This pin collection integrates the astronomical bodies of our solar system and the alchemical symbols that represent them. Including more recent symbols for the modern planets, dwarf planets, and invented symbols for other subjects.
Alchemy: the magical foundation from which modern chemistry is born. In fact, the word "chemistry" is derived from "alchemistry"! In Alchemy, elements and compounds were represented by various symbols, both as shorthand and to allow those in the practice to codify their research. Most of these elements had multiple symbols, though some would be defined by one specific symbol. The ultimate goal of practicing elements was to create the Philosopher's Stone, a mythical substance that would allow them to create gold. This series explores the symbolic history of alchemical symbols and their astronomical ties.
In this series, planets and their symbols are based on their corresponding alchemical symbols. However, there are only seven traditional metals which correspond with the seven classical planets. Alchemy was practiced in the 15th century, before the discovery of all planets in our solar system. That means Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto have more modern planetary symbols that don't represent any alchemical compounds or elements.
These pins will be listed by size classification, and not in solar system order. So the order here will be Rocky planets and Pluto, then Gas Giants and The Sun.
The planet pins in this campaign will be split between Rocky Planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Earth's Moon, Mars, or Pluto) and Gas Giants (The Sun, Jupiter Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune) due to the size difference in the pins. While Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are not classical planets, modern symbols will be used for them in this series. The Sun, of course, is not a gas giant, it is a star, but for simplicity will be included in the "Gas Giants" pin category. In the same spirit, Pluto is not a planet, but a dwarf planet though included in Rocky Planets for simplicity.
Mercury
Quicksilver was represented by a symbol for the messenger of gods, Mercury (or Hermes). The philosophic side of alchemy from Paracelsus had pillars called The Three Primes. The Three Primes are Mercury, Sulfur, and Salt; Mercury representing the mind, Sulfur the soul, and Salt the body. The element Mercury itself, "Hydrargyrum" (Hg on the periodic table) is the only metal that maintains a liquid state at room temperature.
Venus
In alchemy, Venus shares its symbols with copper. Over time, this symbol was replaced with the more popular ♀ which supposedly represents the hand mirror of the goddess. The fact that hand mirrors of antiquity were made with copper supports the strong tie of these symbols to the element.
Earth
There are two common symbols in alchemy that represent our home planet. The first, a circle with a cross in the center ⊕, is to represent the planet itself and the four cardinal directions or a globe with an equator and meridian. The second symbol is a circle with a cross above ♁. These symbols were associated with Antimony in alchemy, which was also symbolized as a wolf, a reflection of humanity's nature or "free spirit".
Earth's Moon
The symbol most commonly associated with Earth’s moon is, fittingly, the alchemical symbol representing silver. The crescent moon ☽ would be drawn facing either right or left, and the representation would be of the literal moon or the silver element, dependent on the context. The Earth’s moon has no unique name and sometimes also called Luna, it is the fifth largest known moon in the solar system.
Mars
The symbol for Mars ♂️ also represents Iron in alchemy. The red soil of the planet gets its color from rust of the iron its symbol represents, so alchemists got this one spot on! Mars, named for the God of War, represents the war and fire. My favorite fact to share about Mars is that it's the only planet exclusively occupied by alien robots!
Pluto
Last but not at all lease, our beloved dwarf planet, Pluto! Though it is not officially a planet, Pluto is the most well known dwarf planet in our solar system. Pluto is named for the Roman god of the underworld; this name was proposed by 11 year old Venetia Burney in 1930.
The planet pins in this campaign will be split between Rocky Planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Earth's Moon, Mars, or Pluto) and Gas Giants (The Sun, Jupiter Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune) due to the size difference in the pins. While Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are not classical planets, modern symbols will be used for them in this series. The Sun, of course, is not a gas giant, it is a star, but for simplicity will be included in the "Gas Giants" pin category. In the same spirit, Pluto is not a planet, but a dwarf planet though included in Rocky Planets for simplicity.
The Sun
The sun represented gold, and the symbol, a circle with a dot in the center, is still used in astronomy. This symbol not only represented gold which was considered the most pure metal, but the pure form of the mind, body, and soul. Our sun is named Sol, or Solaris, which is where The Solar System gets its name.
Jupiter
In alchemy, Jupiter is represented by many symbols, including the symbol ♃ for tin. This symbol would appear in codices, tables, and keys of alchemists' works. This symbol could be interpreted to represent cooperation and unity, as tin is stronger when combined with another element. Many metal alloys, including multiple forms of bronze and lead, partially contain tin.
Saturn
Gas giant pair with Jupiter, Saturn is the last of the seven traditional metals and the seven classical planets. Lead is the oldest of the seven metals being the alchemical “prima matera” (primal matter) which represents the natural decay of old life to allow new life to take its place. The symbol originally represented the god Saturn’s Scythe, Saturn being the god of harvest and time.
Uranus
Discovered in 1781, Uranus does not have a tie to a metal in alchemy. Uranus was the first planet discovered via telescope; it is an ice giant and a ringed planet. The rotation of this planet is odd due to its reversed rotation and 'sideways' orientation; the only other planet in our system with this inverted rotation is Venus. Uranus has 27 moons and is nearly four times wider than Earth!
Neptune
The final official planet in our solar system, Neptune was discovered in 1846. Neptune, like Uranus, is also an ice giant and has 14 known moons. The winds on Neptune can reach upwards of 2,000 km/h, blowing clouds of frozen methane across the planet. The high methane content is what gives the planet its blue color. The winds on this planet are so strong, they make jagged streaked patterns on the planet.
The Philosopher's Stone
The unobtainable Philosopher's Stone, Elixir of Life, The Tincture! This pin set will include two variants: rainbow metal Paracelsus variant and the gold Flamel variant. Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, father of toxicology, was a known doctor and alchemist of the 1500's. Known as Paracelsus, his theory the Tria Prima would be applied in medicine. Paracelsus also famously theorized "The dose makes the poison" which means all things could be toxic if too much is taken into the body. Nicholas Flamel was an alchemist of the 1300's, believed to have successfully created a Philosopher's Stone which granted him immortality as well as the ability to transmute lead into gold. Though he did pass away in 1418, he did manage to survive The Black Death and live to be almost 90 years old.
The Three Primes
The Three Primes, (Left to right) sulfur, salt, and mercury are also sometimes referred to as the Tria Prima. These represented individual elements properties as well as their corresponding human elements; the flammable sulfur, volatile mercury, and solid salt corresponded to the human soul, mind, and body. The Tria Prima also fit into the triangles often used to represent many ideas in alchemy, including The Philosopher's Stone symbol.
The Four Base Elements
The idea of the four classical or basic elements came from Arostotle, who first suggested the idea all things were made of these four elements. He also held the belief that the heavens or spirit was made of a fifth element, the Aether. Eventually alchemist Jābir ibn Ḥayyān would add sulfur and mercury to the four. Even later, these ideas would split and alchemists would practice around The Three Primes and The Four Elements, some alchemists thought the perfect transmutation of these concepts would result in creating the philosopher’s stone. This is believed to be incorporated into the symbol for the Philosopher’s Stone: The Squared Circle.
In addition to the shorthand symbols, alchemy included many codified representations in the form of illustration. The Red Lion would represent the sulfur, gold, or even the philosopher's stone. The Green Lion would represent aqua regia, the process representing a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid.
Super League of Science Cross-Collab
For Super League of Science, I've got a feline cross-collab with Xod Crafts' Cat Evolution campaign! Back this campaign and the Cat Evolution campaign before Super League of Science ends to receive a special, exclusive, free Green Lion pin! The Green Lion pin will be added to backers' carts after the campaign ends. Note: cross-collab incentives will be offered only during live campaigns (not to pre-order store backers), however these pins will be available via my online store once the rewards are fulfilled.
Cosmic Alchemy 2.0
Why 2.0? This series has been produced in a simpler format back in 2020! Since then I've learned a lot about pin making and different effects, so I wanted to revisit these designs with more complex design elements. The original pins I made in Cosmic Alchemy 1.0 were produced with a manufacturer I no longer work with, so instead of remaking the old molds, I redesigned these beautiful pins to give them all some extra ✨pizazz✨. In addition, I've been a big alchemy nerd my whole life, so I wanted to include some of the more symbolic alchemical symbols this time. I tend to avoid fan art, so I won't be redesigning anything from a series, but if you have a favorite alchemical symbol, let me know in the campaign community discussion and it might just get added as a stretch goal!
🧬 Super League of Science '26
Welcome to the Super League of Science — a collection of independent crowdfunding campaigns united by a love of discovery, running from Sept 7th – 28th.
From dodos to deep space, bugs to birds, each project brings science to life through art, pins, apparel, and whatever else our imaginations conjure. Every creator runs their own campaign, but together we form something greater: a league that cross-promotes, cheers each other on, and invites backers to explore the full spectrum of science-inspired creativity.
Freebie: Back more than one project and you’ll score a free Made Better with Science sticker. ✨
Xod Crafts