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The importance of symbolism in magick

Symbolism is 1: the art or practice of using symbols esp. by investing things with a symbolic meaning or by expressing the invisible or intangible by means of visible or sensuous representations: as a: artistic imitation or invention that is a method of revealing or suggesting immaterial, ideal, or otherwise intangible truth or states b: the use of conventional or traditional signs in the representation of divine beings and spirits 2: a system of symbols or representations

Symbols are 1: an authoritative summary of faith or doctrine : creed 2: something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance ; especially : a visible sign of something invisible 3: an arbitrary or conventional sign used in writing or printing relating to a particular field to represent operations, quantities, elements, relations, or qualities 4: an object or act representing something in the unconscious mind that has been repressed 5: an act, sound, or object having cultural significance and the capacity to excite or objectify a response

To the occult student everything is a symbol and represents something else and at times many things. This can develop into a unique worldview ultimately allowing one to better understand the connection between all things physical and otherwise. Can you think of some examples of how this is true? Can you find connections between an object and an emotion? Can you find a connection between a person and a concept or idea?

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Permalink Reply by Cole Vasquez on April 22, 2009 at 12:37am

One of my favorite symbols is the Magnum Opus or a work of Art (which could be anything from a painting to a play) that represents Life and how it is in itself an Initiatory experience. Parsifal is an Opera composed and written by Richard Wagner and is one of the best examples. Recently (and on previous occasions), i have had the gift of learning from the characters involved, especially the relationship between Parsifal and Kundry. The Fool (first major arcana card) is a reoccuring symbol throughout history and we all begin our many paths with the blank page that separates the cover from the dedications and title pages of a Book. I am good at playing the fool though a not so venerable one sometimes; As young as I am and as new as the path is to me, there are often obstructions in my understanding of relationships between a man and woman. Being over-enthusiastic while at the same time being altogether oblivious i make my entrance, arrow aimed high, wanting nothing more than to unite what has only been separate for the sake of being brought together again. My foolish act brings me to meeting my Kundry again and soon there are a number of troubles brought to mind. But in those troubles the is only Triumph for the Fool as his quest for his True Will takes him beyond temptation. The best exposition of Parsifal that i have found are in a great piece of work called "The Chalice of Ecstacy" by Frater Achad (Charles Stansfield Jones) and here is the link, also check out the other Frater Achad material its the Bee's Knee's... Enjoy!

http://www.hermetic.com/browe-archive/achdindx.htm

LVX
Frater Obviam

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Permalink Reply by Adrian Stouffers on April 26, 2009 at 12:10am

to understand the signs is to understand the universe. Our ancestors knew this, from the celtic druids scrying in the entrails of a sacrificial creature to the greeks and the delphic oracle, where priestesses would interpret the hisses of steam emanating from the omphalos (fissure).

If you look hard enough in your general surroundings you can find signs and symbols everywhere. its just a matter of interpretation.

When i was younger (around 16 or so) i was seriously questioning my wiccan faith and everywhere i looked i could usually find a question mark somewhere around me. it would be anything, seeing a peice of garbage on the ground from a particular angle, or dust being blown about in the wind, or in the clouds, my cat's tail dragging in the dirt etc, once i dropped my mobile phone in a bowl of flour i was using to cook with and the resulting mess on the outside of the bowl formed a question mark with an almost perfect dot beneath it to complement.

It was as if the universe was with me on this informative journey, showing me that we both were in tune. (if you've ever performed a spell and could feel it starting to take effect {at a higher level of consciousness of course} then you know what it feels like to be in tune with the universe) So when i had finally accepted that this was my path i felt so happy and then i began to see smiley faces everywhere almost as if the universe was pleased i had finally made my mind up.

This is a very basic example of universal signs and they were simple for me purely because of my age at the time. Now that i am older, and have begun to understand the meanings behind many of these symbols it makes the practition of magick much smoother. In fact knowing how to feel (not see but feel) the difference between positive and negative signs can help immensly with a working. Even to the point where you can put off a working for a couple of days til the signs are more favourable.