Examples of connected dots?

[Koen G]

It looks like Searcher's Coptic example uses the symbols as a form of sacred writing, reserved for invocations of the names of God, angels etc. "Around him are written various sacred names, including those of God the Father and the seven archangels, written in the style of the magical symbols we call kharaktēres, with decorative circles at their points."

This may explain the ultimate origin of these symbols, though it takes us further away from the VM (early 15th century). From what I have read so far, it looks like the use in Hebrew texts was the same.