Symbol Dictionary K
Kaaba: Also called Kubaba, Kuba, and Kube. This shrine of stones in Mecca is currently dedicated to the Islamic God, Allah, but was originally constructed in honor of the Triple Goddess Manat, Al-Lat, and Al-Uzza. Know as the “Old Woman” this goddess was worshipped by Koreshites, the tribesmen of Mohammed. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), explains, “The stone bore the emblem of the yoni, like the Black Stone worshipped by votaries of Artemis” although this symbolism has been lost.
Kalanemi: Translated as “Rim of the Wheel of Time,” this early zodiac was symbolized by the Milky Way (literally), and the World Serpent (figuratively) who encircles the earth, chasing its tail. The Kalanemi was studied as a guide for seasons, festivals, and Sabbaths. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983) asserts, “Kalanemi was probably an aspect of Kali Ma as the Crone of Time.”
Kalenderees: Ancient Hindu dervishes, who were traveling teachers of Tantric doctrine in Persia and Arabia. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), explains, “Their cult of the Goddess Kali may have been the origin of the female-centered Sufi sect which revered the same feminine Word of Creation (Om, Umm: the Matrix or Mother-belly), and believed that religious fulfillment for men or women could be found only in sexual love.”
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Karma: The Hindu symbol for karma is a never-ending cycle of life in which each action produces an equally powerful opposite reaction, necessary to maintain balance. It is similar to the concept Fate. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), explains “The Goddess’s law was that any individual evolution must be worked out by a series of reincarnations through the turning of the great wheel of time. Evil actions resulted in rebirth to a more evil life; good actions brought lives of increasing virtue and happiness. ”Man Myth And Magic: The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Mythology, Religion And The Unknown (1995), edited by Richard Cavendish says, “The law of cosmic requital for one’s good and bad deeds, known as karma, is a central concept of all Hindu and Buddhist sects, the chief aim of which is the acquittal of the soul of its debts, this is achieved by successive rebirth until the slate is wiped clean… |
Every action, every thought, every passing wish is a link in the chain that tethers man more firmly to the wheel of birth-death-rebirth; he must continue to return to earth until all karma, a basic concept in Buddhism and Hinduism, is expended.” The Wheel of Life (left) is often artistically depicted in the mandala.
Kernos: Meaning “kernel” or “heart,” this Eleusinia symbol represented the fertility and harvest of new life and was represented by a seeds planted in a sacred pot (symbolic of the uterus). Later this evolved into the tradition of women planting wheat or barley in a pot called Garden of Adonis. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), says “Ceremonies of the kernos were still observed up to the 20th century in Sardinia, Sicily, Calabria, and other areas.”
Keroessa: Byzantine title for the “Horned One.” See Horns.
Key: Man, Myth And Magic: The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Mythology, Religion And The Unknown (1995), edited by Richard Cavendish says, “An important symbol in magic, religion and folklore because it provides and prevents access to some sought after place or spiritual condition: associated with entrance to the Mysteries, and to degrees of initiation; in many religions the key has the power to open heaven and hell; freedom of a city is symbolically granted by being given the keys, and a decorative key is presented on 21st birthdays to ‘unlock the door’ of adult status.”
Khert-Neter: See Underworld.
Khon-Ma: See Earth.
Kingship: The King was considered in many cultures, sacred leader for the Goddess. In ancient times of Asiatic, Sumeria, and Assyria, Kings were chosen by women and were not succeeded by their sons. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983) explains, “Women were the kingmakers in the lands he ruled. Marriage was the earthly representative of the Goddess, in the form of the queen, was essential to the position of kingship…”
Kiss: The gesture of a kiss symbolizes affection and love, usually and probably derived from copying the affectionate behavior of mothers with their children. It was also common for mothers to pre-chew food and feed it mouth-to-mouth with their children in Germany and Austria. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983) says, “Scholars believe kissing originated with mouth-to-mouth feeding, practiced among ancient Greeks and others as a form of love play.” In Europe it was believed that kissing promoted bonding between tribe members, but kissing was unheard of in northern Asia and the Eskimos rubbed noses instead. Judas in the Bible betrayed Jesus with a kiss, symbolizing how close they were, and the significance of the betrayal.
Knighthood: The ceremony of Knighthood involved touching each shoulder in turn with a sword. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983) explains, “In the Middle Ages, a knight was created by a symbolic imitation of the ritual that used to make a man into a god: beheading him.” Celts and Greeks alike performed this ritual.
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Knot: Knots were a symbol of fate for the ancients, when it was believed that the Fate-goddess tied the threads of life together to cause certain events. Aphrodite was responsible for “tying the knot” (marriage) between couples and Isis-Hathor tied or untied Tat, the “Knot of Fate” for Egyptians (Walker, 1983). Greeks, Pagans, Celts, Witches, Scotts, Jews, Mexican midwives… believed in and/or used knot magic to influence fate. Man, Myth And Magic: The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Mythology, Religion And The Unknown (1995), edited by Richard Cavendish says, “A powerful magical weapon, because to tie a knot is to impede the person against whom the spell is directed; to untie the knot is to release the victim from the spell; ‘the witches’ ladder,’ a string with nine knots, was believed to throttle the victim slowly to death in many societies knots were tied at love and marriage; tying knots is widely believed to prevent conception, and untying them is thought to ease child-birth.” Celtic knot pictured here. |
Koran: This sacred book of the Moslem religion is believed to be written based on the Prophet Mohammed’s life, by his close followers. Man, Myth And Magic: The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Mythology, Religion And The Unknown (1995), edited by Richard Cavendish says, “The sacred book of Islam, God’s eternal and uncreated word, which was revealed to Mohammed while he was at Mecca and Medina; it contains 114 chapters, or suras, and is regarded as infallible.” However, Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), states “many don’t know the Koran was an enlarged, revised version of the ancient Word of the Goddess Kore, revered by Mohammed’s tribe, the Koreshites (Children of Kore), who guarded her shrine at Mecca.” Like the Christian and Jewish bibles, the Koran has been revised and rewritten throughout the decades to suit the needs of those in power. See Kaaba.
Kula: This Hindu word associated with menstrual blood refers to the “flower” or “nectar” of menstruation. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983) says, “A girl ‘bore the Kula flower’ at first menstruation, which assimilated her to the clan spirit dwelling in maternal bloodlines.” It also refers to the circumcision of adolescent boys in Fiji, through the belief that his genital blood gives him fertility magic. See Circumcision.
Kyklos Geneseon: This Greek symbol translates as “Wheel of Rebirth” or “Wheel of Becoming” and represents the idea of reincarnation. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), asserts that it is a “symbol of early Greek ideas of reincarnation put forth by such philosophical sects as the Pythagoreans and Stoics.”
Ky-lin: See Animals.