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Symbols from alchemy, astrology, ceremonial magic and folk practice — traditions that used symbolic notation seriously and systematically.
Symbolwise records what these symbols were used to mean by the people who used them. It makes no claim that they do anything.
Something this symbol is documented to represent is associated with this idea. That is a fact about the recorded meaning, not a claim that everyone perceives the symbol this way.
Showing the 48 strongest of 54. Browse by domain to see every symbol in the catalogue.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to incantation: “…in modern English as a stage-magician's incantation, entirely detached from its medical and amuletic history”
A word written repeatedly with one letter dropped each line, forming a triangle.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “…one of the four classical elements, in alchemical and early chemical notation”
An upward triangle crossed by a horizontal bar.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “…al-anbiq from Greek ambix, one of many alchemical terms that reached European languages through Arabic…”
A sign for the distilling head, the characteristic alchemical vessel.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “Encoded at U+1F71C ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR ANTIMONY”
A circle with a cross above it, the inversion of the sign for Venus.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “Encoded at U+1F727 ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR AQUA FORTIS”
A sign for nitric acid.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “Encoded at U+1F728 ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR AQUA REGIA”
A sign for the acid mixture that dissolves gold.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “Encoded at U+1F71A ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR ARSENIC, which fixes one of the competing…”
A pair of overlapping triangles, or a stylised S-and-Z form depending on the source.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “Encoded at U+1F71D ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR BISMUTH”
A sign for bismuth, one of the later metals to be distinguished.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “Encoded at U+1F708 ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR CINNABAR”
A sign for mercury sulphide, the chief ore of mercury.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “…dissolve and coagulate — which summarises the alchemical method of breaking a body down and reconstituting…”
A sign for a liquid setting into a solid.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “…et coagula, the formula summarising the alchemical method of breaking a body down before reconstituting…”
A sign for taking a solid into solution.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “The central technique of the alchemical laboratory, carried out in an alembic, and the operation…”
A sign for separating substances by boiling and condensing.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “…one of the four classical elements, in alchemical and early chemical notation”
A downward triangle crossed by a horizontal bar.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “…one of the four classical elements, in alchemical and early chemical notation”
An upward-pointing triangle, the alchemical sign for fire.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “…unchanged — occupied the position it did in alchemical thought”
A sign for making a volatile substance stable against heat.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “Encoded at U+1F726 ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR NITRE”
A sign for saltpetre, potassium nitrate.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “Encoded at U+1F70E ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR PHOSPHORUS”
A sign for phosphorus, isolated from urine in 1669.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “Encoded at U+1F717 ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR SAL-AMMONIAC”
A form resembling a crossed or looped stroke, denoting ammonium chloride.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “Encoded at U+1F714 ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR SALT”
A circle divided by a horizontal line through its middle.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “Encoded at U+1F70A ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR SULFUR”
A triangle above a cross, the sign for sulphur and for the principle of combustibility.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “Encoded at U+1F729 ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR VITRIOL”
A looped form resembling a script V or a hooked stroke, denoting sulphate salts.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “…one of the four classical elements, in alchemical and early chemical notation”
A downward-pointing triangle, the alchemical sign for water.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “The astrological sign Aquarius, which tradition assigns to births between…”
Two identical wavy lines set one above the other, each rising and falling twice, the zodiac sign for births between 20 January to 18 February.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “The astrological sign Aries, which tradition assigns to births between…”
Two curves rising from a single vertical stem and turning outward at the top, like a pair of horns, the zodiac sign for births between 21 March to 19 April.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “The astrological sign Cancer, which tradition assigns to births between…”
Two spirals set side by side and turned through half a circle from one another, each curling inward, the zodiac sign for births between 21 June to 22 July.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “The astrological sign Capricorn, which tradition assigns to births…”
A sharp angular stroke rising to a point and falling again, ending in a small closed loop curling below, the zodiac sign for births between 22 December to 19 January.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “In astrological practice the aspect is read as combining or intensifying…”
A small circle with a short stroke rising from its right side.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “Is used in some modern astrological practice, though the Earth had no place in the classical…”
A circle quartered by a cross — the Earth.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “The astrological sign Gemini, which tradition assigns to births between…”
Two vertical strokes joined by a horizontal bar at the top and another at the foot, the shape of the Roman numeral two, the zodiac sign for births between 21 May to 20 June.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “Denoted tin in alchemical writing”
A stylised numeral four or Greek zeta crossed by a bar — Jupiter, and tin.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “The astrological sign Leo, which tradition assigns to births between…”
A small closed loop at the foot from which a long curve sweeps up and over to the right, ending in a hook, the zodiac sign for births between 23 July to 22 August.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “The astrological sign Libra, which tradition assigns to births between…”
A horizontal line with a second, shorter line above it raised in the middle by a low arc, the zodiac sign for births between 23 September to 22 October.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrology: “…which is why they were tracked long before astrology systematised them”
A horseshoe-like loop, upright for north and inverted for south.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “Denoted iron in alchemical writing, under the planet–metal correspondences”
A circle with an arrow pointing up and right — Mars, the male sign, and iron.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “Is held in astrological tradition to signify communication, intellect and…”
A horned circle above a cross — Mercury, and quicksilver.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “Denoted silver in alchemical writing”
A crescent — the Moon, and silver in alchemy.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “Is held in modern astrological tradition to signify dissolution, dreams and illusion…”
A trident — Neptune.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “In astrological practice the aspect is read as tension or polarity…”
Two small circles joined by a straight line.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemy: “…games and tattoo design as shorthand for alchemy in general”
A circle within a square within a triangle within a circle — the emblem of the great work.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “The astrological sign Pisces, which tradition assigns to births between…”
Two arcs facing away from each other, joined across the middle by a single horizontal line, the zodiac sign for births between 19 February to 20 March.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “…A competing account derives it from the astrological sign of Jupiter, invoked over a preparation in older…”
A capital letter R with a stroke across its leg, heading a prescription.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “The astrological sign Sagittarius, which tradition assigns to births…”
An arrow pointing up and to the right, crossed near its foot by a short diagonal bar, the zodiac sign for births between 22 November to 21 December.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “Denoted lead in alchemical writing”
A crossed sickle shape — Saturn, and lead.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “The astrological sign Scorpio, which tradition assigns to births between…”
A letter M whose final stroke continues upward and to the right as a straight arrow, the zodiac sign for births between 23 October to 21 November.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “…of 90 degrees between two bodies in an astrological chart, drawn as a square”
A square marking a 90-degree separation.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrology: “…still does in the sexagenary year used for astrology, which is why a person born in late January may be…”
The solar term at 315° of solar longitude.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to alchemical: “Denoted gold in alchemical writing”
A circle with a dot at its centre — the Sun, and gold in alchemy.
A documented meaning of this symbol refers to astrological: “The astrological sign Taurus, which tradition assigns to births between…”
A circle with a wide upturned arc resting on top of it, like a head carrying a pair of horns, the zodiac sign for births between 20 April to 20 May.
The setting this symbol is used in invites this impression. It describes the context, not the symbol's definition.
It belongs to alchemical notation — a system that treated symbolic writing as operative, not merely descriptive.
A sign for the vessel in which substances are melted at high heat.
It belongs to alchemical notation — a system that treated symbolic writing as operative, not merely descriptive.
A sign for a round vessel with a long downward-bent neck.
It belongs to alchemical notation — a system that treated symbolic writing as operative, not merely descriptive.
A sign for reducing a substance to powder by strong heat.
It belongs to alchemical notation — a system that treated symbolic writing as operative, not merely descriptive.
A sign for the working of a substance from within.
It belongs to alchemical notation — a system that treated symbolic writing as operative, not merely descriptive.
A sign for controlled decay, held to precede regeneration.
It belongs to alchemical notation — a system that treated symbolic writing as operative, not merely descriptive.
A sign for a solid passing directly to vapour and back.
It belongs to alchemical notation — a system that treated symbolic writing as operative, not merely descriptive.
A sign for a water bath, giving gentle and controlled heat.