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How to Calculate Your Glyph

A glyph is a symbol, typically one that stands for some substance or entity, such as a planet. For example, a triangle is the traditional alchemical glyph for fire. In recent years, some people have taken to creating glyphs -- more properly called sigils -- to stand for their own names. There are several ways to construct sigils, of which possibly the most popular requires the use of the Rose Cross Lamen, a symbol used by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn that contains a special arrangement of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

Things You'll Need

A copy of the Rose Cross Lamen, or at least the portion of the lamen that contains letters, in Hebrew or English
Onionskin or transparent paper
Corrugated cardboard backing
Pushpins
Ruler
Pen or marker

Instructions

- 1
  Decide whether you will use the Hebrew or English form of your name. Some people feel that the Hebrew form is somehow more traditional. If you do not know Hebrew, and wish to use the Hebrew form of your name, you will need someone knowledgeable in that language to help you with the spelling of your name.
- 2
  Print or photocopy the Rose Cross Lamen in the language of your choice. The Rose Cross Lamen can be found in Israel Regardie's The Golden Dawn in Hebrew, and in Donald Michael Kraig's Modern Magick in Hebrew and English. It is reproduced on the Internet on several sites, including Tom DeLiso's diagram on Wisdomsdoor/Reality Creator Books.
- 3
  Place the paper containing the Rose Cross Lamen on the cardboard backing. Lay a blank piece of onionskin or transparent paper over the Rose Cross Lamen. Use pushpins to hold these pages in place.
- 4
  Using the pen or marker, mark the first letter of your name with a small circle at the appropriate place on the onionskin or transparent paper, corresponding to the location of that letter on the Rose Cross Lamen. Draw a straight line segment from the circle to the location of the second letter, keeping your pen on the paper, then draw a straight line segment from the location of the second letter to the location of the third letter, and so on to the last letter of your name. Draw a very short perpendicular line segment at the location of your last name, so that your symbol ends in a "T" shape.

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