Illuminati means 'enlightened', and members of this secret society are known to use vivid symbols to announce their presence. SpiritualRay takes a closer look at the various Illuminati symbols and their related meanings popularly used to convey cryptic messages to the masses.

Did You Know?

John Langdon, an American graphic designer and ambigram artist, was requested to create the Illuminati ambigram for the novel Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. Impressed with his creations, Dan Brown based his main character Robert Langdon on him.

Call it conspiracy, propaganda, mystery, secret society, or mind control, Illuminati is considered to be an ancient secret society that apparently no one can ignore.

Thanks to technology, one can observe the subtle signs and symbols it uses to make its presence felt. Hidden from plain sight, these symbols are waiting to be noticed, let us take a look at them.

Origin of the Order of the Illuminati

Before we understand the origins of this society, let me quote the founder of Illuminati, Adam Weishaupt, he says, Universal happiness complete and rapid could be achieved by disposing of hierarchy, rank and riches.

Princes and nations will disappear without violence from the earth; the human race will become one family; the world will be the abode of reasonable men.

These thoughts by Adam Weishaupt clearly indicate his desire for a new approach to the way the world order functioned during those days. A brief background about him would help us understand this desire in a better way. Adam Weishaupt was born in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, on February 6, 1748.

His early education was under the most powerful institute of that time ― the Jesuits. The Jesuits had influence over the religious and political scenario of that time, and Adam grew weary of it.

When elected as the canon law, Adam wished to change the heavy influence of the Jesuits with his radical and free-thinking Age of Enlightenment philosophies. With time he also became aware of occultism and Hermetism.

He thought of becoming a Freemason but quit the idea as it did not fully satisfy his quests. He soon realized that in order to overthrow the religious and political fundamentals of the Jesuits, he had to form his own secret society with an elite team who believed in his propaganda, and so, on May 1, 1776, The Order of the Illuminati was founded.

Over time, the secret sect grew with members spanning from different sections of the elite, one of the major influences being the famous and mysterious occultist of that time Cagliostro.

It was disbanded in the year 1788 by the government for legislative and criminal charges. In the true sense, the secret society never disbanded completely, in fact, it spread its tentacles into Freemasonry and Rosicrucians and infiltrated America through its founding fathers who were part of these secret societies.

Why the Need of Symbols in Illuminati?

Throughout ancient times, man has invented symbols to describe a concept or idea better than words. Every secret society comes with its hidden ideologies and agendas, which take the form of symbology.

These symbols are used as a means of communication among the members to distinguish themselves from each other and present a thought as an ideogram. Symbols form a picture or a message, some of which can be intentional and others can be so subtle that you might not understand it unless you belong to a secret society.

After its inception and disbanding, the Illuminati merged with the Freemasons, which is a society that uses numerous symbols. Thus the use of symbols came into being. For e.g., the 'El diablo' hand sign is a Freemason symbol; they worship the horned goat god 'Baphomet'.

It symbolizes a salute to the fellow Masons. A large number of symbols and numerals come from the occult, such as the pentagram; numerology is the use of numbers to denote things, philosophies, and people, such as 666 which is the sign of the devil.

“Symbols rule the world, not rules or laws.” — Lao-Tzu

Various Illuminati Symbols And Their Meanings

1. The All-Seeing Eye and The Pyramid

This insignia was adapted by Adam Weishaupt, the founder of Bavarian Illuminati, during its foundation on May 1, 1776, which is symbolized at the base of the pyramid as Roman numerals MDCCLXXVI.

The Latin words 'NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM' simply mean 'A New Order for the Ages'. The secret agenda on which Illuminati works is to create an elite one-world government that will mobilize the distribution of power and money under its control.

The thirteen steps symbolize the thirteen satanic bloodlines that are part of this cult. The All-Seeing Eye symbolizes Lucifer's Eye or Horus Eye, or it can be termed as an all-spying eye, which means an eye over the people.

2. The Pyramid

The pyramid is evidently the most widely used symbol in the world. The ancient Egyptians held it in reverence as a spiritual symbol, the hypotenuse side being child god Horus, the upright side being female God Isis, and the base being male God Osiris.

A triangle denotes the number 3, which in Hebrew/Babylonian language stands for spirituality. There are theories that the top of the pyramid stands for Heaven and the base being Earth and Hell.

According to occult beliefs, a single triangle is used to summon spirits or demons during a ritual, hence, making it very revered. It also symbolizes power, the top representing the elite who control the world, and the base being the ways of domination, e.g. military, finance, media, education, politics, and religion.

3. The Eye of Horus on the Pyramid

The eye is associated as a symbol of an all-seeing God, an omnipresent source who looks after mankind. In Illuminati circles, the Eye on the Pyramid represents royal power, denoting the elites who follow it.

It appears to be floating on the pyramid meaning the elite seeing themselves as god and watching over everything that mankind does. Also, it was supposedly adopted by the secret police of the Illuminati, whose role was to ensure that the members were staying true to the Order.

Some symbologist argue that it might be the eye of Saturn, while others allege that it's the Eye of Horus.

4. Baphomet

Medieval legends say that the devil created the goat. Satan himself, sometimes, appeared as a goat. In modern times, Baphomet ― the goat head-horned god symbolizes occultism, witchcraft, and satanism. The origin of Baphomet ― a pagan god ― can be seen in various ancient religious sources.

It was mainly popularized by the Knights of Templar who worshiped it as their deity and widely used it at their rituals. In 1867, French occultist Eliphas Levi, in his book Dogme et Rituels de la Haute Magie (Dogmas and Rituals of High Magic) included a drawing that would become the most famous depiction of Baphomet.

It embodies the culmination and the union of the opposite forces to create Astral Light―the basis of magic and enlightenment.

5. The Number of the Beast 666

Popularized from the Book Of Revelations in The Holy Bible, the Number of the Beast 666 is denoted as a symbol of Luciferism and occult worship. It significantly adds up to the name of the sun gods worshiped in many pagan religions.

It has been secretly displayed in astrology by occultists for a very long time. Hidden from plain sight, the hand sign 'OK', which is a representation of 3 sixes in a row, is used by prominent music and movie celebrities.

6. The Devil's Horn (a.k.a. El Diablo and Il Cornuto)

The 'El Diablo' or the horned head hand sign is a satanic salute or recognition to members of satanism and other unholy groups.

It was popularized in the '60s by the founder of the Church of Satan, Anton LaVey; who spread it to the masses through rock musicians who were into satanism. Today, it is misinterpreted as a hand-sign for "rock".

7. The Satanic Pentagram

An esoteric symbol of positivity, but when turned upside down by 180 degrees, it turns into a negative symbol of occultism.

The early Christians used the positive right-side up pentagram to symbolize the five wounds of Jesus (the two spikes on his hands and feet and the spear wound to his side). The occultist turned it upside down as a sign of mockery to Christ and to represent their opposite views.

In black magic, it is called 'The Footprint of the Devil' or 'The Goat of Mendes' as the inverted pentagram looks like a goat's head. In Freemasonry, it symbolizes 'Satan-Goat of the Sabbath'.

8. The Eternal Flame

In occult, it symbolizes the 'Light of Lucifer'. The Illuminati always leave an occult signature when they carry out an event, or whenever anyone is killed by the Illuminati either by ritual or through an elaborate plan, their grave is usually adorned with an eternal flame.

A prominent example being the memorial of Princess Diana. The memorial has an eternal flame at the Ponce de L'Alma Tunnel in Paris, where she died.

President John F Kennedy too has an eternal flame at his grave site. Also, it represents the secret society's immortality and eternal establishment.

9. The Owl

This symbol is derived from the Roman Goddess Minerva (Athena to the Greeks) as a representation of wisdom and knowledge. The Illuminatis see themselves as the elite wise who can rule the world through their knowledge and wisdom, they focus on the learning method of scientific inquiry and reasoning, and so have the owl as its symbol.

The owl is depicted in the seals of many libraries and universities, contributing to conspiracy theorists views that the Illuminati are attempting to control the world through education and learning.

10. Obelisks

The obelisks were a representation of military and political power since ancient times. In pagan cultures, obelisks are symbols of patriarchal control of the masses.


The Illuminatis have erected obelisks at strategic places of power to connote their control and power over the masses. A prominent example being the Washington Memorial, which is exactly like the pagan Egyptian obelisk.


11. The Inverted Cross


It is a symbolic mockery of the Christian cross, used by satanists in their rituals. History states that Nero, who despised Christians, crucified the Apostle Peter on a downward headed cross. This hideous event resembled the Teutonic cross and became a popular pagan insignia of the day.


Thereafter, this sign became known as the 'Neronic cross.' In modern times, we know it as the 'Peace Sign', which is the Teutonic (Neronic) rune of death.

It was designed in the '50s by peace advocate Gerald Holtom and communist sympathizer Bertrand Russell, either of them being a member of the secret society.

12. Sigil of Lucifer (“Seal of Satan”)

The Sigil of Lucifer is a lesser known historical magical sigil used occasionally as an emblem by modern Satanists.

The image originates in the sixteenth century Italian Grimoirium Verum, or “Grimoire of Truth.” Used in conjunction with other symbols, its original purpose of the sigil was to aid in a visual invocation of the angel Lucifer.

The figure is probably derived from an earlier work, most likely drawn from a magic square whose origins are now lost. The emblem is sometimes referred to as the “Seal of Satan,” although this is not a historical usage.

13. The Monarch Mind Control Symbols: The Umbrella, Rainbow, Birdcage, and Butterfly

In a full Monarch Mind Control (MMC) method, a combination of occult rituals, psychology and neuroscience are used to create an alter ego in the desired subject. The subject is termed as 'slave', and the one controlling is termed as the 'handler'.

It is believed that these 'slaves' are used by the Illuminati elite to deliver messages, rituals, performances etc..

This mind-control program subjects victims to severe abuse in order to create programmable individual personalities, which can later be triggered when needed. Used widely in music videos, movies, and music culture, these symbols signify the victim's state of mind being controlled by the Illuminati.

The Illuminati believe that there is a blueprint to conquer the world and signs and symbols lead the way. Whether or not you believe in them is your choice.

Source: SpiritualRay.com / Additions: #12 via SymbolDictionary.net; HumansAreFree.com