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SPIRIT
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Symbology
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The 27 pages in this Symbol section are below
Sacred Geometry
(Condensed Forum Discussion between DragonHawk and Shae The
Fire Witch)
DragonHawk:
I received some symbols
in meditation during my recent trip to Scotland. I feel they
are Druid Symbols - or at least that is the tradition they have
come to me from... Circle, Cross (+), Triangle, Square, X-shape.
From the Pythagorean number Mysteries (which go back to the
middle eastern Mystery traditions and probably back to the Magi)
these symbols could represent the directions and or the elements...From
Plato-Pythagorean mysteries, they could represent chemical elements...
I know that somehow they represent Creator, Creation and possibly
the Ages - but I wondered if anyone else had come across them
in any other context? Certainly it would appear that the square
and the triangle are pretty basic in Druidry Celtic Tradition
and Western Christian Mystery traditions: they appeared in the
ancient church at Glastonbury. If you put two equilateral triangles
in a square you get the X shape. I cannot find reference to
a circle or a cross in Druidry, but this is the Celtic Cross:
is this a fusion of the two? Do these shapes appear in any other
tradition? I am sure that i have heard others speak of similar
symbols...but not known the relevance at the time: is this knowledge
that is to be shared or is it knowledge that we must find our
own answers too?
Now another symbol seems important
too: Draw two lines representing the plus sign (over the axis
of the directions) and from the bottom (south) draw a line to
the right (east) at 45 degrees to meet the end of the line at
the east position (forming a equilateral triangle south-center-east.
Put a circle in the middle of the cross shape you first drew
and draw a small line (-) just above halfway between the top
of the circle and the north position (cutting the north south
line at 90 degrees), so you get a figure like a Christian cross
sat on the circle, then in the center of the west line (halfway
from the edge of the circle to the west point) put in an X-shape
so the center of the X crosses the line. Look familiar to anyone?
Shae The Fire Witch:
These symbols are the basic
components of what they call Sacred Geometry. It is considered
part of the Druid/Mage traditions. The symbols you have described
are the basic symbols of Sacred Geometry, which in relation
to CB's posts are tied to the scientific language he is discussing
in his posts. I have included several links below to sites I
have found to be helpful to me in understanding this concept.
www.intent.com/sg/ (sorry,
this link no longer works - Dragonfly)
www.spiraloflight.com/
www.angelfire.com/falcon/
And from my own personal notes –
Sacred Geometry
Alone, all Sacred shapes have meaning, but when in union
with other Sacred shapes, that meaning becomes two-fold, or
three-fold, etc. Herein lie the very basics of each symbol alone,
perhaps then allowing one to see more within seemingly mundane
paintings, photographs, statues, buildings, and any of the other
results of creative influence over our world.
The Triangle
Inherently linked to the number three, the triangle possesses
much of the same symbolism and meaning as does the number. For
Christians, it represents the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost), while for the Celts it represented the Universe. Most
systems recognize it as a symbol of family (Father, Mother,
and Child) or balance. For mystics, the triangle can also symbolize
ley lines: Those channels of force found in most living things,
including the Earth. The three sides are thus positive, negative,
and neutral (the three sides together achieving the concept
of balance). As long as these forces are in synch, they form
a triangle which is not detectable. It is only where the forces
are out of balance that manifestations of the energy appear.
For ley lines, what you tap into depends upon where you are
in the form (positive, negative, or neutral). Note also that
"positive" here is not "good," nor is "negative"
the same as "evil." These forces are more akin to
magnetism. Regarding superstition, this symbol is why you must
never walk under a ladder or any such structure that creates
a triangle: To walk through it may disrupt the lines of force
and bring about bad luck. In the ladder scenario, the ladder
is positive, the wall negative, and the ground neutral -- all
in perfect balance.
The Circle
The circle is roundly regarded as the single most powerful symbol
of all. It is Infinity and the Universe; Alpha and Omega; Beginning
and End; Creation and Destruction; Destiny, reincarnation, and
Fortune. The circle stands for the sun and moon, the zodiac,
power and protection, the crown of kings, and the tiara of popes
(most often depicted as a halo). It is the only single-line
diagram that magi use to mark the bounds of their sacred --
and thus safe -- space. In this way, bracelets and rings gain
greater significance, especially when and where they are worn
and with what inscribed on them. The circle can also represent
the eye and, by extension, an omnipotent god. Divine Energy,
it is said, always flows in a circular form, giving rise the
concentric rings of the Heavens and Hell. Pagans use the circular
form of a snake eating its own tail -- a symbol of the infinite
depth of Wisdom later recast by the Church as the ultimate symbol
of Evil.
The Cross
Long before its adoption by Christianity, the cross was a symbol
of the four-fold world and its various measures: Earth, Air,
Fire, Water; North, South, East, West; Birth, Life, Death, Afterlife.
With its inherent link to the number four, the cross is also
related to the swastika which, before its corruption by the
Nazi party, was a powerful symbol of the Wheel of Fire, or energy
in motion. To many mystics the cross represents sex differentiation,
with the male (upright) and female (downright) forces emanating
from a balanced point (horizontal). The Romans, specifically,
used the cross to represent reproduction. To be put to death
by crucifixion thus came to represent that the person being
executed should never have been born in the first place.
The Swastika
Before its corruption by the Nazi party, the swastika was a
powerful symbol for the four-fold measures of the world, as
seen in the cross. The only real difference between the swastika
and the cross is that the swastika represents the Wheel of Fire,
or energy in motion. To the Hindus, the swastika is the sign
of Pisces -- the sign later adopted by Christianity for Jesus,
who was put to death on a cross. This is but one of many examples
where world faiths borrow, one from the other. Unlike the Nazis,
however, most cultures that so borrow at least perpetuate the
sentiment of the original symbol. To the alchemists, the swastika
represents the two principle energies that act in the world:
Electrical (upright bar) and Magnetic (horizontal bar). These
energies -- like all energies -- are dynamic and are thus represented
as being in motion. Were the swastika to spin quickly enough,
it would become a circle. One of the goals of the alchemists
is to symbolically turn the swastika into a circle: To turn
the divergent energies of the world into something truly infinite.
Perhaps a lasting testament to the inherent evil of the Nazi
party is that such a sacred symbol should forever now be taboo
in the West. Instead of using the swastika, most modern alchemists
and mystics will now employ either a simple cross or a cross
defined with tiny dots where the swastika's arms would be.
The Diamond
The diamond is the lasting symbol of purity and incorruptibility,
due to its form in nature as a stone that cuts all but cannot
be cut itself. This interpretation, however, most likely came
as a result of the "drawn" diamond, which represents
two triangles joined at the base. The two triangles represent
Man (downright) and the Universe (upright), or the Microcosm
and the Macrocosm, emanating from God. The symbol reminds us
that Man is within the Universe and the Universe is within Man;
the goal is to unite the two such that they become inexorably
linked -- one whole, which is to say, God. Adopted by mystics
and alchemists as the symbol of achievement -- or perfection
-- it came to represent what was believed to be the lifestyle
necessary to achieve such a level of Unity: One that was both
pure and uncorrupted. From there arose the notion that a stone
with similar qualities must be the very physical embodiment
of the drawn Diamond. The symbol reminds us that we must travel
through the Tree of Life to become reunited with the Kether
(the crown or God).
The Pentagram
When drawn correctly, the pentagram represents Man, arms and
legs outstretched and head erect. This is the form of the five-pointed
star within the pentagram. It is a square representing the four-fold
world with a fifth point -- the Manas or spirit -- mid-way to
Heaven. Manas is the godhead; the ultimate degree of consciousness;
the goal of all magi. The pentagram is thus employed to draw
the Manas from around the practitioner -- from the Cosmic and
Mental planes. It also reminds us that the Manas comes from
within us all; from within our minds and bodies. The five-pointed
star has always been used to represent these concepts of Individual
and Universal Manas and their relations to each of us. It is
thus a very powerful symbol for Human potential. Five itself
is linked to Man: Five fingers, five toes, five senses, five
main appendages. This reminds us that we have something more
than the four-fold world around us: A fifth; a quintessence;
Manas. In terms of the physical world, the pentagram is again
the four-fold world, plus a fifth: Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
and Ether (or Space). In the Tibetan system we find Earth, Air,
Fire, Water, and Awareness, linking the symbol again to human
consciousness and potential. The pentagram may be the most recognized
and potent of all sacred symbols; unfortunately, it is also
the most misused. When turned with the Manas down, it represents
human downfall, linked by some to Original Sin. In this sense,
it has become a symbol of evil, which doesn't do justice to
the true meaning behind the symbol. When Peter asked that he
be crucified upside down, it was in deference to Jesus, whom
he saw as rightfully positioned with his head "mid-way
to Heaven." By inverting the symbol, Peter was admitting
he had not yet progressed beyond the level of consciousness
that kept him trapped in the four-fold world. Those who employ
the inverse pentagram are thus admitting they lack greater spiritual
insight and base their views largely on what the world around
them describes. They are admitting to being material beings
in a material world, an attribute often given to the Devil,
leading to the adoption of the inverse pentagram by Satanists
-- those concerned only with physical and material wealth, gain,
and stimulation.
The Hexagram
The hexagram is the shape created naturally by bees in the hive.
The symbology of bees thus becomes linked to that of the hexagram,
and by extension, the number six and the Seal of Solomon (or
Star of David). The hexagram -- and resultant star -- is the
one of the most powerful mystic symbols. It represents the Sixth
Principle: That of a consciousness united fully with the Manas
or Universe. It is two triangles overlapping -- the balance
of Man and Universe, each with its own triangle of balance.
Most often the figure is drawn with one triangle white and the
other black, to represent a perfect union of the Spiritual and
Material, or the Macrocosm and Microcosm. This is the loss of
the Individual within the Universal -- the ultimate goal of
all Magi often thought of as "Oneness" with the universe.
The "magic" of the sacred number seven -- representing
complete release from the world, from consciousness, even from
the Oneness of six -- comes only from the power of six.
Remember: Man is five, the Devil
is six, and God is seven. Man must experience the physical to
realize His potential within the Spiritual. Without the physical
plane, the spiritual would have no meaning. For this reason,
Christian mystics believe, God came to Earth and lived as a
Man in Jesus.
The Cube
The cube is little more than a two-fold swastika: A spiritual
square and a material square. A squared square, in other words.
The cube also contains the symbolism of the number six, since
it has six sides. It also represents the "four corners"
of the world, or the World Age as defined by the two equinoxes
and two solstices and the attendant constellations rising helically
thereon. Our current World Age is the cusp between Pisces and
Aquarius. To say it Biblically, the world (Pisces) is coming
to an end (which is, of course, only a new beginning).
The Sphere
The sphere is a circle any way you look at it. It is the Universal
circle, if you will: the True Divine Spirit. It symbolizes nothing
more and nothing less than complete emancipation from the material/physical
world and material/physical law. It is to be so far beyond the
four-fold world as to be inconceivable by us now, locked as
we are in the physical. It is to be so divorced from the material
as to not know anything of such existence. Is it the Greater
Oneness; Divinity; the Horizon of Eternity. It is God.
The Golden Ratio
(0),1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55,89,144,233,377... The Golden Ratio
of 1.618 is derived from the Fibonacci Sequence (above). The
Fibonacci Sequence is found by starting with one. The next number
is the sum of the two numbers that immediately preceded it:
Starting with 1, 0 1=1, 1 1=2, 1 2=3, and so on. The Golden
Ratio is found by dividing any number in the Fibonacci Sequence
by the number preceding it. At first the ratio is not quite
exact, but eventually it plateaus at 1.618: 5/3=1.666; 13/8=1.625;
89/55=1.618; 377/233=1.618... This number is not only significant
in regard to the Fibonacci Sequence, however. When a rectangle
with sides measuring lengths of successive numbers in the Fibonacci
Sequence (233 and 144, for example) is divided to make a square,
it creates a new rectangle with sides that have a ratio of 1.618,
which can then be divided to make a new rectangle with sides
in a ratio of 1.618... Connecting the dividing points then creates
the Golden Spiral.
The Golden Spiral is found in everything
from the arms of spiral galaxies to the pattern of leaves on
a sunflower stem to the shape of a nautilus shell. It is even
postulated to be the measure of the spiral in strands of DNA.
In terms of sacred geometry, even buildings of great antiquity
demonstrate the Golden Ratio. In the Great Pyramid, the shape
of the King's Chamber is a Golden Rectangle. Some contend this
to be coincidence -- a product of the natural stability of shapes
that exhibit the Golden Ratio. That may satisfy some that the
pyramid builders had no knowledge of the Golden Ratio, but it
also denotes the inherent sacristy of the number, that it should
be the best ratio for all structures, complex or otherwise.
The Golden Ratio is truly the Macrocosm within the Microcosm;
the universe in the shell of a snail.
Pi
pi=C/D Pi is the ratio between the circumference and diameter
of a circle, where in the above equation C is the circle's circumference
and D the diameter. It seems that all people with a written
language, no matter at what point in history, had at least a
fundamental knowledge of pi. Degrees of accuracy have changed
over time, but little else about pi has. Pi can also be rendered
as 22/7 or 377/120, but is most commonly considered 3.14. Making
the number more mysterious is that no one has ever been able
to locate a repeating pattern in the decimal sequence. Most
decimals repeat a pattern eventually (8.2349574623879879879879,
for example), but despite having taken pi out to literally hundreds
and thousands of places, no pattern has emerged -- indeed, it
is thought to be a truly infinite number. As with the Golden
Ratio, with pi we can thus witness the Macrocosm in the Microcosm;
the Infinite within the Finite. It also adds mathematical substance
to the role of the circle as a symbol of Infinity.
Hope this helps. I don't have the
author of the above piece. I have had it for years. Hope it
helps.
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Libraries
are on this row
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INDEX
Page 3
(Main Section, Medicine Wheel, Native Languages &
Nations, Symbology)
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INDEX
Page 5
(Sacred Feminine & Masculine, Stones & Minerals)
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©
Copyright: Cinnamon Moon & River WildFire Moon (Founders.)
2000-date
All rights reserved.
Site
constructed by Dragonfly
Dezignz 1998-date
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