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Geometric Shapes and Their Symbolic Meanings
From thoughtco.com
Updated July 10, 2017
01
of 17
Circles
Because basic geometric shapes are
so simplistic in construction, they are found all over the world and have wide
variety of uses and meanings. However, there are a variety of meanings that are
more commonly ascribed to these shapes, particularly when used in a religious
or magical context.
Circles commonly represent unity,
wholeness, and infinity. Without beginning or end, without sides or corners,
the circle is also associated with the number one.
In some cases, there is a
distinction between that which is contained within the circle and that which
lies without.
Protection
Circles are often seen as protective
symbols. Standing within a circle shields a person from supernatural dangers or
influences outside of the circle. Conversely, a circle can also be containing,
keeping that which is inside from been released.
Ouroboros
The
ouroboros is a circular symbol created by a creature feeding off
it's own tail, or else two creatures feeding off each other's tails. In both
cases, the shape created in a circle, represents such ideas as completion,
uniting of polarities, regeneration, and eternity.
Sun
Symbols
Circles are frequently used as sun
symbols, as well as representing things associated with the sun. The
astrological symbol of the sun is a circle with a dot in the middle. The same
symbol is often used to represent gold, which is strongly associated with the
sun.
The
Element of Spirit
The element of spirit, seen as an
element equal or superior to the physical elements of fire, air, water and earth, is
commonly represented by a circle.
02
of 17
Spirals
Spiral Aloe. Getty Images / Mady
Reichenbach / EyeEm
Spirals
are some of the oldest geometric shapes in ancient artwork, dating back at
least to the Neolithic period. As such, we know very little about their
religious beliefs and can, at best, guess about general meanings of symbols
based on context.
03
of 17
Triangles
Golden triangular terraces in modern
architecture. Golden Terraces in Warshaw. Getty Images / Krakozawr
In Western society, the triangle
most often has highly Christian meanings when used in a religious context.
Because the Christian God is a trinity - Father, Son and Holy Ghost united in a
single godhead – he is commonly represented by a triangle.
As a three-sided polygon, the
triangle represents the number three, which is meaningful to many groups. As
such, triangles and other symbols made of three parts may be used to present
such concepts as past, present, and future or spirit, mind and body.
As
a Summoning Symbol
Some occultists use the triangle as
a summoning symbol. At the culmination of a ritual, the desired being is
expected to appear within a triangle inscribed upon the floor. The occultist
often performs his ritual from the protection of a circle.
Point-up
and Point-down Triangles
The orientation of a triangle can be
important to it's meaning. For example, a point-up triangle might represent a
strong foundation or stability, as it is rooted to the ground through a solid
base.
The elements of earth and water
formed from point-up triangles, even thou these are the two more material
elements. Symbols for air and fire are formed from point-down triangles.
The point-up triangle can represent
male energy, and fire and air are masculine elements. The point-down triangle
can represent female energy, and water and earth are feminine elements.
Point-up triangles can also
represent ascension toward the spiritual world, while the point-down triangle
can represent a descent into the physical world.
The uniting of a point-up and
point-down triangle creates a hexagram.
04
of 17
Crosses
Low Angle View Of Cross Against Sky.
Getty Guido Menker / EyeEm Creative
The cross is most well-known in its
Christian context as a symbol of sacrifice and salvation in reference to
Jesus's death by crucifixion upon a cross. However, the cross has numerous
other religious meanings as well, most of which have to do with groups of four,
corresponding to the four points on the cross.
Crosses very commonly represent the
earth and the physical universe, particularly in Western culture. This comes primarily
from two associations: the four physical elements (earth, water, air and fire)
and the four cardinal directions (north, south, east and west). Indeed, the astrological symbol for Earth is a cross inside a
circle. The same symbol is also known as a sun cross or solar wheel and has
been associated with the sun and its four seasons.
Crosses share many properties with squares,
which tend to have even more material meanings than crosses.
05
of 17
Squares
Full Frame Shot Of Colorful Blocks.
Getty Images / Credit: Roan Gumangan / EyeEm
Because the number four is commonly
associated with material things—the physical elements, the directions of world,
the seasons of the world—both squares and crosses are often used as symbols of
the material world itself. However, a square has a visual solidness that a
cross lacks. A square has volume. It contains space.
06
of 17
Pentagram
- Five-Pointed Star
Close-up of stars mounted on the
wall at a war memorial, Freedom Wall, National World War II Memorial,
Washington DC. Getty Images / Panoramic Images
The five-pointed star, also commonly
called a pentagram, has been in use for thousands of years by a variety of
cultures. Most uses of the pentagram in Western society today descend from
Western occult traditions. The pentagram is also the official symbol of the Baha'i Faith.
07
of 17
Heptagrams
/ Septagrams
Catherine Beyer
Seven-pointed stars are known as
heptagrams or septagrams. There are two different configurations for
heptagrams, the acute heptagram, shown here, and the obtuse heptagram. In
addition, the heptagon – a seven-sided polygon – can also represent the same
things as a heptagram.
Astrological
Significance
The ancient world recognized only
seven planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, plus the Moon and Sun.
(Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are not visible to the naked eye and thus were unknown.)
The heptagram often reflects these seven planets.
This is particularly important in
western occultism, where systems of correspondence were often based upon
astrological correspondences. It was understood that each planet radiated
certain influences. Understanding those influences directly is the realm of
astrology.
But it was also accepted by many
occultists that those influences were soaked up and re-projected by items that
had connections with specific planets. For example, gold radiated success and
perfection precisely because it corresponded to the sun, which radiates the
same qualities.
Universal
Balance
Because the planets are all
represented equally in the heptagram, the symbol can also be one of balance,
equally representing the seven great powers of planetary magic.
Furthermore, the pairing of the
numbers three (spirituality, in reference to the Christian trinity) and four
(physicality, in reference to the four elements and the four cardinal
directions) can also represent universal balance.
Orientation can sometimes be
important here. The points over four can symbolize spirit ruling matter, while
four points over three can be physicality ruling spirit.
Days
of the Week – Symbol of Completion
The heptagram can also represent the
seven days of the week. In Judeo-Christian context, it can therefore be a
symbol of completion, as the universe was wholly created within the seven-day
week.
Elven
Star
The acute heptagram is sometimes
called the Elven Star or the Faerie Star and has been widely adopted by the
Otherkin – people who believe they are supernatural beings such as elves,
faeries or dragons trapped in human bodies.
Enochian
Angel Magic
Heptagrams and heptagons are
commonly used in John Dee's system of Enochian angel magic, which
is strongly rooted in sets of seven. The most famous example is Dee's Sigillum Dei Aemeth.
08
of 17
Obtuse
Heptagram
Catherine Beyer
Seven-pointed stars are known as
heptagrams or septagrams. There are two different configurations for
heptagrams, the obtuse heptagram, shown here, and the acute heptagram. In
addition, the heptagon – a seven-sided polygon – can also represent the same
things as a heptagram.
Read more:
General Meanings for Heptagrams
09
of 17
Heptagram
Correspondences - Days of the Week and the Seven Planets
Catherine Beyer
The heptagram can represent the
seven days of the week. In Judeo-Christian context, it can therefore be a
symbol of completion, as the universe was wholly created within the seven-day
week.
In addition, the each day of the
week is associated with one of the planets.
By following the circle
counter-clockwise, starting at the moon, you find that the planets are listed
in the order in which they were understood to exist in an earth-centric system:
Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn.
By following the lines of the acute
heptagram, you find them listed in the order of the days of the week: Moon
(Monday), Mars (Tuesday), Mercury (Wednesday), Jupiter (Thursday), Venus
(Friday), Saturn (Saturday) and the Sun (Sunday).
Read more:
Additional Meanings for the Heptagram
10
of 17
Hexagram
A hexagram with equidistant points
is unique in geometry because it cannot be drawn unicursally – that is, without
lifting and repositioning the pen. Instead, overlapping two individual
triangles forms the hexagram.
A unicursal hexagram is possible –
the creation of a six pointed shape without lifting the pen – but the points
will not be equidistant from one another.
For more information, please see the
full article about the hexagram.
11
of 17
Unicursal
Hexagram
The unicursal hexagram is a
six-pointed star that can be drawn in one continuous movement. Its points are
not equidistant, and the lines are not of equal length (unlike a more standard
hexagram). It can, however, fit inside a circle with all six points touching
the circle.
The unicursal hexagram is commonly
depicted with a five-pedaled flower in the center. This is a variation created
by Aleister Crowley, and is most strongly associated with the religion of
Thelema. Another variation is the placement of a small pentagram in the
hexagram's center.
For more information, please see the
full article about the hexagram, which includes a diagram about how to
construct a unicursal hexagram
12
of 17
Enneagram
- Fourth Way
Enneagram used by the Fourth Way.
Catherine Beyer
The term enneagram today is actually
most associated with an approach to personality analyzing and development. It
centers of the idea of there being nine personality types which are diagrammed
into an irregular nine-pointed shape. The lines represent connections and
relationships between the types and locations around the circle give additional
insight.
That same nine-pointed shape was
used in a branch of thought known as the Fourth Way, which developed in the mid
20th century.
Fore more usages of 9-pointed stars,
as well as other complex polygons and polygrams, click here.
13
of 17
Enneagram
of Overlapping Triangles
Catherine Beyer
An enneagram is a nine-pointed star.
When the enneagram is formed by three overlapping triangles, it may represent a
trinity of trinities and, thus, be a symbol of holiness or spiritual
completion.
It is possible someone might use an
enneagram as a symbol of universal wholeness with each point representing a
planet, although the downgrading of Pluto from planet to plutoid now
complicates such symbolism.
For more usages of 9-pointed stars,
as well as other complex polygons and polygrams, click here.
14
of 17
Baha'i
Enneagram
While the five-pointed star is the
official symbol of the Baha'i Faith, the nine-pointed star is more
commonly associated with the religion, even being used as the representative
symbol on the official US website for the faith. There is no standard format
for the star; as depicted here, it is constructed of three overlapping
equilateral triangles, but equally valid depictions can use either sharper or
shallower angles to the points. The preferred orientation is point-up.
For the complete article on the
Baha'i symbol, click here
For the Baha'i Symbol Gallery, click here.
Fore more usages of 9-pointed stars,
as well as other complex polygons and polygrams, click here.
15
of 17
Decagram/Dekagram
Catherine Beyer
For those working within a
Kabbalistic system, the decagram can represent the 10 sephirot of the Tree of Life.
A decagram can specifically be
formed by overlapping two pentagrams. This can reflect the union of opposites,
as point-up and point-down pentagrams can each have their own meanings. A
pentagram can represent the five elements, and some see each element as having
a positive and negative aspect. As such, any decagram (not just one made by
overlapping pentagrams) might also represent the positive and negative aspects
of the five elements.
Read more:
Complicated Polygons and Stars
16
of 17
Dodekagram
Catherine Beyer
The number twelve has a lot of
potential meanings. It is the number of months in the year, thus representing a
yearly cycle and its completion and wholeness. It is the number of disciples of
Jesus, which makes it a common number in Christianity, and the original number
of Hebrew tribes, which makes it a common number in Judaism.
But a twelve-sided figure most
commonly represents the zodiac, which is divided into twelve signs. Those
twelve signs are further divided into four groups identified by element (three fire
signs, three water signs, etc.), so a dodekagram made up of four overlapping
triangles (depicted here) works particularly well. A dodekagram made up of two
overlapping hexagons (depicted here)can be used to divide the zodiac symbols by
male and female qualities. (You can't overlap hexagrams,
since hexagrams are overlapping triangles. It's the same thing as a dodekagram
made up of four triangles.)
The number twelve has a lot of
potential meanings. It is the number of months in the year, thus representing a
yearly cycle and its completion and wholeness. It is the number of disciples of
Jesus, which makes it a common number in Christianity, and the original number
of Hebrew tribes, which makes it a common number in Judaism.
But a twelve-sided figure most
commonly represents the zodiac, which is divided into twelve signs. Those
twelve signs are further divided into four groups identified by element (three fire
signs, three water signs, etc.), so a dodekagram made up of four overlapping
triangles (depicted here) works particularly well. A dodekagram made up of two
overlapping hexagons can be used to divide the zodiac symbols by male and
female qualities. (You can't overlap hexagrams,
since hexagrams are overlapping triangles. It's the same thing as a dodekagram
made up of four triangles.)
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