Sigil Identification

[luna rising]

Can someone help me ID this sigil? I know that it existed before Rush, because I bought a pendant years ago that has the same sigil. I bought it because it clicked with me somehow, but I never wear it because I don't know what it means. I know what all the individual symbols mean, but my Hebrew is a little iffy - since the letters are in a circle, I don't know which way to read them.
Here is how the band's site describes the glyph:
By far this was the most popular shirt on the Vapor Trails tour. For some reason, red has always been a big Rush color. This t-shirt features elements from the Tarot Cards contained in the cd artwork. The Tarot Wheel is on the front, and the Moon is on the back along with the tour dates. This shirt has dates for the entire VT tour*.


I checked in the lesser and greater keys of Solomon, but it's not in there. At least not that I could find. Help?

[Ninjakitten]

I found one reference so far that looks similar, if you twist it around 90 degrees.

http://www.haze.ca/gallery.htm (http://www.haze.ca/gallery.htm)

[bbnflpn]

this appears on the wheel of fortune tarot card http://www.learntarot.com/maj10.htm (http://www.learntarot.com/maj10.htm)
if you look at the letters, one way it will spell tarot (using the same t to end and begin) and the other way it will spell tora. as far as what it means i dont know much about it. i do know what the tarot uses alot of tora symbolisim. maybe you can start there

[luna rising]

Thanks for the input, guys. :)

[cartweel]

I tried looking in a few other grimoires like the Key of Solomon, but you're right -- nothing, sorry. I do agree that it's a nice symbol. Good luck!

[Rhianna813]

Yes it is the same symbol as the Wheel of Fortune in the Tarot (Rider Waite version). Here is the card image: http://www.paranormality.com/tarot_wheel_of_fortune.shtml (http://www.paranormality.com/tarot_wheel_of_fortune.shtml)

Since the english letters spell out TORA I am guessing the hebrew letters spell the same. the Tora(h) is the Hebrew bible. But as far as the other invidual symbols on the card/shirt I am not sure but most like Qabalistic!

But I would you are safe in wearing the t-shirt since the same symbol is millions of card decks.

Rhianna

[Moon Flower]

As has been said, this is the wheel, on the 'wheel of fortune' tarot card in the Rider Waite deck.

In his book 'The key to the Tarot', this is what Waite had to say about it.

The transliteration of Taro as Rota is inscribed upon the wheel, counterchanged with the letters of the divine name - to show that providence is implied through all.

Not a lot, and no mention of the inner four symbols. However, this would imply that the hebrew letters are the 'divine name'. Presumably yod, heh, vau, heh.
I can't see them clear enough to know.
If they are, then they are the unspeakable name, yahweh, jehova, god, whatever.

If you find the meaning of the four inner symbols, let me know, I've always wondered.

One of them looks like Aquarius.

They might be versions of the four star signs that stand for the elements/seasons/directions etc..

Aquarius, taurus, leo and cancer.

Though they don't seem to be the sybols I recognise, (except aquarius!)

[luna rising]

Ah - would you believe that of all the decks I have had, I have never had a Rider Waite?

The symbols, as I see them on my pendant are aquarius, the moon, Mercury, but then I don't really know about the triangle.

[Veritas contra mundo]

The symbols in the center are alchemical symbols for the Four Philosophical Elements. ;)

[Greybird]

From the top around, in English: TAROT or TORA, depending on which way you read it.
From the upper right, clockwise, in Hebrew: Yod, Heh, Vahv, Heh (the Tetragrammaton)
Central symbols are the alchemical Three Principles: Mercury (top), Sulfur (right), and Salt (left). (See here. (http://chemistry.allinfoabout.com/alchemy/principles.html))

The bottom one certainly looks like water, which is odd, since Mercury is normally the alchemical equivilant of elemental water (likewise sulfur = fire, salt = earth). The only Greek element alchemy didn't cover as primary was air, so ideally the last symbol would be air.

[Veritas contra mundo]

The bottom one certainly looks like water, which is odd, since Mercury is normally the alchemical equivilant of elemental water (likewise sulfur = fire, salt = earth). The only Greek element alchemy didn't cover as primary was air, so ideally the last symbol would be air.

I think the logic was to associate Mercury with Air, because of its association with Gemini. But it's been a long time since I've studied it, so I may be misremembering....

[luna rising]

Sulfur . . . Aha! I had just had an epihany and though it might be a variation of the Earth triangle . . . aha.
One question about the Hebrew - I had been aware of the Tetragrammatron . . . but how do six letters equal the four?

[Veritas contra mundo]

One question about the Hebrew - I had been aware of the Tetragrammatron . . . but how do six letters equal the four?

Eh? There's only four letters in the Tetragrammatron.

[luna rising]

Eh? There's only four letters in the Tetragrammatron.
Er, my bad, actually - I should have said 8 letters. There are 8 Hebrew letters on the pendant and the shirt . . . but only the YHVH in the Tetragarmmatron. Maybe I am mistunderstanding the references in the earlier posts. Edit: OH - the letters are "Tora" as well as "YHVH." Sorry - I got it now.

[Veritas contra mundo]

Er, my bad, actually - I should have said 8 letters. There are 8 Hebrew letters on the pendant and the shirt . . . but only the YHVH in the Tetragarmmatron. Maybe I am mistunderstanding the references in the earlier posts.

Ah! 'Salright ... I think we were both "thinking" in shorthand, and the translation became confused. :cool:

There are only four Hebrew letters on the sigil: YHVH. The other four are English (or Roman) letters: TARO, TORA, or ROTA, depending on how you want to read it.

[luna rising]

Pfff - no wonder I couldn't find it by trying to ID all the Hebrew. It ain't all Hebrew! Doi!
Yeesh. I've been up since 5 am . . . I think I'm fried. :P

[Veritas contra mundo]

LOL! Luna, there's a pillow in your bedroom that's calling your name.

[luna rising]

Heehee - as well as two pups and a good book *yawns*

[Moon Flower]

From the top around, in English: TAROT or TORA, depending on which way you read it.
From the upper right, clockwise, in Hebrew: Yod, Heh, Vahv, Heh (the Tetragrammaton)
Central symbols are the alchemical Three Principles: Mercury (top), Sulfur (right), and Salt (left). (See here. (http://chemistry.allinfoabout.com/alchemy/principles.html))

The bottom one certainly looks like water, which is odd, since Mercury is normally the alchemical equivilant of elemental water (likewise sulfur = fire, salt = earth). The only Greek element alchemy didn't cover as primary was air, so ideally the last symbol would be air.

Thank you!

You have solved the mystery!

Aquarius is an air sign. (yes! everyone thinks it's water, and it's name is 'the water bearer', but it is actually an air sign.)

So, Mercury = Water, Salt = Earth, Sulphur = Fire, Aquarius = Air.

Did I get earth and fire the right way round?

Anyhow, that's it, they are the four elements in the middle.
Then Tora/Rota, and the tetragramaton in the outer ring.

Woo Hoo!
We have solved it.

:thewave:

[Greybird]

Yeah, those elements are right. Coincidentally, I just checked some other references and had found the 'Aquarius symbol as Elemental Air' bit, and was heading here to post it, but you beat me to it! ;)

[luna rising]

I will be purchasing a leather cord and wearing my pendant proudly from now on. Thanks everybody!

[Moon Flower]

Shows what can be done when we all work together.
:)

[LadyCelt]

perhaps I'm worng, but isn't the circle around the Vatican with the same lines and angles?