Bradford Theosophical Society

Bradford Theosophical Society (Promoting understanding and respect for spiritual lifestyles.) (Founded Feb. 1891) President: Cynthia Trasi. Click here: Trasi's home page. or to contact us. A Branch of The Theosophical Society in England 50 Gloucester Place, London W1U 8EA, Tel: 020 7935 9261 www.theosophical-society.org.uk

 IN THE CENTRE of the emblem is the Ankh or Crux Ansata, the ancient Egyptian symbol of resurrection. It is made up of the Tau or T-shaped cross surmounted by a small circle. It may be seen, often held in the hand, in Egyptian statuary and in wall and tomb paintings. The Tau cross symbolises matter or the world of form; the small circle here symbolises spirit or life. The Ankh therefore expresses the triumph of spirit over matter, of life over death, of good over evil. It is the Cross of Life, the symbol of Resurrection and Immortality.

 THE INTERLACED TRIANGLES, one (lighter) pointing upwards and the other (darker) pointing downwards, symbolise the descent of spirit into matter and its emergence from the confining limits of form. At the same time they suggest the constant conflict between light and dark forces in nature and man. When, as in the emblem, the double triangle is depicted within the circle of the Serpent, the whole of manifested nature is represented, the universe bounded by the limitations of time and space. The symbol of the interlaced triangles is known in the Hebrew religion as the Seal of Solomon or the Star of David.

 THE SERPENT, like the other symbols, has various meanings. It has always been associated with Wisdom, more especially with that arcane knowledge which is the highest spiritual wisdom. When, as here, the serpent is represented as swallowing its own tail, it becomes a symbol of Eternity, without beginning or end.

 THE SWASTIKA is another of the numerous forms in which the cross symbol is found. It is the Fiery Cross, with arms of whirling flame revolving (clockwise) to represent the tremendous energies of nature incessantly creating and dissolving the forms through which the evolutionary process takes place. In religions which recognise three aspects of Deity, the Swastika is associated with the third aspect, the Third Person of the Trinity, who is at once the Creator and the Destroyer: Shiva in Hinduism and the Holy Ghost in Christianity.

 ABOVE THE EMBLEM, in Sanskrit characters, is the sacred Word of Hinduism, generally given as AUM, a word of profound significance. It may be said to stand for the creative Word or Logos, the ineffable Reality which is the source of all existence. It is a word of power and is to be uttered only with the greatest reverence.

 THE MOTTO of The Theosophical Society, 'There is no Religion higher than Truth', surrounds the emblem. Truth is the quest of every Theosophist, whatever his/her faith, and every great religion is in some measure an embodiment of that Truth and a way towards its realisation.

 What is given here is only a slight indication of the great range and depth of meaning contained in the emblem of the Society. The study of its symbolism is almost inexhaustible. Those who wish to pursue this study in greater detail are referred to
'The Theosophical Seal' by Arthur M. Coon.
The Secret Doctrine by H.P.Blavatsky.
The Hastings Dictionary of Religion and Ethics
some general encyclopaedias also contain useful articles on symbolism in general and on particular symbols.