René Guénon

Symbols of Sacred Science

Published: 1962

A comprehensive exploration of traditional symbolism as a universal language connecting various traditions and metaphysical principles.

Chapters

Ch. 0

Introduction

Ch. 1

Editor's Foreword

Ch. 2

The Reform of the Modern Mentality

Ch. 3

Spirit and Intellect

Ch. 4

The Eternal Ideas

Ch. 5

Word and Symbol

Ch. 6

The Sacred Heart and the Legend of the Holy Grail

Ch. 7

The Holy Grail

Ch. 8

Tradition and the Unconscious

Ch. 9

The Science of Letters ('Ilm al-hurūf)

Ch. 10

The Language of the Birds

Ch. 11

The Idea of the Centre in the Traditions of Antiquity

Ch. 12

Symbolic Flowers

Ch. 13

The Triple Precinct of the Druids

Ch. 14

The Guardians of the Holy Land

Ch. 15

The Land of the Sun

Ch. 16

The Zodiac and the Cardinal Points

Ch. 17

The Tetraktys and the Square of Four

Ch. 18

A Hieroglyph of the Pole

Ch. 19

The Black Heads

Ch. 20

The Letter G and the Swastika

Ch. 21

Some Aspects of the Symbolism of Janus

Ch. 22

The Hieroglyph of Cancer

Ch. 23

Seth

Ch. 24

On the Significance of Carnivals

Ch. 25

Some Aspects of the Symbolism of the Fish

Ch. 26

The Mysteries of the Letter Nūn

Ch. 27

The Wild Boar and the Bear

Ch. 28

Thunderbolts

Ch. 29

Symbolic Weapons

Ch. 30

The Sword of Islam (Sayf al-Islām)

Ch. 31

The Symbolism of Horns

Ch. 32

The Cave and the Labyrinth

Ch. 33

The Heart and the Cave

Ch. 34

The Mountain and the Cave

Ch. 35

The Heart and the World Egg

Ch. 36

The Cave and the World Egg

Ch. 37

The Exit from the Cave

Ch. 38

The Solstitial Gates

Ch. 39

The Symbolism of the Zodiac Among the Pythagoreans

Ch. 40

The Solstitial Symbolism of Janus

Ch. 41

Concerning the Two Saint Johns

Ch. 42

The Symbolism of the Dome

Ch. 43

The Dome and the Wheel

Ch. 44

The Narrow Gate

Ch. 45

The Octagon

Ch. 46

The Cornerstone

Ch. 47

'Lapsit exillis'

Ch. 48

Gathering What Is Scattered

Ch. 49

The Black and the White

Ch. 50

Black Stone and Cubic Stone

Ch. 51

Brute Stone, Hewn Stone

Ch. 52

Symbols of Analogy

Ch. 53

The World Tree

Ch. 54

The Tree and the Vajra

Ch. 55

The Tree of Life and the Draught of Immortality

Ch. 56

The Symbolism of the Ladder

Ch. 57

The Eye of the Needle

Ch. 58

Traversing the Waters

Ch. 59

The Seven Rays and the Rainbow

Ch. 60

Janua Cœli

Ch. 61

Käla-mukha

Ch. 62

Light and Rain

Ch. 63

The Chain of the Worlds

Ch. 64

The Roots of Plants

Ch. 65

The Symbolism of the Bridge

Ch. 66

The Bridge and the Rainbow

Ch. 67

The Chain of Union

Ch. 68

Frameworks and Labyrinths

Ch. 69

The 'Sign of Four'

Ch. 70

Bonds and Knots

Ch. 71

The Radiating Heart and the Flaming Heart

Ch. 72

Heart and Brain

Ch. 73

The All-Seeing Eye

Ch. 74

The Mustard Seed

Ch. 75

The Ether in the Heart

Ch. 76

The Divine City