msraye
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Mistress of the Flame
Posts: 131
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Post by msraye on Feb 19, 2007 21:37:02 GMT -5
BaphometThis enigmatic figure, known as Baphomet, was first described at the trials of the Templars, a medieval order of Crusader Monks accused of Heresy, witchcraft, and other crimes. The Order, founded in 1118 by nobleman Hughes de Payens, was the first of a number of "Military Orders." Originally concieved as a means of protecting Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem, they became very popular. They were exempted from taxation, and had amassed great wealth and property by the 13th century. The Templars became a possible political threat to the Church and to King Phillip of France, who issued secret orders (using contrived information) to have all of the Templars in France arrested. Torture elicited hundreds of confessions of various crimes and heresies. The laundry list of unlikely crimes included spitting on the cross, denying Christ, and worshpping an idol; namely, a grotesque bearded head (other descriptions conflicted) called Baphomet. Indeed, a number of supposedly Templar artifacts have surfaced which bear an image of an unusual male/female hybrid which resembles alchemical drawings of the soul of the world. Historians over the years have debated the possibility that the Baphomet rumor was true, and many suggestions about the origin of the word have been put forward. Some have proposed that the name is a corruption of the name Mohammed, or from the Greek, a phrase meaning "baptism of wisdom," or "Bufihimat," Moorish-Spanish for "father of wisdom". Others have suggested more intriguing possibilities- that baphomet is a kabbalistic cipher for the Gnostic Goddess Sophia, or a variant name for the Greek Titan Goddess of wisdom "Metis." The current version pictured above was drawn by the nineteenth century occultist Eliphas Levi (Alphonse Constant), using elements from various descriptions. It was drawn with the head of a Goat, a human body with cloven feet and wings. According to Levi, it was a relevatory figure, requiring study to understand. This particular drawing is quite popular with Satanists and Ritual magicians, for varying reasons. However, save for a few details, Levi's connection between his version of Baphomet, and the legendary idol of the Templars is mostly nonexistent. Levi's description of the figure:"The goat on the frontispiece carries the sign of the pentagram on the forehead, with one point at the top, a symbol of light, his two hands forming the sign of hermeticism, the one pointing up to the white moon of the Quabbalic Chesed, the other pointing down to the black one of Geburah. This sign expresses the perfect harmony of mercy with justice. His one arm is female, the other male like the ones of the androgyn of Khunrath, the attributes of which we had to unite with those of our goat because he is one and the same symbol. The flame of intelligence shining between his horns is the magic light of the universal balance, the image of the soul elevated above matter, as the flame, whilst being tied to matter, shines above it. The ugly beast's head expresses the horror of the sinner, whose materially acting, solely responsible part has to bear the punishment exclusively; because the soul is insensitive according to its nature and can only suffer when it materializes. The rod standing instead of genetials symbolizes eternal life, the body covered with scales the water, the semi-circle above it the atmosphere, the feathers following above the volatile. Humanity is represented by the two breasts and the androgyne arms of this sphinx of the occult sciences."
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msraye
Philosopher
Mistress of the Flame
Posts: 131
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Post by msraye on Feb 19, 2007 21:37:30 GMT -5
] Enochian AlphabetThe Enochian alphabet is the magical language Renaissance philosopher and mathmatician John Dee reportedly received from Angelic messengers through medium Edward Kelley in the late sixteenth century. Dee noted in his diaries that the letters represented the order of man's creation. Although Dee himself referred to the alphabet as "Adamic," the alphabet was eventually named for the Biblical prophet Enoch. The language was the basis for a rudimentary theurgical system begun by Dee but never completed; it eventually became the basis of the Golden Dawn's magical system until abandoned by OHO Paul Case, due to his belief in the inhertent danger of the system. There are twenty-one letters in the Enochian alphabet, and some letters represent several sounds, including some overlap. Like Hebrew and other angelic alphabets, the language is written right to left. Pronunciation: ee-noh-kee-an • (noun)The Enochian AlphabetJohn Dee contacting spirits [/quote]
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msraye
Philosopher
Mistress of the Flame
Posts: 131
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Post by msraye on Feb 19, 2007 21:38:15 GMT -5
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msraye
Philosopher
Mistress of the Flame
Posts: 131
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Post by msraye on Feb 19, 2007 21:38:50 GMT -5
Star of Babalon (seal of Babalon, waratah blossom)This seven pointed star is the symbol chosen by Aleister Crowley to symbolize Babalon, the Thelemic Goddess who is the personification of the kabbalistic sphere of Binah. The seven points are the seven letters of the name babalon, the seven planets, the seven "veils," and the seven chakras. Freida Harris' image of Babalon for Crowley's Thoth Tarot:A traditional image of Babylon the Great, by William Blake:SulfurA symbol for the alchemical element Sulfur, which is analogous to the human soul. Alchemically, sulfur has the qualities of masculine, hot and dry- combined with Mercury (feminine, cool and moist), the pair were considered the parents of all metals. Alchemical drawings often portray Sulfur as the sun. (In some views, sulfur and salt are the parents of Mercury) The symbol of sulfur is often used as an identifying symbol by many Satanists. This glyph is often referred to incorrectly as the "pontifical cross of Satan" by tract writers, due to its adoption as an emblem of Satanism by Anton LeVey. Seal of SaturnThe Seal of Saturn is a magical symbol representing the Intelligence of the planet Saturn. The magical tradition of using seals or signatures for spiritual energies or entities is quite old (similar seals can be found on two thousand year old Coptic magical papyri). This particular example probably dates to medieval times, and is drawn from the "magic square" of Saturn, an ancient table of numbers believed to contain the magical essence of Saturn. The magick square of Saturn is a table of the numbers one through nine, arranged in such a way that all rows add to 15. The seal is created by tracing the numbers in the square in order. In the kabbalisticly based traditions of ritual magic , the planets are the manifestation in the physical world of higher cosmic forces. These forces are represented by the numbers that embody their qualities. The seals and symbols are used to invoke those qualities (Saturn in ritual magic represents the forces of containment, time, death, and stagnation) in ritual. OuroborosThe Ouroboros is a greek word, and means "tail swallower." The ouroboros is usually depicted in the form of a snake swallowing its tail, and is usually circular, although it is sometimes depicted in a lemniscate shape. It originated in Egypt as a symbol of the sun, and represented the travels of the sun disk. In Gnosticism, it was related to the solar God Abraxas, and signified eternity and the soul of the world. In alchemy, it represents the spirit of Mercury (the substance that permeates all matter), and symbolizes continuous renewal (a snake is often a symbol of resurrection, as it appears to be continually reborn as it sheds its skin.), the cycle of life and death, and harmony of opposites. A double ouroboros (two creatures swallowing one another) in alchemy signifies volatility. Spiritually, it signifies the balance of the upper and lower natures. The Ouroboros appears in many other cultures and settings as well...the Serpent Jormungandr of Norse legend, who encircled the world, and guarded Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life, is often depicted as an ouroboros. The Aztec serpent God Queztacoatl was depicted similarly, and Chinese alchemical dragons have both similar shapes and meaning. SephirothThe sephiroth on the Tree of Life, according to Moses Cordovero The sephiroth as Adam Kadmon In the cosmology of the Kabbalah, the sephiroth, or "spheres," are interrelated divine emanations of God, each with unique properties. According to Kabbalistic doctrine, Divine Energy is described as traveling through ten sephiroth, from the ineffable divine to the manifestation of the material plane, and each represents a different spiritual reality. These emanations become progressively denser, slowing in vibration and losing purity, until manifest as the physical plane. These emanations together form the figure of the Tree of Life, also known as "Adam Kadmon," the image of the body of God and the idealised Adam (mankind). The sephiroth make their first appearance in the mystical work Bahir in the twelfth century. Their names and typical order of appearance are derived from the first Book of Chronicles: "Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine ; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. "
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msraye
Philosopher
Mistress of the Flame
Posts: 131
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Post by msraye on Feb 19, 2007 21:39:59 GMT -5
Cagliostro's Serpent Seal Known as the Seal of Cagliostro, this unusual symbol depicts a serpent, an apple in its mouth, impaled with an arrow. This was found amongst the personal effects of Count Cagliostro upon his death in 195. While the symbol has obvious alchemical elements, its precise meaning is unknown. The well known nineteenth century occult writer Eliphas Levi has this to say regarding this emblem: As explained by the cabalistic letters of the names Acharat and Althotas, it expresses the chief characteristics of the Great Arcanum and the Great Work. It is a serpent pierced by an arrow, thus representing the letter Aleph, an image of the union between active and passive, spirit and life, will and light. The arrow is that of the antique Apollo, while the serpent is the python of fable, the green dragon of Hermetic philosophy. The letter Aleph represents equilibrated unity. This pantacle is reproduced under various forms in the talismans of old magic. . . . The arrow signifies the active principle, will, magical action, the coagulation of the dissolvent, the fixation of the volatile by projection and the penetration of earth by fire. The union of the two is the universal balance, the Great Arcanum, the Great Work, the equilibrium of Jachin and Boaz. The initials L.P.D., which accompany this figure, signify Liberty, Power, Duty, and also Light, Proportion, Density; Law, Principle and Right. The Freemasons have changed the order of these initials, and in the form of L.'.D.'.P.: . they render them as Liberte de Penser, Liberty of Thought, inscribing these on a symbolical bridge, but for those who are not initiated they substitute Liberte de Passer, Liberty of Passage. In the records of the prosecution of Cagliostro it is said that his examination elicited another meaning as follows: Lilia destrue pedibus: Trample the lilies under foot; and in support of this version may be cited a Masonic medal of the sixteenth or seventeenth century, depicting a branch of lilies severed by sword, having these words on the exergue: Talem dabit ultio messem - Revenge shall give this harvest. The image was later incorporated into the emblem of the Hermetic Brotherhod of Luxor, an early occult fraternity.
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Post by Senbecc on Feb 20, 2007 0:02:15 GMT -5
You seldom ever see a person give all of Wicca's different cultural backgrounds this level of study...All I can say is wow...You know Having looked this thread over I'd like to point Kitty to it and see if she'd rather have it on the Wichcraft boards. Would you mind that at all?
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msraye
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Mistress of the Flame
Posts: 131
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Post by msraye on Feb 20, 2007 12:55:45 GMT -5
No not at all! I get the background for the symbols from the site that I am getting my information from! They do go into great detail, and have different sites to back up their information! There is so much more to add though...this is honestly just the tip of the iceberg! There is still information on Christian symbols, Jewish/Hebrew, Egyptian, you like this one Druid and Celtic, and a few others I can not think of right off hand!
But please feel free to move it where ever you see fit...I have not problems with it!
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Post by Senbecc on Feb 20, 2007 14:35:53 GMT -5
I'm on it then, I'll ask Kitty...
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msraye
Philosopher
Mistress of the Flame
Posts: 131
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Post by msraye on Mar 18, 2007 11:54:00 GMT -5
I am sorry guys...I do plan to add more to this thread, but I have been SUPER BUSY lately with my move and now trying to settle in! I will get back to this ASAP!!!!
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Post by Senbecc on Mar 18, 2007 18:05:30 GMT -5
I am sorry guys...I do plan to add more to this thread, but I have been SUPER BUSY lately with my move and now trying to settle in! I will get back to this ASAP!!!! We'll certainly be here and looking forward to it when you have more time Raye. Hope all is well, is good to see to see you on the boards again! We'll leave the light on for ya!
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msraye
Philosopher
Mistress of the Flame
Posts: 131
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Post by msraye on Mar 19, 2007 22:12:02 GMT -5
YaY light!
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Post by Senbecc on Mar 20, 2007 16:28:50 GMT -5
Yes, we have harnessed the power of fire here on PM! With this awsome new renovation we can now offer light to our members!
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msraye
Philosopher
Mistress of the Flame
Posts: 131
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Post by msraye on Mar 22, 2007 0:41:41 GMT -5
All Hale Light I am so tired of the dark!
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