ARTICLES &  MUSINGS
 
 
The Symbolism behind
The Mystery School
of Sophia
 
The 79 Elements
 
1.    12 Tiers of Angels
2.    Hagia Sophia Dome Windows
3.    Sun (Solar) Masculine Day Forces
4.    Moon (Lunar) Feminine Night Forces
5.    Constellation Ceiling Pavillion
         (Upper Universe)
6.    Wisdom Owl
7.    Angelic Child (Often seen w/Sophia)
8.    All Seeing Eye (Feminine)
9.    Dove    (Holy Spirit)
10.    Angel Lighting the way Up to heavens
11.    Angel Lighting the way Down
         from the Heavens
12.    Spirit Cross (Dove is carrying)
13.    6 Stars below Spirit Cross
14.    Pyramid Building, Egyptian,
         Knowledge Center
15.    Rosey Cross
16.    Eye in Heart
17.    Wheat Shaft
18.    Infinity
19.    Lunar phases
20.    Pillar: 3 pairs  Ionic, Doric & Corinthian
21.    Initiate 1 at Pillar:
22.    Initiate 2 at Pillar:
23.    Initiate 3 at Pillar:
24.    Initiate 4 at Pillar:
25.    Initiate 5 at Pillar:
26.    Initiate 6 at Pillar:
27.    Staircase: Degrees of Enlightenment,
Steps or Stages of Alchemical Purification
28.    12 Stars around the Lunar Moon
29.    Element:     Earth
30.    Element:     Air
31.    Element:    Fire
32.    Water:    Pooled, Waterfall
33.    Universe:    Lower
34.    Milky way
35.    Beams of Light streaming at the Minds of Initiates
36.    4 Squared: Metal corners on the Book of Wisdom
37.    Egg
38    Nest
39.    Faith, Hope & Charity (Women)
40.    Faith:        Cross
41.    Hope:    Heart
42.    Charity:    Anchor
43.    Chalice:    Sophia’s     (w/equal length bars making the cross)
44.    Chalice:    Christ’s     (w/Christian cross w/a  <  to the left)
45.    Crown    Traditional Male Style
46.    Eagle         On Crown
47.    Palm     leaf    On Crown
48.    Lapis     The ultimate in purification
49.    Flowers    The “Sophia” flower
50.    Vessel    Surrounded w/Eastern & Western Flower Blossoms
51.    Green Tablet:    
52.    Crystals
53.    Lily:        Western Spiritual Traditions
54.    Lotus:    Eastern Spiritual Traditions
55.    Bee’s
56.    Antakytheara Mechinism:     1st known geared device
Working Universal clock
57.    The Byss (or Abyss)
58.    Male (Left)    
59.    Male: (Right)
60.    The Ripple Effect
61.    Zodiac (Wheel of Life)
62.    Urn (For fire)
63.    Smoke from Fire (Smudging) Incense Clear the Space
Fragrance of Prayer
64.    Sophia: Goddess of Wosdom, Virgin of the World
65.    Solar & Lunar Headress (Crown)
66.    12 Starred Halo for Sophia
67.    Rainbow Light from halo to Faith, Hope & Charity
68.    Winged Ceduceus with Lapis stone in the top
69.    Dual Snakes
70.    Sword
71.    Veil:    Glistening
72.    ‘Y’ on her dress (Feminie) Yanni
73.    Book of Wisdom
74.    Osobusus on Cover of Book
75.    Gold Edges on the pages
76.    Eye of Horus (on her bracelet)
77.    Duck or Brown Swan
78.    Philosopher’s Stone
79.    Initiate at invisible column: You, the Viewer
 
As the feminine companion to God, Sophia symbolizes the womb of creation which brings forth all life from the sacred marriage of opposing energies: spirit and matter, heaven and earth, intellect and intuition. She holds the caduceus: the winged staff entwined with two serpents. The serpent is an ancient symbol of duality. It is considered both masculine and feminine, solar and lunar, medicinal and poisonous, preserver and destroyer, spiritual and sensual. In addition, the synthesis of opposing energies is represented by the Rosy Cross, from which emerges the sheaf of grain, representing the ultimate revelation of the Mysteries.
 
 
 
 
On the left of Sophia, the feminine energies are symbolized by the moon and the pool of water. The moon governs the tidal cycles and is associated with the waters of creation. The moon also symbolizes the material realm. As the moon reflects the light of the sun, matter is the reflection of spirit. In addition, the moon illuminates the invisible world which corresponds to the feminine gift of intuition.
 
On the right of Sophia, the masculine energies are represented by the sun and the element of fire. The sun generates heat and ligh which sustains all life. The sun also symbolizes the spiritual realm. As the sun generates light, the spiritual realm is composed of pure light. In addition, the sun illuminates the visible world which corresponds to the masculine characteristic of intellect.
 
The holy number seven is associated with the four lunar phases and is sacred to Sophia. According to the Book of Proverbs, "Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out it’s seven pillars." These are known as the Seven Pillars of Wisdom: Arithmetic, Geometry, Astronomy, Grammar, Rhetoric, Dialectic, and Music. The Greek religious temples and philosophical academies were supported by pillars carved in the likeness of women, as the priestesses of the Great Goddess were the original "pillars of the church".
 
In ancient times, the seven stars of the Pleiades marked the point of the vernal equinox which occurred in the constellation of Taurus. According to the Greeks, the Seven Sisters were a flock of doves, placed in the heavens by Zeus. The leader of the Pleiades was Alcyone, the "halcyon" bird which ensured good weather during the sowing month of Taurus.
 
Appearing in the form of a dove, Sophia was identified with the Holy Spirit in the Gospels. Accordingly, the Holy Spirit is frequently depicted in religious iconography with seven rays of light emanating from it. These correspond to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.
 
Sophia is also the embodiment of the Many-Named Lunar Goddess, crowned with a halo of twelve stars, which correspond to the twelve months, or moons, of the solar year. Upon her forehead, she wears the symbol of the triple moon. This corresponds to the three visible lunar phases of the Triple Goddess: the Virgin (Waxing Moon), the Mother (Full Moon), and the Crone (Waning Moon). Furthermore, her triple aspect is represented by her three daughters Faith, Hope, and Charity.
 
According to the ancien[S, the Earth is encircled by seven heavens or spheres. Above them is the eighth sphere of the ftxed stars. Also, behind the eighth sphere is the heavenly light of the Divine which shines through the crystal sphere and appears as stars. The All-Seeing Eye symbolizes illumination and was originally an emblem of Maat, the Egyptian goddess of justice. She is identified with the Greek goddess Ananke, the Strong Fate, who guides the destiny of the universe and is the Spindle of Necessity upon which all the spheres of heaven revolved.
 
The two males reclining near the feet of Sophia represent the sacred king and his deputy who each ruled for one half of the year. This corresponds to the Ancient Poetic Theme: the God of the Waxing Year constantly striving against the God of the Waning Year for the love of the Triple Goddess. One male sits near the point of the winter solstice, known as the Gate of the Gods, where the soul ascends Upon the solar path to the heavenly realm of spirit. The other male sits near the point of the summer solstice, known as the Gate of Men, where the soul descends upon the lunar path to the physical realm of matter. Both of these cycles harmoniously complement each other as the eternally revolving Wheel of Life, or Zodiac.
 
The stars around the moon and beneath of dove are five-pointed pentacles. These are associated with the goddess Venus, as her planet forms a five-Pointed star within the circIe of the zodiac every eight years. Around the head of Sophia are six-pointed stars which symbolize the umon of masculIne and feminine energies. To her right is a lily which is her sacred flower and symbolizes both purity and innocence. To her left is a lotus, the Eastern Counterpart to the lily, which also represents enlightenment. Near the locus is a crown which symbolizes divinity, sovereignty, power, and royalty. Finally, in her right hand she holds a book, the universal symbol of knowledge and wisdom.