SYMBOLS and their Meaning

Latest: World Triad, Sun Face, Arrow, Uroborus, Masonic eye watches the Earth, Phoenix

Revised: The Great Seal

More about symbols
Common universal symbols: Quartered circle, triangle, spiral, elements
Halloween Symbols	A Short Guide to Occult Symbols
Teletubby Symbols	Questions about symbols
Comments on symbols

 

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A Twist of Faith | Establishing a Global Spirituality | Chart

 

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Introduction

Occult symbols are fast replacing Christian symbols in our culture. Therefore, we encourage you to use this list to warn others, especially Christian children who intentionally wear and display them because they are popular.

Keep in mind that some of these symbols have double meanings. For example, the pentagram has been used to transmit occult power in all kinds of rituals for centuries, but to Christians the same shape may simply represent a star -- a special part of God's creation. The image of a fish may mean a sign of the zodiac (astrology) to some, but to Christians it has meant following Jesus and sharing the message of His love. We will continue to delight in the cross, while recognizing that others use the same image to represent their dark forces.

Please don't pass judgment on those who happen to wear these symbols. Instead, let us seek God’s will and discernment so that we might all honor Him with our lives. Remember, "each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block. . . in our brother's way." (Romans 14:12-13)

All-Seeing Eye Alchemy Amulet Anarchy Ankh Angel Arrow Ball (Crystal Gazing Ball) Bat Butterfly Chaos Circle Circle (with Dot or Bindu in the center) Circle (Quartered) Compass (Masonic) Cow Crescent Moon Cross Cross (Iron) Double-headed Eagle Dragon Dreamcatcher Elements	Eye of Horus Frog Hexagram Italian Horn Lightening Bolt Lizard Magic Mirror Mandala Mason (Freemason) Mask Medicine Shield Om Peace symbol Pentacle Pentagram Philosopher's Stone Phoenix Scarab Serpent/Snake Spider Sphinx Spiral Square Sun face	Sun face Sun-Moon Sun Sign Sun Wheel Swastika x 3 Theosophy Toad Tongue Totem Triangle Unicorn Uborus Wheel Tibetan prayer wheel Wheel of Dharma Wishbone World Triad Yin Yang Compound Symbols Astrological chart Baphomet All-seeing eye in pyramid The Great Seal United Religions
Compound Symbols
Astrological chart Baphomet	All-seeing eye in pyramid The Great Seal	United Religions

	ALL-SEEING EYE: A universal symbol representing spiritual sight, inner vision, higher knowledge, insight into occult mysteries. Look at your $1 bill.  EYE in top Triangle of the PYRAMID: Masonic symbol for the all-seeing eye of god - an mystical distortion of the omniscient (all-knowing) Biblical God. You can find it on the $1 bill. See triangle, Eye of Horus, the Franklin Institute website.
	ALCHEMY: This simple 17th century "sign" illustrates the blending of geometric shapes -- circle, triangle, square -- representing the various "elements" needed for spells and magic. It's interesting to note that some of the more popular occult computer games also involve "elements" needed for magic and spell-casting.
	AMULET: A magic charm (such as this little Navajo bear earring), worn to bring good luck and protection against illness, accidents and evil forces. Don't believe it!

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Warning Concerning Symbols

In the world of the occult, many symbols are imbued with power by the magician working in conjunction with the demonic spirit world. The Wiccan leader Starhawk, founder of the Covenant of the Goddess, knows that well. "To cast a spell is to project energy through a symbol," she wrote in The Spiral Dance, her popular manual for witchcraft.

Since the occult use of symbols have spread like epidemic across the Western world, we want to exercise caution. Therefore, when we began to add pictures to the original list of symbols, we decided to leave out certain images – particularly satanic symbols that obviously represent evil. Though many were already familiar to children in public schools, we didn’t want to risk implanting those images on a child’s mind. (We will explain why in another note.) We also left out the theosophical symbol, some of the more complex masonic symbols, and other symbols typically used for magic and alchemy. To explain, let me share an important lesson I learned about five years ago.

I was speaking at a Bay Area Sunday School Convention (BASS) in California on the topic, "The Unholy Power of Charms and Symbols." Parents and teachers were still crowding into the small auditorium, when I began showing transparencies of simple symbols such as the yin-yang, the peace symbol, and the ankh. We discussed why these symbols were important to people long ago – and why their popularity has skyrocketed today.

Then we looked at more universal symbols such as the pentagram, the lightening bolt, the sun, and the circle -- including the Wiccan quartered circle, the Native American medicine wheel, and the Buddhist wheel of life. "Why are they considered universal?" I asked. "What mythical themes do they echo from around the world? Why are they so important to multicultural education?" (We will post a chapter from A Twist of Faith which answers these questions.)

Finally, we looked at compound symbols. (You can see an example at the end of the current list of symbols.) The day before the conference, I had been searching for a particular combination of symbols found in a Theosophical emblem. By the time I did find it, it was too late to put it on a transparency. Then I had made a foolish decision: I prepared to draw the occult image onto the transparency in front of the class.

Putting the clear transparency on the projector, I drew a large circle, then added two overlapping triangles (one pointing up, one pointing down), forming a hexagram. I began to fill in various single symbols: the pentagram, swastika…. Suddenly, something dark and heavy hit me in the chest. For a moment I lost both my balance and my breath, then, in a flash, I knew what was happening. I had unwittingly performed an occult ritual common to Buddhist and Native Americans traditions as well as to medieval alchemy. By the very act of drawing the symbols, I had invoked a spiritual entity.

Still in front of the crowd and the microphone, I cried out, "Forgive me, Lord! Cover me with your blood. In the name of Jesus Christ, I declare His victory over the evil one. Thank you, Jesus, my Lord and my King!"

I apologized to the audience, asking their forgiveness for imposing on them a ritual that brought forth this evil. Then we all thanked God for His lesson and protection.

As fast as the demonic entity came, it was gone. Among the people gathered around me afterwards was a woman who said, "I think I know what happened to you. While you were drawing that symbol, the man sitting next to me was moving his hands in strange ways and murmuring something as if he was casting a spell. He may have come to bring occult interference."

It didn’t surprise me. I have often encountered witches and New Agers who challenge me when I address these topics in public places. But God has always used it for good, giving me answers on the spot as well as ongoing opportunities to share with them God’s truth and wisdom.

Only God knows exactly what happened. But His Word is full of warnings concerning any participation in the works of darkness. If I opened the door to evil interference through my foolish demonstration, a servant of Satan could surely work with the evil one to enhance his work. God, who promises never to give Satan more reigns than His love allows, will still allow the painful consequences needed for our training in obedience.

Though we fellowship at a small, non-charismatic, non-denominational Bible church, God has often put me in places where I have had to help those who were trapped in occult bondage. Through these lessons, I have learned to look with sober caution at the power of evil. Yet, all the more, I praise my Lord for His continual protection and faithfulness

As our nation slides back toward paganism, God’s people need to understand the increasing influence, trickery, and cruelty of the evil one – while always thanking and following our God, whose power is far greater. Therefore, I plead with all of you to exercise great caution when confronted with any sign of Satan’s work. Please read the section on God's armor, and remember that we leave the "breastplate of righteousness" behind when we go where He tells us not to go. For the armor that covers us is the very life of Jesus, our Lord. Walking with Him in His ways, we are always safe.

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Endnotes:

1. Miranda Bruce-Mitford, The Illustrated Book of Signs and Symbols (London: Dorling Kindersley, 1996); page 58.

2. Ibid., page 58.

3. Carl G. Liungman, Dictionary of Symbols (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1991),  page 282.

4. The Herder Symbol Dictionary (Wilmette IL: Chiron Publications, 1978), page 51. The quote that follows is a general comment about crosses within a circle and does not refer specifically to this stylized swastika.

5. Barbara Walker, The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects (San Francisco: Harper, 1988), page 45.

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