Associated with occult circles, the Unicursal Hexagram blends deep meanings with simplicity. Symbolizing unity and transformation, it bridges the material and spiritual, the micro and macrocosm. At its core, it is a six-pointed star traced by a single continuous line. However, there’s much more to it, as it holds significance in Occulture, science, and mainstream.

In this one, we’ll explore:

  1. The symbol’s depth and connection to Qabalistic philosophical and spiritual systems.
  2. And most important, the technology the Unicursal Hexagram provides for magick.
  3. Why it may be the mightiest symbol in Western Magick.

For convenience, we’ll split that into two main parts:

  • Background and significance;
  • Modifications and technology;

Definition

Related to mathematics, the term unicursal is a combination of uni, the Latin ‘cursus’ (or course), and al.

It first appears in the nineteenth century. And Its definitions include:

  1. Having coordinates expressible rationally through a single parameter, as opposed to bicursal.
  2. A curve or surface that is closed and can be drawn or swept out in a single movement.

Mathematics

Similar to the traditional form, in mathematics, the Unicursal Hexagram displays the unity of two equilateral triangles. It can be seen as a reflection, alluding to the principle of As Above, So Below.

Due to its disproportionate rays, some view the Unicursal Hexagram as more of a hyperbola — a shape resembling two open, curvy lines that get further apart as they go out. It’s comparable to an infinity symbol, where the curves never meet. More on that by the end.

Union

Like the traditional, the Unicursal Hexagram represents the union of opposites.

  • Fire-Water;
  • Male-Female, etc.

Actually, this is what traditional Golden Dawn hexagrams consist of:

  • Fire and Water triangles.

The Golden Dawn doesn’t employ the Unicursal Hexagram. It utilizes its Elemental or ‘broken’ hexagrams for its Lesser and Supreme Hexagrams, manuals on which you can find on my store.

ARARITA

Like the regular, the Unicursal Hexagram represents the six classic planets around the sun. It maps onto the Tree of Life, identically covering their sephiroth, with Da’ath representing Binah. This order is ruled by the divine name ARARITA, which is a notarikon for:

“One is his beginning. One is his individuality. His permutation is one.”

In The Magick of Thelema/Aleister Crowley, Lon Milo Duquette points to Crowley’s Star Sapphire as the best explication of ARARITA:

“The use of this Name and Formula is to equate and identify every idea with its opposite, thus being released from the obsession of thinking any one of them as true (and therefore binding one can withdraw oneself from the whole sphere of the Ruach…).”

— Aleister Crowley, Star Sapphire

Thelema

The Unicursal Hexagram has great significance in Thelema. In that context, it usually has a five-petaled rose in the center. Associated with the Rosy Cross, this (again) symbolizes the union of the micro and macrocosm.

In The Book of Thoth, Crowley says:

“It has always been declared impossible to draw a unicursal hexagram; but this has now been accomplished. The lines, however, are strictly Euclidean; they have no breath.”

Using unicursal hexagrams, the Star Sapphire is considered Crowley’s greatest contribution to Western Occultism and Thelema. Since I don’t have experience with it, I cannot comment on it. So, let’s proceed to the more exciting part.

Modifications

When rebuilding the Golden Dawn into the system of A.’.A.’. (Astrum Argentum), Crowley transformed the traditional Supreme into a Greater Hexagram employing a single Earth or Saturn Hexagram. A further adjustment uses the Unicursal Hexagram, including:

  • Saturn hexagrams for the Lesser or general banishings and invocations, as Saturn is the thirty-second path of the four elements, the Universe card.
  • Corresponding Sephirotic hexagrams for the Greater, working with specific forces, i.e., paths, sephiroth, and signs.

Now. Let’s recall that Lesser means general, whereas Greater and Supreme translate into specific.

Different strokes for different folks

Thelemic Scholar David Shoemaker incorporates that slightly by replacing only the traditional Solar Hexagram, which (otherwise) implies tracing all others one after another.

In his Opening By Watchtower book — Ceremonial Magic, Regardie advocates using a unicursal Lesser Hexagram.

“Use the unicursal Hexagram only; the other forms are superfluous.”

— Israel Regardie. Ceremonial Magic

Whether you decide to do so, my store has an interesting modification of OBW.

Tracing

Traditional Hexagrams trace their first triangle from the point associated with the force, the second at the opposite. They go clockwise to invoke and counterclockwise to banish.

  • Fоr Jupiter, it is Chessed, followed by Hod;
  • For Mars, Geburah followed by Netzach;

Reflections

The Tree Diagram is largely based on reflections. It may turn out that the Unicursal Hexagram embodies this dynamic better. One reason is that the mentioned hexagrams utilize its crossing lines or the exact paths through which Chessed and Geburah emanate to Hod and Netzach.

  • 20 – Hermit Virgo Yud;
  • 26 – Devil Capricorn Ayin;
  • 22 – Adjustment Libra Lamed;
  • 24 – Death Scorpio Nun;

Emphasized by the method of invoking toward and banishing from the point associated with the force, this (also) alludes to the Qabalistic triads or triangles.

The Astral triangle mirrors the Ethical, with Tiphereth as a synthesis of Chessed and Geburah, while Yesod, the personal subconscious, is properly directed only when Hod and Netzach collaborate.

Perfection in Duplicates

Invented by MacGregor Mathers and adopted by Thelema for pentagrams in the Unicursal Hexagram, the ‘invoke toward and banish from the point’ method repeats several forms, excluding names, sigils, and colors. Namely:

  • Invoking Mars Geburah is the same as banishing Venus Netzach.
  • Invoking Jupiter Chessed, the same as banishing Mercury Hod.

In the pentagram, this is often viewed as an imperfection, as invoking water is also banishing air and vice versa. In the Unicursal Hexagram, invoking toward and banishing from aligns with the Tree’s dynamics, helping you to figure things out solely by practicing.

Elements

Speaking of the Elements, the unicursal Hexagram can work those. Оne perspective mirrors the pentagram’s attributions with:

  • Fire in the bottom right;
  • Water in the top right;
  • Air in the top left;
  • Earth in the bottom left;

This usually goes with the Aurum Solis approach of starting at the point and going clockwise to invoke and counterclockwise to banish. However, the same misaligns with the covered reflections, bringing inconsistencies in your technique.

Found in the Book of Thoth, more sense-making attributions are:

  • Water – as watery Chessed;
  • Fire – as fiery Geburah;
  • Air – as Hod;
  • Earth – as Netzach

Esoteric scholar and book designer Michael Sanborn views the Unicursal Hexagram as rather elemental than planetary. Scott Michael Stenwick suggests it’s As Above, So Below, and thus an operant field in and of itself, as it overlaps micro and macrocosm.

For those not knowing, the Operant Theory offers that different Lesser Pentagrams and Hexagrams determine the scope of the working and the linkage between micro and macrocosm. More on that is in my content and manual on the subject.

Incorporating the hyperbola concept, Stenwick uses the larger curves, or the upper and the lower apex. Additionally, he uses planetary Enochian names to forge a union between planetary and elemental realms.

What’s interesting about this technique is that invoking any element can be viewed as uniting the curves, whereas banishing it as separating them.

The curves of the Hexagram represent opposing forces that can be either unified (invoked) or separated (banished). This resembles the two branches of a hyperbola being either brought closer together or pushed apart.

Replacement

Some view the Unicursal Hexagram as a replacement for GD’s traditional elemental hexes, a macrocosmic representation of the elements.

With a bit of imagination, you can see the four small rays as the four elements and directions, and the bigger two as the Spirit encompassing and holding everything together while extending into depth and height.
—POTB

Let me know your thoughts.

One to Rule Them All

Okay, but why is this important?

As explained in my video on them, an advantage of the Greater over the Supreme hexagram is working with the planets’ and signs’ dual nature. Making yours unicursal opens it for the elements.

As metaphysical concepts, the elements, planets, and signs are attributed to different aspects of consciousness.

  • Elements – Personal;
  • Paths and Sephiroth – Interpersonal;
  • Zodiac Signs – Transpersonal;

By mastering the Unicursal Hexagram, you can work all with a single symbol. If you subscribe to the operant theory, you can also do that ‘more micro or macro cosmically’ using that same symbol.

Is this necessary? No. Should you give it a try? Definitely! But that’s just my opinion. Let me know if it resonates. Thank you for your time.