Symbol Dictionary Pe-Pl
Peach: See Fruit.
Pear Tree: See Tree.
Pearly Gate: As the Christian symbol for the entrance to heaven, the Pearly Gate was derived from the pearly entrance to the Sea goddess Aphrodite Marina, who was herself the gate to Heaven. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), asserts, “Various yonic symbols of the Goddess were said to be bordered with pearls.” This same idea is reflected in the Chinese Goddess’s Jade Gate.
Pegasus: From Greek mythology, this winged horse symbolizes the sacred king/hero’s final journey to heaven. Born of Medusa (a symbol for wisdom), or Demeter, Pegasus has also been called Arion and Aganippe. Originating from Pegae, the title for the priestess who tended the sacred springs Pega, in Corinth, the tale of Pegasus first evolved in Egypt and then later spread to Greece. In the myth of Bellerophon, Pegasus is ridden by the dying sacred-king in an attempt to fly to heaven and become immortal. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), asserts, “Pegasus represented divine inspiration as well as godlike apotheosis.” Pegasus is associated with the moon goddess (as represented by his moon-mothers Medusa or Demeter) and a muse of poets who can figuratively fly to heaven from the inspiration of Pegasus. See UMS Wizards,
Magical Creatures and Adepts course.
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Pentacle: A five pointed star, pointing to the sky, surrounded by a circle, the pentacle is a physical object. The pentacle has been used in many religions and traditions all through the planet. Barbara Walker, in her book The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), outlines the significance of the pentacle at different times. The myth of the Egyptian Goddess Kore cutting an apple and revealing the five-seeded star in the center of the core is probably the first appearance of the pentacle. |
Egyptians thought of the pentacle as representing the underground womb of nature. In Babylon this symbol was commonly drawn on pots and was believed to preserve the contents. In Judeo-Christian tradition, the pentacle is the first of “Seven Seals” meant to represent the names of God. Hermetic magicians used the sign as the model for Man the Microcosm, a person with arms and feet stretched out, much like DaVinci’s Viturian Man. For the Pagan Celts, the Pentacle was the sign of the underground Goddess, Morgan. Many pagan and Wiccan traditions have used the pentacle for centuries. In the middle ages, because it can be created out of one unbroken line, it was considered to give protection from spirits (because they needed a “gate” to enter), so it was often as a magical symbol to enclose an area and consequently earned the names of Devil’s Sign, Witch’s Cross, Wizard’s Star, Govlin’s Cross, and Witch’s Foot from fearful church clergy. A pentacle pointing down, although commonly believed to be a symbol for Satan worship, is actually the representation of the Horned God who appears in the shape of four horned animals (ram, goat, stag, and bull), and human form. See Pentagram.
Pentagram: The pentagram is a five-pointed star, fifth point facing toward the sky, within a circle and is important in the Wiccan tradition. As with many things of this tradition, the meaning changes for each individual person. However, some basic understandings of this symbol are that the star represents the four elements in correspondence with the four directions (clockwise from top right water/west, fire/south, earth/north, and wind/east) with the fifth point representing life-force energy or spirit. It also represents a person with arms and feet stretched out, much like DaVinci’s Vituvian Man. The circle surrounding the star is also significant.
Phallus Worship: Religions and cultures that worshipped male deities had a tendency to worship male genitalia as well, just as Goddess-centered religions worshipped the vulva. The male genitals were used as symbols of ownership, authority, and honor. The words testimony, testify, and testament all come from the same root as testicles and were based on the practice of swearing oaths upon each other’s genitals. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), asserts, “Phallus worship is still evident in the symbols and sayings of the modern world, although its meaning is less like impregnation and more like death. Guns, cannon, missiles and other weapons are the phallic symbols... In its worship of the masculine principle of aggression, the modern world sorely misses the central idea of ancient Goddess worship: that true power is the power to preserve.” See Lingam and Obelisk.
Pillar: A pillar in the form of the Maypole, obelisk, sacred tree, cross, and so on, represent the sacred male genitals. Probably originating from the phallus worship of Shiva in India, giant phalluses were erected at temple entrances in Asia, Siberia, and India, and miracles were reported to happen in their presence and sins were believed to be forgiven. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), states, “Blood was anciently considered essential to the lingam-pillar, which Hindus frequently painted red or smeared with blood.” This probably stems from the ancient belief that blood, not semen, impregnated women. See Obelisk.
Pisces: See Zodiac Signs.
Planetary Spheres: An early form of astronomy, the Chaldean astrological cosmology was studied and practiced in the early part of the first century throughout the Mediterranean. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), states, “According to this cosmology, the earth lay under a series of nested, inverted crystal bowls, turned independently of each other by star-angels.” The sun, moon, and other known planets were supposed to turn on these planetary spheres and this explained the seemingly independent movements of celestial bodies. Gnostics, pagans, Christians, among others adapted this concept into various beliefs, for instance, the Egyptians believed there were seven planetary spheres, each guarded by a Heavenly Midwife (an aspect of Hathor). These spheres also represented the seven gates of heaven. Transversely, they also believed there were seven bowls extending into the interior of the earth that represented the journey to the abysses, called the Seven Recesses or Gates.”