The Beard-Hater and Letters

A central circular emblem is surrounded by text. Inside an oval frame with a blue background, a white pelican is shown in its piety. It pecks its own breast to feed three chicks in a nest with its blood. This is a common symbol for self-sacrifice and the alchemical process of revitalization. The nest rests upon a white pedestal or block featuring a red cross and three red roses. These are primary symbols of the Rosicrucian order. From the top of the oval, a golden sun radiates light downwards. The entire image is encircled by the text: Hermetic Philosophy original: "PHILOSOPHIA HERMETICA".

original: "PHILOSOPHIA HERMETICA"

Hermetic Philosophy: A tradition based on the teachings of the legendary Hermes Trismegistus. It explores the connections between the human soul and the cosmos.
pelican in its piety: A motif of a mother bird wounding herself to sustain her young. In this context, it represents the alchemical stage of nourishment and spiritual transformation.
Rosicrucianism: A secret society of mystics and philosophers. They sought to use esoteric knowledge to bring about a reformation of the world.
alchemy: The precursor to modern chemistry. It was a symbolic and practical art aimed at purifying materials and the human spirit.
roses and cross: The namesake symbols of the Rosicrucians. The cross represents the material world, and the roses represent the spiritual life blooming within it.