If one were to define the New Age movement in the most basic of ways, it would be this; "The New Age movement is nothing more than the secret teachings of the occult made public." In reality, the New Age movement and the occult are the same–a cosmic journey to attain "perfection" through special knowledge and secretive practices–in other words, it is the ongoing quest to become "divine."

To publicly communicate this spiritual quest, the occult world employs the use of symbols. And while most of these symbols are many centuries old, their meanings have remained the same. What makes this especially disturbing is that the "marks" of occultism can be found throughout our modern culture, yet we no longer recognize their spiritual implications. However, just because the average person doesn’t know the meaning of occult symbols, it in no way negates their significance. As Manly P. Hall stated, "They are centers of a mighty force, figures pregnant with an awful power…"

The fact remains; occult symbols have never lost their meaning. Today, New Agers and practitioners of the occult still employ their use, just as mystics have throughout the ages.

This article is part six of a multipart series on occult symbolism.

In Genesis 28, we find Jacob resting for the night while journeying from Beersheba to Haran. While asleep, he dreamt of a stairway (or ladder) resting on the earth with its top reaching to heaven, and upon this stairway angels were ascending and descending. At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and He spoke to Jacob, promising to him the very land he was sleeping on, and also that his descendents would multiply throughout the earth and be a blessing to the nations. It’s a famous event, one in which God’s promise of blessing was to have generational ramifications.

Unfortunately, the story of Jacob’s dream meeting with God has been allegorized and symbolized by the occult. In the occult interpretation, Jacob’s ladder represents mankind’s motivating force to ascend to a higher state of consciousness. It also represents the step-by-step realization of divine truth, and the advancement of man’s spiritual path towards divine enlightenment.

The case of Jacob’s ladder is a prime example of the clash that occurs between Christian truth and occult allegory. Sadly, Biblical events and stories have been twisted by occultists for centuries, offering interpretations that seek to keep man in the bondage of Satan’s lies. Often this lie is nothing more than the same one given by the serpent in Genesis chapter three; "you will be like God…"

(This picture of Jacob’s ladder–with the letters "C" "H" and "F," representing charity, hope and faith–is of Masonic origin.)

The "key" symbol is used in a variety philosophical schools. As stated in previous articles in this series, it’s important to recognize the context in which the symbol is being used. Simply seeing a "key" by itself isn’t necessarily something of concern. However, the key symbol as used within the New Age movement is interlaced within occult philosophy. Keep in mind: context is crucial.

Within the New Age, the key represents those properties which unlock the mystical "wisdom" of the occult. It also represents the unlocking of "latent physic powers," thereby opening the doors to the world of the supernatural. In Freemasonry, the symbol of the key is used to convey the importance of the order’s secrets, which are to be kept within the brotherhood alone. The key shown here is the symbol used to represent the fourth degree of Freemasonry.

The lightening bolts as pictured below are fashioned in the form of the Sig rune (Siegrune). Runes are symbolic alphabet inscriptions from ancient Norse and Teutonic cultures. These signs have ascribed to them mystical, magical, and divinatory properties, and it is believed that their power can be released by the etching of runic phrases and inscriptions upon metal, stone, bone, or wood.

During the Germanic era of National Socialism (Nazism), the double Sig rune was used as a symbol of Heinrich Himmler’s devastating Schutzstaffel military order–better known as the SS. The Sig rune represented the sun and victory, and was ascribed to the Scandinavian god Thor, who was in charge of lightening, thunder, and wind. Thor was depicted as a dynamic god, with power and great strength. Likewise, Himmler’s SS was designed around these same spiritual principles. The fact that Himmler drew upon occult symbols shouldn’t be surprising–the entire NAZI experience was steeped in occult lore, tradition, and philosophy. (NOTE: Himmler was the chief of all the Nazi security forces, head of the SS, and organizer of the concentration camp system. He was also an occultist, forming his SS around mystical traditions. The monstrosities of Himmler should be seen for what they are; stark example of the intent and result of a society steeped in the occult–the end is always death, destruction, and unspeakable horror.)

Lightening, expressed as "thunderbolts," are also associated with the god Zeus. As "father of the gods" in Greek mythology, he hurled thunderbolts which caused storms and death. Occult practitioners of the Greek mysteries and "heroic magic" view the thunderbolt as a specialized form of energy. In one particular handbook on heroic magic, the author points out that this energy should be applied to "bringing down old spiritual edifices to make room for new and more expansive modes of cosmic consciousness."

Keep in mind that lightening, like the key symbol, must be understood in the context it’s found in. I happen to love thunderstorms and lightening displays. The intensity of a lightening storm is practically unmatched in terms of awe and wonder; with this in mind, it’s a shame that mankind uses God’s wonderful creation to focus attention on what’s demonic and evil.

Alas, the lotus symbol is another example of God’s creation being used as an expression of occult knowledge. The white lotus flower is used in Buddhism and theosophy to convey the idea of purity and divine birth. According to occult philosophy, the heart of man is like an unopened lotus; when one embraces the virtues of Buddha, then the heart opens like the lotus–clean and beautiful. This is why various pictures of the Buddha show him sitting on an opened lotus flower.

Various attributes are given to different colored lotus flowers. Within Buddhism, the red lotus represents love and compassion, the blue wisdom and knowledge, the purple lotus is mystical in nature, and the pink lotus is reserved for the highest divine being.

The lotus is also seen as an ancient Egyptian symbol, appearing with royalty and Egyptian gods. Legend has it that Ra, the supreme deity of the Egyptian pantheon, first appeared on the Nile river as beautiful child resting on a huge blue lotus flower.

As an occult symbol, the lotus flower can be found in Buddhist and theosophical circles. This includes temples, publications, New Age catalogs, and various eastern art work.

As previously stated, it’s a shame that God’s marvelous creation is used to portray occult knowledge. The fact of this perversion demonstrates how man–apart from Jesus Christ–will embrace the darkness even while employing His beautiful handy-work. As followers of Jesus Christ, we need to show true Christian love towards those now bound by the lies of Satan. Only Jesus can set them free.

Continue to pray for those who worship the creation rather than the Creator. Pray that the Holy Spirit will break the bonds of New Age and occult philosophies, revealing the real condition of the human heart–sinful and in need of forgiveness.