Symbols & traditions
Pentacle, ouroboros, elements, tarot, talismans: the language of symbols.
The altar: symbols and structure of sacred space
What an altar is and what it represents: origin of the word, orientation, traditional objects and how to set up a meaningful home altar of your own.
Candles in tradition: the symbolism of fire and light
Why people light a candle: the meaning of the flame, the wax, the colours and the act of extinguishing it in religious and esoteric tradition.
The chalice and the cup: a symbol of receptivity and change
The chalice as a symbol: from the sacrificial cup to the Grail, from the tarot suit of cups to the element of water on the altar of esoteric tradition.
Colours in esoteric tradition: meanings and symbols
Black, white, yellow and red in the alchemical work, liturgical colours and candle colours: the meaning of colour in the Western esoteric tradition.
The cross and the rose: meaning of a symbol of union
The symbol of the cross with a rose at its centre: meanings of the cross, the rose, the petals and the colours, and how they meet in Hermetic tradition.
Crystals and stones in symbolic tradition: history and meaning
From the high priest's breastplate to medieval lapidaries: the symbolic meaning of crystals and stones such as amethyst, quartz and lapis lazuli.
The eye in esoteric symbolism: from Egypt to Providence
Eye of Horus, Eye of Providence, the evil eye and the third eye: how esoteric tradition has read the eye as a symbol of vision, knowledge and protection.
The four elements: fire, air, water and earth in tradition
Fire, air, water and earth: the philosophical origin of the four elements, their qualities, alchemical symbols, the fifth element and inner meaning.
Hexagram: the six-pointed star in esoteric tradition
Hexagram and Seal of Solomon: the meaning of the six-pointed star, of the two interlaced triangles and of the union of opposites across traditions.
Incense and perfumes in ritual tradition: history and meaning
Frankincense, myrrh, benzoin and sandalwood: why traditions burn resins and scents, the meaning of rising smoke and how incense is used in ritual.
Knots and bindings: the symbolism of tying and untying
The knot as a symbol in tradition: the knot of Isis, the Gordian knot, the endless knot, Celtic interlace and the spiritual meaning of tying and untying.
The labyrinth: symbolic meaning of the path to the centre
A labyrinth is not a maze: the myth of Crete, the labyrinths of medieval cathedrals and the labyrinth as a symbol of the inner journey toward the centre.
Letters and seals: writing as an esoteric symbol
Hebrew alphabet, runes, magical alphabets and seals: why in esoteric tradition a letter is not just a sound but a symbol charged with deep meaning.
The magic circle: meaning of the sacred boundary in ritual
Why a circle is traced in ritual: the meaning of the sacred boundary, the centre and the cardinal directions in ceremonial and folk tradition alike.
The mirror in esoteric symbolism: reflection and knowledge
The mirror as a symbol: from the myth of Narcissus to catoptromancy, from mirrors covered in mourning to self-knowledge in the spiritual traditions.
The moon in symbols: phases, crescent and lunar deities
Moon symbolism across traditions: the meaning of the lunar phases, the crescent, the lunar deities, alchemical silver and tarot arcanum XVIII, the Moon.
Numerology: the symbolic meaning of numbers from 1 to 9
Numerology and number symbolism: from the Pythagorean tradition to gematria, the meaning of the numbers 1 to 9 and how to calculate the number of a name.
Ouroboros: meaning of the serpent eating its own tail
The ouroboros, the serpent eating its own tail, from Egypt to alchemy: its meaning of cycle, eternity and the union of opposites in esoteric symbolism.
Pentacle and pentagram: meaning of the five-pointed star
Pentacle and pentagram are not the same thing: origins, meaning of the five-pointed star, upright and inverted forms and its use in esoteric tradition.
Sacred geometry: flower of life, vesica piscis, Platonic solids
What sacred geometry is: the point and the circle, the vesica piscis, the flower of life, the golden ratio and the Platonic solids with their meanings.
Salt, sulphur and mercury: the three principles of alchemy
The tria prima of alchemy: what salt, sulphur and mercury represent, how Paracelsus described them, their symbols and the link with body, soul and spirit.
The serpent as a symbol: wisdom, renewal and ambivalence
The serpent in esoteric symbolism: tempter and healer, wisdom and danger. From the Rod of Asclepius to the caduceus and the kundalini of Indian tradition.
Talismans and amulets: differences, history and symbolic meaning
Amulet and talisman are not synonyms: the difference between them, examples from ancient Egypt to Italian folk tradition and their symbolic meaning.
The tarot major arcana: their symbolic meaning
The 22 tarot major arcana read as symbols: the Italian origin of the deck, the structure of the Fool's journey and the meaning of each individual card.
The Tree of Life: meaning of the symbol across traditions
The Tree of Life from Genesis to Yggdrasil and the ten sefirot of Kabbalah: the meaning of the symbol, its structure and its spiritual interpretation.