Hidden Inspiration in Guitar Making
Some luthiers have used shapes, proportions, colors, and elements of hidden meaning in their work that few know how to read and detect; some based on sacred geometry, for its presence in nature as well as in places of worship, mainly cathedrals and mosques, or in many forms of art and craftsmanship; others rooted in ancient religions, always intertwined with the human soul’s longing in its search for the sublime, using symbolic and esoteric language. In short, they have explored paths belonging to the intangible side of reality, giving their work meaning and intention, almost like a magical act crowning the creation process.
The Symbolic Legacy of Antonio de Torres
Listening to Joaquín Pierre in his video about Antonio de Torres, I truly enjoyed the rich and inspiring information he shares, especially when he talks about the symbolism behind the rosette designs of Torres’ guitars. I find everything related to Torres fascinating, and I particularly appreciate that esoteric aspect of his work, where the invisible is in plain sight but only visible to those who know how to look.
Apollo, the Laurel, and the Ritual of Mastery
When he speaks of the “espiguilla” (wheat motif), he relates it to Apollo’s laurel crown, which he placed on the guitars meant only for players he deemed to have reached the level of mastery. Originally a minor Asian god, Apollo rose through the ranks of the Olympian gods to become second only to Zeus. As Robert Graves recounts, he claimed the Delphic oracle by force after slaying the python that guarded it, originally under the protection of Mother Earth. Some authors mention that the Pythia – or oracle priestess – would chew a mix of laurel and toxic honey to prophesy. As the poet Callimachus wrote, “the Pythia rests on the laurel, prophesies thanks to the laurel, and fades on the laurel.” Apollo, having killed the Python, had to purify himself through servitude, and henceforth, criminals touched by laurel branches were cleansed. The laurel used in rituals became his crown, symbolizing his victory and reign over the Delphic oracle.
From Mother Earth to Apollo’s Muses
Since then, the Pythia, once under the protection of Mother Earth, came under Apollo’s domain, as did the Muses. Thus, the foreign god became the symbol of all elements exalting the spirit: art, the sublime, and the gift of prophecy. It marked the rise of the patriarchal era that replaced the old religion of the Great Mother, often symbolized by the dragon’s death – an ancient feminine symbol. Thus, inspiration, in both art and prophecy, was attributed to Apollo, though its origin and practice remained with its female representatives – the Pythias and the Muses.
The Triple Goddess and the Lunar Cycle
The Triple Goddess was worshiped throughout the Mediterranean and manifested in the three phases of the Moon: New (maiden), Full (mother), and Waning (crone) – representing the life cycle. White in the waxing phase as a virgin in spring, red during the full moon as a warrior and nurturing mother in summer, and black in the waning phase as a wise elder in winter. In summary: birth, procreation, and death belong to her in a continuous cycle of renewal and evolution.
The Symbolism of Sacred Colors
In her role as protector of home and family, she was represented in ancient Greek homes by coal covered in ash used for heating, often placed on a round, three-legged clay table painted in her colors: black, red, and white. These colors also adorned the Unicorn’s horn, a symbol of the lunar calendar and of the Moon Goddess’ dominion over the seasons.
Alchemy in Torres’ Mosaics
Joaquín Pierre discusses these three colors in Torres’ mosaics, often made from natural woods, though when dyed, he used black, white, and red. As he notes, these are the colors of the alchemists’ Magnum Opus, marking the phases – or operations – leading to the Philosopher’s Stone or the transformed human. These phases mirror the lunar cycles: nigredo (black – waning moon) symbolizes decay and dissolution; albedo (white – waxing moon) signifies purification and spiritual elevation; rubedo (red – full moon) represents the spirit’s glory. The Red Lion was sometimes depicted in cathedrals as a woman holding a tri-colored flag.
The Philosopher’s Stone as a Metaphor for the Soul
The search for the Philosopher’s Stone is the journey to restore the human being’s original dignity and nobility before the “fall.” The Magnum Opus symbolizes the Initiatory Path from lead – ignorance – to gold – wisdom and full consciousness. Thus, achieving the Stone is merely a step before the Magnum Opus’ true goal. These three deeply meaningful colors, intentionally embedded in Torres’ rosettes, may indeed reflect the soul’s alchemical transformation when touched by sublime art, created and interpreted by a master’s sensitivity.
Golden Ratio and Sonic Harmony
Finally, the golden ratio – or divine proportion – is a key element in sacred geometry long used in the design of guitars and other instruments. My father, José Ramírez III, based his guitar template entirely on this principle, as the foundation of harmony, not only in form, giving it beauty and proportion, but also to shape all components of the instrument for the sake of producing a balanced, harmonious sound. For more, read the article “Geometry and Proportion in the Ramírez Guitar” by Jesús Alonso Trigueros, published on our website, which details how the golden ratio appears in the design of the Traditional model, created by my father and now iconic in the guitar world.
The Creative Vision of José Ramírez III
I’ve written several articles about my father, his inventiveness, insatiable curiosity, and his dedication to fulfilling his life’s purpose. He consciously and systematically freed his mind from unfounded prejudices and limiting beliefs of the society he lived in. He studied the techniques of his predecessors to understand their essence, then deconstructed and reimagined them from a fresh perspective, like solving a koan. He was restless, rebellious, revolutionary in his way, and a transgressor who broke molds to bring his dream to life – and he did.
Mystery as Creative Drive
There are, of course, other – let’s call them esoteric – aspects of his work that I’m not allowed to make public. Only my nephews, Cristina and José Enrique, are informed, and some of these aspects rest on scientific foundations that remain hidden but visible to those who know how to see. He used to say he blessed his imitators because, not knowing the “whys,” they would only copy his flaws. One of his favorite quotes, borrowed from Hamlet, was: “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” That phrase sums up his life and personality. The mysterious, the hidden, the unknowable – were irresistible challenges and temptations for him. Amalia Ramírez, Madrid, December 28, 2024
