The Charubel Degree Symbols #
The Charubel Symbols were produced by John Thomas (1828-1908), a Welsh clairvoyant who used the pen name “Charubel.” His system, published in 1898, consists of 360 symbolic descriptions — one for each degree of the zodiac — derived through clairvoyant perception rather than traditional correspondence or intellectual construction. Thomas claimed to have perceived these images through an inner vision when meditating on each degree in sequence.
Character and Style #
The Charubel Symbols are notable for their brevity, directness, and sometimes startling imagery. Unlike the more poetic Sabian Symbols or the elaborate Kozminsky descriptions, Charubel’s entries are typically short — often a single sentence describing a simple, vivid image. Their quality ranges from the mundane to the arresting, and some entries carry a moral or evaluative tone that reflects the Victorian-era context of their production.
Examples of the Charubel style:
- “A man in armor, with sword drawn” (direct, martial)
- “A field of ripe corn” (agricultural, abundant)
- “A dark, dismal cave” (stark, atmospheric)
The directness of these images can be both a strength and a limitation. The simplicity makes them easy to use as meditation prompts — there is little interpretive apparatus to navigate. But the same simplicity means they sometimes lack the layered richness that more elaborate systems provide.
Origins and Context #
Charubel (John Thomas) was a practicing clairvoyant in late 19th-century Wales, working within the broader Victorian tradition of psychic research and occult exploration. His degree symbols were published alongside La Volasfera in Sepharial’s compilations, creating the first widely available degree symbol reference in English-language astrology.
The clairvoyant origin of the symbols means they carry a distinctive quality — they were not constructed through intellectual reasoning or traditional correspondence but perceived through altered states of consciousness. This gives them an unpredictable quality that distinguishes them from more systematically constructed symbol sets. Whether one regards this origin as enhancing or undermining their value depends on one’s relationship with clairvoyant claims.
Working With the Charubel Symbols #
The Charubel Symbols work best when approached with simplicity matching their own. The image is meant to be held in mind as a meditation — not analyzed for hidden meaning but allowed to evoke associations through contemplation. The individual looks up the symbol for their Sun degree (or any significant degree) and sits with the image, noticing what responses it produces.
The symbols can be used alone or compared with the Sabian and other systems for the same degree. Where multiple systems converge on a similar quality, the convergence may be worth noting. Where they diverge — which is frequent — the comparison itself can be informative, revealing the range of possible associations that a single zodiacal degree can carry.
Guiding Questions #
- Have you looked up the Charubel Symbol for your Sun degree? Does the image resonate, surprise, or leave you indifferent?
- How do you respond to symbols derived from clairvoyant perception rather than intellectual construction? Does the origin affect how you use them?
- When you compare the Charubel Symbol for a degree with the Sabian Symbol, do the images complement each other or point in different directions?
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