Andrea Lord
President, Alpha Institute
Women’s Circle Facilitator
Reiki Practitioner |
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Rachel Lord RN, CMT, MH
Women’s Circle Facilitator
Master Herbalist |
May 2010
SYMBOLS IN GENERAL
Aa a natural extention of our Archtypal series we will now look into the idea of symbols. What are they? how are they used? What are some of the common ones and why are they so powerful? The first in the symbol Series is a general overview.
SYMBOLS - THE BIG PICTURE
What, Why, Where?
- Pictures that represents a universal archetypal concept, idea, religion, belief
- Part of the “collective unconscious”
- Pop up in meditation, dreamtime, out-of-body experiences
- Crosses cultures, religions
- Timeless
- Has power and energy
- Used in magic and can be made powerful by the magician working with it
- Can inspire or invoke fear
- Some are readily understood; others bring subliminal messages that help you trigger ancient memories and recognitions.
- Visually simple: simplified versions of the “real thing”
- Examples: circle, cross, snake, spiral, rose, ankh, cross, star
- Children naturally draw them in their art. They know and sense them.
- Wildly popular in our culture: As evidenced by “The Lost Symbol” by Dan Brown. He used Masonic symbols in his thriller. They appear on and in major Washington D.C. buildings-the Capitol, the Washington Monument, etc.
- Can be used to communicate-cross languages. Example: Universal symbols, traffic signs
USES OF SYMBOLS
- On Flags-recognition of country
- On Clothing: To say who you are, your beliefs, that you belong—angels, skulls, spiders, medicine wheels
- Advertising and on Logos: to invoke recognition, connection,
- Architecture: Examples: Great Pyramid, government buildings in Wash, D.C.
- Magic: To invoke power, spells
- Communication: Braille, traffic signs, sign language
OM
- Sanskrit letters or symbol for the "sacred" Hindu sound om (ohm or aum) called "the mother of all mantras.
- The four parts symbolize four stages of consciousness: Awake, sleeping, dreaming, and a trance or transcendental state.
THE SACRED “EYE”
“The Dollar Bill and The All-Seeing Eye”
- A Universal Symbol: Masonic symbol. Represents spiritual sight, inner vision, higher knowledge, insight into occult mysteries.
- On the Great Seal: The eye represents divine guidance.
The Eye of the Ancient Egyptian God, Horus
- Eye Symbology originated in Ancient Egypt and maybe before
SYMBOLS WITH MULTIPLE MEANINGS
Sometimes symbols can be complex or have multiple meanings
Some have represented different things at different times
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Swastika: Ancient occult symbol found in Egypt, China and India. Has represented the sun, the four directions, movement and change (the appendages) and the union of opposites. (where the lines cross. ) The Chinese had a right handed (yang) version and a left-handed (yin) version. Hitler used it as a symbol of white supremacy.
A Counter-Clockwise Labyrinth, Mystical, Lunar, Female
THE HUMAN BODY AS THE ULTIMATE SYMBOL
The Vitruvian Man by Leonardo DaVinci
- Leonardo: Based his drawing on the correlations of ideal human proportions with geometry
- Picture named in honor of: Vitruvius, the ancient Roman architect who described the human figure as being the principal source of proportion among the classical orders of architecture.
- Represents sacred proportions: Perfect balance, harmony, occurs in nature.
- As above, so below.
- Ancient symbol. “Everything that exists outside of man is within man.”
- The Mystery Schools of every nation taught that the elements and powers of the universe were epitomized within the human constitution. (The Macrocosm within the Microcosm) “The proper study of Mankind is Man.”
]
The Blair Witch
SYMBOLIC ACTIVITIES
- Create a Symbol Collage: Cut out pictures from magazines, etc. Use those that speak to your spirit and soul
- Go on a Walking Tour Downtown: Look for symbols on buildings.
- Go to the Mall: Check out symbols on tee shirts, jackets and other items. Which ones do you like, don’t like? How come?
NAMASTE
Some of our References:
http://www.crossroads.to/books/symbols1.html
http://www.ancient-symbols.com/celtic-symbols.html
Image Resources
http://dragonartz.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/_vector-religious-symbols-set1-preview-by-dragonart.png?w=495&h=502
www.tglass.net/Mandala.htm
www.grapevinetexas.gov
www.s989.photobucket.com
koseye.blogspot.com/2009/01/sacred-geometric-...
www.jackthelads.com
www.softpedia.com
www.
beemsville.wordpress.com
www.layoutsparks.com
www.stormfront.org
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/codex_magica/images/codex_14.jpg
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EVENTS
CALENDAR:
Circling:
Circles, Spirals and Labyrinths
Sunday July 11, 2010
1 pm - 4:30 pm
$20
Connect
With Other Wise Women
Join In Ceremony with Drums and Rattles!
- Circles, Spirals and Labyrinths are ancient symbols that we all connect to.
- We will explore these sacred shapes and experience their power.
- These simple shapes bring one in contact with the universe and with ourselves. Come see how.
- The circle has
been a natural way for women to gather since the beginning.
- BRING: A drum
or rattle if you can. If not, we have extras.
Presenters:
Andrea Lord, Women’s Circle Facilitator, Reiki Practitioner
Rachel Lord, RN, CMT, Master Herbalist
Held At:
Old Hampden Holistic Center
3501 South Corona St., Suite 1
Englewood, CO 80113
(5 blocks east of Swedish Medical Center)
To Sign Up:
Phone: A Women’s Circle at 720-530-2834
email: awomenscircle@yahoo.com
www.awomenscircle.net
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