Improving the Alchemist's Symbol
(and using it in Candle Magick)
I wanted to figure out a way to make a correct equilateral triangle using only a ruler. With some playing around I came up with this – and to add a flair of mystique I applied it to the alchemist symbol and “corrected” something that has always bothered me about that particular symbol.
The circle in the square in the triangle (in the circle..) is a well-known figure that I believe represents the interconnection between the spiritual and material.
Feel free to resist the urge to correct my misunderstanding of it.
What I find annoying about it though, is that the center of the small circle in the square is not the center of the triangle (..and the bigger circle..) if it is made the way it “should” be made.
To form that classic combination of geometric shapes, you could / should first make a square, then find the center of it to trace a circle inside this square, and then draw a triangle on top of the square (and extend the diagonal sides until they reach the base of the square – if that horizontal is extended) You will immediately notice that the center seems off, and if you trace the encompassing large circle it becomes even clearer.
I am probably missing the bigger picture or philosophical truths that explain why it is important that the central circle's center is not the center of the total figure, but..
With graph-paper (and a ruler, and a compass, and some time) you can make a neat version that corrects this. In two ways. A lot of what I am about to type is only given so that you yourself can feel the joy of making correct shapes with as few tools as possible. If you only want a good even triangle for (this type of) Candle Magick you will be done quickly.
The key numbers used (and found) are 7,6,5,4,3,2,1
I absolutely admit I was relieved to be able to jam 5 in there.
First you make the base of the triangle. Make it 7 squares (centimeters).
From the 4th square (the middle one) count 6 vertically. There, in the middle of the top of that square, mark a point. That is the tip of your triangle. If you now connect it with the two ends of the base you have a perfect figure with three even sides of 7 centimetres. Note: as you can see, you don't really need to use graph-paper if drawing a good triangle is all you wanted. But it is useful when adding the other shapes that follow.
Making the 3x3 square is easy – especially with graph-paper – but you will notice that, even though you have made a perfect square, the top corners do not touch the sides of the triangle. Maybe if you add a milimeter to each of the 4 sides it will, but then you'd be fidgeting with it (and really, it feels like cheating to me). So in this variation, you will not make that 3x3 square.
Instead, make the figure of the cross from 6 1x1 squares
(which adds the idea of 3 dimensions as you are turning the square into a cube)
The exact centre of the figure is found at the intersection of the vertical line and the top of the second square.
If you were to make a 3x3 square in the triangle – as the original suggests – and fill this in as the square of Saturn, then the central square has the number five. The middle of the bottom horizontal line of that central square is where the two lines of the pentagram cross, and the middle of the top horizontal line of that square is the center of the whole figure.
If you make it this size, using 7 centimeters as your starting point, then the cup of a tea-light fits exactly in the middle. Use this to trace a circle in the middle, it will just touch the sides of the Triangle.
A couple of pictures say more than a couple of thousand words, and my biggest problem (after my ego) is that I suck at typing, so after I summed up all numbers one more time I will show you what I mean.
1 is the center
2 is the distance from the center to the edge of the circle
3 is the tips / sides of the triangle but also the base of the square
4 is the distance from the center to the three tips
5 is the pentagram
6 is the vertical line that determines where the apex is, as well as the six squares that form the lay-out of the cube (which hints at the idea of three dimensions by turning the square of the original into a cube)
7 is the start of it all, the length of the sides of the triangle
recently I was reminded that 8 is one of the numbers of Saturn, although I was unable to explain how and have in the past denied the fact. But if you climb the Tree, and Malkuth is 1, Yesod / the Moon is 2, Hod / Mercury is 3 etc then indeed Binah / Saturn is 8. Mea culpa. So, to return to the list:
8 is (a) number of Saturn – and Saturn's square is part of the figure and even is used (by me..) to shoehorn the number 5 in this
9 obviously also Saturn and the number of squares in 3x3
(and using it in Candle Magick)
I wanted to figure out a way to make a correct equilateral triangle using only a ruler. With some playing around I came up with this – and to add a flair of mystique I applied it to the alchemist symbol and “corrected” something that has always bothered me about that particular symbol.
The circle in the square in the triangle (in the circle..) is a well-known figure that I believe represents the interconnection between the spiritual and material.
Feel free to resist the urge to correct my misunderstanding of it.
What I find annoying about it though, is that the center of the small circle in the square is not the center of the triangle (..and the bigger circle..) if it is made the way it “should” be made.
To form that classic combination of geometric shapes, you could / should first make a square, then find the center of it to trace a circle inside this square, and then draw a triangle on top of the square (and extend the diagonal sides until they reach the base of the square – if that horizontal is extended) You will immediately notice that the center seems off, and if you trace the encompassing large circle it becomes even clearer.
I am probably missing the bigger picture or philosophical truths that explain why it is important that the central circle's center is not the center of the total figure, but..
With graph-paper (and a ruler, and a compass, and some time) you can make a neat version that corrects this. In two ways. A lot of what I am about to type is only given so that you yourself can feel the joy of making correct shapes with as few tools as possible. If you only want a good even triangle for (this type of) Candle Magick you will be done quickly.
The key numbers used (and found) are 7,6,5,4,3,2,1
I absolutely admit I was relieved to be able to jam 5 in there.
First you make the base of the triangle. Make it 7 squares (centimeters).
From the 4th square (the middle one) count 6 vertically. There, in the middle of the top of that square, mark a point. That is the tip of your triangle. If you now connect it with the two ends of the base you have a perfect figure with three even sides of 7 centimetres. Note: as you can see, you don't really need to use graph-paper if drawing a good triangle is all you wanted. But it is useful when adding the other shapes that follow.
Making the 3x3 square is easy – especially with graph-paper – but you will notice that, even though you have made a perfect square, the top corners do not touch the sides of the triangle. Maybe if you add a milimeter to each of the 4 sides it will, but then you'd be fidgeting with it (and really, it feels like cheating to me). So in this variation, you will not make that 3x3 square.
Instead, make the figure of the cross from 6 1x1 squares
(which adds the idea of 3 dimensions as you are turning the square into a cube)
The exact centre of the figure is found at the intersection of the vertical line and the top of the second square.
If you were to make a 3x3 square in the triangle – as the original suggests – and fill this in as the square of Saturn, then the central square has the number five. The middle of the bottom horizontal line of that central square is where the two lines of the pentagram cross, and the middle of the top horizontal line of that square is the center of the whole figure.
If you make it this size, using 7 centimeters as your starting point, then the cup of a tea-light fits exactly in the middle. Use this to trace a circle in the middle, it will just touch the sides of the Triangle.
A couple of pictures say more than a couple of thousand words, and my biggest problem (after my ego) is that I suck at typing, so after I summed up all numbers one more time I will show you what I mean.
1 is the center
2 is the distance from the center to the edge of the circle
3 is the tips / sides of the triangle but also the base of the square
4 is the distance from the center to the three tips
5 is the pentagram
6 is the vertical line that determines where the apex is, as well as the six squares that form the lay-out of the cube (which hints at the idea of three dimensions by turning the square of the original into a cube)
7 is the start of it all, the length of the sides of the triangle
recently I was reminded that 8 is one of the numbers of Saturn, although I was unable to explain how and have in the past denied the fact. But if you climb the Tree, and Malkuth is 1, Yesod / the Moon is 2, Hod / Mercury is 3 etc then indeed Binah / Saturn is 8. Mea culpa. So, to return to the list:
8 is (a) number of Saturn – and Saturn's square is part of the figure and even is used (by me..) to shoehorn the number 5 in this
9 obviously also Saturn and the number of squares in 3x3
If you (have spent all that time and effort to) make the figure, you cut it out.
Even though I replaced the 3x3 square with a cross, because of the graph-paper you can still see that Saturn square and use it to make a sigil (if you want to use the A=1, B=2 etc method) or draw whichever other sigil you want in the circle.
Additional symbols can be drawn in the three angles.
Then take the tea-light out of its cup, place the paper on the cup, place the candle on the circle (it's amazing! It fits perfectly! This is proof that the Moon is built by aliens!) and press the candle back into the cup so that only three little triangles stick out.
Now, after you made this and placed it on your altar, first take a break. Relax, shower or whatever. Then do a normal LBRP or your usual.
Take an oil that you normally use to dress your candles with – if you do that witchy stuff at least – and anoint the three little triangles that stick out from the tin, and address three Angels that are assigned to the planetary sphere your goal falls under.
Then trace an invoking two-handed-pentagram and light the wick. Whisper / chant / think the three Names + your goal for as long as you feel is appropriate.
Let the tea-light burn. Typically these burn for 4,6 or 8 hours.
Once all the candle-wax is molten you can light the three little triangular pieces of paper that stick out, and address one of the three Angels for each new flame.
These will eventually merge into one big flame – be careful – it will burn for about 2 hours and produce a lot of heat. The paper will burn up and (once it has cooled..) you can throw out the tin.
Even though I replaced the 3x3 square with a cross, because of the graph-paper you can still see that Saturn square and use it to make a sigil (if you want to use the A=1, B=2 etc method) or draw whichever other sigil you want in the circle.
Additional symbols can be drawn in the three angles.
Then take the tea-light out of its cup, place the paper on the cup, place the candle on the circle (it's amazing! It fits perfectly! This is proof that the Moon is built by aliens!) and press the candle back into the cup so that only three little triangles stick out.
Now, after you made this and placed it on your altar, first take a break. Relax, shower or whatever. Then do a normal LBRP or your usual.
Take an oil that you normally use to dress your candles with – if you do that witchy stuff at least – and anoint the three little triangles that stick out from the tin, and address three Angels that are assigned to the planetary sphere your goal falls under.
Then trace an invoking two-handed-pentagram and light the wick. Whisper / chant / think the three Names + your goal for as long as you feel is appropriate.
Let the tea-light burn. Typically these burn for 4,6 or 8 hours.
Once all the candle-wax is molten you can light the three little triangular pieces of paper that stick out, and address one of the three Angels for each new flame.
These will eventually merge into one big flame – be careful – it will burn for about 2 hours and produce a lot of heat. The paper will burn up and (once it has cooled..) you can throw out the tin.
