Conference hydra::dejavu

    RE: .0  (Tom)
    
    The point-up pentagram is the symbol for mankind (head, arms, legs),
    just draw a picture of a man in the pentagram.
    
    The point down pentagram is a symbol of Baphomet used by the Knights
    Templar.  As they became more corrupt, it became associated with
    evil.  Also, the two up-points on the inverted pentagram represent
    horns, which Baphomet had, and the church associated these with 
    Satan.
    
    Elizabeth
    

    Reply to Betty;
    
    Well that's the usual story, I'm not sure we haven't been "snookered".
    
      Mikie?

    RE: .2
    
    It doesn't matter whether the Templars really were corrupt or if
    they were just believed to be.  The symbol of th inverted pentagram
    became associated with evil through them because they were believed
    to be corrupt - rightly or wrongly.
    
    The pentagram is associated with the element Earth, possibly because
    man is a creature of earth more than any of the other elements.
    
    Elizabeth
    

    Re aboveL:
    
    Whoops!  Are we _just_ talking pentagrams, or will anything do?
    In many cases of symbolism, "upward" is equated with good; "downward"
    with evil (simplest case: "thumbs up" to live; "thumbs down" to
    die).  The hexagram has one upright and one inverted triangle, making
    it effective in both spheres.
    
    Although I don't see how one says a goat is the opposite of a lamb,
    I know that traditionally the goat has been associated with evil
    symbols; the inverted pentagram gan be visualized as a billygoat...
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.
    

    I found out something about the Roman "thumbs" signals.
    Thumbs down was indeed bad.  But the opposite could be NO
    thumb as well as a thumb held up.
    
    *I* think goats are considered evil because of their eyes.  Their
    pupils are slit horizontally, and the effect is *very* strange.
    
    						Ann B.

RE: .6
    
    As I understand it, *thumbs up* and *thumbs down* were indeed the
    symbols for life and death in the arena, but the way we "make" those
    signs was the invention of an early hollywood director, who used
    his imagination.  The phrase "thumbs down" refered to the thumb
    in the fist, while "thumgs up" meant with the thumb out, whichever
    way it pointed.  (Another hollywood invention was the way that Tarzan
    "swung" on vines.  ERB probably intended a hand over hand movement
    along horizontal vines; a method of locomotion practiced by some
    species of monkies and gibbons called "brachiation".  Unfortunately
    the human shoulder is not cabable of brachiation, and the closet
    human equivalent is rather slow and clumsy looking).
    
    Goats probably got their bad reputation in multiple ways.  Billy
    goats apparently have rather extreme sexual characteristics -- anathama
    to early European Christians.  Their eyes *are* rather "uncanny"
    looking.  Pan and Satyrs (goats) were elegant symbols of what the
    Christians *didn't* like about the "classical" religions.  And the
    old male consort/son/father of the Northern, Western, and Central
    European pagan religions was horned (though usually a stag and
    occasionally a bull).
    
    					Topher

    Another point or two: in western thought, light and white are
    associated with purity and good; black and darkness are associated
    with corruption and evil.  "Black magic" just isn't a synonym for
    "magic"; it means "a form of magic used for evil purposes."  On
    a lesser scale, day is associated with good and night with evil,
    which is another reason that some of the occult practices (magic,
    seances, and some forms of divination) that are primarily performed
    after sunset have been looked upon with suspicion.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.
    

re: .8

In addition to Black Magic (magic based in or intended for Evil)
and White Magic (magic based on and intended for Good), I have also
seen reference to Grey Magic (signifying magic for mundane or
worldly purposes, without any special moral orientation--the village
wise woman and common conjuror frequently are cast in this light)
and to Green Magic (or Wild Magic, i.e., magic inherent in Nature
and in certain forces of nature and amoral nature deities).

Susan Cooper's fiction series "The Dark is Rising" (for children of
all ages) has some examples of these types of magic.

 
    The Loc Nar is a symbol of vastly ancient Sumerian mythology. It
    was referred to, in a highly fictionalized fashion, in the
    animated fantasy film HEAVY METAL, particularly its destructive
    power of fascination. When I remarked on this strange name, a
    friend told me that it belonged to Inanna, but he could not say
    where he had learned this. 

    I undertook to learn what I could of this artifact, but could
    find no information.  So I resorted to an analysis of the name,
    using as my only tools a dictionary containing information on
    the Indo-European language group and a set of translated
    fragments from Sumerian books of sorcery. 

    With these, it was possible to make a tentative translation of
    the name, and to identify the set of symbols that have come down
    to us from the root concepts that make up the name.  The
    translation is "Deep Star". However, this name does not convey
    properly the set of cognate implications, which include
    entrapment, numinosity of focus, and self-annihilation. 

    There are two phrases which hint at the true name: the first, a
    phrase found in Yogic texts and presumably translated from the
    Sanskrit, is the famous description of ego loss: "the dewdrop
    merged in the shining sea". The second phrase occurs in the
    tranlation of a Greek version of an old Zoroastrian text,
    roughly "Stoop not down, therefore, unto the darkly shining
    world, an abyss void, luminous..."  It's worth adding that the
    Sumerians regarded the concept of "sea" and "abyss" as closely
    related. Any Jungian will tell you that the ocean symbolizes the
    unconscious. It may well be that this metaphor is old enough to
    have existed in the hypothetical Indo-European tongue. 

    I think these are not two things, but one thing seen from two
    sides, fixed attention to which results in no thing -- the
    destruction of the subject through dissolution into the object. 

    If there is anyone who knows more pieces, I would like to hear.
    (No, I don't want to see it.  Just tell me, for now 8^) 

Pat

    Regarding the rap taken by billy goats --
    
    I've heard that wild billy goats are solitary creatures that
    live in inaccessible places.
    
    I recounted some of this discussion to a friend of mine, who
    promptly pointed out that goats also have the reputation of
    eating anything.  Hearing this, I recalled the ancient taboos
    concerning pigs, and the words of Patti Smith on the
    Transformation of Waste, which is perhaps the root concept
    of alchemy.
    
    Pat

Can anyone explain the following symbol/matrix.  I came across it in a book.  
As you can see there are some interesting patterns.  The book didn't go into
any details or discuss origin. 


              R O T A S
              O P E R A
              T E N E T
              A R E P O
              S A T O R

Thanks,
Terry

    Re .12 (Terry):
    
    This is one of the oldest and most discussed of what are called
    "palindromic squares."  A palindrome is something that reads backwards
    and forwards the same way (a single word palindrome: radar; a multi-
    word palindrome: name no one man).  
    
    "Magic squares," mathematically, and sometimes esoterically, are
    vaguely akin to palindromes:  Here is one such:
    
                             4  9  2
    
                             3  5  7
    
                             8  1  6
    
    No matter whether added vertically, horizontally, or along diagonals,
    the results are always 15.  Now in some esoteric teachings, such
    "magic squares" have significance.
    
    A palindromic square works analogously.  The square is usually
    
    
                            S A T O R
                            A R E P O
                            T E N E T
                            O P E R A
                            R O T A S
    
    ... and has been translated, approximately, as "Arepo, the sower,
    delays the wheels by hos works," or "The sower os at the plow; the
    work occupies the wheels."  There seems to be no sensible translation.
    
    It apparently has a religious component; Cavendish suggests it's
    an anagrammatic seal for "pater noster," (the Lord's Prayer) plus
    A and O (for Alpha and Omega) as in Rev 1:11, representing Jesus. 
    Since this palindromic square was found in some medieval and
    Rennaissance Bibles' endpapers, that seems plausible.
    
    It was used primarily as a charm to repel evil.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

re: .13 (Steve)

	Many thanks!!!

	Terry

    
    I know I am new to this conference, but I have a question for Steve
    Kallis.
    
    Is there anything that you don't know something about???
    
    Boy your good!
    
    

re: .15 (AKO546::JODOIN)
    
	He suprises me too!  At times, I want to dig deep into some old,
        out of print, untranslated, fourteenth century esoteric book
	and find some really good question, but I've decided he's either
	read it or just 'knows'... ;-)))  This goes for Topher as well!

	Terry     

    re: .13  Or, its someone's doodle.  I wonder what Tic Tac Toe
             would have been thought of as if the game had been popular
             in pre-biblical times, died out, and was dug up on stone
             tablets at an archeological dig.
    
    Re: -.1/.2  One who has Mr. Kallis' type of "outside interests"
                is usually well-read and knowledgeable on many subjects.
                I, of course, do not presume to speak for him as (1)
                he does well all by himself and (2) Hallowe'en is coming.
                           
                ;-)					Don

    
    Don,                                
    
    >...the spirits are about to...
    
    What?!?  Don't leave us in suspense!  
    
    Cindy

Cindy;

	Gee, don't you remember.....

"Hey, Rocky! Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat."?

8^)

Pete

    
    
    
    
    
    			"That trick never works."
                        
    
    
    
    
    Shall I explain this one?
    
    
    
    I suppose I shall, since I get kinda obscure sometimes.
    
    "...The spirits are about to..."  The "spirits" have yet to reveal
    themselves to me.
    
    "That trick never works."  Maybe Rock was paraphrasing Dunninger.
    Anyway, I've yet to see a "trick".
    
    (Actually, I saw a _magic_ trick Tuesday night which the sleight-of-hand
    involved was so good he did it right in front of me (and 3 others)
    and I not only didn't see him do the swap, I didn't see when he
    did it!) 
           
    						Don
    

    re .17 (Don):
    
    >re: .13  Or, its someone's doodle.  I wonder what Tic Tac Toe
    >         would have been thought of as if the game had been popular
    >         in pre-biblical times, died out, and was dug up on stone
    >         tablets at an archeological dig.
     
    Well, if a doodle, it's taken on a lot of Significance.  For instance,
    Abra-Melin ulists several squares, such as:
    
                            R O L O R
                            O B U F O
                            L U A U L
                            O F U B O
                            R O L O R
    
    That one's kind of pretty since the top, bottom, and sides are _all_
    palindromes of themselves.  That one was supposed to aid one to
    fly.
    
                            N A Q I D
                            A Q O R I
                            Q O R O Q
                            O R O Q A
                            D I Q A N
    
    ... If used the correct way is supposed to be a love charm. Another
    such square was supposed to promote "general war," if anyone wished
    to do that.
    
    The Abra-Melin squares (and his general approach) have generally
    had a less than happy history in esoteric doings.  Usually, they've
    resulted in very bad luck for the person using them.  (the S A T
    O R square preceded Abra-Melin, though).
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

        
                                   A
                                  A B 
                                 A B R 
                                A B R A
                               A B R A C
                              A B R A C A 
                             A B R A C A D
                            A B R A C A D A 
                           A B R A C A D A B
                          A B R A C A D A B R
                         A B R A C A D A B R A 
    
                        Any magic in this word?
    
                                     Bill-
    
    
    

    Re .22 (Bill):
    
    Sorta.  Actually, it was supposed to be inverted:
    
                       A B R A C A D A B R A
                        A B R A C A D A B R
                         A B R A C A D A B
                          A B R A C A D A
                           A B R A C A D
                            A B R A C A
                             A B R A C
                              A B R A
                               A B R
                                A B
                                 A
    
    It was used as a "fever reducer."  The word was inscribed on cloth
    or parchment (this varied) and was hung around a patient's nech.
    The fever was supposed to abate, even as the word diminished line
    by line.
    
    Something similar was supposed to be used to get rid of a demon
    named Shiribiri.  You were supposed to write the following charm:
    
                          S H I R I B I R I
                           H I R I B I R I
                            I R I B I R I
                             R I B I R I
                              I B I R I
                               B I R I
                                I R I
                                 I R
                                  I
    
    (The other variant was to remove letters fron the back, as with
    the Abracadabra charm)
    
    The idea was that as you _spoke_ the charm, the demon would get
    smaller with every iteration, then vanish.
    
    Words like "abracadabra" have been degraded to pastter words for
    prestidigitators doing tricks on stage.  "Hocus pocus" apparently
    is a remnant of a chant or prayer in a church service, though the
    exact derivation slips my mind at the moment.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr. 

    Reply to .22, Colleton,
    
    Yeah, it's magic alright. It's magic enough to get you to type it
    in, which btw, takes a little time. B^)

re: .23 (Steve)

    I just read in Alister Crowley's _Book of Thoth_ that "abracadabra"
    was an extremely powerful word in ancient Egypt.  I don't recall all
    the info, I'll look it up.

    Terry

    PS. Very difficult book to follow...

                          -< I didn't say it had no meaning >-

    Re .25 (Terry):
    
    >I just read in Alister Crowley's _Book of Thoth_ that "abracadabra"
    >was an extremely powerful word in ancient Egypt.
     
    It was considered an _important_ word in Medieval Europe and earlier.
    I've not seen it in my Egyptian readings (Budge, et al.), and Crowley
    might have gotten that tidbit from Aiwass [the "presence" that dictated
    _The Book of Law_, according to A.C.], in which case it's at least
    somewhat suspect.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

Addendum:
    
    I checked by various Egyptian texts this weekend without finding
    "Abracadabra."  Other references, including Spence, come up with
    the thoughts that "Abracadabra" is the name of a demon [as in
    "daemon"], _possibly_ a corruption of Abraxas.
    
    SK

re: .26 (Steve)

    I looked it up.  Not much info, but here's text and associated footnote
    containing the reference.  (_The Book of Thoth_, pps, 84, 85)

    ****

    Atu VII refers to the zodical sign of Cancer, the sign into which the Sun 
    moves at the Summer Solstice. (1)

    (1) Note that Cheth - Cheth 8 - Yod 10 - Tau 400 - has the value 418.
        This is one of the most important of the key-numbers of Liber AL.
        It is the number of the word of the Aeon, ABRAHADABRA, the cypher
        of the Great Work. (See _The Equinox of the Gods, P. 138.  Also
        _The Temple of Solomon the King_.)  On this word alone a complete
        volume could, and should, be written.

    ***

    Don't know where I picked up Egyptian.  Doesn't matter - this doesn't
    make much sense to me anyway.  Maybe you can get something out of it
    as it relates to ABRACADABRA...

    Terry

    Budge's EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHIC DICTIONARY has a list of Egyptian kings,
    and "ab-Ra" is suffixed to the names of quite a few.  So far as I can
    tell (and I am no Egyptologist) "ab-Ra" might be roughly translated as
    "heart (intelligence,wisdom) of the Sun". 
 
    As for the rest, the only guess I can make is to note that "xa" means
    Thousand, Flower, Office, Measure, and Astral Double, among other
    things.   Perhaps "abracadabra" was something like "quintessence of a
    thousand suns" or a similar construct.  Guesswork. 
 
    From Gerald Massey's THE NATURAL GENESIS: 
 
    "It is affirmed that our Freemasons conceal, among other secret arts,
    what they term the "faculty of Abrac", which is obviously a reduced
    form of the word Abraxas, the six-sided stone (Sas or Kas) of the Ab-ra
    or Af-ra, the Chnubis sun.  The Abraxas stone with six sides is the
    foundation stone of the Masonic degree of R.A.M.  This stone was fabled
    to have been brought by Adam out of the lost paradise of a fore-world,
    and was passed on until Solomon used it as the foundationstone for his
    temple." 
 
    He goes on to say that by certain numerological figurations, the number
    of the word Abraxas is 365, and this confirms its solar nature. 
 
 
Pat
 

    Re .28 (Pat):
    
    >Budge's EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHIC DICTIONARY has a list of Egyptian kings,
    >and "ab-Ra" is suffixed to the names of quite a few. ..
                  
    Well, yes; however, the "Ra" of Khemite tradition was apparently
    pronounces "ray," as in of light.  Nice thought, though.
                                                   
    >"It is affirmed that our Freemasons conceal, among other secret arts,
    >what they term the "faculty of Abrac", which is obviously a reduced
    >form of the word Abraxas, the six-sided stone (Sas or Kas) of the Ab-ra
    >or Af-ra, the Chnubis sun. ...
    
    With all respect to the Freemasons, Abraxas was a concept of some
    Gnostics; the ultimate form of God, usually depicted as having serpents
    for legs.  Abraxas was supposed to have 365 attributes, which could
    be thought of as lower-order gods (an interesting blend of monotheism
    and polytheism).  Abraxas medallions were worn to ward off evil.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.
    

    "Hocus pocus" is defined as a sham Latin formula used by jugglers.
                         
    Which, of course, tells you everything and nothing.
                               
    						Don

    .23, .30:
    
    I've heard it claimed that it's a corruption of the Latin words used
    in the Consecration of the Holy Eucharist (which are "Hoc est enim
    Corpus Meum":  "For this is My Body").
    
    The Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum in Boston has (on the third floor)
    a copy of a Latin, pre-Tridentine-Rite sacramentary.  It's under glass,
    but just happens to be opened to this part of the Mass.
    
    Dick

I've looked through the directory and couldn't find what I'm looking for.
So...

Last night I kept dreaming of the Egyptian Ankh (sp) symbol.  Anyone out
there know it's meaning/significance.  Also, I recall in the dream some
birds, particularily 'house Martins'.  Is there any such bird???
That's all I recall, but seemed to be dreaming of them all night and I
haven't the slightest idea why.

Terry

    Re .32 (Terry):
    
>Last night I kept dreaming of the Egyptian Ankh (sp) symbol.  Anyone out
>there know it's meaning/significance.
 
    Basically, the Ankh represents life force (as represented, according
    to some Egyptoloists, as an abbreviated form of a man, feet together
    and arms outstretched).  Pictorially, not every Egyptian Deity carried
    the Ankh; I've seen representations of both Thoth and Bast carrying
    it.
    
    I'll have to pass on the House Martins; I'm not a bird person.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.      

    re: 32 (Terry)
    
         Are you sure it wasn't House Martinis?  IF so, then it could
    be that the martinis were house specials and that you liked them
    so much you decided to dream about them.  Actually, I used to *want*
    to dream about Pamela Sue Martin (when she was Nancy Drew).  But
    I'm willing to bet this has no significance for your dreams.
    
    Frederick
    ;-)
    :-)
    

re: .33 (Frederick)

    >  Are you sure it wasn't House Martinis?  

       If that's the case, I'm blitzed, I kept dreaming of them
       all night!

    >  But I'm willing to bet this has no significance for your dreams.
    
       You or Pamela Sue Martin?  There's a difference. ;-))))

       I want to dream of Nastasia Kinski, and all I get are little
       brown birds!  ;-((((

    Terry

    I can confirm that there certainly are such things as House Martins
    (in the UK at least) unfortunately that's about all I know about
    them!
    
    Brian

re: last (Brian)
>    I can confirm that there certainly are such things as House Martins

I mentioned that in my dream they were birds.  Is that what you are
confirming here, that they are birds?  rather than some recluse family
named Martin whose members never come outside???

Terry

    
    re: .37
    
    House Martins don't go out.....they stay inside and make the
    Barn Swallows run back and forth from the store, but sometimes
    invite them over for a card game every now and then...
    
    Craig

    REPLY TO .33, STEVE,
    
    On the Ankh...
    
    Oh, sill me. I thought it was a phallic symbol conjoined with a
    vagina symbol... B^) Sorta' like the 'I' penetrating the 'Omega".

    Re .39 (Mikie?):
    
    >Oh, sill me. I thought it was a phallic symbol conjoined with a
    >vagina symbol...
     
    Oh, you Dionysian types are all alike. ;-)  ;-) <nudge, nudge>
    
    The Khemites were fairly uninhibited that way -- and their love
    poetry is very pleasing to the modern ear.  
    
    Actually, the Khemite phallic symbol is unmistakable -- it's a phallus.
    [Graphically, as it were, protrayed in hieroglyphics.]
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr. 

    Reply to .40, Steve,
    
    Yes they are unmistakable. While in Karnak I saw a figure of some
    fertility god with a three foot phallis. The figure was no more
    that 50% larger than human so the porportions were abit off.
    
    Ladies, wanna' get into Egyptian fertility gods?? B^)

    re: .41
    
         Where do we go to become Egyptian fertility gods?
    
    Frederick
    

         
    Let's fill in the blank.......
    
    ________ like an Egyptian!
         
    Cindy

>three foot phallis. 

Still waters run deep, but not that deep.

    Re .41 (Mikie?):
    
    The "fertility god" in question was almost certainly Min.  He looks
    fairly conventional, except for the rather large tumescent member.
    The proportion, for Min, was supposed to be as you saw it.
                                                   
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    Reply to .45, Steve,
    
    Thanx for that info. I can still see the image on the pink granite
    wall.

    re.37
    
    Yes, it's a bird. If you like I'll look up some details tonight,
    my son's got a new book on birds....
    
    Brian

House Martins are birds rather like Swallows. They 
make mud nests and they quite often do that under
eaves of houses - hence the name. 

Did your birds look like swallows? What were they
doing?

John D.

    Re .-1 (John D.):
    
    >Did your birds look like swallows? What were they
    >doing?
     
    This reminds me of a joke.
    
    A cattle rancher was approached by a bunch of Audobon Society folk who
    wanted to wander his ranch lands to observe birds.  He granted them
    permission, and then decided he'd better tell his foreman, so that
    they wouldn't be disturbed.   He drove out to where he found the
    foreman and said, "Hank, I've got a bunch of folk who are coming
    out here tomorrow.  Tell the boys it's okay.
    
    The foreman grunted.  "What'll they be doing?"
    
    "Watching birds." 
    
    "Watching birds do _what_?"
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    shouldn't that last sentence be phrased the other way around?
    
    I am curious (Eqyptian)
    

    re.  42
    
    >> Where do we go to become Egyptian fertility gods? <<
    
    Gee Frederick if you could have heard the conversation we had about
    you at the 'Laz' reunion dinner last night, you would have thought
    you already were one   ;-)
    
    We were just disappointed that Meredith didn't bring your
    picture to show us!!!  
    
    Roey
    

re: last several

So that's what an ankh boils down to be.  And for a while there I 
was going to wear one around my neck!  Pretty kinky, those Egyptians...

;-) Terry

    re: .52 (Terry)
    
         So you've met one of those, too, huh?
    
    Frederick
    ;-)
    
    

    I was given a pendant, a symmetrical six-pointed star, identical with
    the "Star of David," but with an open eye in the center.  It feels
    comfortable to me, but I'm very uncomfortable that I don't know 
    what kind of invitation I might be extending when I wear it :-)   
    
    My guess would be that the open eye has something to do with the higher 
    self, and since the Jewish symbolism, perhaps it is Qaballic, or a 
    lesser-known variant of the usual "Jewish Star ?"
    
    Is anyone familar with this symbol ?
    
                  ^
                 / \
           -----/---\-----
            \  /     \  /
             \/  @@@  \/
             /\  @@@  /\		(where @@@ is an open eye).
            /  \     /  \		       
           -----\---/-----
                 \ /
                  V
    
    	Todd

    Hi Todd,
    
    The six-pointed star is a symbol of wo/man reaching to the Divine and
    the Divine energy pouring back down.  White Eagle's teachings suggest
    it as a symbol with a rose (representing the Christ Consciousness) in
    the center, but I haven't seen it with an 'eye' before.  It is said the
    star is a symbol which actually works in a magical way to help
    stimulate the light within every human heart.  Also that it is a symbol
    for the new age, portraying men and woman working in partnership with
    God as creators of the Golden Age.
    
    A friend had told me once that the six points also have meaning since
    six is the number of love.
    
    FWIW,
    
    Ro

RE: .54 (Todd)

    The "Jewish Star" or "Star of David" as it is known in English,
    essentially just represents the Jewish faith/people/traditions (Judaism
    does not make a strong distinction between these).  It comes from
    a medival Jewish mystical symbol representing G*d's protection (hence
    its Hebrew name Mogen David: the *shield* of David).  There are various
    more or less modern explanations for its symbolism, but no widespread
    agreement among mystics.  Numerological expanations are common, as are
    geometric explanations based on viewing the glyph as interpenetrating
    upward and downward pointing triangles (with varying explanations as
    to what is going or pointing up/down-ward).  One explanation I have
    seen identifies it explicitly with the male human figure (with the
    pentagram identified as female), but this suffers from having no
    relationship at all to any of its usual connotations.

    Anyway, you can reliably take it to represent either some aspect of
    Judaism or to represent God's protection and, perhaps, by extension
    omnipotence.

    I know of several interpretations of a single open eye.  One is God's
    omniscience (which is the meaning attached to its presence on the back
    of the dollar bill).  Another is the attention of some Power (God, a
    god, Satan, etc.).  Another is Illumination.  It can represent or
    embody the "evil eye" -- the ability to cast curses on others.  Finally
    it could be a tallisman *against* the evil eye.

    The eye by itself would be rather ambiguous as to being a good/evil
    symbol.  Enclosed within the Star it is clearly a positive symbol.

    Some possible interpretations: an assertion of God's omniscience (with
    the Star simply acting as a disambiguation), a request for God's
    attention (as before), a request for God to look over and protect you,
    an assertion of God's (unasked for but nevertheless present)
    guardianship, protection from the evil eye, an assertion of God's
    omniscience and omnipotence, an assertion of or request for
    Illumination gained under God's protection from error.

    Wear it in good health, whatever it means it would seem to be benign.

					Topher

    re: .55,.56,
    	Thanks for the information !   In my readings I've come across
    references to the "Seal of Solomon," is that related to the Shield of
    David in some way ?
    
    	Todd

    re: .54, Todd

    Hi Todd,

    It sounds like a wonderful pendant.  From what I've read/heard/etc., the
    6-pointed star is a protective shape (6 = the number of the rebuking of
    negativity).  Topher has already gone into the Star of David.

    The eye is known as either "The All-Seeing Eye of God", or "The Eye of
    Horus (sp?)".  The symbol is, I believe, Egyptian in origination.  It
    is also protective (i.e.  "God" watching over you).

    Is the pendant silver or gold?  Silver has a strong protective quality
    to it, while gold is connected to Wisdom.

    So...  From a symbolic point-of-view, it is a wonderful symbol.  The
    important thing, though, is how you feel about wearing it.  If it feels
    good on, wear it!

    Linda

RE: .57 (Todd)

    The Seal of Solomon is the name given in Cabalistic and other occult
    traditions to the five-sided star (pentagram).  According to some the
    pentagram must be decorated/annotated in specific ways before it can
    be considered The Seal.

    Modern occultists attribute many meanings to the Seal, but
    traditionally it seems to be pretty solidly an Earth symbol -- symbolic
    of the material power of the adept (black or white), temporal power
    (for example and especially, Solomon's), and the ability of matter
    to "bind" and oppose non-physical forces.  It's use to block the
    passage of noncorporeal entities in ritual magic is almost
    stereotypical.  In Islamic tradition Sulliman (Solomon) is said to have
    placed all the D'Jinn in the world (except a few thousand which swore
    allegence to him) into one or more bottles and to have sealed the
    bottle with his seal -- thus imprisoning them within physical
    constraints, breakable only by mundane physical force.

    Many feel that the orientation is important -- point up representing
    white magic and point down representing black magic.  This seems to
    be a relatively recent attribution, however.

    The source of the Seal's symbolism is frequently cited as an
    abstraction of the human form, and I find this quite plausible
    (certainly more so than claims made for the Mogen David as representing
    the human form plus phallus).

					Topher

    Hi Linda,
    Thanks for your interpretation.
    
>    Is the pendant silver or gold?  Silver has a strong protective quality
>    to it, while gold is connected to Wisdom.
    
    It was given by a good friend, but not a rich one :-).  The pendant is
    dark grey metallic, with raised edges and some barely visible
    patterning.  I guess it would be more protective than wise,
    but not TOO protective :-).   The eye part is just spooky enough to
    catch people's interest and start conversations, the main reason
    I like the pendant !
    
    	re: Topher,
    
    	Thanks again.  You are a very valuable resource here, that
    information is surprisingly difficult to obtain in such a concise
    and objective form.
    
    	Toddy

    Re .56 (Topher):
    
    >................................................. There are various
    >more or less modern explanations for its symbolism, but no widespread
    >agreement among mystics. 
    
    True enough.   
    
    >........................ Numerological explanations are common, as are
    >geometric explanations based on viewing the glyph as interpenetrating
    >upward and downward pointing triangles (with varying explanations as
    >to what is going or pointing up/down-ward).
    
    Symbolically, it's been known to mean the macro/microcosmic ("As above,
    so below"), which tends to be neutral; or the fusion of "opposites"
    (up/down, good/bad, etc), which can be taken to be either neutral
    or complete (as in yin/yang).  Either way, there's some "universality"
    in it.
    
    Re .58 (Linda):
    
    >The eye is known as either "The All-Seeing Eye of God", or "The Eye of
    >Horus (sp?)".  The symbol is, I believe, Egyptian in origination.  It
    >is also protective (i.e.  "God" watching over you).
     
    The "Eye of Horus" is a little more complicated; Horus had two;
    usually the right eye is shown, which represents a solar aspect 
    (Horus was considered a solar deity), which in turn represents
    protection.  To this very day, some boats, particularly fishing
    boats in the Mediterranean, have eyes painted on their prows for
    good luck (protection).  The left eye represents a lunar aspect,
    which is darker and more mysterious.  Some Egyptian writings feature
    both of Horus' eyes, representing the totality.
    
    Re .59 (Topher):
    
    >Many feel that the orientation is important -- point up representing
    >white magic and point down representing black magic.  This seems to
    >be a relatively recent attribution, however.
    >
    >The source of the Seal's symbolism is frequently cited as an
    >abstraction of the human form, and I find this quite plausible
    >...
    
    Symbolism is complex stuff, but on the orientation; it's usual for
    cultures to consider rising (as in ascending) as symbolic of positive
    things, and descending as negative.  One could, I suspect, write
    volumes on that subject; suffice it to say that derivitively, an
    inversion of anything is considered unfavorable.  Hence, an upside-down
    object, especially one that's supposed to be beneficial, will of
    itself convey a negative message (in a much less portentous way,
    flying a flag inverted symbolizes distress -- hence, trouble).
    
    One could go on about the figure 5, but five tends also to be
    associated with life (and, by extension, life forces), and one could
    make a case that the rightside-up "star" can be a crude pictograph
    for a human (head, two arms, two legs); the inverted "star" for
    a billygoat head (horns, ears, and beard) -- with the goat, in
    Christian tradition having Satanic undertones and in Jewish tradition
    being associated with the scapegoat (which is replete with sins
    and is to be driven off).
    
    >Modern occultists attribute many meanings to the Seal, but
    >traditionally it seems to be pretty solidly an Earth symbol -- symbolic
    >of the material power of the adept (black or white), temporal power
    >(for example and especially, Solomon's), and the ability of matter
    >to "bind" and oppose non-physical forces.  It's use to block the
    >passage of noncorporeal entities in ritual magic is almost
    >stereotypical.  In Islamic tradition Sulliman (Solomon) is said to have
    >placed all the D'Jinn in the world (except a few thousand which swore
    >allegiance to him) into one or more bottles and to have sealed the
    >bottle with his seal -- thus imprisoning them within physical
    >constraints, breakable only by mundane physical force.
     
    But now things get a little more complex.  The pentagram was a figure
    revered in ancient cultures, and was, for instance, the "secret"
    symbol of the Pythagoreans (of which Appolonius of Tyana was a member).
    The basic pentagram was frequently adorned by symbols , such as
    those usually attributed to the Seal of Solomon.  However, certainly
    by Medieval times, a strange extension had taken place: the modified
    pentagram started top be called a "pentacle."  The pentacle was
    taken to mean a shielding figure, almost invariably enclosed in
    a circle (one amusing exception to that was Honorius' [The Great's]
    version of a pentacle, where the circular pattern was enclosed in
    a square); however, the figures within the circle need not have
    been pentagrams.  Pentacle figures could range from simple alternate
    figures (e.g., squares, as in the Solar Medallion in the _Clavicle_
    grimoire to names, sketches, and the like in the _Grimoire of Honorius_)
    to very complex geometrical figures and ornate symbols (as in the
    spellbook, _Le Pullet Noire_).  This, to be sure, subverted the
    "penta" of "pentacle," since it didn't represent five of anything,
    so some occultists, notably Crowley, started calling such figures
    "pantacles," to differentiate then from five-aspected figures; but
    it hasn't caught on very much.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.