Mystery Pen Inscription

June 27, 2011 1:46 PM

What is this language or cipher found on a pen, and what does it say?

The pen was given to me as a gift by someone who works in a New Age store, so it may have magical or woo significance. Other than that, I have no idea where she got it from, and she does not know what it means either.
There appears to be a comma and a period, so I have photographed it in this orientation, but it may also be upside down. The repeated letters in the 4th and 6th words lead me to believe that it may be English written in another alphabet, but I'm not sure.

posted by Gordafarin to writing & language (4 answers total)

Looks a lot like Amharic to me ("Ethiopian"). I wouldn't be completely surprised if it's just English transliterated using Amharic characters.
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:52 PM on June 27, 2011

It's Theban. Commonly used by Pagans and new-agers.
posted by cuddles.mcsnuggy at 1:59 PM on June 27, 2011 [4 favorites]

Hard to tell because of the blurry photo, but it appears to say "As it is written, so will it be," which would make sense as a slogan on a pen. However, the letters weren't all used correctly and "so will it be" is a weird way of saying the more common phrase "so mote it be" or "so it shall be." It looks like a blurb some business just slapped on their pen in an effort to sound woo-woo.
posted by cuddles.mcsnuggy at 2:09 PM on June 27, 2011

Wow, so quick! Thank you cuddles.mcsnuggy! Mystery solved.
posted by Gordafarin at 2:16 PM on June 27, 2011