Symbol Dictionary Sa-Sc
Sacred: from the Latin sacer meaning “untouchable” as both holy and unclean, and referred to something taboo or set aside for a divine purpose.
Sacred Geometry: See UMS Sacred Geometry course.
Sacred Marriage: Also called Hieros Gamos, this ceremony symbolizes the union and balance between the Goddess and God, or the archetypal feminine and masculine. The Sacred Marriage refers to the union of a ruler-to-be, acting the part of a sacred king, and a priestess-queen, acting the part of the Goddess. This practice was prevalent in pagan tradition. In her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), Barbara Walker explains, “The sacred marriage was once considered essential to the king.”
Sacrifice: According to Rowena and Rupert Shepherd in their book 1000 Symbols: What Shapes Mean In Art And Myth (2002), “sacrificed derives from the Latin sacrum facere, ‘to make holy.’” Male humans and other animals were sacrificed to deities in many traditions as a form of fertility magic. This sacrifice represented the last step in the cycle of life and the sacrifice, especially if human, was considered both king and god, it was believed that “whatever is killed becomes father.” The next step of birth or resurrection would continue the cycle, especially if the ritual included consummating with a queen or priestess (Walker, 1983). Animals were sacrificed to Shiva; criminals were sacrificed in place of kings at the Sacaea festivals of Babylon for Scythians and Amazonian Sacae; Jewish sacred kings and Christian martyrs were similarly killed or crucified; the Egyptians offered animals to symbolize men; and in Egypt, India, and the Middle East pigs were often considered the sacred victims (as the consort of Aphrodite, the boar-god Vishnue). Often the meat was not wasted, while the blood (considered the carrier of the soul) or other inedible parts were offered to the gods. Sometimes, as in the case of Chinese Shang rulers (c. 1700-1050 B.C.E.) servants, family members, and soldiers were sacrificed at the death of the ruler.
Sagittarius: See Zodiac
Signs.
Saints: A saint is a deceased person who has been canonization by the Pope because of their superior holiness. The early Christian saints allowed for a pantheon of god-like being to worship for the newly-converted pagans and also allowed the Goddess’s multiple forms, as well as other gods to be represented as saints. The ancient Greco-Romans started the practice of apotheosis or “god-making,” which was later practiced by the pagans through ceremonies of releasing bird-souls to represent the newly deceased flying to heaven.
Sala: See Tree.
Salem: Also Shalem, Shalom, Selim, Solomon, Shalman, Salmon, and Shalmaneser. Salem is the Semitic word for “Peace.” In her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), Barbara Walker explains, “Jeru-Salem was ‘the House of Peace,’ or of the god Salem.”
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Salt: Salt, having the peculiar proprieties of preservation (both food and bodies), coming from the sea, and tasting like blood “became a symbolic instrument to kinship, like maternal blood,” according to Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983). Sharing salt was considered to create a bond and was used in Roman wedding rites and Arab bonds of good faith. Jews and Christians used salt when dedicating an altar and it is often used in many other rituals or spiritual practices. |
Rowena and Rupert Shepherd in their book 1000 Symbols: What Shapes Mean In Art And Myth (2002), explains that because it is “found in seawater, and in rock salt on land, it is associated with the sea and earth and thus with female energy.” In European folklore salt was given cleansing properties and throwing salt over one’s shoulder was supposed to “throw salt in the eye of the Devil,” and similarly in Japan salt is scattered at the thresholds and floors of funeral services because of its cleansing and purifying powers. It was a philosophical element in alchemy (symbol to the left).
Sapphire: A corruption of sappur, meaning “holy blood” and represented by lapis lazuli, associated with the divine blue blood of the Babylonian Crone Goddess. See Quintessence.
Satan: See Gods/Underworld Guardian.
Saturn: See Planets.
Savior: See Savior
God under Gods.
Scales: Scales symbolize judgment. In the Egyptian Halls of Judgment the hearts of the deceased are weighed against a feather on the scales of the Goddess Maat to see if the soul within the hearts is heavy. If it is virtuous and light, the deceased will live on in the Afterlife, it not they will be devoured by a monster (Shepherd, 2002). A variety of deities are shown with scales including the Greek goddess of justice Themis, Archangel Michael, and Lady of the Scales, Libra, “judge of men and ruler of their fates,” (Walker, 1983). The Scales are the sign of the tenth Zodiac, Libra.
Scallop Shell: From Symbols Of Church Seasons And Days (1997), by John Bradner, “The scallop shell with a few drops of water is a symbol of baptism, and at times of the Baptism of Christ.”
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Scepter: Meaning staff, from the Greek skeptron, the scepter symbolizes authority (Shepherd, 2002). From Symbols Of Church Seasons And Days (1997), by John Bradner “as an emblem of royal power and authority kings may hold a rod or wand called a scepter. Originally this may have been simply a staff and later a weapon. Scepters frequently terminate at the top with a further symbol such as an eagle.” See Wand. |
Scorpio: See Zodiac
Signs.
Scorpion: See Animals.
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Scythe: According to Man, Myth And Magic: The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Mythology, Religion And The Unknown (1995), edited by Richard Cavendish, “Symbol of death, and of time when linked with death; death is frequently represented as a skeleton carrying the scythe with which he mows down the living.” |