eroglyph* Plan9 +y Her!es9 o- the An*ent Bo0*a
(ro! &*rher3s +,dipus A,gyptiacus
The inner circle contains the hieroglyph of 'emphta, the triform and
pantamorphic deity. -n the si( concentric bands surrounding the inner circle
are ;from within outward<C ;1< the numbers of the Aodiacal houses in figures
and also in words1 ;2< the modern names of the houses1 ;3< the 0ree" or the
?gyptian names of the ?gyptian deities assigned to the houses1 ;4< the
complete figures of these deities1 ;D< the ancient or the modern Aodiacal
signs, sometimes both1 ;E< the number of decans or subdivisions of the
houses. MPH
Leo
<*rgo
Sorp*o an0 L*+ra
Sag*ttar*1s
Capr*orn an0 AA1ar*1s
P*ses
Ar*es
Ta1r1s
%e!*n*
Caner
0allery of @hristian Symbols
A Chr*st*an Tr*n*ty
(ro! Hone/s Ancient Mysteries
)escribed
-n an effort to set forth in an
appropriate figure the @hristian
doctrine of the Trinity, it was necessary
to devise an image in which the three
persons8>ather, Son, and 'oly 0host
8 were separate and yet one. -n
different parts of ?urope may be seen
figures similar to this, wherein three
faces are united in one head. This is a
legitimate method of symbolism, for to
those able to realiAe the sacred
significance of the threefold head a
great mystery is revealed. MPH
Han0 0eorate0 w*th the
E--*g*es o- 6es1s Chr*st9 the
<*rg*n Mary9 an0 the Twel,e
Apostles
(ro! an ol0 pr*nt9 o1rtesy o- Carl
Osar #org
!pon the twelve phalanges of the
fingers appear the li"enesses of the
)postles, each bearing its own appropriate
symbol. -n the case of those who suffered
martyrdom the symbol signifies the
instrument of death. Thus, the symbol of
St. )ndrew is a cross1 of St. Thomas a %avelin
or a builders s#uare1 of St. James the 6ess, a
club1 of St. ,hillip, a cross1 of St.
9artholomew, a large "nife or scimitar1 of
St. +atthew, a sword or spear ;sometimes a
purse<1 of St. Simon, a club or saw1 of St.
+atthias, an a(e1 and of St. Judas, a halberd.
The )postles whose symbols to not relate to their martyrdom are St. ,eter, who
carries two crossed "eys, one gold and one silver1 St. James the 0reat, who bears a
pilgrims staff and an scallop shell1 and St. John, who holds a cup from which the
poison miraculously departed in the form of a serpent. The figure of @hrist upon the
second phalange of the thumb. MPH
The Tree o- $oah
(ro! the "-reeches" -ible of 9>==
+ost 9ibles published during the +iddle )ges contain a section devoted to
genealogical tables showing the descent of humanity from >ather )dam to the
advent of Jesus @hrist. The tree growing from the roof of the )r" represents the
body of /oah and its three branches, his sons8Shem, 'am, and Japheth. The
nations founded by the descendants of /oahs three sons are appropriately shown in
the circles upon the branches of the tree. $hile such tables are hopelessly incorrect
from a historical point of view, to the symbolist their allegorical interpretations are of
inestimable importance. MPH
The $*!+1s . A1reole *n
Sy!+ol*s!
(ro! A10sley3s Handboo& of (hristian
Symbolism
The golden halos around the heads of both
pagan gods and @hristian saints refers to
their being bathed in the glory of the sun
and also to the fact that a spiritual sun
within their own natures is radiating its
glow.ray and surrounding them with
celestial splendor. $henever the nimbus is
composed of straight radiant lines, with solar
significance1 whenever curved lines are used
for beams, it parta"es of the lunar nature1
whenever they are united, it symboliAes an
harmonious blending of both principles. The
circular nimbus is solar and masculine, while
the loAenge.shaped nimbus, or $esica
piscis, lunar and feminine. The same
symbolism is preserved in the circular and
loAenge.shaped windows of cathedrals. There is a complete science contained in the
shape, color, and adornments of the halos of saints and martyrs. ) plain golden ring
usually surrounds the head of a canoniAed saint, while 0od the >ather and 0od the
Son have far more ornate aureole, usually adorned with a St. 0eorge @ross, a
flowered cross, or a lilied cross, with only three of the arms visible. MPH
H*story o- the Holy Cross
(ro! #er:ea13s History of the Holy
(ross
;1< )dam directing Seth how to reach
the 0arden of ?den. ;2< Seth placing
the three seeds from the Tree of 6ife
under the tongue of the dead )dam.
;3< The Fueen of Sheba, refusing to
place her feet upon the sacred tree,
forded the stream. ;4< ,lacing the
sacred tree over the door of Solomons
Temple. ;D< The crucifi(ion of @hrist
upon a cross made from the wood of
the holy tree. ;E< Histinguishing the
true cross from the other two by
testing its power to raise a corpse to
life. MPH
The Ta1 Cross
The T)! @ross was the sign which the 6ord
told the people of Jerusalem to mar" upon
their foreheads, as related by the ,rophet
?Ae"iel. -t was also placed as a symbol of
liberation upon those charged with crimes
but ac#uitted. MPH
The Cr1*-*2*on *n Spae
(ro! H*gg*ns3 Anacalypsis
If this remar"able Iriental drawing, J.
,. 6undy has writtenC &-t loo"s li"e a
@hristian crucifi( in many respects, and
in some others it does not. The
drawing, the attitude, and the nail.
mar"s in hands and feet, indicate a
@hristian origin1 while the ,arthian
coronet of seven points, the absence of
the wood and of the usual inscription,
and the rays of glory above, would
seem to point to some other than a
@hristian origin. @an it be the Gictim.
+an, or the ,riest and Gictim both in
one, of the 'indu mythology, who
offered himself a sacrifice before the
worlds wereO& MPH
The Cr1*-*2*on o- C1et;aloatl
4(ro! the Co0e2 #org*an1s5
(ro! &*ngs+oro1gh3s Anti"uities of Me.ico
6ord =ingsborough writesC &+ay we not refer to the seventy.third page of the
9orgian +S., which represents Fue(alcoatl both crucified, and as it were cut in
pieces for the cauldron, and with e#ual reason demand, whether anyone can help
thin"ing that the Jews of the /ew $orld L6ord =ingsborough sought to prove that the
+e(icans were descendants of the JewsM applied to their +essiah not only all the
prophecies contained in the Ild Testament relating to @hrist, but li"ewise many of
the incidents recorded of him in the 0ospels.& MPH
The Throne o- %o0 an0 the
La!+
(ro! 6ao+ #eh!en3s 'or7s
9efore the throne of 0od was the crystal
sea representing the Schamayim, or the
living waters which are above the heavens.
9efore the throne also were four creatures
8a bull, a lion, an eagle, and a man. These
represented the four corners of creation,
and the multitude of eyes with which they
were covered are the stars of the
firmament. The twenty.four elders have the
same significance as the priests gathered
around the statue of @eres in the 0reater
?leusinian 7ite and also the ,ersian 0enii,
or gods of the hours of the day, who,
casting away their crowns, glorify the 'oly
Ine. MPH
)ra!at* Ep*so0es -ro! the Myster*es o- the Apoalypse
(ro! &la1+er3s Historiae -iblicae !eteris et @o$i #estamenti
-n the central foreground St. John the Hivine is shown "neeling before the apparition
of the )lpha and Imega standing in the midst of the seven lights and surrounded by
an aureole of flames and smo"e. -n the heavens above, the twenty.four elders with
their harps and censers bow before the throne of the )ncient Ine, from whose hand
the 6amb is ta"ing the boo" sealed with seven seals. The seven spirits of 0od, in the
form of cups from which issue tongues of fire, surround the head of the )ncient Ine,
and the four beasts ;the cherubim< "neel at the corners of 'is throne. -n the upper
left.hand corner are shown the seven angels bearing the trumpets and also the altar
of 0od and the angel with the censer. -n the upper right are the spirits of the winds1
below them is the virgin clothed with the sun, to whom wings were given that she
might fly into the wilderness. To her right is a scene representing the spirits of 0od
hurling the evil serpent into the bottomless pit. )t the lower left St. John is shown
receiving from the angelic figure, whose legs are pillars of fire and whose face is a
shining sun, the little boo" which he is told to eat if he would understand the
mysteries of the spiritual life. MPH
6ohn/s <*s*on o- the $ew 6er1sale!
(ro! &la1+er3s Historiae -iblicae !eteris et @o$i #estamenti
-n the upper left.hand corner is shown the destruction of 9abylon, also the angel
which cast the great millstone into the sea, saying, &Thus with violence shall that
great city 9abylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all.& 9elow is the
horseman, called >aithful and True, casting the beast into the bottomless pit. )t the
lower right is the angel with the "ey to the bottomless pit, who with a great chain
binds Satan for a thousand years. -n the heavens above is represented one li"e unto
the Son of +an, who carries a great sic"le with which he reaps the harvests of the
world. -n the center is the 'oly @ity, the /ew Jerusalem, with its twelve gates and
the mountain of the 6amb rising in the midst thereof. >rom the throne of the 6amb
pours the great river of crystal, or living water, signifying the spiritual doctrineC upon
all who discover and drin" of its waters is conferred immortality. =neeling upon a
high cliff, St. John gaAes down upon the mystic city, the archetype of the perfect
civiliAation yet to be. )bove the /ew Jerusalem, in a great sunburst of glory, is the
throne of the )ncient Ine, which is the light of those who dwell in the matchless
empire of the spirit. MPH
The (o1r Horse!en o- the Apoalypse
(ro! Sol*s3 -iblische *iguren
-n the allegory of the four horsemen8according to the mysteries of philosophy8is
set forth the condition of man during the stages of his e(istence. -n his first and
spiritual state he is crowned. )s he descends into the realm of e(perience he carries
the sword. 7eaching physical e(pression8which is his least spiritual state8he carries
the scales, and by the &philosophic death& is released again into the higher spheres.
-n the ancient 7oman games the chariot of the sun was drawn by four horses of
different colors, and the horsemen of the )pocalypse may be interpreted to
represent the solar energy riding upon the four elements which serve as media for its
e(pression. MPH
6ohn an0 the <*s*on o- the
Apoalypse
(ro! an engra,*ng +y 6ean )1,et
Jean Huvet of 6angres ;who was born
in 144D and presumably died sometime
after 1DE1, the year in which his
illustrations to the )pocalypse were
printed in boo" form< was the oldest
and greatest of >rench 7enaissance
engravers. 6ittle is "nown concerning
Huvet beyond the fact that he was
goldsmith to the =ing of >rance. 'is
engravings for the 9oo" of 7evelation,
e(ecuted after he had passed his
seventieth year, were his masterpiece.
The face of John is an actual portrait of
Huvet. This plate, li"e many others cut
by Huvet, is rich in philosophical
symbolism. MPH
Gallery of Classical Myth & Mysteries
Plato
(ro! Tho!ass*n/s Recueil des *igures, 1roupes,
#hermes, *ontaines, !ases et autres +rnements
,latos real name was )ristocles. $hen his father
brought him to study with Socrates, the great S"eptic
declared that on the previous night he had dreamed
of a white swan, which was an omen that his new
disciple was to become one of the worlds illumined.
There is LalsoM a tradition that the immortal ,lato was
sold as a slave by the =ing of Sicily. MPH
Dneas at the %ate o- Hell
(ro! <*rg*l/s Aeneid 4)ry0en/s translat*on5
Girgil describes part of the ritual of a 0ree" +ystery in his account
of the descent of )eneas to the gate of hell under the guidance of
the Sibyl. If that part of the ritual portrayed above the immortal
poet writesC &>ull in the midst of this infernal 7oad, )n ?lm
displays her dus"y )rms abroad1 The 0od of Sleep there hides his
heavy 'ead )nd empty Hreams on evry 6eaf are spread. If
various >orms, unnumberd Specters more1 @entaurs, and double
Shapes, besiege the HoorC 9efore the ,assage horrid 'ydra
stands, )nd 9riareus with all his hundred 'andsC 0orgons, 0eryon
with his triple >rame1 )nd vain @himaera vomits empty >lame.
The @hief unsheathd his shining Steel, prepard Tho seiAd with
sudden >ear, to force the 0uard. Iffring his brandishd $eapon at
their >ace1 'ad not the Sibyl stopd his eager ,ace, )nd told him
what those empty ,hantoms were1 >orms without 9odies, and
impassive )ir.& MPH
The Ptole!a* She!e o- the "n*,erse
(ro! an ol0 pr*nt9 o1rtesy o- Carl Osar #org
-n ridiculing the geocentric system of astronomy e(pounded by @laudius ,tolemy, modern astronomers
have overloo"ed the philosophic &ey to the ,tolemaic system. The universe of ,tolemy is a diagram of
the relationships e(isting between the various divine and elemental parts of every creature, and is not
concerned with astronomy as that science is now comprehended. -n the above figure, special attention is
called to the three circles of Aodiacs surrounding the orbits of the planets. These Aodiacs represent the
threefold spiritual constitution of the universe. The orbits of the planets are the 0overnors of the $orld
and the four elemental spheres in the center represent the physical constitution of both man and the
universe. ,tolemys scheme of the universe is a cross section of the universal aura, the planets and
elements to which he refers having no relation to those recogniAed by modern astronomers. MPH
The Orph* Egg
(ro! #ryant/s An Analysis of Ancient Mythology
The ancient symbol of the Irphic +ysteries was the
serpent.entwined egg, which signified @osmos as
encircled by the fiery @reative Spirit. The egg also
represents the soul of the philosopher1 the serpent,
the +ysteries. )t the time of initiation the shell is
bro"en and man emerges from the embryonic state
of physical e(istence wherein he had remained
through the fetal period of philosophic regeneration.
MPH
A (e!ale H*erophant o- the Myster*es
(ro! Mont-a1on/s Anti"uities
This illustration show @ybele, here called the Syrian 0oddess, in the
robes of a hierophant. +ontfaucon describes the figure as followsC &!pon
her head is an episcopal mitre, adorned on the lower part with towers
and pinnacles1 over the gate of the city a crescent, and beneath the
circuit of the walls a crown of rays. The 0oddess wears a sort of surplice
e(actly li"e the surplice of a priest or bishop1 and upon the surplice a
tunic, which falls down to the legs1 and over all an episcopal cope, with
the twelve signs of the Rodiac wrought on the borders. The figure hath a
lion on each side, and holds in its left hand a Tympanum, a Sistrum, a
Histaff, a @aduceus, and another instrument. -n her right hand she holds
with her middle finger a thunderbolt, and upon the same arm animals,
insects, and, as far as we may guess, flowers and fruit, a bow, a #uiver,
a torch, and a scythe.& The whereabouts of the statue is un"nown, the
copy reproduced by +ontfaucon being from drawings by ,irro 6igorio.
MPH
M*thras Slay*ng the #1ll
(ro! L1n0y/s Monumental (hristianity
This relief Lprototo(osM shows +ithras "neeling upon the recumbent form of a great bull, into whose
throat he is driving a sword. The slaying of the bull signifies that the rays of the sun, symboliAed by the
sword, release at the vernal e#uino( the vital essences of the earth8the blood of the bull8which, pouring
from the wound made by the Sun 0od, fertiliAe the seeds of living things. Hogs were held sacred to the
cult of +ithras, being symbolic of sincerity and trustworthiness. The +ithraics used the serpent as an
emblem of )hriman, the Spirit of ?vil. The bull is the @onstellation of Taurus1 the serpent, its opposite in
the Aodiac, Scorpio. MPH
The #*rth o- M*thras
(ro! Mont-a1on/s Anti"uities
+ithras was born out of a roc", which, brea"ing open,
permitted him to emerge. This occurred in the
dar"ness of a subterranean chamber. The @hurch of
the /ativity at 9ethlehem confirms the theory that
Jesus was born in a grotto, or cave. )ccording to
Hupuis, +ithras was put to death by crucifi(ion and
rose again on the third day. MPH
The L*on-(ae0 L*ght-Power
(ro! Mont-a1on/s Anti"uities
This 0nostic gem represents by its serpentine
body the pathway of the Sun and by its lion head
the e(altation of the solar orb in the @onstellation
of 6eo. MPH
A Sy!+ol* La+yr*nth
(ro! Mont-a1on/s Anti"uities
6abyrinths and maAes were favored places of initiation among many ancient cults. 7emains of these
mystic maAes have been found among the )merican -ndians, 'indus, ,ersians, ?gyptians, and 0ree"s.
Some of these maAes are merely involved pathways lined with stones1 others are literally miles of gloomy
caverns under temples or hollowed from the sides of mountains. The famous labyrinth of @rete, in which
roamed the bull.headed +inotaur, was un#uestionably a place of initiation into the @retan +ysteries. MPH
The Ale2an0r*an Serap*s
(ro! Mosaize Historie der Hebreeu%se 3er&e
Serapis is often shown standing on the bac" of the
sacred crocodile, carrying in his left hand a rule with
which to measure the inundations of the /ile, and
balancing with his right hand a curious emblem
consisting of an animal with three heads. The first
head8that of a lion8signified the present1 the
second head8that of a wolf8the past1 and the third
head8that of a dog8the future. The body with its
three heads was enveloped by the twisted coils of a
serpent. MPH
The Rape o- Persephone
(ro! Tho!ass*n/s Recueil des *igures, 1roupes, #hermes,
*ontaines, !ases et autres +rnements
-n his His#uisitions upon the ,ainted 0ree" Gases, James @hristie presents
+eursius version of the occurrences ta"ing place during the nine days
re#uired for the enactment of the 0reater ?leusinian 7ites. The 1st day was
that of general meeting, during which those to be initiated were #uestioned
concerning their several #ualifications. The 2nd day was spent in a
procession to the sea, possibly for the submerging of an image of the
presiding goddess. The 3rd day was opened by the sacrifice of a mullet. In
the 4th day the mystic bas"et containing certain sacred symbols was
brought to ?leusis, accompanied by a number of female devotees carrying
smaller bas"ets. In the evening of the Dth day there was a torch race, on
the Eth a procession led by a statue of -acchus, and on the :th an athletic
contest. The 4th day was devoted to a repetition of the previous ceremonial
for the benefit of any who might have been prevented from attending
sooner. The 9th and last day was devoted to the deepest philosophical
issues of the ?leusinia, during which an urn or %ar8the symbol of 9acchus8
was e(hibited as an emblem of supreme importance. MPH

Ceres9 Patron o- the Myster*es
(ro! a !1ral pa*nt*ng *n Po!pe**
@eres, or Hemeter, was the daughter of =ronos and
7hea, and by Reus the mother of ,ersephone. Some
believe her to be the goddess of the earth, but more
correctly she is the deity protecting agriculture in
general and corn in particular. The poppy is sacred to
@eres and she is often shown carrying or ornamented
by a garland of these flowers. -n the +ysteries, @eres
is represented riding in a chariot drawn by winged
serpents. MPH
The Proess*onal o- the #ah* R*tes
(ro! O,*0/s Metamorphosis
-n the initiation of the 9acchic +ysteries, the role of 9acchus is played by the candidate who, set upon by
priests in the guise of the Titans, is slain and finally restored to life amidst great re%oicing. The 9acchic
+ysteries were given every three years, and li"e the ?leusinian +ysteries, were divided into two degrees.
The initiates were crowned with myrtle and ivy, plants which were sacred to 9acchus.
-n the )nacalypsis, 0odfrey 'iggins conclusively establishes 9acchus ;Hionysos< as one of the early
pagan forms of the @hristos mythC &The birthplace of 9acchus, called SabaAius or Sabaoth, was claimed
by several places in 0reece1 but on +ount Relmisus, in Thrace, his worship seems to have been chiefly
celebrated. 'e was born of a virgin on the 2Dth of Hecember1 he performed great miracles for the good of
man"ind1 particularly one in which he changed water into wine1 he rode in a triumphal procession on an
ass1 he was put to death by the Titans, and rose again from the dead on the 2Dth of +archC he was
always called the Saviour. -n his mysteries, he was shown to the people, as an infant is by the @hristians
at this day, on @hristmas Hay morning in 7ome.&
)t one time the 9acchic 7ites were of a high order, but later they became much degraded. The
9acchanalia, or orgies of 9acchus, are famous in literature. MPH

The She!e o- the "n*,erse aor0*ng to the
%ree7s an0 Ro!ans
(ro! Cartar*3s 'magini degli )ei degli Antichi
9y ascending successively through the fiery sphere of 'ades, the
spheres of water, earth, and air, and the heavens of the moon, the
plane of +ercury is reached. )bove +ercury are the planes of Genus,
the sun, +ars, Jupiter, and Saturn, the latter containing the symbols of
the Aodiacal constellations. )bove the arch of the heavens ;Saturn< is
the dwelling place of the different powers controlling the universe. The
supreme council of the gods is composed of twelve deities8si( male
and si( female8which correspond to the positive and negative signs of
the Aodiac. The si( gods are Jupiter, Gulcan, )pollo, +ars, /eptune,
and +ercury1 the si( goddesses are Juno, @eres, Gesta, +inerva,
Genus, and Hiana. Jupiter rides his eagle as the symbol of his
sovereignty over the world, and Juno is seated upon a peacoc", the
proper symbol of her haughtiness and glory. MPH
The %reat %o0 Pan
(ro! &*rher3s +,dipus A,gyptiacus
The great god ,an was celebrated as the author and director of the
sacred dances which he is supposed to have instituted to symboliAe
the circumambulations of the heavenly bodies. ,an was a
composite creature, the upper part8with the e(ception of his horns
8being human, and the lower part in the form of a goat. ,an is the
prototype of natural energy and, while undoubtedly a phallic deity,
should not be confused with ,riapus. The pipes of ,an signify the
natural harmony of the spheres, and the god himself is a symbol of
Saturn because this planet is enthroned in @apricorn, whose
emblem is a goat. The ?gyptians were initiated into the +ysteries
of ,an, who was regarded as a phase of Jupiter, the Hemirugus.
,an represented the impregnating power of the sun and was the
chief of a horde of rustic deities, panes, fauns, and satyrs. 'e also
signified the controlling spirit of the lower worlds. MPH

A %ree7 -or! o- Her!es
(ro! #ryant3s Mythology
The name 'ermes is derived from &'erm,& a form of @'iram, the
personified !niversal 6ife ,rinciple, generally represented by fire.
The Scandinavians worshiped 'ermes under the name of Idin1
the Teutons as $otan, and certain of the Iriental peoples as
9uddha, or >o. There are two theories concerning his demise. The
first declares that 'ermes was translated li"e ?noch and carried
without death into the presence of 0od1 the second states that he
was buried in the Galley of ?bron and a great treasure placed in
his tomb8not a treasure of gold but of boo"s and sacred learning.
The ?gyptians li"ened humanity to a floc" of sheep. The Supreme
and -nconceivable >ather was the Shepherd, and 'ermes was the
shepherd dog. The origin of the shepherds croo" in religious
symbolism may be traced to the ?gyptian rituals. The three
scepters of ?gypt include the shepherds croo", symboliAing that
by virtue of the power reposing in that symbolic staff the initiated
,haraohs guided the destinies of their people. MPH
The Sph*n2
(ro! Le,*3s 6es MystAres de la 3aballe
The Sphin( is closely related to the 0ree" legend of I?dipus. To each
who passed her lair the Sphin( addressed the #uestion, &$hat animal is it
that in the morning goes on four feet, at noon on two feet, and in the
evening on three feetO& Those who failed to answer her riddle she
destroyed. I?dipus declared the answer to be man himself, who in
childhood crawled upon his hands and "nees, in manhood stood erect,
and in old age shuffled along supporting himself by a staff. There is still
another answer to the riddle of the sphin(, an answer best revealed by a
consideration of the ,ythagorean values of numbers. The 4, the 2, and
the 3 produce the sum of 9, which is the natural number of man and also
of the lower worlds. The 4 represents the ignorant man, the 2 the
intellectual man, and the 3 the spiritual man. -nfant humanity wal"s on
four legs, evolving humanity on two legs, and to the power of his own
mind the redeemed and illumined magus adds the staff of wisdom. The
sphin( is therefore the mystery of /ature, the embodiment of the secret
doctrine, and all who cannot solve her riddle perish. To pass the sphin( is
to attain personal immortality. MPH
The S*str1!
4(ro! P1ltarh3s Is*s an0 Os*r*s5
&The Sistrum is designed ... to represent to us, that every thing
must be "ept in continual agitation, and never cease from
motion1 that they ought to be roused and well.sha"en, whenever
they begin to grow drowsy as it were, and to droop in their
motion. >or, say they, the sound of these sistra averts and drives
away Typho1 meaning hereby, that as corruption clogs and puts
a stop to the regular course of nature1 so generation, by the
means of motion, loosens it again, and restores it to its former
vigour. /ow the outer surface of this instrument is of a conve(
figure, as within its circumference are contained those four
chords or bars Lonly three shownM, which ma"e such a rattling
when they are sha"en8nor is this without its meaning for that
part of the universe which is sub%ect to generation and corruption
is contained within the sphere of the moon1 and whatever
motions or changes may happen therein, they are all effected by
the different combinations of the four elementary bodies, fire,
earth, water, and air8moreover, upon the upper part of the conve( surface of the sistrum is carved the
effigies of a cat with a human visage, as on the lower edge of it, under those moving chords, is engraved
on the one side the face of -sis, and on the other that of /ephthys8by these faces symbolically
representing generation and corruption ;which, as has been already observed, is nothing but the motion
and alteration of the four elements one amongst another<.&
#ase o- a )elph*an Tr*po0
(ro! Mont-a1on3s Anti"uities
The windings of these serpents formed the base,
and the three heads sustained the three feet of the
tripod. -t is impossible to secure satisfactory
information concerning the shape and siAe of the
celebrated Helphian tripod. Theories concerning it
are based ;in most part< upon small ornamental
tripods discovered in various temples. MPH
The )elph*an Tr*po0 Restore0
(ro! #ea1!ont3s 1leanings of Anti"uities
)ccording to 9eaumont, the above is the most authentic form of the Helphian tripod e(tant1 but
as the tripod must have changed considerably during the life of the oracle, hasty conclusions are
unwise. -n his description of the tripod, 9eaumont divides it into four partsC ;1< a frame with
three feet1 ;2< a reverberating basin or bowl set in the frame1 ;3< a flat plate or table upon
which the ,ythia sat1 and ;4< a cone.shaped cover over the table, which completely concealed
the priestess and from beneath which her voice sounded forth in weird and hollow tones.
)ttempts have been made to relate the Helphian tripod with the Jewish )r" of the @ovenant. The
frame of three legs was li"ened to the )r" of the @ovenant1 the flat plate or table to the +ercy
Seat1 and the cone.shaped covering to the tent of the Tabernacle itself. This entire conception
differs widely from that popularly accepted, but discloses a valuable analogy between Jewish and
0ree" symbolism. MPH
The Pyth*an Apollo
(ro! Historia )eorum *atidicorum
)pollo, the twin brother of Hiana, was the
son of Jupiter and 6atona. )pollo was fully
adult at the time of his birth. 'e was
considered to be the first physician and the
inventor of music and song. The 0ree"s
also acclaimed him to be the father of the
bow and arrow. MPH
The )o0onean 61p*ter
(ro! Historia )eorum *atidicorum
Jupiter was called Hodonean after the city of Hodona in
?pirus. /ear this city was a hill thic"ly covered with oa"
trees which from the most ancient times had been sacred
to Jupiter. The grove was further venerated because
dryads, fauns, satyrs, and nymphs were believed to dwell
in its depths. >rom the ancient oa"s and beeches were
hung many chains of tiny bronAe bells which tin"led day
and night as the wind swayed the branches. Some assert
that the celebrated tal"ing dove of Hodona was in reality
a woman, because in Thessaly both prophetesses and
doves were called ,eleiadas. -t is supposed that the first
temple of Hodona was erected by Heucalion and those
who survived the great flood with him. >or this reason
the oracle a Hodona was considered the oldest in 0reece.
MPH
Trophon*1s o- Le+a0*a
(ro! Historia )eorum *atidicorum
Trophonius and his brother )gamedes were famous
architects. $hile building a certain treasure vault, they
contrived to leave one stone movable so that they might
secretly enter and steal the valuables stored there. )
trap was set by the owner, who had discovered the plot,
and )gamedes was caught. To prevent discovery,
Trophonius decapitated his brother and fled, hotly
pursued. 'e hid in the grove of 6ebadia, where the earth
opened and swallowed him up. The spirit of Trophonius
thereafter delivered oracles in the grove and its caverns.
The name Trophonius means &to be agitated, e(cited, or
roiled.& -t was declared that the terrible e(periences
through which consultants passed in the oracular
caverns so affected them that they never smiled again.
The bees which accompany the figure of Trophonius
were sacred because they led the first envoys from
9aeotia to the site of the oracle. ) statue of Trophonius
was placed on the brow of the hill above the oracle and
surrounded with sharply pointed sta"es so that it could
not be touched. MPH
Apollon*1s o- Tyana
(ro! Historia )eorum *atidicorum
@oncerning )pollonius and his remar"able powers,
>rancis 9arrett, in his 9iographia )nti#ua, after
describing how )pollonius #uelled a riot without spea"ing
a word, continuesC &'e traveled much, professed himself
a legislator1 understood all languages, without having
learned themC he had the surprising faculty of "nowing
what was transacted at an immense distance, and at the
time the ?mperor Homitian was stabbed, )pollonius
being at a vast distance, and standing in the mar"et.
place of the city, e(claimed, PStri"eU stri"eU8tis done,
the tyrant is no more. 'e understood the language of
birds1 he condemned dancing and other diversions of
that sort1 he recommended charity and piety1 he
traveled over almost all the countries of the world1 and
he died at a very great age.& MPH
)*ana o- Ephes1s
(ro! Mont-a1on3s Anti"uities
@rowned with a triple tower.li"e tiara and her form adorned with symbolic
creatures representative of her spiritual powers, Hiana stood for the
source of that imperishable doctrine which, flowing from the bosom of the
0reat +ultimammia, is the spiritual food of those aspiring men and women
who have consecrated their lives to the contemplation of reality. )s the
physical body of man receives its nutriment from the 0reat ?arth +other,
so the spiritual nature of man is fed from the never.failing fountains of
Truth pouring outward from the invisible worlds. MPH
Dneas an0 the Harp*es
(ro! <*rg*l3s Aeneid B)rydens
translationC
They were described by the 0ree"s as
being composite, with the heads of maidens
and the bodies of birds. The wings of the
harpies were composed of metal and their
flight was accompanied by a terrible
clanging noise. Huring his wanderings,
)?neas, the Tro%an hero, landed on the
island of the harpies, where he and his
followers vainly battled with these
monsters. Ine of the harpies perched upon
a cliff and there prophesied to )?neas that
his attac" upon them would bring dire
calamity to the Tro%ans. MPH
Sat1rn swallow*ng the stone
s1+st*t1te0 -or 61p*ter
(ro! Cartar*3s 'magini degli )ei degli Antichi
Saturn, having been warned by his parents that one of his
own children would dethrone him, devoured each child at
birth. )t last 7hea, his wife, in order to save Jupiter, her
si(th child, substituted for him a roc" enveloped in
swaddling clothes8which Saturn, ignorant of the
deception practiced upon him, immediately swallowed.
Jupiter was concealed on the island of @rete until he
attained manhood, when he forced his father to disgorge
the five children he had eaten. The stone swallowed by
Saturn in lieu of his youngest son was placed by Jupiter at
Helphi, where it was held in great veneration and was
daily anointed. MPH
E2a!ples o- Her!ae
(ro! Chr*st*e3s )is"uisitions upon the Painted 1ree& !ases
The primitive custom of worshiping the gods in the form of heaps of stones gave place to the
practice of erecting phallic pillars, or cones, in their honor. These columns differed widely in siAe
and appearance. Some were of gigantic proportions and were richly ornamented1 others8li"e
the votive offerings of the 9abylonians8were but a few inches high, without ornament, and
merely bore a brief statement of the purpose for which they had been prepared or a hymn to the
god of the temple in which they were placed. These small ba"ed clay cones were identical in
their symbolic meaning with the larger hermae set up by the roadside and in other public places.
6ater the upper end of the column was surmounted by a human head. Iften two pro%ections, or
tenons, corresponding to shoulders were placed, one on either side, to support the wreaths of
flowers adorning the columns. Ifferings, usually of food, were placed near the hermae.
Iccasionally these columns were used to uphold roofs and were numbered among the art
ob%ects ornamenting the villas of wealthy 7omans. MPH
Pythagorean S*gnet R*ng
(ro! Cartar*3s 'magini degli )ei degli Antichi
The number five was peculiarly associated by the
,ythagoreans with the art of healing, and the pentagram,
or five.pointed star, was to them the symbol of health.
The above figure represents a magical ring set with a
talismanic gem bearing the pentalpha, or star formed by
five different positions of the 0ree" )lpha. In this sub%ect
)lbert +ac"ey writes1 &The disciples of ,ythagoras, who
were indeed its real inventors, placed within each of its
interior angles one the letters of the 0ree" word V0?-), or
the 6atin one S)6!S, both of which signify health1 and
thus it was made the talisman of health. They placed it at
the beginning of their epistles as a greeting to invo"e a
secure health to their correspondent. 9ut its use was not
confined to the disciples of ,ythagoras. )s a talisman, it
was employed all over the ?ast as a charm to resist evil
spirits.& MPH
The Ta+le o- Ce+es
(ro! <aen*1s3 #heatro Moral de la !ida Humana
There is a legend to the effect that the Tablet of @ebes, a dialogue between @ebes and 0erundio,
was based upon an ancient table set up in the Temple of =ronos at )thens or Thebes, which
depicted the entire progress of human life. The author of the Tablet of @ebes was a disciple of
Socrates and lived about 393 9.@. The world is represented as a great mountain. Iut of the
earth at the base of it come the myriads of human creatures who climb upward in search of
truth and immortality.
)bove the clouds which conceal the summit of the mountain is the goal of human attainment8
true happiness. The figures and groups are arranged as followsC ;1< the door of the wall of life1
;2< the 0enius or -ntelligence1 ;3< deceit1 ;4< opinions, desires, and pleasures1 ;D< fortune1 ;E<
the strong1 ;:< incontinence, venery, insatiability, flattery1 ;4< sorrow1 ;9< sadness1 ;13<
misery1 ;11< grief1 ;12< rage or despair1 ;13< the house of misfortune1 ;14< penitence1 ;1D< true
opinion1 ;1E< false opinion1 ;1:< false doctrine1 ;14< poets, orators, geometers, et al.1 ;19<
incontinence, se(ual indulgence, and opinion1 ;23< the road of the true doctrine1 ;21< continence
and patience1 ;22< the true doctrine1 ;23< truth and persuasion1 ;24< science and the virtues1
;2D< happiness1 ;2E< the highest ;first< pleasure of the wise man1 ;2:< the laAy and the strays.
MPH
0allery of ?gyptian +ysteries
Thoth9 the I+*s-Hea0e0
(ro! '*l7*nson3s Manners D
(ustoms of the Ancient ,gyptians
-t is doubtful that the deity called
Thoth by the ?gyptians was originally
'ermes, but the two personalities
were blended together and it is now
impossible to separate them. Thoth
was called &The 6ord of the Hivine
9oo"s& and &Scribe of the @ompany of
the 0ods.& 'e is generally pictured
with the body of a man and the head
of an ibis. MPH
Thoth9 the )og-Hea0e0
(ro! Leno*r3s 6a *ranche2
Maconnerie
)roueris, or Thoth, one of the five
immortals, protected the infant
'orus after the murder of Isiris. 'e
also revised the ancient ?gyptian
calendar by increasing the year from
3E3 days to 3ED. Thoth.'ermes was
called &The Hog.'eaded& because of
his faithfulness and integrity. 'e is
shown crowned with a solar nimbus,
carrying in one hand the @ru(
)nsata, the symbol of eternal life,
and in the other a serpent.wound
staff symbolic of his dignity as a
counselor of the gods. MPH
Is*s9 C1een o- Hea,en
(ro! Mosa*;e Historie der
Hebreeu%se 3er&e
Hiodorus writes of a famous
inscription carved on a column at
/ysa, in )rabia, wherein -sis
described herself as followsC &- am
-sis, Fueen of this country. - was
instructed by +ercury. /o one can
destroy the laws which - have
established. - am the eldest daughter
of Saturn, most ancient of the gods. -
am the wife and sister of Isiris the
=ing. - first made "nown to mortals
the use of wheat. - am the mother of
Irus the =ing. -n my honor was the
city of 9ubaste built. 7e%oice, I
?gypt, re%oice, land that gave me
birthU& MPH
The Egypt*an Ma0onna
(ro! Leno*r3s 6a *ranche2
Maconnerie
-sis is often shown with her son
'orus in her arms. She is crowned
with the lunar orb, ornamented with
the horns of rams or bulls. Irus, or
'orus, was the son of -sis and Isiris.
'e was the god of time, hours, days,
and this narrow span of life
recogniAed as mortal e(istence. -n all
probability, the four sons of 'orus
represent the four "ingdoms of
/ature. -t was 'orus who finally
avenged the murder of his father,
Isiris, by slaying Typhon, the Spirit
of ?vil. MPH
Os*r*s9 &*ng o- the
"n0erworl0
(ro! Leno*r3s 6a *ranche2
Maconnerie
Isiris is often represented with the
lower part of his body enclosed in a
mummy case or wrapped about with
funeral bandages. Isiris was the river
/ile and that -sis ;his sister.wife< was
the contiguous land, which, when
inundated by the river, bore fruit and
harvest. The mur"y waters of the /ile
were believed to account for the
blac"ness of Isiris, who was generally
symboliAed as being of ebony hue.
MPH
The '*nge0 %lo+e o- Egypt
(ro! Ma1r*e3s 'ndian Anti"uities
This symbol, which appears over the pylons or gates of many ?gyptian
palaces and temples, is emblematic of the three persons of the ?gyptian
Trinity. The wings, the serpents, and the solar orb are the insignia of
)mmon, 7a, and Isiris. MPH
The Royal Egypt*an Sara+
(ro! Hall3s (atalogue of ,gyptian Scarabs, ,tc., *n the #r*t*sh
M1se1!
The flat under side of a scarab usually bears an inscription relating to the
dynasty during which it was cut. These scarabs were sometimes used as
seals. Some were cut from ordinary or precious stones1 others were made of
clay, ba"ed and glaAed. Iccasionally the stone scarabs were also glaAed. The
ma%ority of the small scarabs are pierced as though originally used as beads.
Some are so hard that they will cut glass. -n the picture above, ) shows top
and side views of the scarab, and 9 the under surface with the name of Men:
(a:Ra within the central cartouche. MPH
The "rae1s
(ro! &*rher3s O,dipus
A,gyptiacus
The spinal cord was symboliAed by a
sna"e, and the serpent coiled upon
the foreheads of the ?gyptian
initiates represented the Hivine >ire
which had crawled serpent.li"e up
the Tree of 6ife. MPH
An Egypt*an Phoen*2
(ro! '*l7*nson3s Manners and (ustoms of the Ancient ,gyptians
The ?gyptians occasionally represented the phoeni( as having the body of a
man and the wings of a bird. This biform creature had a tuft of feathers upon
its head and its arms were upraised in an attitude of prayer. )s the phoeni(
was the symbol of regeneration, the tuft of feathers on the bac" of its head
might well symboliAe the activity of the pineal gland, or third eye, the occult
function of which was apparently well understood by the ancient priest.craft.
MPH
The Sare0 #1ll9 or Ap*s
>rom =irchers 6phin; M1stagoga
The bull and the o( are ancient emblems of the vernal e#uino( and the
element of earth8conse#uently of the planet itself. ,ultarch wroteC &The
)pis ought ever to be regarded by us, as a fair and beautiful image of the
soul of Isiris.& Isiris represents the spiritual nature of the lower world which
is murdered and distributed throughout the substance of the physical
spheres1 )pis is the emblem of the material world within which is the
spiritual nature8Isiris. MPH
The Cr12 Ansata 4the
An7h5
9oth the cross and the circle were
fertility symbols, for the ancient world
venerated the generative powers of
/ature as being e(pressive of the
creative attributes of the Heity. The
@ru( )nsata, by combining the
masculine T)! with the feminine oval,
e(emplified the principles of
generation. MPH
A <ert*al Set*on o- the %reat Pyra!*0
(ro! S!yth3s 6ife and Wor& at the 1reat Pyramid
The 0reat ,yramid stands upon a limestone plateau at the base of which,
according to ancient history, the /ile once flowed, thus supplying a method
of transportation for the huge bloc"s used in its construction. ,resuming that
the capstone was originally in place, the ,yramid is, according to John
Taylor, in round figures 44E feet high1 the base of each side is :E4 feet long,
and the entire structure covers a ground area of more than 13 acres. The
,yramid contains four chambers.
The =ings @hamber is an oblong apartment appro(. 39 feet long, 1: feet
wide, and 19 feet high, with a flat roof consisting of nine great stones, the
largest in the ,yramid. )bove the =ings @hamber are five low
compartments, generally termed construction chambers. -n the lowest of
these the so.called hieroglyphs of the ,haraoh @heops are located. The roof
of the fifth construction chamber is pea"ed. )t the end of the =ings @hamber
opposite the entrance stands the famous sarcophagus, or coffer, and behind
it is a shallow opening that was dug in the hope of discovering valuables.
Two air vents passing through the entire body of the ,yramid ventilate the
=ings @hamber. -n itself this is sufficient to establish that the building was
not intended for a tomb.
9etween the upper end of the 0rand 0allery and the =ings @hamber is a
small antechamber, its e(treme length 9 feet, its e(treme width D feet, and
its e(treme height 12 feet, with its walls grooved for purposes now un"nown.
-n the groove nearest the 0rand 0allery is a slab of stone in two sections,
with a peculiar boss or "nob protruding about an inch from the surface of the
upper part facing the 0rand 0allery. This stone does not reach to the floor of
the antechamber and those entering the =ings chamber must pass under
the slab. >rom the =ings @hamber the 0rand 0allery81D: feet in length, 24
feet in height, : feet in width at its widest point and decreasing to 3W feet as
the result of seven converging overlaps of the stones forming the walls8
descends to a little above the level of the Fueens @hamber. 'ere a gallery
branches off, passing more than 133 feet bac" towards the center of the
,yramid and opening into the Fueens @hamber. The Fueens @hamber is 19
feet long, 1: feet wide, and 23 feet high. -ts roof is pea"ed and composed of
great slabs of stone. )ir passages not shown lead from the Fueens
@hamber, but these were not open originally. -n the east wall of the Fueens
@hamber is a peculiar niche of gradually converging stone, which, in all
li"elihood, may prove to be a now lost entrance way. )t the point where the
0rand 0allery ends and the horiAontal passage towards the Fueens chamber
begins is the entrance to the well and also the opening leading down the first
ascending passage to the point where this passage meets the descending
passage leading from the outer wall of the ,yramid down to the subterranean
chamber. )fter descending D9 feet down the well the grotto is reached.
@ontinuing through the floor of the grotto the well leads downward 133 feet
to the descending entrance passage, which it meets a short distance before
this passage becomes horiAontal and leads into the subterranean chamber.
The subterranean chamber is about 4E feet long and 2: feet wide, but is
e(tremely low, the ceiling varying in height from a little over 3 feet to about
13 feet from the rough and apparently unfinished floor. >rom the south side
of the subterranean chamber a low tunnel runs about D3 feet and then meets
a blan" wall. These constitute the only "nown openings in the ,yramid, with
the e(ception of a few niches, e(ploration holes, blind passages, and the
rambling cavernous tunnel hewn out by the +oslems under the leadership of
the ,rophets descendant, @aliph al +amoun. MPH
Gallery of Esoteric Science & Mathematics
#a++*tt/s Ato!
(ro! #a++*tt/s Principles of 6ight and (olor
9y far the most remar"able conception of the atom evolved during the last
century is that produced by the genius of Hr. ?dwin H. 9abbitt. MPH
The Pro+le! o- )*,ers*ty
(ro! &*rher/s Ars Magna Sciendi
-n this diagram =ircher arranges 14 ob%ects in
two vertical columns and then determines the
number of arrangements in which they can be
combined. 9y the same method =ircher further
estimates that fifty ob%ects may be arranged in
1,2:3, :2E,434,41D,423,339, 4D1,343,343,
:E:,33D,D1D,293,
:49,4D4,:9D,4:3,434,333,333, 333,333
combinations. >rom this it will be evident that
infinite diversity is possible, for the countless
parts of the universe may be related to each
other in an in.calculable number of ways. MPH
Pythagoras9 the (*rst Ph*losopher
(ro! Historia )eorum *atidicorum.
Huring his youth, ,ythagoras was a disciple of ,herecydes and
'ermodamas, and while in his teens became renowned for the clarity of his
philosophic concepts. The influence of this great soul over the those about
him was such that a word of praise from ,ythagoras filled his disciples with
ecstasy, while one committed suicide because the +aster became
momentarily irritated over some.thing he had done. ,ythagoras was so
impressed by this tragedy that he never again spo"e un"indly to or about
anyone. MPH


The Sy!!etr*al %eo!etr* Sol*0s
To the five symmetrical solids of the ancients is added the sphere ;1<, the most perfect of all created forms. The
Francis Bacon's Ciphers
(ran*s #aon9 #aron
<er1la!9 <*so1nt St.
Al+ans
(ro! #aon3s Ad$ancement of
6earning
6ord 9acon was born in 1DE1 and
history records his death in 1E2E.
There are records in e(istence,
however, which would indicate the
probability that his funeral was a
moc" funeral and that, leaving
?ngland, he lived for many years
under another name in 0ermany,
there faithfully serving the secret
society L7osicruciansM to the
promulgation of whose doctrines he
had consecrated his life. 6ittle
doubt seems to e(ist in the minds
of impartial investigators that 6ord
9acon was the illegitimate son of
Fueen ?liAabeth and the ?arl of
6eicester. MPH
A #aon*an S*gnat1re
(ro! Alciati ,mblemata
The curious volume from which this figure is ta"en was published in ,aris in
1E14. The attention of the 9aconian student is immediately attracted by the
form of the hog in the foreground. 9acon often used this animal as a play
upon his own name, especially because the name 9acon was derived from
the word beech and the nut of this tree was used to fatten hogs. The two
pillars in the bac"ground have considerable +asonic interest. The two )s
nearly in the center of the picture8one light and one shaded8are alone
almost conclusive proof of 9aconian influence. The most convincing evidence,
however, is the fact that 1: is the numerical e#uivalent of the letters of the
6atin form of 9acons name ;>. 9aco< and there are 1: letters in the three
words appearing in the illustration. MPH
A Crypt* Hea0p*ee
(ro! Rale*gh3s History of the World
+any documents influenced by 9aconian philosophy8or intended to conceal
9aconian or 7osicrucian cryptograms8use certain conventional designs at
the beginning and end of chapters, which reveal to the initiated the presence
of concealed information. The above ornamental scroll has long been
accepted as proof of the presence of 9aconian influence and is to be found
only in a certain number of rare volumes, all of which contain 9aconian
cryptograms. These cipher messages were placed in the boo"s either by
9acon himself or by contemporary and subse#uent authors belonging to the
same secret society which 9acon served with his remar"able "nowledge of
ciphers and enigmas. Gariants of this headpiece adorn the 0reat
Sha"espearian >olio ;1E23<1 9acons /ovum Irganum ;1E23<1 the St. James
9ible ;1E11<1 Spencers >aerie Fueene ;1E11<1 and sir $alter 7aleighs
'istory of the $orld ;1E14<. MPH
The )roesho1t Portra*t o-
Sha7spere
(ro! Sha7espeare3s 1reat *olio of 9:E/
There are no authentic portraits of Sha"spere
in e(istence. The dissimilarities in the
Hroeshout, @handos, Janssen, 'unt,
)shbourne, Soest, and Hunford portraits
prove conclusively that the artists were
unaware of Sha"speres actual features. )n
e(amination of the Hroeshout portrait
discloses several peculiarities. 9aconian
enthusiasts are convinced that the face is only
a caricature, possibly the death mas" of
>rancis 9acon. ) comparison of the Hroeshout
Sha"spere with portraits and engravings of
>rancis 9acon demonstrates the identity of the
structure of the two faces, the difference in
e(pression being caused by lines of shading.
/ote also the peculiar line running from the
ear down to the chin. Hoes this line subtly
signify that the face itself is a mas", ending at the earO /otice also that the
head is not connected with the body, but is resting on the collar. +ost
strange of all is the coatC one.half is on bac"wards. -n drawing the %ac"et,
the artist has made the left arm correctly, but the right arm has the bac" of
the shoulder to the front. >ran" $oodward has noted that there are 1D:
letters on the title page. This is a 7osicrucian signature of first importance.
The date, 1E23, plus the two letters &I/& from the word &6I/HI/,& gives
the cryptic signature of >rancis 9acon, by a simple numerical cipher. 9y
merely e(changing the 2E letters of the alphabet for numbers, 1 becomes ),
E becomes >, 2 becomes 9, and 3 becomes @, giving )>9@. To this is added
the I/ from 6I/HI/, resulting in )>9@I/, which rearranged forms >.
9)@I/. MPH
Hea0p*ee show*ng l*ght an0 sha0e0 A/s
(ro! Sha7espeare3s 3ing Richard #he Second, Fuarto of 9>=G
The ornamental headpiece shown above has long been considered a
9aconian or 7osicrucian signature. The light and the dar" )s appear in
several volumes published by emissaries of the 7osicrucians. -f the above
figure be compared with that from )lciati ?mblemata on the following page,
the cryptic use of the two )s will be further demonstrated. MPH.
The T*tle Page o- the (*rst
E0*t*on o- S*r 'alter Ralegh/s
H*story o- the 'orl0
(ro! Ralegh3s History of the World
$hat was the mysterious "nowledge which
Sir $alter 7alegh possessed and which was
declared to be detrimental to the 9ritish
governmentO $hy was he e(ecuted when
the charges against him could not be
provedO 9y those see"ing the "eys to this
great controversy, he seems to have been
almost entirely overloo"ed. 'is
contemporaries are unanimous in their
praise of his remar"able intellect, and he
has long been considered one of 9ritains
most brilliant sons.
The title page reproduced above was used
by 7aleghs political foes as a powerful
weapon against him. They convinced James
- that the face of the central figure
upholding the globe was a caricature of his own, and the enraged "ing
ordered every copy of the engraving destroyed. 9ut a few copies escaped the
royal wrath1 conse#uently the plate is e(tremely rare. The engraving is a
mass of 7osicrucian and +asonic symbols, and the figures on the columns in
all probability conceal a cryptogram. +ore significant still is the fact that on
the page facing this plate is a headpiece identical with that used in the 1E23
>olio of &Sha"espeare& and also in 9acons /ovum Irganum. MPH
A (a!o1s Crypt* T*tle Page
(ro! Selen1s3 (ryptomenytices et
(ryptographiae
Ine year after the publication of the first
0reat &Sha"espearian& >olio, a
remar"able volume on cryptograms
and ciphers was published. The title page of
the wor" is reproduced here. The year
of its publication ;1E24< was during the
7osicrucian controversy. The
translation of the title page is as followsC
&The @ryptomenysis and
@ryptography of 0ustavus Selenus in the
nine boo"s, to which is added a clear
e(planation of the System of Steganography
of John Trithemius, )bbot of
Spanheim and 'erbipolis, a man of
admirable genius. -nterspersed with worthy
inventions of the )uthor and others, 1E24.&
The author of this volume was believed to be
)ugustus, Hu"e of 9runswic". The symbols and emblems ornamenting the
title page, however, are conclusive evidence that the 7osicrucians were
behind its publication. )t the bottom of the picture is a nobleman placing his
hat on another mans head. -n the two side panels are stri"ing and subtle
&Sha"espearian& allusions. In the left is a nobleman ;possibly 9acon<
handing a paper to another man of mean appearance who carries in his hand
a spear. )t the right, the man who previously carried the spear is shown in
the costume of an actor, wearing spurs and blowing a horn. The allusion to
the actor blowing his horn and the figure carrying the spear suggest much,
especially as spear is the last syllable of the name &Sha"espeare.& MPH
An E2a!ple o- #*l*teral 'r*t*ng
-n the above sentence note carefully the formation of the letters. @ompare
each letter with the two types of letters in the biliteral alphabet table
reproduced from 6ord 9acons +e Aug%entis 6cientiaru%. ) comparison of
the &d& in &wisdom& with the &d& in &and& discloses a large loop at the top of
the first, while the second shows practically no loop at all. @ontrast the &i& in
&wisdom& with the &i& in &understanding.& -n the former the lines are curved
and in the latter angular. ) similar analysis of the two &es& in &desired&
reveals obvious differences. The &o& in &more& differs only from the &o& in
&wisdom& in that a tiny line continues from the top over towards the &r.& The
&a& in &than& is thinner and more angular than the &a& in &are,& while the &r&
in &riches& differs from that in &desired& in that the final upright stro"e
terminates in a ball instead of a sharp point. These minor differences disclose
the presence of the two alphabets employed in writing the sentence. MPH
A Mo0ern 'heel9 or )*s9 C*pher
The above diagram shows a wheel cipher. The smaller, or inner, alphabet
moves around so that any one of its letters may be brought opposite any one
of the letters on the larger, or outer, alphabet. -n some cases the inner
alphabet is written bac"wards, but in the present e(ample, both alphabets
read the same way. MPH
The #*l*teral Alpha+et
(ro! #aon3s )e Augmentis
Scientiarum
This plate is reproduced from
9acons +e Aug%entis 6cientiaru%,
and shows the two alphabets as
designed by him for the purpose of
his cipher. ?ach capital and small
letter has two distinct forms which
are designated &a& and &b&. The
biliteral system did not in every
instance ma"e use of two alphabets
in which the differences were as
perceptible as in the e(ample here
given, but two alphabets were
always used1 sometimes the
variations are so minute that it
re#uires a powerful magnifying
glass to distinguish the difference
between the &a& and the &b& types
of letters. MPH
The &ey to the #*l*teral C*pher
(ro! #aon3s )e Augmentis Scientiarum
)fter the document to be deciphered has been reduced to its &a& and &b&
e#uivalents, it is then bro"en up into five.letter groups and the message
read with the aid of the above table. MPH
Gallery of Indian Art & Manuscripts
S1rya9 Regent o- the S1n
+oor describes this figure as followsC &The cast
is nine inches in height, representing the
glorious god of day holding the attributes of
G-S'/!, seated on a seven.headed serpent1 his
car drawn by a seven.headed horse, driven by
the legless )7!/, a personification of the dawn,
or )!7I7).&
The (*rst Inarnat*on9 or Matsya A,atar9 o-
<*shn1
(ro! P*art3s Religious (eremonials
The fish has often been associated with the $orld Saviors.
Gishnu, the 'indu 7edeemer, who ta"es upon himself ten forms
for the redemption of the universe, was e(pelled from the
mouth of a fish in his first incarnation. -sis, while nursing the
infant 'orus, is often shown with a fish on her headdress.
Iannes, the @haldean savior ;borrowed from the 9rahmins<, is
depicted with the head and body of a fish, from which his
human form protrudes at various points. Jesus was often
symboliAed by a fish. 'e told 'is disciples that they should
become &fishers of men.& The sign of the fish was also the first
monogram of the @hristians. The mysterious 0ree" name of
Jesus, -@#VS, means &a fish.& The fish was accepted as a
symbol of the @hrist by a number of early canoniAed church
fathers. St. )ugustine li"ened the @hrist to a fish that had been
broiled, and it was also pointed out that the flesh of that >ish
was the food of righteous and holy men. MPH
In0*an Mogh1l-style Pa*nt*ng
Late =Eth Cent1ry
The deities =rishna and 7adha seated on a
platform
In0*an Mogh1l-style Pa*nt*ng
Late =Eth Cent1ry
The deities =rishna and 7adha seated on a swing
with female attendants standing at either side.

H*n01 waterolor
Shiva with five heads seated beneath a tree on a
tiger s"in. )t his wife ,arvati and the sacred bull
/andi
In0*an Mogh1l M*n*at1re
=Eth Cent1ry
) lady receiving a guest, the introduction is made
by an attendant.
In0*an Mogh1l M*n*at1re
=Eth Cent1ry
) lady and a gentlemen in their courtyard, a
servant is in attendance

In0*an Mogh1l-style Pa*nt*ng
Late =Eth Cent1ry
7ama and Sita are the seated figures1 an
attendant at the right and 'anuman, the heroic
ape of the 7amayana at the left
Ill1strate0 In0* Man1sr*pt Lea,es
(ro! the Mt. A+1 Ra:p1ta na9 =?th or Early =Eth Cent1ry
) group of HivinitiesC 9rahma with four heads, Shiva with a trident, and Gishnu with flowers and
mace. Sarasvati is mounted on a mythical animal

Sarasvati adoring 9rahma, below is Shiva on a tigers"in and a diety with the attributes of Gishnu
The 0reat Sarasvati, goddess of wisdom, mounted on her vahan, the peacoc"
Gishnu reclining on Shesa the sna"e, dreaming of 9rahma, the creator
0anesh on the left, with Sarasvati to the right

Lea,es -ro! a Ra:p1t
Man1sr*pt
=Eth Cent1ry

) lady reclines in a garden, with
attendants and musicians.
0allery of ,ersian 5 +iddle ?astern )rt
Moha!!e0/s $*ght 6o1rney to
Hea,en
(ro! )3Ohsson3s #ableau 1HnHral de
l,mpire +thoman.
-n the seventeenth sura of the =oran it is
written that upon a certain night +ohammed
was transported from the temple at +ecca to
that of Jerusalem, but no details are given of
the strange %ourney. -n the +ish"atu l.+asabih,
+ohammed is made to describe his ascent
through the seven heavens into the icy
presence of the many.veiled 0od and his
subse#uent return to his own bed, all in a single
night. +ohammed was awa"ened in the night by
the )ngel 0abriel, who, after removing the
,rophets heart, washed the cavity with
RamAam water and filled the heart itself with
faith and science. ) strange creature, called
)lbora", or &the lightning bolt&, was brought for
the conveyance of the ,rophet. )lbora" is
described as a white animal of the shape and siAe of a mule, with the head of a
woman and the tail of a peacoc". )ccording to some versions, +ohammed rode
)lbora" to Jerusalem, where, dismounting upon +ount +oriah, he caught hold of
the lower rung of a golden ladder lowered from heaven and, accompanied by
0abriel, ascended through the seven spheres separating the earth from the inner
surface of the empyrean. )t the gate of each sphere stood one of the patriarchs,
whom +ohammed saluted as he entered the various planes. )t the gate of the first
heaven stood )dam1 at the gate of the second, John and Jesus ;sisters sons<1 at
the third, Joseph1 at the fourth ?noch1 at the fifth, )aron1 at the si(th, +oses1 and
at the seventh, )braham. MPH
Moha!!e0/s Asent to
Hea,en
A Pers*an Man1sr*pt9 .=FGF
The central figure evidently
represents the ,rophet riding on a
cloud of flame with a palm leaf.
shaped nimbus behind his head.
)s is usual the face is veiled
showing only the tip of his beard.

Lea- -ro! an Ol0 Pers*an
H*story
=?th C. 4Se0ona =HEG $o.=>5
The artist of this wor" was unable to
accommodate his drawing to the space
allotted by the scribe so he merely e(tended
the horse at the left into the margin. +ost
such boo"s were very popular and descend to
us either badly worn or as fragments.

&- said to the tulip1 I bride of the garden,
Thy appearance is beautiful and thy #uality is good.
Then tell me, how is it that thy heart has turned blac",
,erhaps it hast been in%ured by a friendO
-t repliedC /o, /oU 9ut - have gold,
0oldU $hich is the means of JoyfulnessU&
Anbarior Falam BPerfumed PenC IAbdur2Rahim, 9:=E
&)lasU +y eyes have been disabled from seeing,
$oeU $oeU That, at last, my eyes have betrayed meU
,eople sayC Thou hast lost thy eyes through thy writing.
9ut my writing used to give light to others eyes.&
IMohammad 'smail, 9:=E
(rag!ents o- an
Ill1!*nate0 Pers*an
Man1sr*pt9 =?th
ent1ry
(rag!ents o- an Ill1!*nate0
Pers*an Man1sr*pt9 =?th
ent1ry
(rag!ents o- an
Ill1!*nate0 Pers*an
Man1sr*pt9 =?th
ent1ry
(rag!ents o- an Ill1!*nate0
Pers*an Man1sr*pt9 =?th
ent1ry
Gallery of Kaalistic Art & Symols
Moses ree*,*ng the Ta+les o- the Law
The Tannaim, or initiates of the Jewish +ystery School, alone
possessed a complete understanding of the significance of the Ten
@ommandments. These laws are esoterically related to the ten
degrees of contemplation constituting the ,ath of ?cstasy, which
winds upward through the four worlds and ends in the effulgence of
)-/SI,'. MPH
The ?I $a!es o- %o0
(ro! &*rher3s +,dipus A,gyptiacus
This rare cut shows the name of 0od in seventy.two languages inscribed upon the petals of a symbolic sunflower. )bove the circle are the seventy.
two powers of 0od according to the 'ebrew =abbalah. 9elow are two trees, that on the left bearing the symbols of the planets and that on the
right the signs of the Aodiac and the names of the tribes of -srael. The esoteric doctrines of the =abbalah are in alignment with the secret
teachings of all the schools of philosophy, but the method by which its secrets are revealed to the wise and concealed from the ignorant is most
unusual. MPH
The Tetragra!!aton
9y arranging the four letters of the 0reat /ame, ;- ' G '<, in the
form of the ,ythagorean Tetractys, the :2 powers of the 0reat
/ame of 0od are manifested.
X Y - Y 13 Y 13
X X Y ' - Y DZ13 Y 1D
X X X Y G ' - Y EZDZ13 Y 21
X X X X Y ' G ' - Y DZEYDZ13 Y 2E
The 0reat /ame of 0od Y :2
The He+rew Letters aor0*ng to the Sepher Yet;*rah
-n the central triangle are the three Mother Letters from which come forth the seven )o1+le Letters8the planets and the heavens. Surrounding
the blac" star are the signs of the Aodiac symboliAed by the twelve S*!ple Letters. -n the midst of this star is the -nvisible Throne of the +ost
)ncient of the )ncients8the Supreme Hefinitionless @reator. MPH
The He+rew Tr*a0
The letter Shin signifies the trinity of the first three Sephiroth. The
central circle slightly above the other two is the first Sephira8
=ether, the $hite 'ead, the @rown. The other two circles represent
@hochmah, the >ather, and 9inah, the +other. >rom the union of
the Hivine >ather and the Hivine +other are produced the worlds
and the generations of living things. The three flame.li"e points of
the letter have long been used to conceal this @reative Triad of the
=abbalists. MPH
The Tetragra!!aton *n the H1!an Heart
(ro! #8h!e3s 6ibri Apologetici
The *etragra%%aton, or four.lettered /ame of 0od, is here arranged as a tetractys within the inverted human heart. 9eneath, the name Jehovah
is shown transformed into Jehoshua by the interpolation of the radiant 'ebrew letter , Shin. The drawing as a whole represents the throne of 0od
and 'is hierarchies within the heart of man. -n the first boo" of his 2ibri Apologetici, Ja"ob 9Khme thus describes the meaning of the symbolC &>or
we men have one boo" in common which points to 0od. ?ach has it within himself, which is the priceless /ame of 0od.& MPH
The Plan o- )*,*ne At*,*ty
The life of the Supreme @reator permeates all substance, all space, and all
time, but for diagrammatic purposes the Supreme, )ll.-nclusive 6ife is
limited by @ircle 3, which may be called &the boundary line of Hivine
e(istence.& The divine 6ife permeating the area bounded by @ircle 3 is
focused at ,oint 1, which thus becomes the personification of the impersonal
life and is termed &the >irst @rown.& The creative forces pouring through
,oint 1 come into manifestation as the ob%ective universe in the intermediate
space, @ircle 2. MPH
The &a++al*st* She!e o- the (o1r 'orl0s
-n the above chart the dar" line between N3 and )1 constitutes the boundary of the original dot, while the concentric circles within this heavier line
symboliAe the emanations and worlds which came forth from the dot. )s this dot is contained within the outer rings N1, N2, and N3, and represents
the first establishment of individualiAed e(istence, so the lower universe symboliAed by the forty concentric circles within the dot represents the
lower creation evolved out of and yet contained within the nature of the first @rown, which may be called 0od, within whom the divine powers, the
celestial beings, the sidereal worlds, and man, live and move and have their being. -t is highly important that all the rings within )1 be considered
as being enclosed by the primitive dot, which itself encircled by the great ring N1, or the )uric ?gg of )-/ SI,'. MPH
The (o1r Seph*roth* Trees
The forty concentric circles shown here are arranged as four trees,
each consisting of ten circles. These trees disclose the organiAation
of the hierarchies controlling the destinies of all creations. The trees
are the same in each of the four worlds, but the powers vested in
the globes e(press themselves differently through the substance of
each world, resulting in endless differentiation. MPH
A Ta+le o- Seph*roth* Correspon0enes
(ro! (l1003s (ollectio +perum
The above diagram has been specially translated from the 6atin as being of uni#ue value to students of the =abbalah and also as an e(ample of
7obert >ludds unusual ability in assembling tables of correspondences. 7obert >ludd ran"s among the most eminent 7osicrucians and
>reemasons1 in fact, he has often been called &the first ?nglish 7osicrucian.& 'e has written several valuable documents directly bearing upon the
7osicrucian enigma. MPH
The Seph*roth* Tree o- the later &a++al*sts
Translate0 -ro! &*rher3s +,dipus A,gyptiacus
The =abbalists divided the universe into four worlds, each consisting of ten spheres, arranged into what is called the &Sephirothic Tree.& This Tree
is composed of ten circles, representing the numbers 1 to 13, connected together by twenty.two canals8the t7ent1:t7o letters of the Hebre7
alphabet. The ten numbers plus the twenty.two letters result in the occult number 32, which, according to the +ishna, signifies the Thirty.two
,aths of $isdom.
The Seph*roth *n the (or! o- the Solar Syste!
(ro! Ma1r*e3s 'ndian Anti"uities
Thomas +aurice reproduced this engraving, which is a modification of the
elaborate tree above. The Sephiroth are here superimposed, decreasing in
siAe as they decrease in power and dignity. The @rown is the greatest and
the all.inclusive, and the =ingdom, which represents the physical universe,
the smallest and least important. MPH
The <*s*on o- E;e7*el
(ro! #he "-ear" -ible
This plate, which is from the first ,rotestant 9ible published in
Spanish, shows the Merca<ah, or chariot of Jehovah, which
appeared to ?Ae"iel by the river @hebar. )ccording to the mystics,
the wheels supporting the throne of 0od represent the orbits of the
planets, and the entire solar system is properly the +ercavah, or
chariot of 0od. Ine of the divisions of the =abbalah8that dealing
with the arts and sciences of those planes which are under the
heavens8is called the +ercavah. MPH
$oah an0 h*s Bo0*aal Ar7
(ro! Myer3s Fabbalah
The diagram shown above is also reproduced in *he Rosicrucians, by 'argrave Jennings. This author adds to the original diagram appearing in
Anti=uitatu% 4udaicaru% 2ibri >? the signs of the Aodiac, placing )ries at the head and continuing in se#uential order to 6eo, which occupies the
fifth cross section of the ar". Jennings assigns the panel containing the door to the undivided constellation of Girgo.6ibra.Scorpio ;which is
continued into the first subdivision of the second section< and the remaining four cross sections to the constellations from Sagittarius to ,isces
inclusive. &$hen the androgenic Scorpio.Girgo was separated and the 9alance or 'armony made from Scorpio, and placed between Scorpio, i.e.,
male, and Girgo, i.e., female, then appeared the 12 constellations or signs, as we now have them. The ar" is three stories high ;perhaps to
symboliAe 'eaven, +an, ?arth<. -n the figure of the +an, notice the parting of the hair in the middle of the forehead and the arrangement of the
beard, whis"ers, moustache and the hair, on the bac" of the nec" and shoulders.& ;See The Fabbalah by -saac +yer.< MPH
The An*ent o- )ays
(ro! Mont-a1on3s Anti"uities
-t is in this form that Jehovah is generally pictured by the =abbalists. The drawing is intended to represent the +e%iurgus of the 0ree"s and
0nostics, called by the 0ree"s &Reus, the -mmortal +ortal,& and by the 'ebrews &-'G'.& MPH
The #reastplate o- the H*gh Pr*est
(ro! Cal!et3s )ictionary of the Holy -ible
The order of the stones and the tribe over which each administered were,
according to @almet, as in the diagram here. These gems, according to the
7osicrucians, were symbolic of the twelve great #ualities and virtuesC
-llumination, 6ove, $isdom, Truth, Justice, ,eace, ?#uilibrium, 'umility,
>aith, Strength, Joy, Gictory. MPH
The %ar!ents o- %lory
(ro! Mosaize Historie der Hebreeu%se 3er&e
The robes of the 'igh ,riest of -srael were often called &The
0arments of 0lory,& for they resembled the regenerated and
spiritualiAed nature of man, symboliAed by a vestment which all
must weave from the threads of character and virtue before they
can become 'igh ,riests after the Irder of +elchiAede". MPH
The Hea00ress o- the Pr*ests
(ro! Mosaize Historie der Hebreeu%se 3er&e
Iver the plain white cap of the ordinary priests the 'igh ,riest wore an o<ercloth of blue and a band of gold. In the front of the golden band were
inscribed the 'ebrew words &'oliness unto the 6ord.& This illustration shows the arrangement of the bonnet both with and without the golden
crown. MPH
The Ar7 w*th *ts Cher1+*!
(ro! Cal!et3s )ictionary of the Holy -ible
Josephus tells us that the @herubim were flying creatures but different in
appearance from anything to be seen on earth1 therefore impossible to
describe. +oses is supposed to have seen these beings "neeling at the
footstool of 0od when he was pic"ed up and brought into the presence of
Jehovah. -t is probable that they resembled, at least in general appearance,
the famous @herubim of ?Ae"iel. MPH
&a++al*st* an0 Mag* Alpha+ets
(ro! #arrett3s Magus
@urious alphabets were invented by the early and mediaeval philosophers to conceal their doctrines
and tenets from the profane. ,robably the most famous is the angelic writing, termed in the above
plate &The $riting called +alachim.& -ts figures are supposedly derived from the constellations.
)dvanced students of occult philosophy will come upon many valuable documents in which these
figures are used. !nder each letter of the first alphabet above is its e#uivalent in ?nglish. )bove each
letter of the other three alphabets is its 'ebrew letter e#uivalent. MPH
Gallery of Masonic Symolism
The O+,erse an0 Re,erse o- the %reat Seal o- the
"n*te0 States o- A!er*a
(ro! H1nt3s History of the Seal of the 4nited States
The significance of the mystical number 13, which fre#uently appears upon
the 0reat Seal of the !nited States, is not limited to the number of the
original colonies. The sacred emblem of the ancient initiates, here composed
of 13 stars, also appears above the head of the &eagle.& The motto, ?
,luribus !num, contains 13 letters, as does also the inscription, )nnuit
@oeptis. The &eagle& clutches in its right talon a branch bearing 13 leaves
and 13 berries and in its left a sheaf of 13 arrows. The face of the pyramid,
e(clusive of the panel containing the date, consists of :2 stones arranged in
13 rows. MPH
A Mason* Apron w*th Sy!+ol* (*g1res
+asonic aprons are fre#uently decorated with curious and impressive figures.
The apron shown above contains a wealth of symbolismC the beehive,
emblematic of the +asonic lodge itself1 the trowel, the mallet, and the
trestleboard1 the rough and trued ashlars1 the pyramids and hills of
6ebanon1 the pillars, the Temple, and chec"erboard floor1 and the blaAing
star and tools of the @raft. The center of the apron is occupied by the
compass and s#uare, representative of the +acrocosm and the microcosm,
and the alternately blac" and white serpent of astral light. 9elow is an acacia
branch with seven sprigs, signifying the life centers of the superior and the
inferior man. The s"ull and crossbones are a continual reminder that the
spiritual nature attains liberation only after the philosophical death of mans
sensuous personality. MPH
The E!+le!at* Han0 o-
the Myster*es
(ro! Mont-a1on3s Anti"uities
) hand covered with numerous
symbols was e(tended to the
neophytes when they entered into
the Temple of $isdom. )n
understanding of the symbols
embossed upon the surface of the
hand brought with it Hivine power
and regeneration. Therefore, by
means of these symbolic hands the
candidate was said to be raised from
the dead. MPH
(rag!ent o-
$at*,e A!er*an
Pottery
Co1rtesy o- Al*e Pal!er
Hen0erson
This curious fragment was
found four feet
underground beneath a
trash pile of bro"en early
/ative )merican pottery
not far from the .asa
Grande ruins in )riAona. -t
is significant because of its
stri"ing resemblance to the
+asonic compass and
s#uare. MPH
Gallery of !osicrucian Symolism
The %ol0en . Rosy
Cross
(ro! 1eheime *iguren der
Rosen&reuzer.
-t is made of spiritual gold 5 each
9rother wears it upon his breast. -t
bears the alchemical symbols of
salt, sulphur, and mercury1 also a
star of the planets1 and around it
are the four words faith, hope,
lo$e and patience. The double.
headed eagle, or ,hoeni(,
foreshadows the ultimate
androgynous state of the human
creature. /one could reach
7osicrucian adept:ship until he had
performed the supreme e(periment
of transmutation by changing the
base metals of ignorance into the
pure gold of wisdom and
understanding. MPH
The Cr1*-*e0 Rose
The original symbol of the Rosi:crucian 3raternit1
was a hiero.glyphic rose crucified upon a cross. The
cross was often raised upon a three.stepped
@alvary. Iccasionally the symbol of a cross rising
from a rose was used in connection with their
activities. The 7osicrucian rose was drawn upon the
7ound Table of =ing )rthur, and is the central motif
for the lin"s forming the chain from which the &0reat
0eorge& is suspended among the %ewels of The
Irder of the 0arter. MPH
The Ros*r1*an Rose
(ro! 1eheime *iguren der Rosen&reuzer
The rose is a yonic symbol associated with
generation, fecundity, and purity. The fact
that flowers blossom by unfolding has caused
them to be chosen as symbolic of spiritual
unfoldment. The red color of the rose refers to
the blood of @hrist, and the golden heart
concealed within the midst of the flower
corresponds to the spiritual gold concealed
within the human nature. The number of its
petals being ten is also a subtle reminder of
the perfect ,ythagorean number. The rose
symboliAes the heart, and the heart has
always been accepted by @hristians as
emblematic of the virtues of love and
compassion, as well as of the nature of @hrist
8the personification of these virtues. MPH
The Crest o- 6ohann
<alent*n An0reae
(ro! (hymische Hochzeit
The reference to four red roses and
a white cross in the .h1%ical
Marriage of .hristian Rosencreutz
identified Johann Galentin )ndreae
as its author, for his family crest,
shown above, consisted of four red
roses and a white cross. MPH
6ohann <alent*n An0reae
-n certain esoteric circles there are vague rumors which
intimate that the humble personality of Johann Galentin
)ndreae mas"ed an e(alted emissary of the 7ose @ross.
$hile there is evidence to establish the actual e(istence
of a 0erman theologian by the name of Andreae, there
are many discrepancies in his biography which have not
been cleared up to the satisfaction of critical
investigators. ) comparison of the face shown above with
that of Sir >rancis 9acon discloses stri"ing resemblances
in spite of the differences due to age. -f 6ord 9acon
borrowed the name and identity of $illiam Sha"spere, he
could also assume, after his moc" funeral in ?ngland, the
personality of Johann Galentin )ndreae. The crescent
below the bust is significant, as it also appears upon the
crest of 6ord 9acon to denote that he was the second son
of Sir /icholas 9acon. >urthermore, the four letters
;I+H@< in the frame at the lower right corner of the
plate, by a very simple 9aconian cipher, can be changed
into numbers whose sum gives 338the numerical
e#uivalent of the name 9acon. MPH
The Ro1n0 Ta+le o- &*ng Arth1r
(ro! 6enn*ngs3 #he Rosicrucians, #heir Rites and Mysteries
>rom all parts of ?urope came the brave and the bold, see"ing admission into this noble
order of 9ritish "nighthood. /obility, virtue, and valor were its re#uirements, and those
possessing these #ualities to a mar"ed degree were welcomed to =ing )rthurs court at
@amelot. =ing )rthur chose twenty.four who e(celled all the others in daring and integrity
and formed of them his @ircle of the 7ound Table. )ccording to legend, each of these
=nights was so great in dignity and power that none could occupy a more e(alted seat
than another, so when they gathered at the table to celebrate the anniversary of their
foundation it was necessary to use a round table that all might occupy chairs of e#ual
importance.
?lias )shmole, in his volume on the Irder of the 0arter, inserted a double.page plate
showing the insignia of all the orders of "nighthood, the bloc" set aside for the symbol of
the 7ound Table being left blan". MPH
The %reat %eorge an0 Collar o-
the %arter
(ro! Ash!ole3s +rder of the 1arter
The Irder of the 0arter was formed by ?dward
---, perhaps in imitation of =ing )rthurs =nights
of the 7ound Table. The motto of the Irder of the
0arter is @Honi soit =ui %al 1 pense@ ;Shamed be
he who thin"s evil of it<. St. 0eorge is loo"ed
upon as the patron of the order, for he typifies
the higher nature of man overcoming the dragon
of his own lower nature. $hile St. 0eorge is
supposed to have lived during the third century, it
is probable that he was a mythological personage
borrowed from pagan mythology Las in
Scandinavia where he is commonly identified with
Sigurd the HragonslayerM. MPH
E"#