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TexasMadness
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Symbol: Earth


Peoples of all over the world have wanted to represent one of the most basic elements - Earth - and have done so in various ways.

First, the very simple sybmbol also meaning ground or base:
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The alchemists symbol for Earth:

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Found on a Cyprian coin from 500 BC, the following symbol was also used by Middle Ages rulers to denote their control over the Earth:

Image

Modern astrology uses the following symbol for Earth:
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But this symbol has not always been used that way. It is a very old symbol and appears on the earliest of rock carvings as man entered the bronze age.

Earth can also be represented by many objects today in various traditions. I know that Wicca uses smokey quartz as an earth symbol.

What symbolizes earth for you?
10/20/2009, 6:27 pm Send Email to TexasMadness   Send PM to TexasMadness
 
de Corbin
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Re: Symbol: Earth


The Alchemical symbol for earth is the downward pointing triangle because for Alchemists, all "energy" or "force" is in a perpetually circling motion (like AC power), and Earth - the material world - is the downward point in the circle.

As a general rule, when I use a symbol for Earth, I use the circle with the cross hairs in it, unless I want to indicate the point in the continuum where the energy is located during a particular operation.

The circle with the cross hairs means something like "You are here," because the horizon line and the vertical line indicate a point in space (the circle represents a planet... all the other planets are also represented by some variation of a circle) - and the four quarters represent the four directions. Since we're on Earth, "You are here" always means somewhere on Earth (the center of the surface of the Earth is always the place where you are).

It's kind of interesting that the circle with the cross hairs was also used by some Native American tribes to represent the Earth - as in the Medicine Wheel of the Plains Tribes. Apparently it is so old that it made the migration to North America.

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Image Image
10/20/2009, 9:33 pm Send Email to de Corbin   Send PM to de Corbin
 
TexasMadness
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Re: Symbol: Earth


Thanks for explaining the alchemical symbol!

I think I have some Wiccan stuff stuck in my head. For my element shrines, Earth is in the North. It's a good strong 'grounding' element for me (nuck, nuck). It's actually my favorite shrine (though it's down right now).

Hmmm...I ought to get it back up and take a picture. During remodel, a lot of stuff was put up!
10/21/2009, 9:57 pm Send Email to TexasMadness   Send PM to TexasMadness
 


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