The letter Ψ was born a long time ago, and with each century its scope, as well as the symbol, is expanding. Where did the letter Ψ originate? What is the meaning? In what areas of knowledge does the sign "psi" still retain its relevance? The article will help answer these questions.
The origins of the letter Ψ, the first mentions
The duration of the existence of the letter psi (Ψ) is measured in centuries. It first appeared in the 9th century BC. e., when the Greeks created their alphabet, based on the Phoenician. Greek differed from Phoenician in the presence of vowels and five new characters, including the letter psi (Ψ) added penultimate to a sequence of 24 characters.
It is a known fact that the ancient Greeks wrote the number 700 using the symbol Ψ, the difference from the letter was marked with a dash on top: so, the number 700 looked like Ψ'.
From 863 to 1708, thanks to the founders of the Cyrillic alphabet, Cyril and Methodius, the letter Ψ became part of the Slavic alphabet and was pronounced like "ps". When compiling Russianalphabet during the time of Peter I, the civil script was approved, and Ψ was excluded from it, but it can be found in the Church Slavonic alphabet, where it has been preserved.
Appearance of the symbol Ψ
There is a legendary version that the spelling of the sign Ψ denotes the trident of the sea god Poseidon, worship of which was massively met in Ancient Greece. About the water symbol, the tool of Poseidon, there are many different myths. For example, according to legend, thanks to the trident, the God of the seas was able to protect the girl from a satyr who was annoying her by pointing his scepter at him so that the satyr was nailed to the cliff from which the source beat. Another legend says that as soon as Poseidon drew deep on the ground with a trident, water pools formed on this place: straits and bays.
The main meanings of the sign Ψ are power, influence, imperiousness. The Trident of the Sea God personifies the division of the world into the spiritual, heavenly and earthly spheres, which incorporate three initial elements - earth, water and air.
Relationship of the symbol Ψ with psychology
The term “psychology” originated from the sign “psi”, the morphology of which is contained in two words: soul (ψυχη - psyche) and knowledge (λογος - “logos”). At the end of the 18th century, the German philosopher Wolf Christian mentioned the word "psychology" in the title of his books. They were called "Empirical Psychology" (1734) and "Rational Psychology" (1732).
After the recognition of psychology as a science, this subject will soonbegan to teach in philosophical universities of countries where students used abbreviations to compress the volume of lectures, replacing the word "psychology" with the Greek letter Ψ. Thus, the sign of psychology is denoted as Ψ, and this abbreviation is common both abroad and in Russia.
The symbol "psy" has a sacred meaning in psychology. Three lines upwards indicate the presence of three multidirectional forces of the human soul (will, feeling, soul), which develop, unfold throughout life and accompany a person. Forces form a unique mental and spiritual state, and life is subject to their disclosure. From the moment of the birth of a child to the state of maximum psychological development, the forces of the soul diverge from each other to the maximum, when you think one thing, feel another, strive for a third. This describes the transition from the physical to the spiritual. But this is not an ideal state of the body, because here the connection with God is lost.
A person can achieve a spiritual state, which is possible by folding the three forces of the soul together. This return to the originally triune spiritual state, when what you think, what you feel, you direct your soul and thoughts towards that, is a huge inner work, reinforced by faith, baptism. As the transition from the bodily state to the spiritual one decreases, the percentage of passions that are an obstacle to the spiritual reunification of the forces of the soul.
As a result, the expression of the psychology of soul salvation is two "psi" signs one above the other, visually looking like the letter "F". The starting point is in a passionate and physical state, and the peak is in a spiritual and sinless state.
Relationship of the symbol Ψ with soil
Ψ is widely used in geography and physics. Scientists designate it as the potential of soil moisture, which includes the work that needs to be done to extract an infinitesimal weight of water from the soil, and this work is complicated by the need to overcome the water-retaining soil forces (gravitational, capillary, osmotic, adsorption). The indicator is measured in J / kg or kPa. The potential of pure water is 0, as is the potential of soil saturated with water. As the watering of the soil increases, the potential grows and, conversely, as it becomes dehydrated, it decreases, that is, the soil absorbs moisture with the greater force.
Most often, it is the capillary pressure that determines the overall potential of the soil, so scientists use a tensiometer to measure the latter. Calculating the difference between two such indicators allows you to calculate by calculation whether there will be water in the soil, or plants will move from one point to another.
Connection of the symbol Ψ with quantum mechanics
Psi-function is used in physics in the section of quantum mechanics. The basis for finding it was provided by Schrödinger, who developed the basic one-dimensional equation of quantum mechanics (formula 1), where m and x are the mass and coordinate of the particle, U and E are the potential and total energy of this particle, Ψ is the psy- function (wave function). Schrodinger discovered thatthe solution of the wave equation makes it possible to calculate the probability of finding a microparticle at any point in space when it moves one-dimensionally (for example, when moving along the y axis). A meaningful solution is the psi-function (Ψ).
The variety of the symbol Ψ: its use in different areas
Three symbols of "psi" can be simultaneously found in the image of the Jewish seven-pointed menorah candlestick, the burning of which is scrupulously monitored by the priests, because the extinction of the fire, according to God's commandment, is unacceptable, otherwise the people will face misfortune. Menorah symbolizes the light of souls who feel the grace of God. The miracle of burning the menorah is celebrated 7 days after the celebration of Hanukkah.
In fact, the sign "psi" (Ψ) has found application in many areas and areas of life. The outlines of the symbol can be seen: in the national emblem of Ukraine (since 1992); in the state emblem of the USSR - hammer and sickle; in the astronomical sign of the planet Neptune; in the alchemical sign of mercury; in the Quake video game series icon.
