Serpent, symbolism

Howey, M. Oldfield. The encircled serpent a study of serpent symbolism in all countries and ages. New York Arthur Richmond Co, 1955. 

The alchemist s symbol for arsenic, a coiled serpent, symbolizes very well the element s prevailing evil reputation. Arsenical compounds were used in medicine in the Orient 2,000-3,000 years ago. The Greek philosopher, Theophrastus (c. 370-287 BC), wrote of it, though discovery of the element is generally credited to Al-... 

Jennings, Hargrave. The Rosicrucians their rites and mysteries with chapters on the ancient fire- and serpent-worshippers and explanation of the mystic symbols represented in the monuments and talismans of the primeval philosophers. London John Camden Hotten, 1870. 339p. 

Turning our attention to the Turret Room of Da ath, to the right of the eastern serpent-framed window, there is a purple pull-rope. It is used to lower or raise a trapdoor in the ceiling ornamented with the Prithivi-Prithivi symbol of the Mercury center, and from it comes a ladder that enables one to ascend to the battlements of the tower, which correspond to the crown center, the Sahasrara-padma, the thousand-petaled Lotus. 

In the second painting, the candidate has successfully advanced to the next degree, symbolized by a ruined classical temple with treasure strewn on the floor. Her right hand holds a sword which has just severed the satanic serpents head, while her left hand is clasped to her breast. 

This engraving is found in the Hermetic Museum and it shows the Athanor [or Furnace of the Alchemists] and the principal symbolic animals belonging to Hermeticism. This particular Athanor has a somewhat fanciful structure but it does include the main parts the [brick-base] tower surmounted by a dome, the sand bath, and the Philosophical Egg. The serpent enclosed within the Egg represents the Matter of the Stone. 

The lion [shown below the Athanor] is the symbol of Eixed Sulphur the eagle is a symbol of Volatile Mercury and the serpent and the dragon are symbols of the Alchemical Matter. The crow represents the black color the swan the white color, the peacock represents all the colors of the rainbow and, finally, the phoenix symbolizes the red color [those birds shown here in fig. 10]. ... 

Another symbol which enters throughout all alchemical literature and graphic representation is the serpent Ouro-boros in the attitude of biting his tail—symbol of the eternal cycle of world changes, as also of the cycle of chemical transformation, distillation, and condensation. This symbol is thus described in the same manuscript as the foregoing upon the egg.84... 

But from symbolism we learn that the Eagle is also the Scorpion or Serpent.) As the process, Solve, Coagula-dissolve, coagulate--goes over and over, Mary the Virgin shows more and more resplendently. 

IBIS — The Egyptians employed the figure of this Bird in their hieroglyphics, to signify in the first place, a part of the Matter of the Grand Work. The Ibis in fact became a symbol of the volatile part which dissolves and volatilizes the fixed part, frequently typified by Serpents. Sometimes the White Ibis signified the Matter at the White, and the Black Ibis the Matter in Putrefaction. 

Interestingly enough, Bastet is known as the devouring lady. Gurdjieff believed that the Moon eats us when we die. But foremost she is protectress, especially of those who care for cats (neither Marc nor I had a cat at the time). Later she became the life-preserving goddess of joy and the protector of women. She took on an appearance of cat as sex symbol. I would have to describe the vision I had of her as sexy. On another note of interest, she defended her father Ra, the Sun, against his only real enemy, the serpent Apep. 

Some cultures hold snakes in high esteem as powerful religious symbols. Quetzalcoatl, the mythical plumed serpent, was worshipped as the Master of Life hy ancient Aztecs of Central America. Some African cultures worship rock pythons and consider the killing of one to he... 

Below the mercurial serpent is crucified, a version of one of the illustrations Flamel described. It was taken to symbolize the transformation of mercuiy. 

With this object in view, it will be necessary for us to devote a certain amount of space to Fire when considered in its principal aspects, such as Divine, Creative, Spiritual, Solar, Purificatory, Sacrificial, Baptismal and Elemental, together with its symbolical forms as Lion and Serpent. In addition to these we must also mention Kundalini Shakti and its Western counterpart, the Speirema. 

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