The Hermetic Rose Cross is a very old mystical symbol. It is made up of two rosy crosses united into one. The small cross in the center represents man, the microcosm; the large cross represents the macrocosm. On each of the four ends of the large cross, the three alchemical symbols: mercury, sulphur, and salt are inscribed. At the top of the cross mercury is placed in the center, sulphur on the left, and salt on the right. On the other end the symbols have been inscribed according to esoteric tradition. Each arm also has a five sided pentagram, representing the Rosy Cross itself. The wheel at the top of each pentagram represents quintessence; the small triangle on the left pointing downward with a line parallel to the base symbolizes the earth; the triangle above with a line parallel to the base but with the point upward, represents air; the upper triangle on the right of the pentagram, with the point downward, symbolizes water; the lower small triangle on right, with the point upwards, represents fire.
On the lower arm of the cross, below the large rose, is a hexagram-symbol of the macrocosm-composed of two interlaced triangles. here is also inscribed the six planets, according to the ancient tradition: at the bottom is the moon, at its right is Venus, followed by Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and Mercury. At the center of the hexagram is the Sun. The arrangements of these symbols conforms to certain Cabalistic rituals. The lower end of the longest arm is divided into four sections by two diagonal lines. these sections are colored according to the four colors of Malkuth of the Cabalistic "Tree of Life". The four sets of three rays which extend outward from the center of the large cross symbolize Divine Light. The letters inscribed on each large center ray combine into INRI, which combination represents a Latin motto meaning "Nature is completely renewed by fire". The letters on the smaller rays represents names of Latin, Egyptian, and Greek origin. The petals of the large rose on the cross are twenty-two and represent the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew Cabalistic alphabet. The outer circle of twelve petals represents the twelve single letters of this alphabet, and also the twelve signs of the Zodiac. The next circle of seven petals symbolizes the seven double letters and also the seven astrological planets. The innermost circle of three petals represents the three
Mother-letters-air, fire, and water. At the center of the large rose is the microcosmic rose cross, an unfolded cube with five-petaled rose at its center. Four barbs emerge from behind this cross, pointing into the four directions in space. This Encyclopedic Rose Cross is a very important symbol to Rosicrucians and all students of Mysticism.
