Interpreting Symbolism

Posted on March 27, 2008
Filed Under Awareness, Symbolism |

We know that symbolism is a language, yet on many levels it is far more than that. Quite often multiple symbols are encoded within larger images, or within texts - these symbols can then be decoded within context and they will actually tell a story. In ancient times knowledge was passed on in this manner. It was an effective way of passing on knowledge, because a great deal of information could be contained within a single image or text. Further, the symbolism wasn’t always understood by everyone - thus the symbolism acted as a form of code within which knowledge could be hidden and preserved. It is believed that this is the root of some mythological stories.

The Net, in alchemy, is an alloy of copper and antimony, whose crystal structure induces a network pattern on its surface. It was described in the 17th century by the Harvard-educated alchemist George Starkey.

Starkey produced the substance by following what he regarded as a recipe, encoded in classical mythology, for part of the process of achieving the philosopher’s stone. The relevant myth involved the god Vulcan finding his wife Venus (alchemical symbol for copper) in bed with the god Mars

Starkey’s interpretation rested on typical alchemical associations, construing Vulcan as a stand-in for fire, Venus for copper, and Mars for iron; Vulcan, the craftsman of the gods, having made a metal net for the purpose of hanging the adulterous couple from a high ceiling, Starkey saw the use of iron to reduce antimony sulfide at high temperature to antimony regulus, and combining it with copper to produce the “network” on the alloy, as fulfilling the real meaning of the story.

Isaac Newton described his own synthesis of the Net in his secret notebooks (alchemy being a serious crime in England in its time), and adopted a theory like Starkey’s, of mythological tales as secret alchemical information.

The Net (Substance) - Alchemic recipe encoded into Greek Mythology

In many cases traditional understanding of ancient texts such as the above mentioned mythologies, are read in a literal manner. It is this literal interpretation which obscures the original meanings; as such the symbolism within the text either becomes forgotten or reversed. But when one understands how to read symbolism, then the original meaning can be ‘decoded’ and it will still retain its original essence. Whilst words and meanings change throughout the years - the root of symbolism is usually retained, at least within certain scholastic circles. It is quite possible that this was the original intent of symbolical messages; the preservation of ‘hidden knowledge’.

An Interpretation

Reading symbolism is much like reading or comprehending any other language, you simply need to know the associations to certain symbols. The Tarot is absolutely full of symbolism, and therefore presents the perfect opportunity to get to grips with how multiple symbolical meanings within a single image can give detailed amounts of information. The following card is “Judgment Judgment Card - Rider Waite Tarot Deck ” from the Rider Waite Tarot Deck.

Before we ‘decode’ this card, I just want to express a clarifying point. I am not making any claims as to the powers of divination of the Tarot Deck, I am instead focusing on the symbolical content in order to show how deciphering an images symbolism can actually work.

All symbol interpretations taken from ‘The Mystic Eye’. In this card we have the following:

- A flag or banner with a red-cross, this means blood and innocence.
- The Trumpet is being blown; this represents “The Word” and mans liberation.
- The Angel represents hidden forces and heavenly power, sublimation of earthly desires.
- Storm clouds indicate unwise thinking, human thoughts in discord.
- The Sea indicates all potentials, universal principles
- A Boat means; The transition from life to death, a personal journey or progress through life or the relationship of conscious to unconscious
- A man represents the Conscious Mind
- A female represents the Subconscious Mind
- A child represents a regenerated personality.

Now we have the ‘content’ of the card - we need to figure its ‘context’ and thus its meaning. A crowd of people stand in supplication, seeming to willingly await judgment. A man and a woman stand on either side of a child. The man - representing conscious thinking stands on the left - man traditionally is dominated by the left-brain of logic, fact and reason. The woman representing the subconscious mind stands on the right - woman is traditionally right-brain dominate; imagination, intuition and symbol / image orientated.

The child stands between the two; the potential of regeneration and revitalization after judgment of the balance within the inner being. The child is the future, shaped by his / her awareness of the meaning and lesson contained within the judgment itself. A judgment reflected on blood and innocence, liberating the inner being from unwise thinking and discord.

In short; it is only when we are willing to stand in naked realization of ourselves - aware of both our conscious and sub-conscious self - that we are able to gain the clarity to truly judge ourselves. And in doing this we find the hidden power of confidence and deep self-awareness - which can propel us into a regeneration of our personality and life.

The thing that I have always found fascinating about the symbolism of ancient images - is the deth of knowledge contained within. Admittedly the Rider Waite deck is around 100 years old, but consider for a moment how accurately this ‘hidden knowledge’ reflects modern day psychology. Then consider that the Tarot has possibly been around for as long as 700 years.

But that is only the least of it, the truth goes far deeper; contained within the symbolism of ancient myths, legends and religions is a ‘hidden knowledge’ of the human mind and our origins which perhaps far exceeds established modern day theories…