Addendum 18.2.a to
18.2 Planet Meanings as Derivatives of Earth
The use of planetary symbols
Symbol and Reality
Every symbol has its own expressive power. Ideally, the form of the symbol stands for the essence of its content. The symbol may be seen as its prototype or ‘pre-form’. The symbol’s form manifests its essence. Thus a symbol ideally represents reality.
Code language
Comparing the conventional planetary symbols with those of the Dutch Working Community of Astrologers (WvA), we see some remarkable similarities as well as some marked differences.
planet |
conventional |
wva |
|---|---|---|
symbol |
symbol |
|
Sun |
|
 |
Mercury/Vulcanus |
 |
 |
Venus |
 |
|
Moon |
 |
|
Mars |
 |
 |
Jupiter |
 |
 |
Saturn |
 |
 |
Uranus |
 |
 |
Neptune |
 |
 |
Pluto |
|
 |
Eris/Persephoné |
? |
 |
Ancient planets
Particularly in the symbols for the ancient planets, we encounter in both series three recurring elements: the circle, the cross and the crescent.
The circle stands for unity, the cross for contra-diction or anti-thesis, and the crescent for the personality. We may also view them as spirit and matter, expressing themselves in man.
The two lists of symbols show so many similarities in their combinations of these elements that one would assume that within this code language, one is merely a dialect of the other.
planet |
conventional |
wva symbol |
|---|---|---|
symbol |
||
Sun |
|
|
Mercury/Vulcanus |
|
|
Venus |
|
|
Moon |
|
|
Mars |
|
|
Jupiter |
|
|
Saturn |
|
|
Here and there corruptions have crept in, but the symbols still can be recognized quite clearly. In both lists, the same code language has been employed.
A different code
For the trans-Saturnian planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Eris), which have been discovered later, it is a different story.
planet |
conventional |
wva |
|---|
symbol |
symbol |
|
Uranus |
|
|
Neptune |
|
|
Pluto |
|
|
Eris/Persephoné |
? |
|
In stead of using the three elements mentioned above, the conventional symbol for Uranus is taken from the first letter of the name of its discoverer, Herschel. A few decades later, the symbol for Pluto was also derived from someone’s initials, in this case of the founder of the observatory where Pluto was discovered:
Percival Lowell.
Obviously, the designers of these later symbols were not aware of any core meanings of these planets, nor of the possibility of expressing these in an appropriate symbol.
Recovering their expressive power
The Dutch Working Community of Astrologers has made an effort to return to the original code language for the symbols of three planets. A.E.Thierens and his associates have developed a design that does justice to their expressive power.* In a former article I have given a more extensive account of this.*
On this website I will stick to the use of these more powerful planetary symbols.
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