I was hoping to find somebody well-versed in the interpretation of hermetic or alchemical art on this board. Surprise me!

[Soulboy]

Hi all,

my first own thread here on this forum:

Some 12 years or so I bought a picture book entitled 'The Hermetic Museum'. In it, as the title suggests are hundreds of pictures of medieval paintings laden with hermetic/ alchemical symbology. I was hoping fo find somebody here who understands the symbology and could provide an explanation for a few of them.

This is the book:

http://www.redicecreations.com/img/newsletter/alchemy.jpg


It was harder than I thought to find some hi-res pictures of the art depicted in the book, so this is the best I could come up with. My copy of the book is in a moving box at the moment as I'm in between house moves, so I can't upload anything myself right now. Some paintings within the book that I suspect could be of interest are these:

Tabula Smaragdina (The Emerald Tablet)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZRkE4tj2zs/T4Vi-QXjFxI/AAAAAAAAAjo/r7HyNhVtJDQ/s1600/amcl16.jpg


Flammarion - l'atmosphere

http://media-cache-ec4.pinimg.com/550x/02/bc/7c/02bc7cb16d29fa3159c1544a8998978f.jpg

I get that it is the red cloak of the magi and perhaps that he is looking at a world outside of the cosmo-conception of the time or trying to understand the inner workings of the universe, but that is where it ends for me ;)


http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lexrxqcspa1qfh61lo1_500.jpg


Mylius Opus Medico Chemicum 1618:

http://api.ning.com/filesKHiP8eEE8NKBgj73nmWfBVVPZkvGxvG5A*GwRUJMUkGjDeTx63w5OSQCv-eUQMmFvJXwv6FCFMijMB9EpxXE3T207sC48XwH/amcl16.jpg


http://www.levity.com/alchemy/images/bad_teinach.jpg

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on what these could mean. :nerd:

[Soulboy]

on the last one, the straight alignment of the people down the middle of the painting plus the fact that there is a crown on top could resemble the chakras. Or I could be wrong on that?

Is it going to be just me trying to answer my own question here? ;)

[Billy]

Hi Soulboy and welcome to Avalon.

I am no expert but my first impressions are Astrology. The Sun and moon, The twelve apostles representing the 12 zodiacs. The tree of life.

The last picture reminds me of a biblical scene out of the book of Revelations. Johns vision of heaven.

At the top we have the 24 Elders, 12 each side of the crown. The 4 beasts are there, As is the choir of Angels with harps and trumpets.

More info on the 24 here. http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?50646-Who-are-the-24-Elders-A-revelation

In the foreground, Again the 12 apostles and 12 trees. I would say the Zodiac again with Christ in the middle.

Notice the straight alignment through the Christ is all female right up to the crown again.

Peace

Billyji

[Hermite]

Welcome to PA. Firstly, if you are in Denmark (?) you need to realize that the Americas are all in the early morning hours right now so many members still have their heads upon their pillows.

Now, are you at all familiar with the tenets of Hermeticism, which comprises beliefs and practices whose purpose is the influencing of the world by means of contact with the heavenly forces? There's lots of info at you fingertips, just go ogle it. I think those first 3 pictures illustrate that quite plainly. Those are fabulous pictures, by the way. Thanks for posting them.

[Hermite]

Yeah, billyji, Many Christian writers considered Hermes Trismegistus to be a wise pagan prophet who foresaw the coming of Christianity.

[Soulboy]

Welcome to PA. Firstly, if you are in Denmark (?) you need to realize that the Americas are all in the early morning hours right now so many members still have their heads upon their pillows.

Hi Hermite,

thanks for your reply and yes, I am perfectly aware of the time differences as I have been working with people located in the US for a decade. I wasn't being impatient, it was just a little joke. I didn't expect people to fall over themselves to provide detailed analysis of the pics 2 minutes after I posted them, don't worry!

Also, I am from Germany, not Denmark, but no problem of course. The Danish flag is a white cross on red background and its abbreviation is .dk


I am aware of the points you listed, but I think there may be yet more to uncover on the pictures. Unfortunately, I was unable to find some of the more cryptic ones for free online. One day when I have moved and can locate the book more easily, I will look up some of the titles of the drawings/ paintings and post those as well.

Thanks again for now

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Oh, I cannot recommend the book highly enough. There are some very pretty pictures in there, I forgot to mention.

[spiritguide]

Welcome to Avalon! The first picture illustrated the dualistic nature of the universe indicating the dualistic. Male/Female as above so below and the phases of the moon every twenty eight days. The natural universe. Triumvirate in nature as indicated through the triangle. Just my take.

Peace!

[Soulboy]

Thanks, on the first picture, any idea what the lion throwing up means? Also the circle of zodiacs (???), why is there a raven, swan, griffin for example? They're not your traditional zodiac signs.

[Kristin]

This subject takes years of study and is incredibly interesting. How far down the rabbit hole do you want to go? I would suggest a good place to start would be Jordan Maxwell. http://jordanmaxwell.com/ Also pick up a symbology book to start. There are many which include brief explanations at your local bookstore.

Also, I would suggest typing the words you are interested into the Avalon search engine at the top right side of the page. Enjoy!

From the Heart,
Kristin

Aslo, here is a link to a friend of mine in California, Art Kunkin. He's an amazing person and easy to talk with. http://www.alchemyconference.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=108

[gaiagirl]

Hi Soulboy and welcome to PA..this looks to be an interesting and informative thread you have started here...I have been researching this topic for about 4 years now. Due to time constraints, I would like to direct you to the following video which is a presentation by
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2luC4AHmHE Santos Bonacci.

If you have not read or watched him prior, I highly recommend his work which pulls together his vast and deep knowledge obtained through years of reaseaching that which you speak of and ties it all together. It is a take on the subject matter that may or may not resonate with you but if it does, you can follow up with part-two also there on youtube. If you check out MrAstrotheology's channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/MrAstrotheology/videos?query=santos+bonacci), you will find more of his presentations. Get ready to take notes!

[northstar]

Those alchemical images are doorways into eternity (the subconscious, the zero point field, the source of all).
Instead of looking for a left brained interpretation try working with the images dynamically.

There are countless ways to do this but here is one simple exercise:

Before bedtime find a quite place where you will not be disturbed.
Turn off all electronic distractions.
Spend a few minutes at bedtime gazing at the image.
Enter into a state of quiet mindfulness when thoughts, images and impressions start flowing.
Just let them flow and be present with what shows up (don't try to interpret!)
Set an intention (saying it out loud is best):
"I respectfully ask this image to convey what it has to teach me" (or something worded along those lines)
Go to sleep.

When you awaken write down any dream fragments.
If you do this in a dedicated way for 30 days it will literally transform your life.

Have fun!

[AwakeInADream]

Hi Soulboy!:) Welcome to Avalon!:)

The first image ''Tabula Smaragdina' is on the front cover of my copy of the book 'The Secret Teachings of All Ages' by Manly P Hall, which is an 'Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Quabbalistic and Rosicrucian Symbolic Philosophy'. You might find this book useful, and you can read the whole thing online here:http://www.sacred-texts.com/eso/sta/index.htm

This specific chapter in the book covers The Emerald Tablet of Hermes in detail:http://www.sacred-texts.com/eso/sta/sta38.htm

I wouldn't know where to start with all that Hermetic stuff myself though, it's way complex.:confused:

[Soulboy]

Thanks a lot. I have been into Maxwell's stuff for a good 10 years now and have seen some of Bonacci's videos over the last year or two, but neither really gets into the specifics of a double lion throwing up, haha. It could be the zodiac of leo, but what is the context and what has the poor thing eaten to make it throw up ;)

I was hoping to meet a mage in a red cloak type :wizard: as pictured in one of the paintings who really has the goods on hermetic art and symbology.

I'll try northstar's suggestion, but only once I have moved as there isn't a quiet environment here while in between house moves. Thanks to all. Let's see if we can get a hardcore symbologist out of the coffin that he or she lives in ;)

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Thanks, I have the pdf and a few other texts on the emerald tablet in pdf form as well, but would prefer the short-cut here, even though it's very interesting. The reading list keeps piling up, though.

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Also, there is something interesting that a friend of Bonacci brings up on his youtube channel that I saw a few months ago. It's about the orion nebula in various paintings in churches around the world. Has anyone seen that? I am not fully convinced, but the idea is interesting since the churches were built long before the telescopes necessary to see the nebula were invented.

[AwakeInADream]

The Lion is a solar symbol. It could be that it is a tree growing up under the Suns rays(not vomit LOL). The two bodies of the lion may represent the divine union of male and female causing illumination in the initiate.

[seeker/reader]

------------------------

[Soulboy]

Okay, here is my take on the above picture, using information I gained by watching Santos Bonacci's videos regarding astrotheology, etc....




Wow, you clearly have been paying attention. Not bad at all. Thanks very much for that. You'll be a tough act to follow...

[Nanoo Nanoo]

Hi Soulboy!:) Welcome to Avalon!:)

The first image ''Tabula Smaragdina' is on the front cover of my copy of the book 'The Secret Teachings of All Ages' by Manly P Hall, which is an 'Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Quabbalistic and Rosicrucian Symbolic Philosophy'. You might find this book useful, and you can read the whole thing online here:http://www.sacred-texts.com/eso/sta/index.htm

This specific chapter in the book covers The Emerald Tablet of Hermes in detail:http://www.sacred-texts.com/eso/sta/sta38.htm

I wouldn't know where to start with all that Hermetic stuff myself though, it's way complex.:confused:

This a great place to start.

In order to understand symbology one would be wise to understand the philosophies of the author, in most cases in the op, i see, is Hermes.

Books of Hermetics i recommend are

The Kybalion
The Emerald Tablet
The Great Pymander
( in that order )

The Kybalion will set you up with the laws of our logos, it would be wise to know these first. The Emerald Tablet will introduce you to the sacred language , meaning it will challenge you to "think" ... Once you have a feeling for that then read the Great Pymander ( bring head ache tablets ) .

I once read a sentence in the Great Pymander , containing 12 words, repeatedly for 2 hours and every time i read it it had a different meaning. Its language is absolute intelligence.

Then you will have a good understanding of the symbology as it is a sort of bvasic map to the lectures and philosophy of Hermes. I have been studying Hermes for just on 20 years now and only in the last 5 have gotten a basic footing into his teachings. All i can say is its worth the effort. The teachings open your very soul to the infinite possibilities that surround us.

And if i may offer some back groud to Hermes as i am very close to him my self. Hermes was not a pagan , Greek and Egyptian philosophers both argue he was from their lands .. ( a proud gem in the crown id say )

Hermes was the first incarnate being to ever write the word of God C 2500 bc. ( to best of my memory ) from his texts were the basis of the Bible , the Koran , and Christian texts.

Hermes was pius in all he did. He was the father of many children of which went out and became kings and queens within the realms of Greece , Egypt and into the Middle East .. some as far as Mongolia and down into Africa. There are some decendants of these children alive today.

I believe you will have an enchanting and fulfilling reward in discovering these sacred texts. If you ever wish to know more about Hermes Mercurius Trismegistus please pm me : 0 )

Naniu

[seeker/reader]

------------

[Kryztian]

I had two recommendations, but it seems they are already made above:

I agree with AwakeInADream recommendation for Manley Hall's "Secret Teachings of All Ages", and also Kristin's recommendation about Jordan Maxwell. However, Jordan's website is now jordanmaxwellshow.com . The jordanmaxwell.com site was stolen from him. His new site has some great free interviews.

[Soulboy]

Thanks to all of you for the warm welcome and for the great info.

I have read parts of the Kybalion, but it's not exactly something you'd read while waiting for the bus and I used to be a very busy man in the hamster wheel that looked like a career ladder from the inside, so greatly enjoy to have more time for self-development, reading, music, sports and other much more worthwhile things.

I have listened to some lectures by Manly P. Hall on astrotheology, Atlantis and other things a few months ago. Very well read man, but his songs of praise to Lucifer are not something I am too fond of, personally, so not sure if I'll ever get round to reading him proper.

I understand it's a long path to really understand Hermeticism, which is why I came here for a kind of short-cut preview on just a few image interpretations.

Many believe that the great work occurs only in the philosophers head upon meditation on Hermes' mysteries and teachings, which I think may actually be the case. Although I once read about a Swiss chap who was on live TV with a scientific panel watching his every move, transforming mercury into gold. Can't remember the name and it must have been in the 70s or 80s or sth. The only problem from a financial gain point of view was that the ingredients required for the process cost more than to actuallly buy the gold, haha, but that is not the point to a person like that, OBVIOUSLY!

Hermes always managed to catch my interest and the Kybalion is fascinating. I will get back to that at some point, I'm certain of it. The emerald tablets also currently enjoy a fairly good priority rating on my reading list...

thanks for offering me the chance to ask you questions. That is very nice and I'm sure I will make use of it at some point.


I feel somewhat dwarfed knowledge-wise by some of your replies I received to this thread already. Great to have such knowledgeable people to ask.

Wow, what a place this forum is :dance: What took me so long to find here...

[Sierra]

Books of Hermetics i recommend are

The Kybalion
The Emerald Tablet
The Great Pymander
( in that order )

The Kybalion will set you up with the laws of our logos, it would be wise to know these first. The Emerald Tablet will introduce you to the sacred language , meaning it will challenge you to "think" ... Once you have a feeling for that then read the Great Pymander ( bring head ache tablets ) .

I once read a sentence in the Great Pymander , containing 12 words, repeatedly for 2 hours and every time i read it it had a different meaning. Its language is absolute intelligence.

Naniu

Nanoo, I really want to see this sentence. :).

do you have access so you may quote it to us?

Thanks, Sierra

[Nanoo Nanoo]

Books of Hermetics i recommend are

The Kybalion
The Emerald Tablet
The Great Pymander
( in that order )

The Kybalion will set you up with the laws of our logos, it would be wise to know these first. The Emerald Tablet will introduce you to the sacred language , meaning it will challenge you to "think" ... Once you have a feeling for that then read the Great Pymander ( bring head ache tablets ) .

I once read a sentence in the Great Pymander , containing 12 words, repeatedly for 2 hours and every time i read it it had a different meaning. Its language is absolute intelligence.

Naniu

Nanoo, I really want to see this sentence. :).

do you have access so you may quote it to us?

Thanks, Sierra

I am reading through it now to find it .. but the head is spinning from the words .. its a heavy read.

I will try to find it and will quote it here for us to enjoy. This was in the second book i believe when the Great Pymander spoke to Ter Maximus ( hermes ) . . .

I was in a deep meditative state when i read it , which made me dive right into its contexts and meanings..

hmmm

leave it with me


Naniu

[Nanoo Nanoo]

Thanks to all of you for the warm welcome and for the great info.

I have read parts of the Kybalion, but it's not exactly something you'd read while waiting for the bus and I used to be a very busy man in the hamster wheel that looked like a career ladder from the inside, so greatly enjoy to have more time for self-development, reading, music, sports and other much more worthwhile things.

I have listened to some lectures by Manly P. Hall on astrotheology, Atlantis and other things a few months ago. Very well read man, but his songs of praise to Lucifer are not something I am too fond of, personally, so not sure if I'll ever get round to reading him proper.

I understand it's a long path to really understand Hermeticism, which is why I came here for a kind of short-cut preview on just a few image interpretations.

Many believe that the great work occurs only in the philosophers head upon meditation on Hermes' mysteries and teachings, which I think may actually be the case. Although I once read about a Swiss chap who was on live TV with a scientific panel watching his every move, transforming mercury into gold. Can't remember the name and it must have been in the 70s or 80s or sth. The only problem from a financial gain point of view was that the ingredients required for the process cost more than to actuallly buy the gold, haha, but that is not the point to a person like that, OBVIOUSLY!

Hermes always managed to catch my interest and the Kybalion is fascinating. I will get back to that at some point, I'm certain of it. The emerald tablets also currently enjoy a fairly good priority rating on my reading list...

thanks for offering me the chance to ask you questions. That is very nice and I'm sure I will make use of it at some point.


I feel somewhat dwarfed knowledge-wise by some of your replies I received to this thread already. Great to have such knowledgeable people to ask.

Wow, what a place this forum is :dance: What took me so long to find here...

All Hermes is doing is " Stating " that which is already within us. If we know our selves , then the works of Hermes, what he represents and stood for , will spring to you like a second nature. This is something i realised a little while ago.. when you know good , and good is in your heart the words and knowledge are within you and they prompt themselves at the right moments as you live the good life.

When you are in service to fellow man then the works are in your every day.

Manly P Hall is one of my favorites. The lucifer and Christ opposition in lore is confusing however have we ever seen a depiction of Lucifer ? is there a church that edifies this entity with a statue ? no ... however we are covered with the images of Christ and he is remembered by hanging dead on a cross. I have no propencity to either but i wanted to point out something interesting thats been going on for so long.

I try not to label things i do not fully understand or judge but why is it that our saviour is remembered symbolically as being crucified ? Yes we know of his sufferance and sacrifice but the crucifiction angle does not rub well with me. perhap s ill understand it one day. Ironically the very people who crucified him made a church around this happening depicting him being crucified. That in its self should get people to err on the side of caution bowing to such idols.

Hermes wrote the pure word of God and it is there to see. To read " interpretations " of this work would lose the meaning.

If you are looking for short cuts to interpret these images then you would be wise to meditate on them without thought and let them speak to you. Eventually your mind will make the connection when you are in the right mode.

The truth to everything is inside us. we do not need to look out there.


Naniu

[seeker/reader]

-----------------

[nomadguy]

I am certainly not well-versed in this subject however I had been researching it.
Some of the imagery presented is in line with the works of Robert Fludd (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Fludd).

In more than one of the images appears the visual of what some call the cosmic mirror.
"As above so below"
~
Thanks for posting this it opens a few more doors, a few new paths exposed.

- link (http://www.princeton.edu/~his291/Fludd.html)
- link (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4EaxtScDA_c/Tanmg5L6upI/AAAAAAAAFMA/j3CFTkc3Wsk/s1600/img139.jpg)

[Sierra]

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lexrxqcspa1qfh61lo1_500.jpg

Mylius Opus Medico Chemicum 1618:



using google translate from latin to english gave the following:

arbo vitae = The tree of life

emblema I = emblematic 1

auri potabilis chimicae praeparati = chemical preparation of drinkable gold

*******************************

I am guessing the person in orange holding the caduceus is Hermes. He may be the one making the drinkable gold.

We see the female moon figure and the male sun figure which probably represent the silver and golden gates (gates of descent and ascent).

We see Corvus the crow and Cygnus the swan, but this time we also see Pavo the peacock constellation. All are constellations below the ecliptic which may represent incarnation on the earthly plane.

There are also the planetary signs of Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury and the Moon in the leaves of the tree of life. So this may represent the descent of the soul, through the planetary spheres to be incarnated via the tree of life.

So I think this is another representation of the soul's descent through the silver gate, and the seven planets to incarnate via the tree of life on Earth.

Maybe Hermes' golden drink (knowledge??/awakening??) is the "key" to opening the golden gate so the soul can ascend.


The caduceus also represents DNA and transmutation to divine man.
The women and the man illuminated by the sun and moon, have their lower nature under control, represented by the leashed lions walking by their sides.
I notice all the figures and animals are under the sway or affected by the twelve rays of light/energy/consciousness/patterning of the astrological houses, except for the woman under the tree who seems to be free of all influences, extending something to the man and woman on the lower right.
The animals on the left are also affected by the incoming rays, showing all of creation is made of the same substance and capable of transmutation as well.
There are alchemical substances listed with their planets of influence on the wheel in the center, below the One light and fire of creation, the mind of God, pointed to as the highest goal by the angels above the wheel.
The Phoenix on the left has been reborn.
There is an un ending flight of birds on the right, above the pyramids, as one takes flight, a new one is born.

All just my opinionated observations. :)

Sierra

[Soulboy]

Maybe Hermes' golden drink (knowledge??/awakening??) is the "key" to opening the golden gate so the soul can ascend.

To my knowledge gold symbolises consciousness, silver denotes deception. Interestingly, the new pope's ring is a silver ring coated in gold. We're told that he's too down to earth for a pure gold ring. What a humble man ;)

[Soulboy]

Manly P Hall is one of my favorites. The lucifer and Christ opposition in lore is confusing however have we ever seen a depiction of Lucifer ? is there a church that edifies this entity with a statue ? no ... however we are covered with the images of Christ and he is remembered by hanging dead on a cross. I have no propencity to either but i wanted to point out something interesting thats been going on for so long.

I try not to label things i do not fully understand or judge but why is it that our saviour is remembered symbolically as being crucified ? Yes we know of his sufferance and sacrifice but the crucifiction angle does not rub well with me. perhap s ill understand it one day. Ironically the very people who crucified him made a church around this happening depicting him being crucified. That in its self should get people to err on the side of caution bowing to such idols.

Naniu

It may seem ironic to remember Christ hanging on the cross, (and I'm no bible basher, believe me) but it makes sense for an institution that does not really adhere to the values ascribed to this figure to worship him depicted in the process of dying or having been executed. That is quite symbolic, really... It could be interpreted as mockery

[seeker/reader]

-------------------

[Soulboy]

Soulboy,

Can you see more detail on the images from the book than what is shown online?


I can't right now, sorry. Like I said, the book is somewhere in a moving box and the pics are all A5 format only. I think I have an A4 print by some artist who sells them online flying around, but that's even harder to locate at the moment. Once I have moved, I'll have a dig around for it, which may be a month or so still. I'll let you know when the time has come

[Sierra]

It may seem ironic to remember Christ hanging on the cross, (and I'm no bible basher, believe me) but it makes sense for an institution that does not really adhere to the values ascribed to this figure to worship him depicted in the process of dying or having been executed. That is quite symbolic, really... It could be interpreted as mockery

Nanoo, Soulboy, I was thinking about this last night as well. The cross is an ancient symbol, representing the intersection of the earthly and the divine, also the place where these energies meet in man, the heart chakra.

It is not the only cross symbol to be corrupted, think of the moving rotating cross symbol, the radiating heart of divine fire, used by the Nazis. Both of these symbols represent death and terror now.

Sierra (no basher either lol)

[Soulboy]

I always thought that the symbol the Nazis used (and apparently still use on the new 5 Euro note (along with Draghi's pre-school style signature), photo below and sorry for going off-topic here) came from Ancient India and meant something like the sun wheel and that its legs (usually turned in the opposite direction back then imo) meant to symbolise the motion of the sun across the sky. It can be found on all manner of ancient temples around the world (Hindu, Buddhist, Roman, etc. as this guy likes to go on about: http://www.richardcassaro.com/the-ancient-secret-of-the-swastika-the-hidden-history-of-the-white-race-p-1-of-2 ) I have never heard about what you wrote there, but will look into it. Thanks

It's too large to post here, but click and view in actual size:

http://qpress.de/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/ecb_5_euro_banknote_specimen_front_72dpi1-01.jpg

[Nanoo Nanoo]

It is true that the naughty ones will infiltrate all that is good and change it to confuse the average man. The one who is to know them self is not to be tricked by such games.

So it is written in the Great Pymander , man must him self ( or her self for those who do not know that man is a non gender specific term and is referred to in the masculine as this represents the sun male as opposed to the female moon ) know well , more than anything of this earth.

In this is imo a most important tennet of the faith. Hermes has alwasy taught me to know my self well as will come the falce to slowly errode your identity.. if you KNOW who you are then the falceness of the world will not move you away from your true path and faith. When you know your self well , temptation will not move you .. well not as easily , but there are many temptations.. this does not mean not to enjoy life , on the contrary , but in the good faith of Hermes with every joy is inbuilt the joy of others. Meaning when we do something from the heart it has the benefit of your family and friends embedded in it , and enriching their lives as well.

This abounds the joy of such things and makes it good.

Then you will have joy in your heart : 0 )

And free hugs and ice cream for all to enjoy ( ok i added that bit )

Woo Hoo!

N
N

[AwakeInADream]

There was a complete description of that first image in Manly P Hall's book, but it wasn't in the online version because it was under the picture itself in the centre of the printed book, but I did manage to find it written elsewhere (http://sskotoseme.tumblr.com/) online(which saved me writing it out myself). So I'll cut and paste it here:


"“The Grand Rosicrucian Alchemical Formula”
“In the heavens and surrounded by both an outer and an inner aureole and by hierarchies of celestial beings are the radiant symbols of the Holy Trinity: (the father?), the Lamb (the Son) and the Dove (the Holy Ghost). The respective dignities of the heavenly host are determined by the number and arrangement of their wings. The glory of the Godhead and the invisible world is concealed from the inferior creation partly by a line and partly by the circle of the starry heavens, itself obscured by clouds. Five birds—a crow (Saturn, lead); a swan (Jupiter, tin); a cock (Mars, iron); a pelican (Venus, copper); and the pheonix (Mercury, quicksilver)—occupy the half circle directly within the band of the starry heavens. The upper half of the blue circle containing the five planetary signs is occupied by the zodiacal signs. In the green circle appear the words: “The solar year, the stellar year, and the year of winds”; in the yellow circle, “The mercury of the sages, corporeal mercury, and common, or visible mercury”; in the orange circle, “Combustible sulphur, fixed sulpur, and volatile, or ethereal sulphur”; in the red circle, “Elementary salt, earthly salt, and central salt”; and in the violet circle, “Four kinds of fire are requisite for the work.” The white central triangle contains the figure of the solar mercury.
The entire upper section of the plate is an esoteric diagram of the constitution of the threefold spiritual sun. In the lower foreground is a hill upon which grow a number of trees, each bearing the symbol of an alchemical substance. (For details consult Basil Valentine’s table of alchemical symbols.) At the lower right and represented by a nocturnal scene is the inferior world, while at the lower left and represented by a diurnal scene is the superior world. Thus water is symbolized by the right side of the plate and fire by the left side. Under the wings of the phoenix are two circles containing the symbols of fire and air; under the wings of the eagle are two other circles containing the symbols of earth and water. The human figures, one male and the other female, both attached to the superior world by a golden chain and bearing upon their bodies the symbols of the creative forces, stand for the divine (male) and human (female) principles in every creature. The spirit and will are represented by a lion rampant; the soul and intuition by a deer with twelve lights or stars upon its horns and bearing a trifoliate leaf symbolic of the threefold division of all natural things.
In the center of the picture is the figure of philosophic equilibrium and the accomplishment of the magnum opus. The double-bodied lion emphasizes to the initiated the necessity for the final union of all diversified parts; also that light and darkness (symbols of all natural opposites) are two bodies with a single head. Upon this strange creature which he has fabricated by his art and which symbolizes the reconciliation of apparently irreconcilable elements, stands the alchemistic philosopher. The stars upon his robe reveal the luminous nature of the purified and regenerated adept, and with the maces (the illumined intellect) he destroys the illusion of light and darkness and uniting the various scattered parts of the cosmos, fashions therefrom the philosophic androgyne. In the Hermetic Museum this plate is accompanied by the following quotation:
“By the word of the Lord were the heavens established, and their hosts by the breath of His mouth. The spirit of the Lord hath filled the world. All things are satisfied with They goodness, O Lord. Thou turnest away They face, they are troubled. Thou turnest away Thy Spirit, they die and return again to their dust. Thy sendest forth Thy Spirit and they are created, and renewest the face of the earth. Thy glory is for everlasting.”
In the Hermetic Museum a free rendering of the Emerald Table of Hermes (q.v.) is also annexed to this plate.
Only by profound contemplation and familiarity with the principles of mediaeval alchemy may the true spirit of chemical mysticism be discovered. In the above plate is set forth the complete key to the regeneration of the metals, the transmutation of earthliness into celestial splendor, and the mystery of generation which has been so sadly and ignorantly misinterpreted by the sciolists of the twentieth century.”
-“The Secret Teachings of All Ages,” Manly P. Hall."

It looks to me like it's water pouring out of the lions mouth, flowing into a river. I think this picture may be clearer:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-St3wn978QJ0/TwGIfE_mLyI/AAAAAAAABfw/YrnGvgLCR4s/s1600/grand-rosicrucian-alchemical-formula.jpg

[leavesoftrees]

I am guessing the person in orange holding the caduceus is Hermes. He may be the one making the drinkable gold.

We see the female moon figure and the male sun figure which probably represent the silver and golden gates (gates of descent and ascent).

This is a pictoral representation of the Alchemical maxim: The Great work is achieved through the Sun and the Moon with the aid of Mercury (Hermes)


To my knowledge gold symbolises consciousness, silver denotes deception

Gold is the metal of the Sun, Silver that of the Moon. The Great work transmutes the lead of Earth to the Gold of the Sun.


It may seem ironic to remember Christ hanging on the cross, (and I'm no bible basher, believe me) but it makes sense for an institution that does not really adhere to the values ascribed to this figure to worship him depicted in the process of dying or having been executed.

Many creation mythologies involve the creation of the Universe through the dismemberment of a cosmic Man, such as Adam Kardmon. Christ on the cross is another version of this archetype. It probably explains the currrent fascination with global apocalypse , 2012ism and ascensionism. Playing out that same archetype that through destruction a new higher creation is achieved. the Phoenix features heavily in these alchemical images. Thanks for the thread!!




It looks to me like it's water pouring out of the lions mouth, flowing into a river. I think this picture may be clearer:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-St3wn978QJ0/TwGIfE_mLyI/AAAAAAAABfw/YrnGvgLCR4s/s1600/grand-rosicrucian-alchemical-formula.jpg

Yes it is water coming out of the lion's mouth. It is similar to the Temperance card in Tarot where the angel is pouring water on Leo the Lion (fire). It is the union of the opposites as represented by the costume of the alchemist standing behind the lion

[Soulboy]

The philosopher's bathrobe sort of reminds me of this picture here:



http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l165/magblog/bush_putin.jpg


Excellent addition to the explanation, both of you. THANKS A LOT!

[chocolate]

I also want to add that the great work of alchemy (the transmutation of lead into gold) can be also interpreted as the great work of the personal transformation- the creating of the "chryst" consciousness in man. The lead as the material world to become the gold- as the spiritual world. I want to add to everything written before me that the image illustrates the importance of the process of creation and that this process is sacred and should be performed as a sacred act through which the "chryst" consciousness, or divinity can be obtained. It is believed that the sexual force (the union between the polarities- male and female) is the most powerful force in the world and only those who have gained control over it become divine.

In the light of a paper I just read, it is stated that gold can be created as a mono-atomic gold, and the latter is observed as a formula that could be giving everlasting life and wisdom. From the earth (or lead or iron or other metal for that matter) through a sequence of heating and cooling in certain time frames can be created paladium, iridium and finally- mono-atomic gold. It is also mentioned that the arc of the covenant (same one from the bible) could have been that instrument making this process possible in the ancient past. Gold is also proven as a superconductor and is believed that in the human brain exists a white! substance, especially in spiritually oriented people who meditate, with some superconductor qualities to it...

As I read in one of the several places I tend to go back to for inspiration, every symbol or group of symbols can be interpreted in at least seven! different ways and any of the explanations would be valid.

This is a really vast topic, but since it has interested me a lot, decided to share some of my thoughts.

[Soulboy]

[QUOTE]To my knowledge gold symbolises consciousness, silver denotes deception

Gold is the metal of the Sun, Silver that of the Moon. The Great work transmutes the lead of Earth to the Gold of the Sun.




I just did another little search and found references to gold symbolising spirituality and: "From a negative aspect, silver can be indecisive and non-committal, dull and lifeless in a colorless world, neutral, cold and insincere. It can be deceptive and two-faced."

That is even worse than what I originally wrote :eek:

[leavesoftrees]

I just did another little search and found references to gold symbolising spirituality and: "From a negative aspect, silver can be indecisive and non-committal, dull and lifeless in a colorless world, neutral, cold and insincere. It can be deceptive and two-faced."

That is even worse than what I originally wrote :eek:

It's always good to verify an interpretation through meditation, and check with your own Inner Teacher to see if it feels correct. The above qualities are connected to the Moon, principally because the Moon waxes and wanes. However as the alchemical illustrations you posted emphasise, we live in a dualistic world - so each thing in this world of name and form has its positive and negative aspects. The above interpretation of silver seems to be focused on its negative, shadow side. Can you think of the positive aspects and qualities of silver?

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

Hi all,

my first own thread here on this forum:

Some 12 years or so I bought a picture book entitled 'The Hermetic Museum'. In it, as the title suggests are hundreds of pictures of medieval paintings laden with hermetic/ alchemical symbology. I was hoping fo find somebody here who understands the symbology and could provide an explanation for a few of them.

This is the book:

http://www.redicecreations.com/img/newsletter/alchemy.jpg


It was harder than I thought to find some hi-res pictures of the art depicted in the book, so this is the best I could come up with. My copy of the book is in a moving box at the moment as I'm in between house moves, so I can't upload anything myself right now. Some paintings within the book that I suspect could be of interest are these:

Tabula Smaragdina (The Emerald Tablet)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZRkE4tj2zs/T4Vi-QXjFxI/AAAAAAAAAjo/r7HyNhVtJDQ/s1600/amcl16.jpg


Flammarion - l'atmosphere

http://media-cache-ec4.pinimg.com/550x/02/bc/7c/02bc7cb16d29fa3159c1544a8998978f.jpg

I get that it is the red cloak of the magi and perhaps that he is looking at a world outside of the cosmo-conception of the time or trying to understand the inner workings of the universe, but that is where it ends for me ;)


http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lexrxqcspa1qfh61lo1_500.jpg


Mylius Opus Medico Chemicum 1618:

http://api.ning.com/filesKHiP8eEE8NKBgj73nmWfBVVPZkvGxvG5A*GwRUJMUkGjDeTx63w5OSQCv-eUQMmFvJXwv6FCFMijMB9EpxXE3T207sC48XwH/amcl16.jpg


http://www.levity.com/alchemy/images/bad_teinach.jpg

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on what these could mean. :nerd:

I've been wanting to reply to this thread but forgot!
These pictures are really fascinating, and like you, I've wondered a lot about the meanings of some of these strange symbols!

Right now, I wanted to tell you, the one on the bottom with the cupola and the sun wheen built into the garden,
reminds me of Tommaso Campanella's book "Civitas Solis", or "City of the Sun".
The utopian metropolis in his book is usually depicted as a huge architectural sun wheel like the picture above.
Christ is actually pictured in your version, standing in the center of the wheel-shaped garden.
It seems that after Constantinople and all of that was established, Christ became somewhat synonymous with the Sun and the cross and the sun are often found together in medieval art. I don't know if that constituted a heretical belief or if it was also popular with Catholicism.
I can't help but notice that the men surrounding Christ in the garden utopia are decked in the 4 Alchemical colors, Black White Red and Gold.
The young woman entering the garden is wearing green, which to me symbolizes youth and innocence. Red and white flowers adorn the walls of the garden.
On the far right of the garden, outside the grassy area, you can see the "anchorites" gazing upward at the top of the cupola.
In many similar depictions the anchorite would be staring up at a Bell on top of the tower, and the bell is actuated by the hand of God.
I am not sure what the bell stands for, maybe time or order? The early freemasons and priory of Sion used the bell as a symbol along with the Eastern Star.
In fact if you google tommaso campanella's picture, you could find an engraving with a bell over his head, depicting the eastern star.
I am not sure if the eastern star really stands for venus or the sun, but venus is an important symbol for Mary in some offshoots of christian mysticism.
the triangle is shown in your image above the door arch, much similar to the other picture you've got where the sun and moon figures are approaching the crypt with a triangle on top.
The triangle was an important symbol to the masons and mystics as well. I am not really sure what it all means, lol. but they use it to represent their hermetical sciences, imo.
the two pillars on either side of the archway might symbolize Boaz and Joachin, which were the two pillars that supported and adorned Solomon's temple.
they were encased in brilliant metal and really "popped".
the tarot often depicts the "High Priestess" figure (major arcana?) as sitting between these two pillars, holding the scroll of the law (Torah).
She represents truth, wisdom, fertility, etc. -- and justice. there are a lot of meanings assigned to her and to the pillars.
Wisdom sits between the things that are and the things that are not, after all, and we use it to navigate peril.
___________________________________


the picture second from the bottom is a reference of some kind to the Tree of Life, which I think the banner on the tree says.
you can see Zodiacal and chemical symbols on the crown of the tree.
the peacock on the left might represent Lucifer, actually. he appears to be instructing the white bird standing in front of him.
the two sun and moon figures might represent the mystery of alchemy, the "marriage of the sun and the moon".
around the cloud halo above the tree there are references to the elements.
to me this picture says something about the philosopher's stone and eternal life.
in the clouds above it all I believe is depicted the 'Tetragrammaton', or "Jahweh", in Hebrew characters. the Holy Name.

_____________________________________________________________________


the man sticking his head outside the "normally seen spheres of existence" is a prophet. he is divining the future with the help of the stars.
his head, or intelligence, occupies a space not often understood or navigated by normal people.
the wheel within a wheel to his left is a reference to the visions of the prophet Ezekiel.
Ezekiel is a central figure in merkavah, or Merkabah mysticism, where the worshippers enter a trance inspired by holy images such as the ones we are viewing right now.
The objective of this was to obtain visions of the Throne and Chariot of God via astral projection.
Prophets sought the literal reality of the presence of God through their efforts.
______________________________________


the emerald tablet picture is a mystery to me.
i can see the tetragrammaton, the spheres,
the lamb of God, eagles and lions.

i don't really understand the significance of portraying the planets and other heavenly bodies as trees in a garden,
but to people who believe in life on other planets, this could be an interesting picture.
the trees could simply be a reference to the seasons heralded by the movement of the heavenly bodies, though.
you can sort of see the marriage of the sun and the moon theme in this image, but i don't know who the stag is (Cernunnos?), the man in the starry robe, or the two bodied lion.
the chimera lion might symbolize the unity achieved through alchemy.
living water comes out of his mouth into a stream beneath the man in the starry robes. I think the man in the robes references Christ carrying the weapon made of 7 stars.
you can also, once again, see references to the elements and in this picture, also a reference to night and day.



_________________________________

I really like your thread! i need to read what the others wrote but wanted to give you my first impression.

[Soulboy]

I've been wanting to reply to this thread but forgot!
These pictures are really fascinating, and like you, I've wondered a lot about the meanings of some of these strange symbols!

Right now, I wanted to tell you, the one on the bottom with the cupola and the sun wheen built into the garden,
reminds me of Tommaso Campanella's book "Civitas Solis", or "City of the Sun".
The utopian metropolis in his book is usually depicted as a huge architectural sun wheel like the picture above.
Christ is actually pictured in your version, standing in the center of the wheel-shaped garden.
It seems that after Constantinople and all of that was established, Christ became somewhat synonymous with the Sun and the cross and the sun are often found together in medieval art. I don't know if that constituted a heretical belief or if it was also popular with Catholicism.


First of all, hello, and thanks for liking this thread. It has been quite interesting to learn more about these pictures. It sounds like you would like that book as well. Since it's not that expensive, I'd recommend you get yourself a copy :-)

Are you famililar with Jordan Maxwell's work? In case you are not, he and a bunch of others suggest that Christ (the mythical one at least, not to offend any faithful Christians here) has never been anything but a symbol of the sun. Some of his arguments go like as follows:


son of god - sun of god

dies and is resurrected - shortest days around the winter solstice

12 apostles - 12 zodiacs

water out of wine - rain from spring turns empty hills into hills full of grapes in autumn, of which wine is made

walks over water - the sun walks across the water (sea) every day

and on and on it goes. Check him out if you're not familiar with his work. Also, Santos Bonacci was recommended. He's quite an interesting chap as well.





In many similar depictions the anchorite would be staring up at a Bell on top of the tower, and the bell is actuated by the hand of God.
I am not sure what the bell stands for, maybe time or order? The early freemasons and priory of Sion used the bell as a symbol along with the Eastern Star.

Isn't a bell a symbol for Saturn? I thought I had read that somewhere. It was used to explain why Bel Air was called that. The same place I read that also mentioned that this would be where Beelzebub got his name from. Also, you give your partner a 'ring' when the wedding bells ring...




In fact if you google tommaso campanella's picture, you could find an engraving with a bell over his head, depicting the eastern star.
I am not sure if the eastern star really stands for venus or the sun, but venus is an important symbol for Mary in some offshoots of christian mysticism.
the triangle is shown in your image above the door arch, much similar to the other picture you've got where the sun and moon figures are approaching the crypt with a triangle on top.
The triangle was an important symbol to the masons and mystics as well. I am not really sure what it all means, lol. but they use it to represent their hermetical sciences, imo.
the two pillars on either side of the archway might symbolize Boaz and Joachin, which were the two pillars that supported and adorned Solomon's temple.
they were encased in brilliant metal and really "popped".
the tarot often depicts the "High Priestess" figure (major arcana?) as sitting between these two pillars, holding the scroll of the law (Torah).
She represents truth, wisdom, fertility, etc. -- and justice. there are a lot of meanings assigned to her and to the pillars.
Wisdom sits between the things that are and the things that are not, after all, and we use it to navigate peril.

Yes, you are right. As far as I know, Venus is the equivalent of Semiramis, Ishtar, Columbia, Juno, Aphrodite, Mary Magdalene and many other goddesses from other traditions.

I thought that Boaz and Jachin were symbosl for the sun and moon, male and female energies, no?


Thanks for your many interesting observations and comments. Glad you showed up, better late than never!

[witchy1]

If I could strongly suggest reading: The Perennial Tradition (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1893302482?&camp=212361&creative=380733&linkCode=wey&tag=newenlig-20The Perennial Tradition) by Norman D Livergood. Its a synchronicity thing, when you are ready the information will come....I only recently was provided this information and direction, and now I can share with you all.

The Perennial Tradition has taken many names over the centuries, including Hermeticism, Philosophia, Neo-Plataonism, Illuminism, Alchemy, Cabala, Magic, Gnosticism, Esotericism and Sufism. The secret legacy, the single stream of initiatory teaching flowing through all the great schools of mysticism and genuine philosophy.

This book will answer much that you seek and provide infinite wisdom and learning opportunities that reflect the pictures that you have posted. In essense it describes

While I am trying to understand (and it is difficult) it speaks much our potentials, of consciousness and how to raise it - and why we need to do this. How we came to be here and our purpose. The magic that comes with the knowledge is a by-product and while it may wow the unitiated it has its own purpose.

I should warn you - You will not be able to "learn" those things from this from any book. But this will provide the fertilizer for the soil that you are preparing.

Of some interest is the Egyptian context (hall of records - yes it existed and links to the library of Alexandria) the Middle East knowledge, the Indian knowledge

"The secret teachings" were passed from generation to generation through the line of transmission with the Perennial Tradition - You may know some of these names

Isaiah (8th Centry BCE) Zoroaster (6th Century BCE) Gautama, the Buddha (563-483 BCE) Hermes (indeterminate) Pythagoras (died 497 BCE) Empedocles (492-432BCE) Socrates (470-399BCE) Plato (427-347 BCE) Jesus (4-29 BCE) Dionysis the Areopagite (1st Centuary CE) Marcion (85-144 CE) Hujwiri (died 1062)
El-Ghazali (1059-1111) Shahabudin Suhrawardi (1145-1235) Shihab al-Din al-Suhrawardi (1154-1191) Ibn el-Arabi (1164-1240)
Other names you may know on the list include
St. Francis ( 1182 - 1226) Rumi (1207-1273) Albertus Magnus (1206-1280) Roger Bacon (1214-1294) Paracelsus (1473-1541) Shakespeare (1564-1616) (whoever he was) etc etc

Norman background is amazing: He is a Master of Divinity, MA, Doctorate of Philosopy from Yale, Masters equivalenat in Psychology, A Second doctorate in artificial intelligence. Teaches to Universities across the United States and severd as Professor and Chair of Aritificial Intelligence at the US Army War College. He carries out extensive research and publishes in the fiields of philosophy philosophy of religion, Artificial Intelligence, political-economic philosophy of religion etc etc.
In other words he is very clued up and knows a lot about this stuff

If you can wrap your head around some of this information head over to his website:
http://www.hermes-press.com/perennialist_seers.htm

While he does not say as much, I suspect he is probably a Perenialist himself given the manner in which he speaks. (this is the only way you can discern)

This is really heavy going!!! and is so important and relevant for today and has many implicaitons for where we are heading as humanity. He provides a portent for us:

World citizens are presently facing the ravages of deliberate cultural destruction by politicians and their corporate controllers. We're entering a period when much of the Perennialist wisdom will have to go underground, to protect it from destruction by savages and barbarians--now called "compassionate conservatives."

Those among humankind who can understand the enduring importance of the higher knowledge and values embodied in such Forms as Commonwealth, must preserve this priceless heritage and assist humankind to return to the right path. These few (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:Remote20();) (about 10%) will have to carry out cloaked operations to safeguard and disseminate the hidden wisdom. This essay constitutes a call to action (http://www.hermes-press.com/CCC/CCC_preface.htm) in this regard, and will resonate with those who have developed advanced powers of discernment.

Hermes
http://www.hermes-press.com/maier_hermes4.jpg


Sorry for the long post. The picture that you have put up tries to describe the philosophy of as above so below

[Soulboy]

Once again thanks to all of you for making this thread so interesting. There is lots of reading to catch up already and I look forward to any further additions and comments.

[ulli]

Maybe Hermes' golden drink (knowledge??/awakening??) is the "key" to opening the golden gate so the soul can ascend.

To my knowledge gold symbolises consciousness, silver denotes deception. Interestingly, the new pope's ring is a silver ring coated in gold. We're told that he's too down to earth for a pure gold ring. What a humble man ;)

Gold is associated with Leo, which is ruled by the sun.
The light of the sun is self generated, unlike the moon's light, which is merely the sun's light reflected..hence the idea of deception.
Silver is the metal for Cancer, which is ruled by the moon.

The first two hexagrams of the I Ching are called the Creative and the Reflective...thus they could also be considered as representing the Sun and the Moon.

[ulli]

Manly P Hall is one of my favorites. The lucifer and Christ opposition in lore is confusing however have we ever seen a depiction of Lucifer ? is there a church that edifies this entity with a statue ? no ... however we are covered with the images of Christ and he is remembered by hanging dead on a cross. I have no propencity to either but i wanted to point out something interesting thats been going on for so long.

I try not to label things i do not fully understand or judge but why is it that our saviour is remembered symbolically as being crucified ? Yes we know of his sufferance and sacrifice but the crucifiction angle does not rub well with me. perhap s ill understand it one day. Ironically the very people who crucified him made a church around this happening depicting him being crucified. That in its self should get people to err on the side of caution bowing to such idols.

Naniu

It may seem ironic to remember Christ hanging on the cross, (and I'm no bible basher, believe me) but it makes sense for an institution that does not really adhere to the values ascribed to this figure to worship him depicted in the process of dying or having been executed. That is quite symbolic, really... It could be interpreted as mockery

The crucifixion has several meanings. The outer meaning is that after demonstrating his supernatural powers, Christ made no effort to save himself from torture. In other words his death was a sacrifice. An act of voluntary suffering. When it was over more events took place, which were further demonstrations of his powers...and the whole purpose of his coming, namely to demonstrate that life continued after death.
The inner meaning of cross has to do with the fact that planetary angles open inter-dimensional gates. When planets form angles of 120 degrees, also called Trines, blessings come into one's life, and rewards.
When planets form 90 degree angles suffering and adverse conditions take place, and man needs to struggle. This then forces him to find solutions, which manifest after the star gate closes again.
When four planets are placed at 90 degrees from each other it is called a Grand Cross, and people born at such times have much harder lives than people born when the planets form a Grand Trine.

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

[QUOTE=Soulboy;682354][QUOTE=Nanoo Nanoo;682280]
The inner meaning of cross has to do with the fact that planetary angles open inter-dimensional gates. When planets form angles of 120 degrees, also called Trines, blessings come into one's life, and rewards.
When planets form 90 degree angles suffering and adverse conditions take place, and man needs to struggle. This then forces him to find solutions, which manifest after the star gate closes again.
When four planets are placed at 90 degrees from each other it is called a Grand Cross, and people born at such times have much harder lives than people born when the planets form a Grand Trine.

it's interesting that you were thinking of this, because it just so happens that we are in a special month:

http://www.mysticmamma.com/june-2013-astrology-grand-water-trine-blessings/
http://www.aquariuspapers.com/astrology/2013/06/astrology-in-june-2013-the-grand-water-trines-in-cancer-scorpio-and-pisces-continue.html

Astrology in June 2013 – The Grand Water Trines in Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces Continue

by Robert Wilkinson

Venus has now entered Cancer and begun its dance in the Grand Water Trine gala!

In this sequence of Grand Water Trines, we’ve already begun to get some form of understanding or communication via Mercury, and will now begin to have our Venusian experience of the Grand Water Trine through the next week or so. This harmonizes the planets and houses in our charts involving Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, and Libra (these signs ruled by Mercury and Venus) with areas involving Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces (these signs ruled by Saturn and on a spiritual level, Neptune).

The Moon will make the Grand Water Trine June 9-10, as will the Sun from June 21-27. Jupiter moves everything into a new dimension and expanding reality when it enters Cancer June 25 at 6:40 pm PDT, June 26 at 2:40 am Greenwich. The Jupiter Grand Water Trine lasts through late July.

Mars brings up the finalization process when it enters Cancer July 13 at 6:22 am PDT, 2:22 pm Greenwich. It will make a Grand Water trine from then through the third week of July.

This will initiate a time when planets and houses ruled by these transiting planets (Aries, Cancer, Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Pisces) are pulled into the harmony or understanding being initiated now. So take note of how Mercury and Venus are showing the future way, since we'll have integration practice later this month, and expansion and implementation practice in July.

[minkton]

the Lion is the 'king of the jungle' ie the ruling consciousness of an individual, ie the ego.

In alchemy you see the Lion go through all the various stages of alchemical transformation, the lion streaming water is the ego in 'solutio' which the alchemical stage of dissolution.

You will also find alchemical images of the Lion trapped in a vessel under which are the flames of psychic heat ,, he is 'cooking' ie maturing.. and he reaches various stages, albedo, rubedo and nigredo.. reddening, whitening and blackening.. his psyche must heat up in order to cook.. he usually bites his paws off in desperation. EVentually he will undergo the required transformation at which point he is depicted as the New King.

[Ahnung-quay]

While I agree that alchemy is a metaphor for raising individual consciousness, I believe that the philosophers throughout the ages were also practicing actual chemistry with the goal of making gold. Some believe that it was made with urine, a naturally filtered liquid. The essence of the ether was distilled out of the urine. Once that was accomplished, a small amount of silver or gold was added which grew more silver or gold. The alchemists depicted the stages of the transformation in various ways in order to hide the true nature of alchemical process from the unenlightened. It was felt that in order to be initiated, the student must come to a transformation within the self first. Otherwise, ego would take over and the processes would be used in a negative way. The philosophers used the stars and the planets as a guide as to when to time the beginning and the stages of their processes. The process is described as the marriage of the sun and the moon. The lion was an ancient symbol of the sun and of kingship on earth; the lions mane directly taken as the sun. The lion goes through the stages of the alchemical process, changing colors. In part of the process, the lion eats the sun. The lion is depicted spitting out fluid onto the earth representing the fire (plasma) energy of the sun going into the earth element. The philosophers felt that the fire (sun energy) in earth is responsible for the growth of metals over extremely long periods of time. The alchemical process is a speeding up of the natural processes of nature.
The stages of the process are also described as letting the eagles fly and the phoenix rising from its ashes. In the western zodiac, the transformation occurs as symbolized by the sign of Scorpio which even in modern astrology symbolizes a purification and soul transformation, being ruled by Pluto. Scorpio is also the location of the galactic center where the original fire/plasma/change information comes from; the waters above.

[ulli]

While I agree that alchemy is a metaphor for raising individual consciousness, I believe that the philosophers throughout the ages were also practicing actual chemistry with the goal of making gold. Some believe that it was made with urine, a naturally filtered liquid. The essence of the ether was distilled out of the urine. Once that was accomplished, a small amount of silver or gold was added which grew more silver or gold. The alchemists depicted the stages of the transformation in various ways in order to hide the true nature of alchemical process from the unenlightened. It was felt that in order to be initiated, the student must come to a transformation within the self first. Otherwise, ego would take over and the processes would be used in a negative way. The philosophers used the stars and the planets as a guide as to when to time the beginning and the stages of their processes. The process is described as the marriage of the sun and the moon. The lion was an ancient symbol of the sun and of kingship on earth; the lions mane directly taken as the sun. The lion goes through the stages of the alchemical process, changing colors. In part of the process, the lion eats the sun. The lion is depicted spitting out fluid onto the earth representing the fire (plasma) energy of the sun going into the earth element. The philosophers felt that the fire (sun energy) in earth is responsible for the growth of metals over extremely long periods of time. The alchemical process is a speeding up of the natural processes of nature.
The stages of the process are also described as letting the eagles fly and the phoenix rising from its ashes. In the western zodiac, the transformation occurs as symbolized by the sign of Scorpio which even in modern astrology symbolizes a purification and soul transformation, being ruled by Pluto. Scorpio is also the location of the galactic center where the original fire/plasma/change information comes from; the waters above.

The irony is this...once a person is 100% transformed, and can make gold, they no longer need to. All they need for their physical life on this planet comes their way, when and where they need it. Who then even needs gold?

When Pluto energy is allowed to flow in a proper way, and Scorpios are transformed until they shine their powerful torches into the furthest recesses of their inner Hades, it will raise the energy for all, and then they can bring others in touch with that they need most.

[Ahnung-quay]

Yes, that is the conclusion that I came to while researching all of this. If all is mind, as the Kybalion states, all we need is our inner self. The plasma energy can be obtained directly from father Sun and the personal physical needs become minimal.

[ExomatrixTV]

Incredible Knowledge Is Found In A 1908 Book | 33rd Degree Knowledge:

JXWj2sWvV90
This book has been the subject of intrigue and speculation for over 100 years. It claims to present the most ancient and fundamental principles of Egyptian philosophy, pulled from the Hermetic lore of the god Djehuti himself. Its authors are unknown, its sources impossible to verify, and even its publication is cloaked in mystery. Yet the seven principles of The Kybalion are not only startlingly parallel to our most recent understandings of ancient Egyptian philosophy, but they are also undeniable, meaningful, and relevant to everyday life.



00:00 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXWj2sWvV90&t=0s) What is The Kybalion?
01:12 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXWj2sWvV90&t=72s) Who was Hermes Trismegistus?
02:17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXWj2sWvV90&t=137s) The Hermetic Principle Of Mentalism
04:10 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXWj2sWvV90&t=250s) The Hermetic Principle of Correspondence
06:45 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXWj2sWvV90&t=405s) The Hermetic Principle of Vibration
09:47 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXWj2sWvV90&t=587s) The Hermetic Principle of Polarity
12:42 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXWj2sWvV90&t=762s) The Hermetic Principle of Rhythm
15:17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXWj2sWvV90&t=917s) The Hermetic Principle of Cause and Effect
17:50 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXWj2sWvV90&t=1070s) The Hermetic Principle of Gender

[lightpotential]

Hi all,

my first own thread here on this forum:

Some 12 years or so I bought a picture book entitled 'The Hermetic Museum'. In it, as the title suggests are hundreds of pictures of medieval paintings laden with hermetic/ alchemical symbology. I was hoping fo find somebody here who understands the symbology and could provide an explanation for a few of them.

This is the book:

http://www.redicecreations.com/img/newsletter/alchemy.jpg


It was harder than I thought to find some hi-res pictures of the art depicted in the book, so this is the best I could come up with. My copy of the book is in a moving box at the moment as I'm in between house moves, so I can't upload anything myself right now. Some paintings within the book that I suspect could be of interest are these:

Tabula Smaragdina (The Emerald Tablet)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZRkE4tj2zs/T4Vi-QXjFxI/AAAAAAAAAjo/r7HyNhVtJDQ/s1600/amcl16.jpg


Flammarion - l'atmosphere

http://media-cache-ec4.pinimg.com/550x/02/bc/7c/02bc7cb16d29fa3159c1544a8998978f.jpg

I get that it is the red cloak of the magi and perhaps that he is looking at a world outside of the cosmo-conception of the time or trying to understand the inner workings of the universe, but that is where it ends for me ;)


http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lexrxqcspa1qfh61lo1_500.jpg


Mylius Opus Medico Chemicum 1618:

http://api.ning.com/filesKHiP8eEE8NKBgj73nmWfBVVPZkvGxvG5A*GwRUJMUkGjDeTx63w5OSQCv-eUQMmFvJXwv6FCFMijMB9EpxXE3T207sC48XwH/amcl16.jpg


http://www.levity.com/alchemy/images/bad_teinach.jpg

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on what these could mean. :nerd:

Hello Soulboy

The last person just posted a reply to this thread and 'resurrected' it from 9 years ago. I was intrigued though, in looking at the images. As it has been so long, may I ask for an update from you? Have you found the solution to the images yourself in this time?

Sincerely

Keith

[Soulboy]

Hi Keith,

I haven't, I'm afraid. I use the site very infrequently these days. Not because I have lost interest, but due to a lack of time and focus on other aspects of my life. If anyone can point out the meanings and explain, I'd still be very curious and eager to learn though.

Kind regards

SB