The Noble Lie

As will probably become apparent pretty quickly, I am interested in symbols and in all the different meanings symbols are given over the ages. I have dabbled through reading alchemical texts, and there is a basic understanding of the meanings behind the symbols that must be understood to get much out of them.

A common theme in alchemy is the (re)union of man and woman back into the singular form, the Hermaphrodite (child of Hermes and Aphrodite). This is the symbology of the “chemical marriage” of the Sun and the Moon. In this old alchemical picture, the different shapes presumably correspond to the man and the woman depicted standing in the middle. As you can see, an architect or “builder” has put the man and the woman together on the wall and encircled them in one form.

I could speculate more about the symbology here, but for someone at my level of understanding, it would be just that - speculation. For the moment, what really interests me about this picture is that I know I have seen something like that before. Lo and behold, I trundled off to a nearby public restroom and took some photos (of the outside of the door, mind you). Either this Grand Architect was designing the first Unisex chamber pot, or whoever designs the restroom signs nowadays is well-versed in their alchemical symbolism. Or, I need more sleep.

I have some more original content in development. I have some ideas for short entries with pictures, as well as longer essays I’ve been batting around in my head which may take some extensive reading and time to put together, but I feel a need to get these ideas out of my head, and perhaps others will want to revisit some bits of popular culture with new eyes.

I’ll be using music clips to illustrate some points as well, once I have enough material to justify using them. In music especially, so many songs have both an exoteric and an esoteric meaning for those who explore such things.