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SPIRIT
LODGE
LIBRARY
Symbology
Page
16
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(Main
Links of the site are right at the bottom of the page)
The 27 pages in this Symbol section are below
Symbols &
Meanings
By CinnamonMoon
Symbols come from a wide range of
universal images that touch something deep within us. They also
come from our own interpretive experiences and therefore mean
something unique to each of us. That personal symbol is the
meaning that holds the greatest importance when we work with
them. It carries the greatest weight because we are the ones
to benefit from their use and in that we take our cues. If you
apply a symbol to a tool or perhaps a sacred space, if it comes
to you in a vision or possibly a dream, if you are shown symbols
in your journeys, only you can define their significance to
your personal path. The universal interpretations are basic
guidelines, but they are not carved in stone, if another definition
resonates stronger with you then you should use that interpretation.
An example of this might be the
Sun. For one individual it will mean a lighting of the way before
them, for another it is a blinding light that forbids them to
see what is waiting up ahead. Which interpretation is right?
Both. They are right for the individual that sees them this
way. Whether we are creating them ourselves or Spirit is sending
them to us through other means, symbols contain a lot of information
that takes us many places. We can go back into the past to summon
memories that they hold, step into the future to see the omens
they portend, or walk in the present recognizing them as the
signposts along the way. Symbols mark our tools speaking of
the powers they contain. They mark the sacred grounds and honor
the rites and rituals that these areas are dedicated to. They
come to us from Otherworlds, passing through the dimensions
as we journey and mark the paths we follow or experiences we’re
about to encounter. There isn't an area of our life that is
exempt if we have the eyes to see and the knowledge to understand.
While our Totem and Power Animals
also symbolize aspects of our own natures and personalities,
they will not be included in this section as they are too numerous
and deserve their own classifications. What you will find listed
will be those that can be applied to the Dream Lodge, shamanic
journey, vision quest, tool applications, and all other aspects
of sacred pathwork. Please remember they are not limited to
the universal interpretations or context in which they are being
presented. If you have something inside you saying it also means
this or that, by all means incorporate your impressions with
the sampling I’m sharing here. As time passes you will
continue to find significances that are relevant to them and
your understanding will grow. You will see that at different
times and in various places their meanings shift appropriately;
with a little practice it will become apparent that certain
interpretations do not apply and should be discarded. Learn
to trust your instincts completely. They are there for a reason.
Universal Interpretations of Symbols
Antler: Symbol of personal defense.
Arrow: The flight of the arrow,
its direction to a target and from which it comes will tell
of its focus and perspective. The arrow flies through the air
with swift movement as it reaches its target and strikes at
the heart of the matter. True to its mark, "hitting the
target", and it is often portrayed in motion to bring about
some type of guidance or purpose. To see an arrow in motion
represents swiftness and movement
towards a goal. The direction the arrow is going indicates where
that movement is taking pace and the target may or may not be
shown, but the elemental directions themselves do come into
play. A straight arrow represents focus and goodness. A crooked
arrow may warn of difficulties, deception, or some other issue
that serve to be confronted or avoided. A broken arrow symbolizes
the ending of something and it is an ending that is not to be
undone. This can mean an end to war and a symbol of peace, or
a breaking of the peace. Crossed arrows represent union. Groupings
of arrows symbolize many things joined together for a purpose.
A flame-tipped arrow symbolizes passion in the context to which
it is applied. An arrow that pierces something (as in “hitting
the target”) represents the target and dedication to succeed
in achieving a goal. An arrowhead is a symbol of the beginning
of a plan of action.
Autumn: To dream of the season
*out* of season indicates friendly forces where you don't expect
to find them, and can indicate a time period pertaining to the
message received. Maturity and adulthood, it represents harvests,
perhaps conserving (putting up the harvest) for later times,
preparing for harder times ahead (winter). A time to reflect
after the work is done. The abundance of our harvest that can
be shared with those we love.
Bells: They clear the air
signaling the consciousness of change. Bells are used in ceremony
to maintain rhythm or shift focus as matters proceed.
Birds: Generally represent
shamanic flight, rebirth or healing. Each bird having its own
message. (For more information a course is available covering
animals as totems, guides, and teachers. And there are some
birds listed in the Totem section of the library.) Most Medicine
Birds found in art at sacred sites or on garments are depicted
as Eagle, Crow, Goose, Thunderbird or Phoenix when pertaining
to shamanic work. The bird signifies the union between the land
and air for it is a creature of both realms and therefore can
move between the worlds. It has the knowledge of these worlds
and the voice to speak of them. It is the freedom of the spirit
and its ability to move at will. Human birds are symbolic of
the out-of-body experience, shamanic journey, or astral projection.
In the case of dreams or visions of the individual each species
of bird will have its own message (please look into the Totem
section of the library for these definitions).
Black: Symbol of mystery,
negative energy, chaos, creation, or death depending on how
it is used.
Blue: Represents the separation
of the dimensions and the worlds traversed by the shaman; spirituality
or one's pathwalk.
Bones: Represent the shaman
as a "hollow bone" or channel for Spirit. They are
symbols of death and rebirth. Some use bones of different animals
for purposes of scrying (usually chicken bones).
Cave/Cavern: Symbol Mother
Earth's womb. Internal knowledge. Sacred space. A cavern is
an extension of these realities.
Circle: (Also see Medicine
Wheel). 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 can be 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.
Claws/Talons: Represent the
power and nature of the creature they belong to. Again an animal
interpretation needs to be addressed and falls under the library’s
Totem section.
Climbing: Generally this is
either personal advancement or the struggle depending on how
difficult the climb is. This can be on levels of mundane to
spiritual goals you are striving to attain. It can mean entering
into higher awareness or consciousness. Sometimes it means you
are facing an uphill struggle of achievement and that perhaps
you should not see it as so challenging, but stop along the
way to rest, assimilate and enjoy the perspectives from that
vantage point. Depending upon circumstances surrounding your
efforts, it can mean rising above difficulties in life. Reaching
a shelf or ledge can be either shelter or precarious depending
on the use and activity that takes place.
Corn Meal: Used to define
sacred space by Native Americans. It warns others not to enter
and will seal a door from an intrusive knock by a line drawn
with it signifying a spiritual session taking place on the other
side. Holds negative energy or entities at bay. It is sacred
to the indigenous people of North America as it represents Mother
Earth. It can be used to define a temporary Medicine Wheel for
ritual or ceremonial purposes and is easily taken along when
traveling. Because of its sacred context, corn meal will hold
negative energies at bay and prevent them from entering the
defined space so it is often used to create a circle of protection
around one's home.
Cross: This represents the
centering and balance between the elemental forces of Air, Fire,
Water, and Earth. Thus, it represents the four roads of the
shaman leading to the center and Spirit. It demonstrates walking
the roads from East to West, and North to South. It is the path
we take and the choices available to us. Long before its adoption
by Christianity, the cross was a symbol of the four-fold world
and its various measures of the elemental forces first mentioned
along with 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.
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).
Death: Death can appear in
many ways, creatures, vegetation, landscapes or even bodies
and is often contrary in meaning indicating a time of renewal
or rebirth in some area of life is about to begin...a time of
transformation. This can include the death of old ways or patterns,
and new growth. If it was your death that you dreamed it is
a good sign of changes for the better and worries passing away
or an illness being overcome. So in cases where anxiety surrounds
health issues of yourself or those close to you it is a very
positive sign that you are worrying too much and thinking in
negatives that are not worthy of your spent energy. It may indicate
the heart crying its prayers to Spirit and those prayers being
heard. It may indicate a need to embrace your own mortality
as a human being while embracing your eternal spiritual self.
To speak to someone who has died means you will soon receive
good news. If you dream of death successively or often you will
soon hear of a birth. Dreaming of someone dying you can't recognize
means fortune will come from an unexpected source like an inheritance.
Death can also portend the fact that you are closing yourself
off to someone thus bringing an end to the relationship due
to anger, wounds, or infringements.
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…save
by 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 as 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).
Dots: Symbols of veils between
the dimensions. May represent the element or entities of Air.
May represent the presence of spiritual entities that reside
at a location or can be approached from it. These dots are often
the lifting of the veil between the worlds. The very air around
you shifts as you enter into a state of heightened consciousness.
Sometimes luminous flecks of light will appear, much like watching
a television screen when programming has gone off the air. It
may appear as a waffle pattern or grid as well as points of
light that are free floating. These represent the unseen barriers
and the separation or lifting of the veil that is taking place.
Drum: The rhythm of the drum
is the heartbeat of Mother Earth. It is between the beats that
Spirit resides. It is the symbolic shamanic steed sounding its
hooves as it carries the practitioner into their shamanic journey
to explore other dimensions. The drum is the thunder of life,
the heartbeat that unifies us all, the heartbeat of Mother Earth.
This instrument is considered to be as alive as the heart of
the shaman, therefore it is often named and the sound it makes
is its voice. Each sacred drum has its own spirit that resides
within it, it is more than a tool, it lives. The name for the
drum is usually given through Spirit in journey work or meditation;
however, some will choose a name for it themselves. Even if
the name is chosen freely, I believe Spirit guides that naming.
There are several types of drums; some of the more common being
the hand, single head, double head, or water drum. The rhythm
of the drum is up to you to find. Matching it to your heartbeat,
or intuitively following a pattern you associate with a particular
animal will help carry you into your journey. Certain rituals
and dances do have their traditional rhythms among various cultures,
but there is nothing to say that you cannot create a rhythm
that suits you in private practice. Beginning with a steady
beat or count will lead you into your rhythm when you focus
on your purpose.
Eye: Represents the trance
state, the spiritual eye often called the Third Eye, or spirits
watching over a locale.
Fans: Fans are made from many
different types of feathers. Each species of bird represents
specific qualities that the fan possesses. They can be created
for the use of individual feathers (sometimes using feathers
from more than one bird), or by using a wing or tail. Each fan
will have its own purpose which can include healing, smudging,
summoning, consecration, or a tool for shapeshifting.
Feathers: Sacred symbols of
the essence of the creature from which they come and the attributes
are applied to the use of the feather respectively. Feathers
are considered sacred keepers and hold a portion of its life
force and powers. Eagle feathers are a symbol of the Great Spirit
and shamanic union with it. They are used for clearing the energy
of an individual, for healing, and to represent the power of
life. Hawk feathers are used when messages are being sought,
for sweat lodge ceremonies, and for smudging. Raven feathers
are used for journey work and enlightenment. Owl feathers are
used to discover hidden knowledge, rites that revolve around
death, and for seeking wisdom. Turkey feathers are used when
giving thanks or as a substitution for the lack of another feather.
Buzzard or Vulture feathers are used to banish negative energies
and spirits. Whatever the quality of the bird, that same attribute
is applied to the use of its feathers.
Flute: The flute calls up
the inner spirit of the individual and can be used to call in
other spirits as well. It is generally related to one's personal
power and carries the message of the heart to Spirit.
Flying Buck: Symbol of shamanic
flight, often referred to as the trance buck. It is depicted
as a creature that is flying through the air. Generally it is
seen as a deer, antelope, gazelle, or similar animal. It is
symbolic of the shamanic state of trance, out-of-body flight,
or shamanic journey.
Fossil: Preserved cosmic and
physical truths that are unchanging.
Ghost: In shamanic terms it
is a spirit helper or representation of spiritual protection.
It may address a guide or teacher as well as a spiritual healer
from another dimension. The face of a ghost may address the
relationship of rebirth in some form depending upon its use.
Giants: One who is greatly
idolized or feared depending on circumstances. Can warn against
speculative ventures for the short term. To meet one boldly
indicates future success. Killing one means increase in material
things. Seeing one trample over others indicates obstacles you
can overcome through perseverance.
Gold: Reflects the good, purity,
positive aspects of the way it is used. Symbolic of the Sun.
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.
Gourd: The gourd is a multi-purpose
item. It is fashioned into rattles, ceremonial containers, bowls,
drinking vessels, and dippers. It can be used as an instrument
to feed water to the Stone People of the Sweat Lodge, to serve
drink to those gathered at circles, to hold offerings that will
be later given back to Mother Earth and the spirits that have
been called upon. Gourds are used for implements at the feast
tables, and as gifts to share with others. They are painted
and adorned in relation to the way they are to be used.
Green: Represents growth and
good health or healing. Grey: Symbol of the Void of Spirit.
The physical and spiritual center where positive and negative
energies are balanced or held at bay.
Grids: These represent the
lifting of the veil between the worlds. The very air around
you shifts as you enter into a state of heightened consciousness.
Sometimes luminous flecks of light will appear, much like watching
a television screen when programs have gone off the air. It
may appear as a waffle pattern or grid as well as points of
light that are free floating. These represent the unseen barriers
and the separation or lifting of the veil that is taking place.
They can represent the paths on the Medicine Wheel or within
the Web of Life too. If found at a sacred site they are a sign
of that place being a portal to another realm. Other symbols
present would speak of what that realm holds.
Hand: Service to others.
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.
Horse: The shamanic steed
echoed in the beating of the drum as its hooves fall. The shaman
follows the rhythm into trance. In some cultures the head of
a horse on the end of a stick or pole is used to ride the circle
and bring about a state of trance. Horse also represents "stealing
power" and protecting the source of that power as a Stallion
protects the herd.
Labyrinth/Maze: Obstacles
to overcome. The attitude and success of getting through it
indicates the level of struggle in overcoming the challenges
before you. If lost and frightened you will struggle very hard,
find you are unable to resolve issues, and may need to change
directions. These are often strong indicators that you are to
attune to your intuitive nature and allow it to guide you through
situations. Often these mazes indicate times of serious confusion
or anxiety and not knowing which way to go or which turn to
take. Perhaps you have too many options and need to begin eliminating
them choosing from the least supportive first and narrowing
things down a bit. Can indicate puzzles and riddles to be solved.
A need to be patient and accepting during a complex journey
or undertaking.
Medicine Wheel: (Also see
Circle) This represents the universe, the self, unseen worlds,
and eternity. It is the Sacred Hoop of Life, opened and sealed
to focus the work area, opened and undone when work is complete.
It is the symbol of infinity for it has no beginning or end.
This is the sacred space of the Medicine Person or practitioner,
a place that is not a place, a time that is not a time, a world
that is not a world. It can be defined with stones, by drawing
it on the ground with the tip of a staff or other ritual tool,
by drawing it in the air, using cornmeal, or through visualization.
Symbol of the universe in all its dimensions. The outer circle
is the presence of Spirit that surrounds everything. The quarters
are the four elements of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. The lines
between them define the roads of the quarters. Each of the 36
stones of a Medicine Wheel represent an aspect of the powers,
seasons, moons, clans, and teachings they possess. It is the
symbol of infinity that penetrates all dimensions. Medicine
Wheel: Symbol of the universe in all its dimensions.
Migration: Major times of
change and/or transition. Moving to a new environment. Collective
consciousness and awareness of the needs of the whole. Relocation
either physically, mentally, or spiritually.
Mirrors: These are used on
costumes to reflect the forms of those present at the ceremonies
as a symbol that the individual observing is also a part of
the event as the 7th element. In this way all are shown to be
connected to the energies of the universe. They are symbols
of inner reflection, shedding light into darkness, and can be
used as portals to other dimensions. Mirrors have long been
used alone or with water as scrying tools.
Orange: Symbol of courage,
facing challenges, the energy of the mind.
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/Creator, 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.
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.
Pouches: Pouches are made
for items that are sacred, holding items that will heal or protect,
containing offerings, pocket wheels, and any number of other
purposes. They are made of skins or fabric, often painted, tooled,
or beaded in a way that signifies their use. Bundles are the
wrappings used to enfold several items. As an example of a Medicine
Bundle's contents, a shaman might include a smudge fan, a bowl,
herbs, stones, flags, and prayer ties among other things. These
are the items that will be put to use when the bundle is opened
and laid out before the individual. The outer wrapping can then
be used as an altar cloth or shield. Be it for either a Bundle
or Medicine Pouch, the cloth is always one of natural fibers.
When a skin is used it is carefully selected for the symbology
it signifies as well as the energies of the creature from which
it comes.
Prayer Stick: Like the Talking
and Listening Sticks used to give permission to speak or as
reminders to be silent, the Prayer Stick is used for speaking
with Spirit. It keeps the user focused and centered. Adorned
with ribbons, etched or painted symbols, and other items, it
is symbolic to the individual and can be crafted as they see
fit or feel guided by Spirit. In general they are about 36 inches
long, sometimes shorter, but rarely exceeding this length.
Purple: Represents the enlightenment
and attainment of wisdom received from Spirit.
Rainbow: Represents promise,
the coming together of All Our Relations and races to share
wisdom and knowledge in harmony.
Rattle: Rattles are used to
get the attention of Spirit, enhance a rhythm, soothe the sick,
or mark a significant change in ceremony. The rattle can be
made of turtle shells, deer hooves, bird beaks, gourds, animal
horns, or other items that are tied together. Some are hand
held while others are fixed to leather bands that can be worn
as leg or arm accessories, tied to a staff, or placed on footwear.
They are ceremonial instruments used to summon the attention
of the spirit world bringing on trance states while tapping
the power of the inner spirit. They are the waking or quickening
of changes that are taking place. Rattles are used to carry
the rhythms of the body toward healing or movement in some direction.
Red: Symbol of passion, anger,
or danger dependent upon how it is used. Symbol of blood and
if it is red earth it is seen as sacred to Mother Earth. Can
also represent sacrifice.
Ropes/Threads/Strings/Ladders:
Represent the pathways upon which the shaman travels to Otherworlds.
They are attached to a pole or tree representing the shamanic
tree or true center of all worlds and then to the shaman. This
allows the shaman's spirit to travel back and forth. These are
the pathways upon which the Medicine Person travels to Otherworlds.
All are a form of straight lines that can be traversed going
and coming or to invite other spirits into sacred space. In
the case of the pole a rope is attached to it and the pole becomes
the spiritual center of the worlds with the rope becoming a
pathway to it. Ladders are symbols that represent a way of reaching
the Above World and a path on which to return. The pole is symbolic
of the shamanic tree and found in the center of sacred circles,
lodges, and the majority of ceremonial locations. The poles
are cut from living trees and they are considered to hold the
spirit of that tree within them. Sometimes a tree itself will
be planted or grow at the center of a sacred site.
Sacred Pipe: Symbol of Mother
Earth, Father Sky, the seven sacred directions, and its adornments
speak of the powers it holds. Sacred Pipes represent proper
prayer, truth and harmony achieved through entering oneness
with Spirit. Its shape and style will signify its use.
Shield: The shield has many
symbolic uses. They can depict the powers or gifts of an individual;
the activity within a sacred place; or express the Medicine
of an individual. There are many uses for a shield but it will
always tell a tale.
Silver: Represents the spiritual
aspects of a given situation or use.
Skull: Symbol of life, the
eyes and ears of the spiritual essence from which it is derived.
Painted they speak of energies they contain as well as the intention
for their use.
Smoke: Symbol of making the
unseen seen. Carries the prayers spoken into it to Spirit as
it rises. It comes from the elemental Fire and thus maintains
its qualities of purification. It also contains the attributes
of the wood used to create the fire that produces it.
Spiral: Can represent the
cycles and flow of energy or nature. May symbolize interrelationships
or two paths that parallel one and other through opposites.
Spring: To dream of the season
*out* of season indicates friendly forces where you don't expect
to find them, and can indicate a time period pertaining to the
message received. The season of creative new beginnings and
inspiration, it is a time of preparation for those plans to
get underway. It represents birth, conception, new ideas, philosophy,
abstract thoughts, the child within, and more.
Staff: Symbol of the power
held by the one who fashioned it or carries it. These are usually
marked significantly. Stones: With all the crystals and stones
there are too many meanings to list here. These range from healing,
warding, sending, and receptive qualities depending upon the
stone itself.
Summer: To dream of the season
*out* of season indicates friendly forces where you don't expect
to find them, and can indicate a time period pertaining to the
message received. This is about growth, development, trust in
oneself and faith. Here we are about to enter into a learning
experience. A time of action, adventure and intrigue…as
well as caution to avoid mistakes.
Tree: Represents the shamanic
tree or Tree of Life, the path of the three worlds: Above World
through the branches, Below World through the roots, and Middle
World through the trunk.
Tunnel: Symbol of transformation
or self-discovery. A new route of discovery, a passage to Otherworlds.
Vine: Represents a situation
that continues to grow and may reach a great distance before
it is complete.
Web: The symbolic Web of Life
linking all to Spirit. The webs we weave as we create the lives
we lead. White: Symbol of purity, Spirit, that which is good.
Winter: To dream of the season
*out* of season indicates friendly forces where you don't expect
to find them, and can indicate a time period pertaining to the
message received. It represents old age, the sage, magi, wisdom,
sustenance, a cycle of death followed by rebirth. A time to
reflect after the work is done, a time of shared wisdom and
stories, of grace in the give-away.
Yellow: Symbol of courage,
strength, peace, contentment, or challenge depending on how
it is used.
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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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