zookie,
Hi,
You are seeing things.
:)
But, remember too, that what you describe has been represented in art and other media for centuries (including widely on the internet since its advent) and is it not likely you have seen some of these in the past? The power of suggestion can be considerable, afterall.
:)
The issue may be rather different, of course, if the symbols are unfamiliar.
Cheers,
RC