Autobiography

R

An oval emblem is centered on a white rectangular plate. The emblem shows a pelican feeding its young with blood from its own breast. This is a traditional symbol of sacrifice known as the pelican in her piety. In alchemy: a historical branch of natural philosophy that sought to transform matter and the human spirit, this represents the final stages of the Great Work. The bird stands on a golden crescent moon. The moon rests on a square heraldic base. This base is divided by an X-shaped cross. Four red roses are placed in the corners of the cross. These roses are a direct reference to the Rosicrucians: a secret cultural movement of the 17th century that used symbols of a rose and cross. Golden rays of light shine down from a sun at the top of the oval. The scene has a blue background and a green oval border. The words Hermetic Philosophy are written in golden capital letters around the emblem.

original: "PHILOSOPHIA HERMETICA"

Hermetic Philosophy: A philosophical and religious tradition based on writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. It emphasizes the connection between the human soul and the cosmos.
Pelican in her piety: A Christian and alchemical symbol of self-sacrifice. It depicts a mother bird wounding her own breast to nourish her chicks with blood.