Masonic symbol
Last summer I visited the Yerkes observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. This is a beautiful 100-year-old observatory full of wonderfully carved ornamentation. For anyone visiting Wisconsin, and for fans of astrology, it is worth a visit just for its carvings of the zodiac, the moon and other celestial objects. What I thought odd was why an observatory, an institution of science, would be covered with the zodiac. Sure, celestial symbols are appropriate for an observatory, but astrology and astronomy are not exactly brothers-in-arms. Looking at the carvings made me think the architect might have had other things on his mind. Viewed from the occult perspective, it was fun to identify the occult symbolism I found there. A clue might be the Masonic symbols I saw. That is often a good indictor something else might be going on. Below are some snapshots of the interesting stonework at the Yerkes Observatory. Here is a link to their website: http://astro.uchicago.edu/yerkes/
I am always on the lookout for spiritual or occult symbolism in public. This symbolism appears nearly nonexistent today. Maybe a hundred years ago it was different. Barns would display hex signs. Masonic symbols were put on tombstones. Today…nothing at all, or so it seems. However, if we look closely, we actually can see pagan symbolism is widespread, especially in our holidays.
Today is Groundhog Day. If we think about it…what a strange holiday. What is up with that? Groundhog’s Day comes from the Christian celebration of Candlemas, which was adopted by the church to take the place of the pagan celebration of Imbolc. This morning I watched live as the groundhog Punxsutaney Phil was taken out, with great fanfare, to see if he’d see his shadow. Many people were gathered to witness the event, and the press was covering it. Did anyone realize this was all based on a pagan holiday?
OCCULT SYMBOLISM
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:31 am
Thompson Hall, the science building in the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, features a smattering of alchemical symbols on the tiles of one of the floors below the clock tower and on the outside of one building (I can guarantee you a full set of planetary symbols, among other things), interspersed with more modern images. Sort of a recognition of the disciplines’ roots. It’s not quite the same thing, but is that close enough?
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:22 am
Very interesting. I’ll have to do a search online and see if I can find any images of those tiles to check out. I also pay attention to any gargolyes I might see on a building or church. When the weather gets warmer here in Chicago, I will go on a gargoyle hunting trip with camera in hand and try to get some photos of our local gargoyles.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Interesting post! You’re right - I don’t think most people look for things like masonic associations in architecture. I was fortunate to go to college where some of the buildings were from the 19th century but it never occurred to me to look at anything like that until I took an art class and was sent to look at a local cathedral. I haven’t thought about it in years. Thank you for this informative piece. The photos are great as well.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Hi Hrafnkell,
I know an old cemetery that has quite a few gravestones with Masonic symbols on them. Modern cemeteries are boring…I like the old ones with great carvings, statues and character. I’ll post some pictures from this cemetery in the future.
February 27th, 2009 at 3:52 am
Amazing looking detail and symbology in the carvings and building. I can see what you mean by pagan symbology.. Theres heaps of them there.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
That was a great post…I love this site…Thanks
June 12th, 2009 at 3:13 am
Thanks Botelho!
November 7th, 2009 at 6:26 am
George Ellery Hale the man who convinced Charles Yerkes the robber baron of Chicago (called the Goliath of Graft) very much viewed the observatory as a temple to science. So much so that when he built Mt. Wilson years later he called the dormitories for the astronomer monasteries it’s no surprise that mystic symbolism abounded.
November 7th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Hi Stacy, thanks for that insight. I finally got a chance to visit inside the observatory last year for their tour. The tour guide was great, and he even mentioned that some people might take all the symbolism the wrong way. I see the symbolism as quite spiritual in nature, but then science and spirituality have long walked hand in hand until fairly recently. I suspect the architect had more in mind with his design of Yerkes then we know. Why else the Masonic symbols?