Elucidation of Secrets

XVIII. 4.

A

original: PHILOSOPHIA HERMETICA; this refers to the tradition of secret knowledge attributed to the mythical figure Hermes Trismegistus, encompassing alchemy, astrology, and spiritual transformation.

A circular emblem is centered on the page. The outermost ring contains the words "HERMETIC PHILOSOPHY" in a serif typeface. Within this circle is a blue oval containing alchemical and Rosicrucian iconography. At the top, a golden sun with rays shines downwards. In the middle, a white pelican sits in a nest feeding its young with its own blood, an image known as the "Pelican in her Piety." At the base is a square white pedestal marked with a red cross and four red roses, one in each quadrant formed by the cross. The pelican represents the process of alchemical circulation and self-sacrifice, while the cross and roses are primary symbols of the Rosicrucian Order.