The Time Machine Symbols Revealed

[ghostworks]

The Time Machine Symbols Revealed

~ by GhostWorks ~

 

 

 

 

In my research I found almost all of these in comprehensive alchemical symbol dictionaries. Here, then, are the symbols defined by their placement on the gearwheel clock (pictured below).

 

12 Copper

1 Sulphur

2 Annealing

3 Mercury

4 Winter

5 Zinc

6 Sun

7 Aqua

8 Oil Essence

9 Neptune

10 Gold

11 Earth

 

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/4WAT/RUSH/RUSH_symbol.jpg

 

 

 

And now, the details:

 

 

 

12 O'Clock

> Copper

The elemental alchemy symbol for copper is also the planetary symbol for Venus. As such, this symbol embodies such characteristics as love, balance, feminine beauty, and artistic creativity.

source > http://www.whats-your-sign.com/elemental-a...my-symbols.html

 

 

1 O'Clock

> Sulphur

Inside gold is the alchemical Sun. Inside the Sun is an active substance, sulfur. Sometimes alchemists equal sulfur with the Sun. Sulfur is the spirit of life. Sulfur is of a two-fold nature: white and red sulfur. White sulfur is the substance of the Great Work at the phase of Whiteness, and red sulfur at the stage of redness.

 

In general sulfur is the symbol for the active principle in the Great Work.

source > http://www.soul-guidance.com/houseofthesun/alchemy_5.htm

 

 

2 O'Clock

> Annealing

Purification by fire

source > http://www.purplehell.com/riddletools/alchemy.htm

 

Also of note: Geddy Lee (Leo) - Leo's element is fire

 

 

3 O'Clock

> Mercury

...alchemists would heat elemental mercury with nitric acid to prepare mercuric oxide. The reaction produced a thick red vapor which hovered over the surface of the solution, while the mercuric oxide precipitated and fell to the bottom of the liquid in the form of bright red crystals. Mercury was believed to transcend the liquid and solid states. The belief carried over into other areas, as mercury was thought to transcend life/death and heaven/earth.

source > http://chemistry.about.com/od/alchemicalsy...a/alchemyhg.htm

 

Also of note: Mercury is the ruling planet of Virgo (both Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart are Virgos)

 

 

4 O'Clock

> Winter

An old Germanic time sign for winter...

source > http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/06/0615.html

 

 

5 O'Clock

> Zinc (AL)

Philosophers' wool, or nix alba (white snow) was zinc oxide made by burning zinc in air.

source > http://www.ancient-symbols.com/alchemy_symbols.html

 

 

6 O'Clock

> Sun (or Gold*)

Often interchangeable - many reference guides show multiple symbols for both and/or same symbols with either name. I'm assuming Sun is what was intended in this case, as Gold is assuredly the 10 O' Clock symbol.

- gw

 

Also of note: Geddy Lee (Leo) - Leo's ruling 'planet' is the Sun

 

 

7 O'Clock

> Aqua or Aquarius

Water, of course.

 

 

8 O'Clock

> Oil Essence

Spagyric is a name given to the production of herbal medicines using alchemical procedures. These procedures involve fermentation, distillation and the extraction of mineral components from the ash of the plant. These processes were in use in medieval alchemy generally for the separation and purification of metals from ores (see Calcination), and salts from brines and other aqueous solutions.

source > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spagyric

 

 

9 O'Clock

> Neptune (also Nirvana)

Neptune, the planet of deception and spiritual enlightenment, rules the oppressed and abandoned: the misfits of society. On a higher level he rules visionaries, and those who are glamorous and charismatic. Neptune represents spirituality, mysticism, and ideals.

source > http://www.astrologycom.com/neptune.html

 

Also: ...Neptune is also supposed to rule plants used for the purpose of intoxication, such as Indian hemp, i.e. marijuana, the coca bush, the opium poppy, the peyote cactus, and the psilocybine mushroom. Anatomically thy symbol rules such bodily functions as the pineal glands and those parts of the nervous system that are sensitive to psychic impulses and related to the aura.

 

Everything with boundaries that are in one way or another undefined or unclear is ruled by this planet, for instance, gases, dreams, fantasy, vague hunches, etc. It is the symbol for escapism, drug intoxication, and glamour, as well as for high ideals and ideal love.

source > http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/05/057.html

 

 

10 O'Clock

> Gold

Gold is one of the seven metals of alchemy (gold, silver, mercury, copper, lead, iron & tin). For the alchemist, it represented the perfection of all matter on any level, including that of the mind, spirit, and soul. The symbol for gold could also be used to represent the sun in astrology.

source > http://www.alchemylab.com/dictionary.htm

 

 

11 O'Clock

> Earth

Earth is one of the Four Elements of alchemy. Earth in the alchemical sense carries the archetypal properties of manifestation, birth, and material creation.

source > www.alchemylab.com/dictionary.htm

 

...earth was associated with dry, cold, and melancholy.

http://chemistry.about.com/od/periodictableelements/ig/Alchemy-Symbols/Earth---Alchemy-Symbol.htm

Also of note: both Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart are Virgos - Virgo's element is Earth

 

 

And:

 

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/4WAT/RUSH/RUSH_symbollogo.jpg

 

The symbol in the Rush logo itself (the letter 'U') is actually the alchemical symbol for Amalgamation.

 

"a mixture, merger or consolidation" and "amalgamation combines mercury and another element..."

 

Also of note: Mercury = Virgo = Peart & Lifeson and Sun = Leo = Lee (so another nod to the 'togetherness' of the band etc.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

... you're welcome.

Edited April 9, 2010 by ghostworks

[The Cat 3]

Thanks...

 

...and my wife calls me a Rush fanatic.

 

All I have to do is show her this post and she'll finally understand that I'm not the only crazy one.

 

Seriously, thanks, this is very interesting.

 

~Cheers,

 

RGLT

[Skin Bag]

Thanks GhostWorks, I knew there would be someone here who could read my mind.

[Jaye]

Nice work!

[ghostworks]

QUOTE (ReGorLaTroy @ Apr 9 2010, 06:52 PM)

Thanks... ...and my wife calls me a Rush fanatic. All I have to do is show her this post and she'll finally understand that I'm not the only crazy one. Seriously, thanks, this is very interesting. ~Cheers, RGLT

 

[shaun3701]

do you think they actually took all that into consideration when designing it, or did it just "look cool"? lol

[Ultra]

It is very interesting symbolism, but I have to roll my eyes at some of the descriptions of these elements. Very nice find though.

[HigherWater]

QUOTE (ghostworks @ Apr 9 2010, 06:47 PM)

The Time Machine Symbols Revealed ~ by GhostWorks ~ In my research I found almost all of these in comprehensive alchemical symbol dictionaries. Here, then, are the symbols defined by their placement on the gearwheel clock (pictured below). 12 Copper 1 Sulphur 2 Annealing 3 Mercury 4 Winter 5 Zinc 6 Sun 7 Aqua 8 Oil Essence 9 Neptune 10 Gold 11 Earth http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/4WAT/RUSH/RUSH_symbol.jpg And now, the details: 12 O'Clock > Copper The elemental alchemy symbol for copper is also the planetary symbol for Venus. As such, this symbol embodies such characteristics as love, balance, feminine beauty, and artistic creativity. source > http://www.whats-your-sign.com/elemental-a...my-symbols.html 1 O'Clock > Sulphur Inside gold is the alchemical Sun. Inside the Sun is an active substance, sulfur. Sometimes alchemists equal sulfur with the Sun. Sulfur is the spirit of life. Sulfur is of a two-fold nature: white and red sulfur. White sulfur is the substance of the Great Work at the phase of Whiteness, and red sulfur at the stage of redness. In general sulfur is the symbol for the active principle in the Great Work. source > http://www.soul-guidance.com/houseofthesun/alchemy_5.htm 2 O'Clock > Annealing Purification by fire source > http://www.purplehell.com/riddletools/alchemy.htm Also of note: Geddy Lee (Leo) - Leo's element is fire 3 O'Clock > Mercury ...alchemists would heat elemental mercury with nitric acid to prepare mercuric oxide. The reaction produced a thick red vapor which hovered over the surface of the solution, while the mercuric oxide precipitated and fell to the bottom of the liquid in the form of bright red crystals. Mercury was believed to transcend the liquid and solid states. The belief carried over into other areas, as mercury was thought to transcend life/death and heaven/earth. source > http://chemistry.about.com/od/alchemicalsy...a/alchemyhg.htm Also of note: Mercury is the ruling planet of Virgo (both Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart are Virgos) 4 O'Clock > Winter An old Germanic time sign for winter... source > http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/06/0615.html 5 O'Clock > Zinc (AL) Philosophers' wool, or nix alba (white snow) was zinc oxide made by burning zinc in air. source > http://www.ancient-symbols.com/alchemy_symbols.html 6 O'Clock > Sun (or Gold*) Often interchangeable - many reference guides show multiple symbols for both and/or same symbols with either name. I'm assuming Sun is what was intended in this case, as Gold is assuredly the 10 O' Clock symbol. - gw Also of note: Geddy Lee (Leo) - Leo's ruling 'planet' is the Sun 7 O'Clock > Aqua or Aquarius Water, of course. 8 O'Clock > Oil Essence Spagyric is a name given to the production of herbal medicines using alchemical procedures. These procedures involve fermentation, distillation and the extraction of mineral components from the ash of the plant. These processes were in use in medieval alchemy generally for the separation and purification of metals from ores (see Calcination), and salts from brines and other aqueous solutions. source > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spagyric 9 O'Clock > Neptune (also Nirvana) Neptune, the planet of deception and spiritual enlightenment, rules the oppressed and abandoned: the misfits of society. On a higher level he rules visionaries, and those who are glamorous and charismatic. Neptune represents spirituality, mysticism, and ideals. source > http://www.astrologycom.com/neptune.html Also: ...Neptune is also supposed to rule plants used for the purpose of intoxication, such as Indian hemp, i.e. marijuana, the coca bush, the opium poppy, the peyote cactus, and the psilocybine mushroom. Anatomically thy symbol rules such bodily functions as the pineal glands and those parts of the nervous system that are sensitive to psychic impulses and related to the aura. Everything with boundaries that are in one way or another undefined or unclear is ruled by this planet, for instance, gases, dreams, fantasy, vague hunches, etc. It is the symbol for escapism, drug intoxication, and glamour, as well as for high ideals and ideal love. source > http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/05/057.html 10 O'Clock > Gold Gold is one of the seven metals of alchemy (gold, silver, mercury, copper, lead, iron & tin). For the alchemist, it represented the perfection of all matter on any level, including that of the mind, spirit, and soul. The symbol for gold could also be used to represent the sun in astrology. source > http://www.alchemylab.com/dictionary.htm 11 O'Clock > Earth Earth is one of the Four Elements of alchemy. Earth in the alchemical sense carries the archetypal properties of manifestation, birth, and material creation. source > www.alchemylab.com/dictionary.htm ...earth was associated with dry, cold, and melancholy. http://chemistry.about.com/od/periodictableelements/ig/Alchemy-Symbols/Earth---Alchemy-Symbol.htm Also of note: both Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart are Virgos - Virgo's element is Earth And: http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/4WAT/RUSH/RUSH_symbollogo.jpg The symbol in the Rush logo itself (the letter 'U') is actually the alchemical symbol for Amalgamation. "a mixture, merger or consolidation" and "amalgamation combines mercury and another element..." Also of note: Mercury = Virgo = Peart & Lifeson and Sun = Leo = Lee (so another nod to the 'togetherness' of the band etc.) ... you're welcome.

As Dennis DeYoung would say:

 

"Too much time on my hands.

Too much time on my hands.

Too much time on my (Beeeeeewwwwwww)."

 

Thanks dude. That was cool. Good work, seriously.

 

HW

[Mara]

I did sort of wonder about those. Thanks.

(And I kind of want a clock like that).

[Some Half-Forgotten Stranger]

<cough>nerd

 

[Chrysalii]

Cool.

I was wondering what the clock was all about, just didn't have the time (I was lazy) to do it.

[Rolinda Bonz]

almost Neptune time! go misfits!

 

its also bedtime

[Andrew1]

I've been working on this too but I was way off. In my research, all I found out was that the band hated cat-scratching posts and Sham-Wows. Alchemical symbols. I should have known. I thought it was ancient Hebrew sanscript.

 

How did you even know where to start looking? How did you know it was alchemy? I thought that science was long dead. I'm guessing that you probably have your own time machine that you invented.

 

Good work though. I wonder if Rush had a bet going on how long it would take before someone deciphered it all?

 

[tel]

tip.....get a girlfriend,go out and have some fun!

[Hatchetaxe&saw]

And they say drinking whiskey is bad for you.

 

 

BRAVO GHOSTWORKS!!

[sdhonda]

Thanks you Ghostworks.

 

And now we can deduce from this, that they will indoubtably be playing The Fountain of Lamneth in full.

[different strings]

Very interesting and nice find Ghostworks.

[Gompers]

QUOTE (Jaye @ Apr 9 2010, 08:00 PM)

Nice work!

Absolutely! Me thinks this dude has a future in research.

[Khan]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/KublaKhan/cool-wht_e0.gif thanks!

[tangy]

[Ya_Big_Tree]

Maybe these are the song titles for the new album.

[PumpkinHead]

Ghosty,

 

Pumpy thinks you blow pineapple chunks!

 

And you can definitely pound some salt & sand!

 

Shalom, Clock-Boy

[sundog]

Veddy Intahresting!

 

[Arleen2112]

Interesting!

[tangy]

it look like the clock spins, maybe instead of the hands moving?

 

maybe i missed something but do we do who is doing this artwork? Is it Hugh?