Warning: Contains SPOILERS for His Dark Materials season 2, episode 2, "The Cave."
His Dark Materials season 2 has begun unravelling the mysteries behind Dust, starting with a cryptic Dust vision Lyra experienced. The entire series revolves around Dust: the Magisterium thinks it's original sin, while Lord Asriel wants to study it further and use its properties to discover new worlds. For Lyra Silvertongue, Dust is the reason why her best friend Roger died, and now she wants answers. She gets closer to understanding Dust in His Dark Materials season 2, episode 2, "The Cave."
In "The Cave," Lyra ventures to yet another world, accompanied by her new ally Will Parry. She finds herself in a very different version of Oxford than her own, where the alethiometer leads her to scholar and physicist Mary Malone, who studies dark matter. As Lyra and Dr. Malone talk, Lyra discovers that dark matter behaves in a very similar way to Dust. She asks Dr. Malone to let her use her machine, nicknamed 'the Cave' after Plato's allegory of the cave, to try to communicate with Dust, or shadow particles as Malone calls them.
Once wired up to the computer in the Cave, Lyra slips into the mental state she uses to read the alethiometer. When she does so, images appear on the computer screen. She says that the Dust is speaking in symbols, the alethiometer's language. The symbols tell Lyra that Dr. Malone is important and that she has a part to play, but to know what she must do she has to connect with the shadow particles herself. Here is everything Lyra saw in her Dust vision, and what each image may mean for the rest of His Dark Materials season 2 and beyond.
Alpha and Omega
The first distinct image Lyra sees when she connects with Dust is two Greek letters, Alpha and Omega, one overlaid on the other. This is one of the 36 symbols on the alethiometer, each of which has several layers of meaning. According to Random House, publishers of His Dark Materials, the meanings of Alpha and Omega include finality, process, and inevitability, which could signify the prophecy involving Lyra that appears to be in motion. This corresponds to the books, where Dr. Malone plays a key figure in the prophecy. The Alpha and Omega also have religious significance, appearing in the Book of Revelation as a title for God. In the mythology of His Dark Materials, this could reference the Authority, the figure worshipped by the Magisterium.
Sun
The primary meaning of the sun symbol on the alethiometer is 'day,' but it also represents authority and truth. As His Dark Materials season 2 continues, more truths about Dust will come to light - the appearance of the sun here may foreshadow these oncoming truths. The sun could also be emphasizing Dr. Malone's role in the prophecy as it comes true.
Owl
Among the owl symbol's meanings are night, winter, and fear. All three of these could signify the oncoming trials Lyra and Dr. Malone must face. Lyra especially finds herself in danger, as the villainous Lord Boreal has found her in this world. However, there is another potential meaning for the owl symbol that, while not listed officially by Random House, may have greater implications for His Dark Materials. Owls traditionally represent wisdom and intelligence. Dr. Malone is a scholar who has devoted her life to the study of these shadow particles - the owl seems like a direct reference to her. Again, Dr. Malone has an important role to play in the prophecy concerning Lyra. The appearance of the owl here continues to show how crucial Dr. Malone will be as His Dark Materials season 2 progresses.
I Ching
Here is one of the only instances during Lyra's Dust vision where the shadow particles do not communicate through symbols on the alethiometer. The Cave tells Lyra that Mary will need to use the I Ching in the future. The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is an ancient philosophical Chinese text that is sometimes used for divination. The I Ching's appearance in Lyra's Dust vision foreshadows its importance later on. In The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, the last two books in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, Dr. Malone uses the I Ching to guide her actions as she attempts to help Lyra and Will. Like the alethiometer and the Cave, the I Ching is another mechanism Dust uses to communicate with people.
Knife
While this could very well be the sword symbol on the alethiometer, meaning justice and fortitude, it's more likely that this is the Cave's way of mentioning the subtle knife. The subtle knife will play a large part in His Dark Materials season 2 - even the new opening sequence features it heavily. The subtle knife performs two major functions: one side of the knife is so sharp that it can cut through any substance with little to no resistance, but the other side is even sharper and can cut into new worlds.
The knife was forged in Cittàgazze, the city in the sky in Lyra's world. Trailers for this new season of His Dark Materials show Will wielding it, taking his place as the bearer of the knife. Other teasers show John Parry, Will's father, searching for the person who has the knife. Since aeronaut Lee Scoresby has set out to find John, it's likely that the search for the knife may bring Lyra, Will, Lee, and John together in some way.
Hourglass
The easiest symbol to interpret out of this bunch, the hourglass on the alethiometer represents time. In His Dark Materials season 2, episode 2, the hourglass reminds Lyra that it is time for her to meet back up with Will in the Botanic Garden. She leaves almost immediately after it appears on the screen, telling Dr. Malone that she'll return to the Cave the next day to communicate with the shadow particles even more. However, based on Will's hesitance to go back to his Oxford after being reported to the police, it's unlikely that Lyra will come back to Dr. Malone's facility. However, this Dust vision already gives viewers quite a bit to think about. It highlights Dr. Malone's importance going forward and emphasizes the inevitability of the prophecy concerning Lyra. It also foreshadows two important things for fans of the books to get excited about: the I Ching and the subtle knife.