Summary: A sacred name tradition represented by four Hebrew letters, often used in religious and mystical symbolism.
Original Text: The Tetragrammaton (TE TRA GRAM MA TON, which in Greek means "the four letters") is the combination of four Hebrew letters forming the ancient Hebrew name of God, YHWH. This name demonstrates God’s self existence and self sufficiency and is linked to how God described himself to Moses.
The term "Tetragrammaton" apparently arose in contradistinction to the divine names containing twelve and forty two letters.
The Tetragrammaton occurs 5,410 times in the Bible.
The symbols:
Circle: the five points of the tetragrammaton draw a circle, also known as a circle of protection. The upper point of the pentagram represents the spirit and governs the four earthly elements: water, fire, earth and air.
Spirit symbolizes the divine and governs the four elements.
Water symbolizes emotions and intuition.
Fire symbolizes courage and daring.
Earth symbolizes resistance and stability.
Air represents intelligence and the arts.
Pentagram: The pentagram represents balance. If it were presented feet up and head down it would represent chaos.
The upper point represents the sign of Jupiter ♃.
Mars symbols ♂ appear in the arms of the pentagram.
Saturn symbol ♄ appears at the foot.
Mercury ☿ Venus ♀ Sun ☉ Moon ☽
Under TE appear 1 and 2 representing the unity of diversity and creative power.
Under TRA appear 1 2 3 representing the trinity.
Other symbols include:
יהוה - the name of God
אָדָם - the name of Adam
כתר - Keter (Crown)
Holy Grail symbol
Staff of the Patriarchs
Flaming Sword
Seal of Solomon
Uroboros
Alpha and Omega
Eye of Horus
Caduceus of Mercury