- Lux e Tenebris — “Light out of darkness.”
- Veritas et Caritas in Cruce — “Truth and Love in the Cross.”
- Crux Mihi Salus, Rosa Mihi Flos — “The Cross my salvation, the Rose my flower.”
- Ad Fontem Sapientiae — “To the Fountain of Wisdom.”
- Sub Rosa Crucis, in Arcano — “Beneath the Rose of the Cross, in secrecy.”
Grail Mysteries
- In Calice Vita Aeterna — “In the Chalice, eternal life.”
- Sanguis Christi, Lux Mundi — “The Blood of Christ, Light of the World.”
- Calix Cordis — “The Cup of the Heart.”
- Cibus Angelorum, Potus Dei — “Food of Angels, Drink of God.”
- Custos Graalis — “Keeper of the Grail.”
Templar / Knightly Orders
- Non Nobis, Domine, Non Nobis, Sed Nomini Tuo da Gloriam — “Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to Your Name give glory.” (Templar Psalm 115:1)
- In Hoc Signo Vinces — “In this sign, you will conquer.” (Constantinian, used by orders)
- Militia Christi — “Soldiery of Christ.”
- Per Fidem et Gladium — “By Faith and Sword.”
- Custos Templi, Servus Dei — “Guardian of the Temple, Servant of God.”
Hermetic-Alchemical
- Ars Regia — “The Royal Art”
- Aurum in Calice, Rubor in Rosa — “Gold in the Cup, Redness in the Rose.”
Royalty
- Rex est imago Dei → The king is the image of God — Traditional Christian and Hermetic doctrine of divine right.
- Corona est onus, non ornamentum → The crown is a burden, not an ornament — Wisdom of the just ruler; echoes Marcus Aurelius and the Rule of the Grail King.
- Rex servus servorum Dei → The king is servant of the servants of God — The sovereign as high servant, not tyrant.
- Imperare sibi regnum est → To rule oneself is kingship — Seneca; interior mastery as the true foundation of outer rule.
- Rex iustus fundamentum regni → The just king is the foundation of the kingdom — Reflects the esoteric idea that the land and the king are one.
- Non regit, qui non corrigit → He does not rule who does not correct — Medieval saying on the necessity of discipline and order.
- Virtus regis populi salus → The virtue of the king is the salvation of the people — Political theology: royal morality preserves the realm.
- Rex aurum non quaerit, sed lucem → The king seeks not gold, but light — Hermetic-Grail image of the enlightened monarch.
- Sceptrum tenet qui se ipsum regit → He holds the scepter who governs himself — Aphorism of inner sovereignty.
- Cor regis in manu Dei → The heart of the king is in the hand of God — Proverbs 21:1; oft-quoted in coronation rites.
- Maiestas vera est humilitas → True majesty is humility — Paradoxical wisdom of the divine king.
- Rex occultus regit mundum → The hidden king rules the world — Rosicrucian-Grail mystery: the secret sovereign, the veiled ruler.
- Corona datur, non capitur → The crown is given, not taken — Sacred kingship must be bestowed, not seized.
- Sine lege, rex est tyrannus → Without law, a king is a tyrant — Classical Roman axiom; limits to absolute power.
- Solaris rex, lumen mundi → The Solar King, light of the world — From Hermetic-alchemical texts; the King as divine illuminator.
Grail knight aphorisms
- "The once and future king."
- Latin: "Rex quondam rexque futurus"
- Translation: "The king who was and will be"
"The land and the king are one."
- Latin: "Terra et rex unum sunt"
- Translation: "The land and the king are one"
"Whom does the Grail serve?"
- Latin: "Cui servit Graal?"
- Translation: "To whom does the Grail serve?"
"Amor vincit omnia"
- Translation: "Love conquers all"
"Fortuna audaces iuvat”
"Fortune favors the bold"
"In hoc signo vinces"
"By this sign, you will conquer"
"Per ardua ad astra"
- Translation: "Through adversity to the stars"
"Fides et honor"
- Translation: "Faith and honor"
"Lux in tenebris"
- Translation: "Light in darkness"
1. In servitio invenitur regnum
→ In service is found the kingdom.
2. Non sibi, sed Deo et Regi
→ Not for self, but for God and King.
3. Custos Veritatis
→ Guardian of the Truth.
4. Militia est vita hominis super terram
→ The life of man upon the earth is warfare.
5. Per arma ad astra
→ Through arms to the stars.
6. Fides et Fortitudo
→ Faith and Fortitude.
7. Non moriar, sed vivam, et narrabo opera Domini
→ I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.(Psalm 118:17)
8. In silentio et spe erit fortitudo vestra
→ In silence and hope shall be your strength.(Isaiah 30:15)
9. Ad gloriam per crucem
→ To glory through the Cross.
11. Initium sapientiae timor Domini
→ The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.(Psalm 111:10)
12. Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam
→ Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy Name give the glory.(Psalm 115:1)
13. Adveniat regnum tuum
→ Thy Kingdom come.
14. Custodes lucis et tenebrarum
→ Keepers of the light and the shadows.
15. Quis ut Deus?
→ Who is like unto God? (war-cry of Archangel Michael)
Aphorisms of the Rose Cross
"Under the shadow of thy wings, Jehovah."
Sub Rosa Silentium
→ Under the Rose, Silence
Ex Deo Nascimur, In Jesu Morimur, Per Spiritum Sanctum Reviviscimus
→ From God we are born, in Jesus we die, through the Holy Spirit we are reborn
Lux Lucet in Tenebris
→ The Light shines in the darkness
Rosae Crucis Frater Ignotus
→ Unknown Brother of the Rose Cross
Veritas Temporis Filia
→ Truth is the daughter of Time
Temporibus Revelabitur
→ It shall be revealed in its time
Laborare et Contemplari
→ To work and to contemplate
Ad Gloriam Dei et Salutem Hominum
→ To the Glory of God and the Healing of Mankind
Non pro fama, sed pro veritate
→ Not for fame, but for truth
Scientia Sacra, Amor Occultus
→ Sacred Knowledge, Hidden Love
Via Interior, Lux Aeterna
→ The inward path, the eternal light
Ars sine arte, scientia sine scientia, lux sine lumine
→ An art without art, a knowledge without knowledge, a light without light
Qui vocatus non est, videat et taceat
→ He who is not called, let him see and be silent
In Arcana Dei Ingressus Est
→ He has entered into the secrets of God
In Cruce Rosea Floret Silentium
→ In the Rose Cross, Silence blossoms
Vel sanctum inveni, vel sanctum fac.
— “Either find the holy, or make it holy.”
Ad astra per magicas artes
→ To the stars through magical arts
Astro
Coelum est liber vivus → The sky is a living book
Tempus est imago aeternitatis → Time is the image of eternity — From Plato’s Timaeus,
Astra inclinant, non necessitant → The stars incline, they do not compel
In astris scriptum est → It is written in the stars
Astra regunt homines, sed Deus regit astra → The stars rule men, but God rules the stars
In motu caelorum mens divina loquitur → In the motion of the heavens, the divine mind speaks
Per stellas ascendimus → Through the stars, we ascend
Astra sunt scala caelorum → The stars are the ladder of the heavens
Quod est supra, stellis figuratur infra → What is above is traced by the stars below
- Signa caeli narrant gloriam Dei → The signs of the heavens declare the glory of God — From Psalm 19 (Vulgate)
- Zodiacus est rota vitae → The zodiac is the wheel of life
- Ordo caelestis infigitur animae humanae → The celestial order is imprinted upon the human soul
Lore
Liber librum aperit
One book opens another
"Ora, Lege, Lege, Lege, Relege, Labora et Invenies." • "Pray, read, read, read, re-read, work, and you will find.”
Warrior-Monk
Si vis pacem, para bellum → If you wish for peace, prepare for war — Vegetius, De Re Militari
Vita hominis super terram militia est → Man’s life on earth is warfare — Job 7:1 (Vulgate);
Non glorietur accinctus ut discinctus → Let not him who puts on the armor boast like him who takes it off — 1 Kings 20:11 (Vulgate)
Disce pati, disce vincere → Learn to endure, learn to conquer
Ferrum est ultima ratio → The sword is the final argument
Ars belli, ars regni → The art of war is the art of rule
Miles Christi, miles animi → Soldier of Christ, soldier of the soul
Fortes fortuna adiuvat → Fortune favors the bold — Virgil, Aeneid X.284
Spes in gladio, victoria in corde → Hope in the sword, victory in the heart
Imperare sibi maximum est imperium → To command oneself is the greatest empire — Seneca
- Nulla dies sine disciplina → No day without discipline
Morior pro veritate et victoria → I die for truth, and victory
Pro veritate et victoria morior → For truth and victory, I die
The Law
Lex naturae est lex Dei
→ The law of nature is the law of God
— From Roman and Thomistic Natural Law tradition.
Lex iniusta non est lex
→ An unjust law is no law at all
— Augustine, echoed by Aquinas.
Lex scripta non superat legem cordis
→ The written law does not surpass the law of the heart
Verus rex legi Dei obedit
“The true king obeys the law of God”
Discernere est regere
— Wisdom governs through right judgment.
Libertas sine disciplina ruina est
→ Liberty without discipline is ruin
Ordo est imago aeternitatis
→ Order is the image of eternity
Auctoritas nascitur ex veritate
→ Authority is born from truth
Verus magistratus ministrat, non dominatur
→ The true ruler serves, not dominates
Nulla potestas nisi a Deo
→ There is no power but from God
— Romans 13:1
Verus liber est is qui se subicit legi divinae
→ The truly free man is he who submits to divine law
Aphorisms of the Mysteries
Mysteria non revelantur nisi initiatis.
→ The mysteries are not revealed except to the initiated
Sub Rosa Silentium
→ Under the Rose, Silence
Clavis Arcanorum
→ The Key of the Mysteries
Qui scit, tacet. Qui nescit, loquitur.
→ He who knows is silent. He who does not, speaks.
Initium sapientiae silentium est
→ The beginning of wisdom is silence
Mysteria non traduntur nisi mystis
→ The mysteries are not handed down except to the initiated
Arcana Dei non sunt divulganda
→ The secrets of God are not to be divulged
In tenebris absconditur lumen
→ In darkness, the light is hidden
Veritas in enigmate
→ Truth in riddle
Sapientia occulta in parabolas loquitur
→ Hidden wisdom speaks in parables
Omnia mysteria signis teguntur
→ All mysteries are veiled in signs
Scriptum est in corde, non in charta
→ It is written in the heart, not on parchment
Qui caret Clave, strepit extra Templum
→ He who lacks the Key stands clanging outside the Temple
Clavis est Amor, Janua est Mors
→ The Key is Love, the Gate is Death
Mysteria abscondita sunt in simplicibus
→ The mysteries are hidden in the simple things
Venusian Aphorisms
Amor vincit omnia
→ Love conquers all
— Virgil, Eclogues X.69
Pulchritudo est lumen veritatis
→ Beauty is the light of truth
Ludus amoris est ludus dei
→ The game of love is the game of God
Oculi sunt sagittae Veneris
→ The eyes are the arrows of Venus
Flamma amoris accendit animam
→ The flame of love kindles the soul
Tactus est oratio carnis
→ Touch is the prayer of the flesh
Amor est initium sapientiae
→ Love is the beginning of wisdom
Amor est initium et finis sapientiae
Cor regit, non ratio
→ The heart rules, not reason
Aut inveniam viam, aut faciam. I will either find a way, or make one.
Solve et Coagula Dissolve and bind
Ora et Labora Pray and work
Omnia in Omnibus All things in all things
In stercore invenitur It is found in dung
Natura activa laetatur natura passiva The active nature rejoices in the passive nature
Sicut superius, ita inferius As above, so below
Volatile et Fixum The Volatile and the Fixed
Scientia est Potentia Knowledge is Power
Memento Mori Remember you must die
Nuptiae Caeli et Terrae Marriage of Heaven and Earth
Nosce Te Ipsum Know Thyself
Opera Mulieris, Ludus Pueri Woman’s work, child’s play
Visita Interiora Terrae, Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem Visit the interior of the earth, and by rectification you shall find the hidden stone.
Est in Mercurio quicquid quaerunt sapientes In Mercury is everything the wise seek.
In lumine Tuo videbimus lumen In Thy light shall we see light.
Igne Natura Renovatur Integra By fire, nature is wholly renewed.
Astra inclinant, non necessitant The stars incline, they do not compel.
Verbum caro factum est The Word was made flesh.
Spiritus ubi vult spirat The Spirit bloweth where it will.
Lux occultata refulget The hidden light shines forth.
Da quod vis accipere Give what you wish to receive.
Clavis Arcanorum The Key of the Mysteries
Arcanum Magnum est silentium interioris lucis The Great Secret is the silence of the inner light
Per Clavem aperitur Intus Through the Key, the Within is opened
Qui caret Clave, strepit extra Templum He who lacks the Key stands clanging outside the Temple
Mysteria docentur per signa, non verba The Mysteries are taught through signs, not words
Nulla via ad Arcanum nisi per mortem voluntatis There is no path to the Secret but through the death of the will
Clavis est Amor, Janua est Mors The Key is Love, the Gate is Death
Initium Arcanorum est oblivio mundi The beginning of the Mysteries is the forgetting of the world
Sine signo, nihil revelatur Without the sign, nothing is revealed
Mysteria abscondita sunt in simplicibus The mysteries are hidden in the simple things
Templa sibi qui facit, Deum facit He who builds a temple for himself, makes God.
Ubi amor, ibi oculus Where there is love, there is vision.
Ars est celare artem The art is to conceal the art.
Corpus Hermeticum: unus Deus, unus mundus, una mens, unus homo One God, one world, one mind, one man.
Lux in tenebris lucet The light shines in the darkness.
Non moriar sed vivam I shall not die, but live.
Aqua permanens occultat ignem The permanent water conceals the fire.
Clavis scientiae est amor Love is the key of knowledge.
Veritas est filia temporis Truth is the daughter of time.
Intus omnia All things are within.
Crux est porta The Cross is the gate.
Sapientia aedificavit sibi domum Wisdom has built herself a house.
In silentio veritas In silence, truth.
Daemon est Deus inversus The demon is God inverted.
Aurora consurgens ex umbra mortis The dawn rises out of the shadow of death.
Non invidet mortali Deus immortalis The immortal God does not envy the mortal.
Totum in toto, et totum in qualibet parte The whole is in the whole, and the whole is in every part.
Si fixum solvas, facies volatile fixum If you dissolve the fixed, you shall make the volatile fixed.
In principio erat Verbum In the beginning was the Word.
Crux mihi lux The Cross is my light.
Per crucem ad lucem Through the cross to the light.
Fiat voluntas tua Thy will be done.
Veritas liberabit vos The truth shall set you free.
Nulla dies sine linea No day without a line.
Est natura ignis ascendere It is the nature of fire to ascend.
Sic fiat voluntas tua super terram sicut in caelo Let Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Magus est homo Dei minister et mundi moderator The magus is the servant of God and the governor of the world.
Verbum, Lux, Spiritus Word, Light, Spirit.
Fiat Lux Let there be Light.
Per verbum, omnia fiunt Through the Word, all things are made.
Deus est circulus cuius centrum ubique, circumferentia nusquam God is a circle whose center is everywhere and circumference nowhere.
Angeli sunt virtutes Dei manifestatae Angels are the manifested powers of God.
Qui scit veritatem, videt invisibilia He who knows truth sees the invisible.
Nomina sunt virtutes Names are powers.
Nomen sacrum portat potentiam The sacred name bears power.
Hoc fac et vivet anima tua Do this, and thy soul shall live.
Nolite dare sanctum canibus Do not give the sacred to dogs.
Ordo in omnibus rebus est via Dei Order in all things is the way of God.
Sicut Moses fecit omnia secundum exemplar quod ostensum est ei in monte As Moses made all things according to the pattern shown him on the mountain.
Exorcizo te, immunde spiritus, in nomine Dei vivi I exorcise thee, unclean spirit, in the name of the living God.