The phrase, “As Above, so Below” comes from the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus. The picture shown above is not the actual tablet.

According to Wikipedia:

“Hermeticism is a set of philosophical and religious beliefs based primarily upon the Hellenistic Egyptian pseudepigraphical writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus who is the representation of the congruence of the Egyptian god Thoth and the Greek Hermes.” … “The Emerald Tablet, also known as Smaragdine Table, Tabula Smaragdina, or The Secret of Hermes, is a text purporting to reveal the secret of the primordial substance and its transmutations. It claims to be the work of Hermes Trismegistus (“Hermes the Thrice-Great”), a legendary Egyptian sage or god, variously identified with the Egyptian god Thoth and/or the Greek god Hermes. This short and cryptic text was highly regarded by European alchemists as the foundation of their art, in particular of its Hermetic tradition.”

Newton’s translation
A 17th century depiction of the Tablet by Heinrich Khunrath, 1606

One translation, by Isaac Newton, found among his alchemical papers as reported by B. J. Dobbs:

1. Tis true without lying, certain most true.
2. That wch is below is like that wch is above that wch is above is like yt wch is below to do ye miracles of one only thing.
3. And as all things have been arose from one by ye meditation of one: so all things have their birth from this one thing by adaptation.
4. The Sun is its father, the moon its mother,
5. the wind hath carried it in its belly, the earth its nourse.
6. The father of all perfection in ye whole world is here.
7. Its force or power is entire if it be converted into earth.
7a. Separate thou ye earth from ye fire, ye subtile from the gross sweetly wth great indoustry.
8. It ascends from ye earth to ye heaven again it desends to ye earth and receives ye force of things superior inferior.
9. By this means ye shall have ye glory of ye whole world thereby all obscurity shall fly from you.
10. Its force is above all force. ffor it vanquishes every subtile thing penetrates every solid thing.
11a. So was ye world created.
12. From this are do come admirable adaptations whereof ye means (Or process) is here in this.
13. Hence I am called Hermes Trismegist, having the three parts of ye philosophy of ye whole world.
14. That wch I have said of ye operation of ye Sun is accomplished ended.

This concept, is symbolized by one arm up and one arm down. The primary idea behind this is that the “above” refers to what is visible in the sky. The below, refers to Earth. This creates an equality as it explains how the Earth is a microcosm of the configuration of the planets in the solar system. It draws the connection that the Earth is affected by planetary orbits.

The Papyrus of Dama Heroub
Egypt, 21st Dynasty.

The Double Lion symbolizes:

• Guardians of a gate
• Guardians of knowledge
• “Yesterday and today”
• Guardian of the Sun during the Sun’s death and rebirth cycles

According to Le role et le sens du lion dans l’Egypte ancienne (Leiden, 1951):

“His powers are mysterious” … “in him lie the deepest mysteries” … “he has concealed his forms” … “[he is] the one full of mystery, who is not known” … “[the lion is] that which brings about the resurrection of the sun” … “The double lion, the two horizons, the two world mountains, are different images symbolizing the crossing from life to death, from day to night and vice versa. They are the guardians, the gates, the threshold to the Beyond”

According to Number and Time: Reflections Leading Toward a Unification of Depth Psychology and Physics:

Page 93: “The double lion Routi is the divine principle which, recreating itself in death, rising up from the dead. Psychologically this lion symbolizes psychic energy, in its latent unconscious condition, and its reappearance on the threshold of consciousness. Whenever a latent unconscious content pushes up into consciousness, it appears first as a twofold oneness. For this reason nearly all cosmogonies begin their tales of the emergence of world-consciousness with a duality: creator twins, a god and his ‘helper’, or, as in Genesis, the earth ‘without form and void’ over which the Spirit of God moved.”

Lionsgate is “the leading independent filmed entertainment studio”.

When examining these two logos, the first observation is the Lion formed from stars. The second, is the Lionsgate text shown over Sun symbolism. It is clear that this company, who produces many movies containing Freemasonry symbolism consider themselves the guardians of knowledge. Now, Leo, is one of the constellations of the Zodiac. The Zodiac, is a direct reference to the Sun. The Sun is in Leo from approximately July 21 to August 20 depending on the year. The Sun’s position at midday during the time of the Egyptians coincided with the midsummer solstice. Leo was a constellation of the summer.

Leo, the Lion, the Double Lion, Routi, refers directly to the Sun as being a source of knowledge.

The theme of Illumination, Knowledge, or Secrets being kept “under the Lion’s Paw” is a recurring motif.

There seems to be a strange reason why Zahi Hawass, the man in charge of Egyptian archaeology, refuses to let anyone discover what is underneath the Sphinx. Ground radar penetration has revealed a complex tunnel system yet no further investigation or public disclosure has happened. So what lies beneath?

Ming Dynasty Lion Statue in the Forbidden City, China with a spherical object resembling the Flower of Life (Sacred Geometry) held under its right paw.

A pair of Qing “Guardian Lions” holding down some objects with their right paws. One is holding a baby lion, the other a Flower of Life sphere.

A Shi statue found usually in pairs. One female one male.

Imperial guardian lion outside Ngee Ann City in Singapore.

The Tabula Smaragdina by Matthaus Merian. Note the double lion guarding the start of the Alchemical process shown in this picture.

“The alchemists, who in their own way know more about the nature of the individuation process than we moderns do, expressed this paradox through the symbol of the ouroboros, the snake that eats its own tail. In the age old image of the ouroboros lies the thought of devouring oneself and turning oneself into a circulatory process, for it was clear to the most astute alchemists that the prima materia of the art was man himself.

The ouroboros is a dramatic symbol for the integration and assimilation of the opposite, i.e. of the shadow self. This feed back process is at the same time a symbol of immortality, since it is said of the ouroboros that he slays himself and brings himself t life again, fertilizes himself and gives birth to himself. This is much like the cycle of the Phoenix, the feminine archetype.

Ouroboros symbolizes The One, who proceeds from the clash of opposites, and therefore constitutes the secret of the prima materia which unquestionably stems from man’s unconsciousness.”

Carl Jung
(Collective Works Vol. 14)

Plato:

“The living being had no need of eyes when there was nothing remaining outside him to be seen; nor of ears when there was nothing to be heard; and there was no surrounding atmosphere to be breathed; nor would there have been any use of organs by the help of which he might receive his food or get rid of what he had already digested, since there was nothing which went from him or came into him: for there was nothing beside him. Of design he was created thus, his own waste providing his own food, and all that he did or suffered taking place in and by himself. For the Creator conceived that a being which was self-sufficient would be far more excellent than one which lacked anything; and, as he had no need to take anything or defend himself against any one, the Creator did not think it necessary to bestow upon him hands: nor had he any need of feet, nor of the whole apparatus of walking; but the movement suited to his spherical form was assigned to him, being of all the seven that which is most appropriate to mind and intelligence; and he was made to move in the same manner and on the same spot, within his own limits revolving in a circle. All the other six motions were taken away from him, and he was made not to partake of their deviations. And as this circular movement required no feet, the universe was created without legs and without feet.”

An 11th century manuscript, the Codex Marcianus depicts the Ouroboros:

The first record of this symbol is from Egypt:

Note the serpent sitting on the Pharaoh’s forehead:

It can be successfully said, that the Ouroboros represents:

• Life/Death Cycle
• The Zodiac (Precession of the Equinoxes)
• Winter/Summer Solstices
• Regeneration
• Unstoppable and infinite change
• Reincarnation
• Rebirth
• Cycles
• Eternity
• Infinity

It can also be said that the Ouroboros represents the Milky Way:

Image taken from Digital Sky LLC

Ancient civilizations may have observed the Milky Way and noticed it looks like a snake biting its own tail. They may have also noticed that the Milky Way appears to move in a circular motion as our planet rotates through the solar system. Thus, the Ouroboros can represent what we see from Earth on certain dates of solar events (Geocentric astrology) as we orbit through the solar system.

Other interpretations of the Ouroboros are quite interesting. It is theorized that the snake, represents DNA. The snake, or serpent, being symbolized by Hermes:

Hermes was a Greek “messenger” God who wielded a Caduceus. Hence the name Caduceus of Hermes. This is origin of the medical symbol. If you take it a step further, and notice the dual intertwined snakes forming a sort of double helix DNA strand, you arrive at the conclusion that the serpent represents DNA. If the serpent is a biological anthropomorphism of DNA, then we can attribute the Ouroboros to cycles of DNA change. Similarly, the serpent in the Garden of Eden offering forbidden fruit to Adam and Eve can be interpreted as an unknown force beckoning the two to partake in experiencing and/or activating their DNA.

Throughout history, serpents have been depicted in very curious ways.

It is also interesting to note that NASA has taken pictures of a double helix formation near the Milky Way:

According to Space.com:

“The DNA nebula is about 80 light-years long. It’s about 300 light-years from the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The nebula is nearly perpendicular to the black hole, moving out of the galaxy at a quick clip-about 620 miles per second (1,000 kilometers per second). Magnetic field lines at the galactic center are about 1,000 times stronger than on Earth. They run perpendicular to the black hole, but parallel through the nebula. Scientists think that twisting of these lines is what causes the double helix shape.”

The tarot has 22 cards as does the number of paths in the Qabbalah/Kabbalah Tree of Life:

There are also 22 chromosomes in the human DNA. There are also 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet.

The Tarot

Meanings:

• going through sudden change
• experiencing upheaval
• having plans disrupted
• being surprised
• undergoing a crisis
• having routines shaken up
• being in chaos
• releasing
• exploding
• having an emotional outburst
• erupting in anger
• crashing through ego defenses
• breaking through pretense
• letting everything go
• falling down
• being humbled
• experiencing a crash
• toppling from the heights
• having a downturn in fortune
• suffering a blow to the ego
• having a revelation
• suddenly realizing the truth
• exposing what was hidden
• having a burst of insight
• seeing through illusions
• getting the answer
• seeing everything in a flash

Connections:

• September 11, 2001
• The Tower of Babel

Meanings:

• regaining hope
• having faith in the future
• thinking positively
• believing
• counting your blessings
• seeing the light at the end of the tunnel
• feeling great expectation
• looking forward to success
• being inspired
• regaining motivation
• realizing an inner strength
• seeing the way clear
• being stimulated to a higher level
• creating
• receiving the answer
• being generous
• wanting to give or share
• spreading the wealth
• opening your heart
• giving back what you have received
• letting love flow freely
• offering with no reservations
• holding nothing back
• feeling serene
• experiencing peace of mind
• relaxing
• finding your still center
• remaining untroubled
• savoring perfect calm
• being tranquil amid trouble
• enjoying harmony

Connections:

• Barack Hussein Obama II, the “Hope” and “Change”

Meanings:

• becoming enlightened
• understanding
• finding the sense behind the chaos
• attaining a new level of insight
• having an intellectual breakthrough
• getting to the heart of the matter
• realizing the truth
• experiencing greatness
• achieving prominence
• being singled out for notice
• having a personal moment of glory
• setting an outstanding example
• shining forth brilliantly
• demonstrating distinction
• becoming the center of attention
• feeling vitality
• becoming radiantly energized
• bursting with enthusiasm
• experiencing joy
• feeling invigorated
• getting charged up
• enjoying great health
• having assurance
• feeling free and expansive
• honoring your true self
• knowing you can succeed
• being confident
• believing in your worth
• trusting your abilities
• forgiving yourself

Connections:

• Global agenda revealed
• Revealing of global secrets
• Revealing of humanity’s true purpose

According to Wikipedia:

“The golden ratio, φ = (1+√5)/2 ≈ 1.618, [...] plays an important role in regular pentagons and pentagrams. Each intersection of edges sections the edges in golden ratio: the ratio of the length of the edge to the longer segment is φ, as is the length of the longer segment to the shorter. Also, the ratio of the length of the shorter segment to the segment bounded by the 2 intersecting edges (a side of the pentagon in the pentagram’s center) is φ. As the four-color illustration shows:

The pentagram includes ten isosceles triangles: five acute and five obtuse isosceles triangles. In all of them, the ratio of the longer side to the shorter side is φ. The acute triangles are golden triangles. The obtuse isosceles triangle highlighted via the colored lines in the illustration is a golden gnomon.”

It appears we have a pentagram embedded into the design of Washington DC. It is important to note that the Whitehouse sits at the lower point of this. The origin of the pentagram or pentagon is
believed to be derived from occult astrology.

Starting with the top left point, we have:

(5) Dupont Circle Fountain

The fountain at Dupont Circle, designed by Daniel Chester French and architect Henry Bacon, the co-creators of the Lincoln Memorial. According to Embassy.org:

“The three figures on the fountain represent the sea, wind, and the stars.”

(2) Logan Circle

An equestrian monument, commissioned by the legislature of Illinois, honoring John A. Logan. The only thing to note here is this symbolism found on the monument:

The Olive Branch, Sword, Eagle hilt, Solar Disk, Greek key pattern

Olive Branch:

According to Wikipedia:

“The olive branch is a branch of an olive tree. In Western culture, derived from the customs of Ancient Greece, it symbolizes peace or goodwill. The original link between olive branches and peace is unknown. Some explanations center on that olive trees take a very long time to bear fruit. Thus the cultivation of olives is something that is generally impossible in time of war.”

The Eagle:

A representation of prime matter, the start of an alchemical operation. The eagle spreads its wings over the step into creation and fans the fire, encouraging growth of new matter.

• Opportunity
• Protection
• Guardianship
• Masculinity
• Dominance
• Control
• Freedom
• Community
• Command
• Action
• Authority
• Skill
• Focus
• Determination
• Vision
• Power
• Liberation
• Inspiration
• Ruler
• Judgment

The Sword:

As an alchemical symbol the sword is a symbol of purification. The sword can metaphorically clean the spiritual soul of man. This symbolic action sacrifices physical bondage to release a path to ethereal (enlightened) freedom.

• Aggression
• Protection
• Courage
• Strength
• Action
• Unity
• Justice
• Leadership
• Decision

Solar Disk:

Go here for sun symbolism.

Greek Key (Meander Pattern):

According to Wikipedia:

“Meanders were among the most important symbols in ancient Greece; they, perhaps, symbolized infinity and unity; many ancient Greek temples incorporated the sign of the meander. Greek vases, especially during their Geometric Period, were likely the genesis for the widespread use of meanders; alternately, very ocean-like patterns of waves also appeared in the same format as meandros, which can also be thought of as the Guilloche pattern.”

(3) Washington Circle

George Washington, a Freemason. There is nothing of particular importance here. Except a few stars. One on Washington’s hat, the other one the horse’s bit.

(4) Historical Society

ba

(1) The Whitehouse

The Origin of the Pentagram

This is the diagram on the Zodiac that Venus makes in eight years. After that period, Venus, the Sun, the Earth and the stars are again in the same relative positions. It means that Venus, seen from the Earth, is in the same position with respect not only to the Sun, but also to the stars. This happens because five periods of Venus take eight years. Venus (The Morning Star, Lucifer, Second Sun) being a large orange planet is known to be the most occult planet in the solar system.

It is important to note that this pentagram is missing a segment. The missing segment has been debated by Freemasons themselves who claim that this missing segment invalidates the symbol as being a carefully placed pentagram. According to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Faust:

(Goethe’s Faust, Scene Six, Faust’s Study)

Mephistopheles:

Let me own up! I cannot go away;
A little hinderance bids me stay,
The witch’s foot upon your sill I see.

Faust:

The pentagram? That’s in your way?
You son of Hell explain to me,
If that stays you, how came you in today?

Mephistopheles:

Observe it closely! It is not well made;
One angle, on the outer side of it,
is just a little open, as you see.