The Secret Language of Symbols - David Fontana (1993)

The Secret Language of Symbols: A Visual Key to Symbols and Their Meanings 1993, By David Fontana

In this highly readable and vividly illustrated book, best-selling author David Fontana traces the origins of hundreds of symbols and symbol systems that have impacted human culture, art, history, literature, and even dreams. From chakras and the I Ching to the tarot and the zodiac, from mythical beasts to magical numbers, these are the symbols that shape consciousness. Visual artists, students, and soul searchers of every stripe will want to deepen their knowledge of these intriguing icons.

450 full-colour illustrations.

Reviews

e wrote:

Since Jung's Man and His Symbols (Can reseed if wanted, just PM me), several visual glossaries, from Eva Hangen's Symbols, Our Universal Language, to full-text studies by Joseph Campbell, have appeared. Drawing not only from nature, or objects, but sounds, odors, metaphors, gestures, myths, hybrid creatures, mazes, mystical gardens, mandalas, and celestial bodies Fontana (Univ. of Wales) offers the most comprehensive array yet. In this work, enhanced by over 300 color illustrations, he aims to stimulate interest and access to the symbolic world. The work is more than a simple reference tool; opening chapters reflect a Jungian slant that archetypes from the collective unconscious project the power of symbols found in art, meditation, and dreaming. Final chapters describe occult symbolic systems such as Kabbalah, alchemy, tarot, tantra, astrology, and I Ching. Highly recommended.
- Dara Eklund, Los Angeles P.L. - From the Library Journal -

e wrote:

This is a wonderful book that does exactly what it sets out to do. Give the reader a meaning to symbols. Let's realise that today, we are bombarded by signs and symbols, whether they be a bill board hoarding, a washing up powder box or television. What do they all mean? This book lists many examples and although I knew, or rather thought I knew many I found that there were vast numbers I did not and some I was slightly mistaken in this is a book that can be 'dipped' into, in short sharp bursts rather than a marathon trawl though.

Granted that David Fontana cannot go in to vast details, it would take an Encyclopaedia type tome to cover all the bases, he does cover many things and covers them well. It's a very easy book to read and inwardly digest and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

I do feel my fellow reviewer has been 'economical' with his rating of this book in giving it a mere three stars it deserves a good four and only falls short of the magic 5 because no book on this subject could ever be that inclusive and expansive now could it?

All in all, a recommended book, one of those that 'does what it says on the tin' type books. A very good and educational interesting read.
- Mr. Glenn Cook (South Cave, near Hull UK) (Top 1000 Reviewer @ Amazon.co.uk) -

# Paperback: 192 pages
# Publisher: Chronicle Books
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 0811804623
# ISBN-13: 978-0811804622

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To buy (UK) - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Language-Symbols-Visual-Meanings/dp/19032...
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Enjoy learning Con|Cen.

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