Alethiometer

From His Dark Materials

Alethiometer

An Alethiometer is a small, gold-colored, compass-like device that had a single, simple, use: to tell the truth. It is described in Northern Lights thus:

It was very like a clock, or a compass, for there were hands pointing to places around the dial, but instead of the hours or the points of the compass there were several little pictures, each of them painted with the finest and slenderest sable brush.

[edit] Process

A particular process is to be followed to use an alethiometer. The user directs three needles to lie over certain symbols on the face of device. Once such an alignment of the needles are achieved, the user has to define or think of a question in his / her mind. The user must not push for an answer, but be content not to know. Once the question gets formed in the mind of the user, the fourth needle swings into action and moves from one symbol to another. It may point to one symbol more than once, specifying the meaning. Any particular symbol has multiple meanings and answers. The user has to learn to decipher the answers and it takes much experience to be able to do so. An Alethiometer provides the answers through the influence of Dust or particulars called Shadows. An alethiometer can predict the answers to the past and the present events, but it can't provided answers to the future events. However, it may predict in a limited way about the future events, as to what would happen if certain actions are taken, for instance, such as the effects of leaving the underworld on the ghosts that later did so.

A person who has mastered the art and science of reading and understanding the alethiometer is called an alethiometrist. Notable alethiometrists include The Master of Jordan College, Fra Pravel and Lyra Belacqua. They can use an alethiometer by intuition, rather than the many years of study normally required.

[edit] Symbols

The 36 symbols appearing on an Alethiometer and some of their meanings with pictorial presentations are given below:

Hourglass, Time, Death, change...	Sun, Day, Authority, truth...	Alpha and Omega, Language, Process, words...	Marionette, Obedience, Submission, grace...
Serpent, Evil, Guile, natural wisdom...	Cauldron (crucible), Alchemy, Craft, achieved wisdom...	Anchor, Hope, Steadfastness, prevention...	Angel, Messenger, Hierarchy, disobedience...
Helmet, War, Protection, narrow vision...	Beehive, Productive work, Sweetness, light...	Moon, Chastity, Mystery, the uncanny...	Madonna, Motherhood, The feminine, worship...
Apple, Sin, Knowledge, vanity...	Bird, The soul (the dæmon), Spring, marriage...	Bread, Nourishment, Christ, sacrifice...	Ant, Mechanical work, Diligence, tedium...
Cattle or Bull, Earth, Power, honesty...	Candle, Meaning, Understanding, learning...	Cornucopia, Wealth, Autumn, hospitality...	Chameleon, Air, Greed, patience...
Thunderbolt, Inspiration, Fate, anger...	Dolphin, Water, Resurrection, playfulness...	Walled Garden, Nature, Innocence, order...	Globe, Politics, Sovereignty, fame...
Sword, Justice, Fortitude, the Church...	Griffin, Treasure, Watchfulness, courage...	Horse, Europe, Journeys, fidelity...	Camel, Asia, Summer, perseverance...
Elephant, Africa, Charity, continence...	Crocodile (caiman), America, Rapacity, enterprise...	Baby, The future, Malleability, helplessness...	Compass, Measurement, Mathematics, science...
Lute, Poetry, Rhetoric, philosophy...	Tree, Firmness, Shelter, fertility...	Wild man, Wild man, The Masculine, lust...	Owl, Night, Winter, fear...

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