History of the Bogomils

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This circular seal contains a central blue mandorla, an almond-shaped frame often used in sacred art. Inside the blue field, a white bird sits atop a white cube. This bird represents a pelican in its piety, a traditional symbol of self-sacrifice where the mother feeds her young from her own breast. The front of the cube is decorated with four red roses arranged in a square. Radiant golden rays shine from the top of the frame. The Latin inscription around the border translates to Hermetic Philosophy.

original: "PHILOSOPHIA HERMETICA"

Hermetic Philosophy: A tradition of secret knowledge based on the writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, often involving alchemy and spiritual growth. Hermeticism: A philosophical system that seeks to understand the relationship between the divine, the cosmos, and humanity. alchemy: The historical practice of transforming matter, often used as a metaphor for purifying the soul. pelican: In alchemical art, a symbol for the stage of "multiplication" or the refinement of a substance. Rose Cross: A symbol of a rose placed upon a cross or a cube, representing the intersection of the spiritual and the physical worlds. emblem: A symbolic picture used to convey a moral or philosophical lesson.