Alchemical
Picture of CJB

The Six Elemental Symbols

If you’ve been following the events of The Search for Magiq, then you know that all six alchemical symbols for the magimystic elements have finally been conjured and revealed in-world.

This was a project that started way back in November of last year, and it was the first creative prompt project for the new forum and you all contributed so many cool ideas and concepts. @AGCatherine, our friend and artist Sunny, and I were so inspired by your ideas and creations and I bet you can see a lot of references and homages throughout the designs.

Here’s the complete set:

Below, I’ll break down the recurring themes and imagery in them, then discuss them one by one:

The Primary Circle:

The primary circle in each symbol is representative of the respective element’s place around the chronocompass or within the magimystic self. Light has one primary circle, Aether two, Ore three, all the way to the six primary circles making up The Wilds. 

Staves & Circles:

In addition to the primary circle theme, there’s also a motif of six alternating circles and “staves” that compliment the designs and represent their place in a whole (and the magimystic number 6.) Each symbol has either six smaller circles or six staves. Light has an ornamental circle on each “ray” extending from the main circle, Aether has six staves where the circles join. Ore circles, Tides staves, and so on. They have a purpose and reason but I leave that open to you creating and coming up with your own concepts.

Peer Elements:

Finally, each symbol has a “peer” or sister element that has similar design aspects. Ore and The Wilds have a similar “nucleus shape.” Aether and Thought are more horizontally expansive, while The Tides and Light expand in all directions, filling the space.

Light & The House of Exploration:

The lines are not-so-subtle hints at rays of light. The arrowhead directional markers point outward, hinting at expansion, exploration, momentum, and also horizons and dawn.

Aether & The House of Humanity:

We went with a subtle visual representation of sound waves. Two “voices” crossing a horizontal plane and intersecting, fusing. The “funnel” on each end of the design gives a sense of things/ideas/places moving from a distance, but coming together.

Ore & The House of Creation:

The evocation of an atom, the source of all creation. The “funnels” on the outer edge in this instance represent ideas and concepts coming from everywhere and becoming something new within the nucleus.

The Tides & The House of Purpose:

The layout of the circles hints at a distant horizon, and if you look closely, five moons, including a crescent moon, are represented, the source of the tidal push and pull.

Thought & The House of Reflection:

We’re playing with the idea of stray ideas or reflections as spheres of thought; merging, coalescing, becoming new ideas, and the look of something similar to sonar pings revealing hidden depths. Like ripples on water.

The Wild & The House of Change:

Six circles become a kind of geometric bloom, and six staves evoke thorns on branches or vines on the top of the design, with unbalanced negative space below. The asymmetry of chaos.

I’m so happy with them and very proud of how they came to be and came together.

Thoughts? Observations? Wild speculation? Share them below!

20 Comments

  1. I really enjoy Thought. This’ll probably sound worse than I mean, but it reminds me of a cartoon xman interpretation of telepathy or another psychic power where it’s a series of expanding circles going out from their mind. I don’t mean it’s silly, but I saw that and immediately said ‘That’s Thought’ when I saw it. I love it.

    Tides definitely gives off a moon and horizon feel. Spot on.

    My own preference is (as usual) for The Wild . I really like your description of the asymmetry of chaos. On one hand it’s unbalanced. On the other hand, half has something, and half has nothing, so that’s balanced in it’s own way. And in the center of the crazy is something beautiful that just emerges from it.

  4. Oh, man, there are embroidery projects in my future! I love the sacred geometry feel of the Wild. I keep wanting to find ways to line them up and overlap them, like some sort of magimystic microscope or navigational tool.

    I get a major Dark Crystal vibe from all of them, but Tides and Ore in particular, with the triangular and planetary forms. I keep hearing Aughra: “The Great Conjunction is THE END OF THE WORLD! Or the beginning.”

  8. I love how each one directly reflects how the elements act and are a direct representation of each one. The explanations really help tie it all together

  10. Well, the tattoo itch is real… Guess I know where my next ink-spiration is coming from.

    I love the archetypal feel of these – simple and deep. I can imagine these being drawn on cave walls, or carved into tree trunks to help guide people toward their Guild before Guide had manifested physically… Or maybe as part of the Guide’s manifestation into physical reality.

    I love the “peer element” aspect, and second @Sorrel in seeing sacred geometry and wanting to overlay them :laughing:

    I look forward to seeing what part they play in the narrative moving forward!!!

  11. has a sudden urge to draw these on my hands

    Can’t do that though, because Small Town with Fear of the Occult. I’m already a “bad influence on The Children” for wearing black. Just imagine if I brought -gasp- Witchcraft into the mix! The horror! scandalized housewife face

    Seriously though, I really like the explanations behind all these and can’t wait to play with them/wear them. Because I Will be wearing these at some point.

    1. Gel pens + forearm + longsleeves = wicthy rune temp tattoos. Used to do stuff like that all the time while I was in school. Totally with you with the urge to do it again with there :smiley:

  13. This defined my adolescence! We all drew on ourselves so much the school banned Gellyrollers. :joy:

Leave a Reply

[bbp-topic-form]