Also known as: Ansated Cross, Cross of Life, Crux Ansata, Crux Hermis, Crux Tau, Handled Cross, Hydrometer, Key of Life, Key of the Nile, Long Life Seal, Looped Tau Cross, Satanic Cross, Universal Cross.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/

"The ankh was the Egyptian hieroglyphic character that stood for the word which means life. Gods may carry it by the loop, or bear one in each hand crossed over their breast. Latinists interpreted the symbol as a "crux ansata, "cross with a handle."

"The ankh appears frequently in Egyptian tomb paintings and other art; it often appears at the fingertips of a god or goddess in images that represent the deities of the afterlife conferring the gift of life on the dead person's mummy. The ankh symbol was often carried by Egyptians as an amulet, either alone, or in connection with two other hieroglyphs that mean "strength" and "health." Mirrors were often made in the shape of an ankh. Sometimes, in art, the Ankh was shown being touched by a god onto a person, which usually symbolized conception."

 

"The ankh (or crux ansata) is a symbol of life. A Dictionary of Mysticism explains the ankh as the "Egyptian cross, shaped like a capital T with an oval loop at the top, symbol of life in occult tradition. It was "used by the gods as an instrument for awakening the dead to a new life." "An Egyptian looped cross symbolizing life as well as the fertilization of earth by the sun. Appears frequently in Egyptian Art, often in the hands of gods and kings. In depictions of burial, it is often lifted high and held by the side of the loop (perhaps symbolizing a key that opens the realm of the dead)."

Also known as:  Peace Symbol, Druid's Foot, Druxtenfuss, Nero Cross, Neroic Cross, Raven's Foot, Sign of the "Broken Jew", Symbol of the "Anti-Christ", Teutonic Cross, Todersrune, Witch's Foot.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/

It has also been called a relative of the Nazi Swastika – or the rune algiz inverted, said to mean "hidden danger". It resembles the rune calc."

Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated - Dr. Cathy Burns (p234)
"Known as the 'peace sign' throughout the 1960's and into the present day, this symbol is the Teutonic rune of death. 1950's peace advocate Gerald Holtom may have been commissioned by communist sympathizer Bertrand Russell to design a symbol to unite leftist peace marchers in 1958. It is clear that either Holtom or Russell deemed the Teutonic (Neronic) cross as the appropriate symbol for their cause."

Throughout the last 2000 years this symbol has designated hatred of Christians. Nero, who despised Christians, crucified the Apostle Peter on a cross head downward. The hideous event resembled the Teutonic cross and became a popular pagan insignia of the day. Thereafter, this sign became known as the 'Neronic cross'."

"The symbol's origin in history proves it to be the visual mystic character for 'Aum' (the split 'Y'). This is the sacred word to Hindu. Chanting 'Aum' is supposed to help awaken 'the serpent power of Brahma' at the base of the human spine. Occultist Albert Pike also identifies this symbol as mythical in his book on Freemasonry, Morals and Dogma. The peace symbol is actually a cross with the arms broken. It also signifies the 'gesture of despair' and the 'death of man'."

"The Germatic tribes who used it attributed strange and mystical properties to the sign. such a 'rune' is said to have been used by 'black magicians' in pagan incantations and condemnations. To this very day the inverted broken cross - identical to the socialists 'peace symbol' - is known in Germany as a 'todersrune', or death rune. Not only was it ordered by Hitler's National Socialists that it must appear on German death notices, but it was part of the official inscription prescribed for the gravestones of Nazi officers of the dread SS. The symbol suited Nazi emphasis on pagan mysticism."

"With the arms of the cross raised in an upright position, it is 'a Pythagorean emblem of the course of life, in the form of a rising path with fork roads to Good and Evil. It also signifies fertility but with the arms pointing downward, it denotes evil and death."
"In fact, the inverted 'Man-rune' - the figure encircled in the common sign which the Communists tell us means 'peace' - has for centuries been a favourite sign of Satanists."

"Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan, used the peace symbol as the backdrop for his altar."

"One former witch makes the following comment about the peace symbol : "It is an ancient and powerful symbol of the Antichrist. During the dark ages it was used in Druid witchcraft and by Satanists of all sorts during the initiation of a new member to their order. They would draw the magic circle and give the initiate a cross. The initiate would then lift the cross and turn it upside down. He would then renounce Christianity in all three dimensions of time (past, present and future) and break the horizontal pieces downward forming the design of the raven's foot. This ugly symbol is nothing short of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. For one to wear or display this symbol is to announce either knowingly or unknowingly that you have rejected Christ. Remember, symbolism is a picture language, and a picture is worth a thousand words."

 http://en.wikipedia.org/

"The concept of yin and yang originates in ancient Chinese philosophy and metaphysics, which describes two primal opposing but complementary forces found in all things in the universe. Yin, the darker element, is passive, dark, feminine, downward-seeking, and corresponds to the night; yang, the brighter element, is active, light, masculine, upward-seeking and corresponds to the day.

The pair probably goes back to ancient agrarian religion; it exists in Confuciasm, and it is prominent in Taoism. Though the words yin and yang only appear once in the "Tao Te Ching", the book is laden with examples and clarifications of the concept of mutual arising.

Yin and yang are descriptions of complementary opposites rather than absolutes. Any yin/yang dichotomy can be seen as its opposite when viewed from another perspective. The categorization is seen as one of convenience. Most forces in nature can be broken down into their respective yin and yang states, and the two are usually in movement rather than held in absolute stasis."

Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated - Dr. Cathy Burns (p10)

"This Symbol is used in Logos, on book covers, in the New Age Movement, in martial arts and so forth. Yin and Yang are considered to be opposites. Yin represents eternity, dark ,feminine, left side of the body etc. Yang is its opposite and represents history, light, masculine, right side of the body etc. Yang is male, positive and represented by the sun. Yin is female, negative, and represented by the moon, says Paul E. Desautels in the Gem Kingdom.

The Symbol itself dates back at least to the fourth century BC. and has been identified with the Eastern philosophical religions of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. In the Western World it has long been adopted into the symbolism of myth, magic, astrology and witchcraft.

A book, Black Magic, White Magic, explains the Yin-Yang like this: Another ancient magical sign called the yin-and-yang first appeared sometime before the 3rd century BC. in China. This emblem became a favourite of Sorcerers and mystics throughout the Orient because it, too, embodies so many possible meanings.

One well-known witch who is called the "mistress of the occult", proclaims that the Yin-Yang theory is: ...an idea that inspired such things as Chinese boxing, breath control [used in yoga, meditation etc.], the use of special herbs, and some rather erotic sexual exercises designed to nourish the Yang with the Yin.

The concept of Yin and Yang (also called Tai-gi-tu), likewise plays an important role in many other occult practises. For instance, the Dictionary of Mysticism states the following about the practise of shu shu: The Ancient Chinese system of Magic, divination, and occult practises including astrology, dream interpretation the art of co-ordinating human affairs by the active and passive principles of the universe (yin yang) and Five Elements (wu shing), fortune telling by the use of the stalks of the divination plant and the tortoise shell, and miscellaneous methods such as dream interpretation, the regulation of forms and shapes of buildings, etc."

The Continuum Encyclopedia of Symbols - Udo Becker (p336)

"The two contrary cosmological basic principles of Chinese philosophy to which all things, being, events and time periods are ordered. Corresponding to the Yin principle are the negative, the feminine, darkness, the earth, passivity, wetness, and the broken line, corresponding to the Yang principle are the positive, the masculine, brightness, the sky, activity, dryness, and the unbroken line. The two principles represent the polarisation into which the unity of the primeval beginning separated. They are visually represented as a circle that is divided symmetrically by a serpentine line; of the two areas thereby produced, one is dark, the other light; in the middle of each area, however there is a spot that is the colour of the other area, which a sign of the mutual dependency of both principles; the powers of Yin and Yang are never fundamentally opposed to one another and alternatingly wax or wane periodically in definite periods of time."