A. Venefica’s Weblog: Symbolic Meanings

My friend Göran was curious about the sword symbolism as he begins pondering his next creative sculpted jewelry piece (click here to see his amazing sculpted jewelry art).

He’s done a lot of his own contemplation on the symbolic meaning of swords for his art work, and I thought I’d add to his thoughts by making this post.

Sword symbolism speaks of:

• Solidarity
• Defense
• Clarity
• Power
• Honor
• Force

Most perceptible is the symbolism of protection, honor and justice embodied in the blade of the sword. 

Metaphysically speaking the sword is symbolic of the penetrating power of the mind, and encourages the wielding of trained intellect to bring about the results we seek. 

The making of a sword incorporates all the elements: Earth, Fire, Air, Water.  This is a powerful point as it confirms the energetic pattern of the sword presents wholeness, balance, totality, and the unification of all resource to form a tightly focused beam of force (energy).

As an alchemical symbol aspects of the sword are representative of purification through the process of life and death.

Furthermore, Buddhism recognizes the sword as a metaphor in that the sword cuts through ignorance to reach to the truth in all things….“cutting through” wrong thought.

In Japan the sword is a symbol of courage and strength.  Here the sword is created by smithys in religious rituals.  Their swords are highly valued and serve as symbols of the warrior archetype.

As a Celtic symbol, the sword is connected to gain, wealth, honor, and establishment of hierarchy.  Often swords we be consider markers of familial ties, and indicate victories won for the purpose of insuring the survival of blood lineage.  Interestingly, swords were thought to be given as offerings by releasing them into the depths of the oceans.  I’ve written more about this and the sword’s connection with Nuada, here.

Mayans symbolism indicates the sword as the giver of life.  These people were intimate with the thin veil between physical life and spiritual life.  The sword serves as a gateway (when slain in battle or sacrifice) into spiritual life as the physical body passes and the spirit lifts into celestial unfolding.

As dream symbols, the sword is considered to hold meanings of intellect, seeking power, aggression, decision and action.  When we dream of swords our psyche is surfacing a message that it may be time for us to gain clarity about our position in life circumstances, take a stand and take action in a clear, discriminatory fashion. 

It may also hearken to our chivalrous archetypal nature.  Meaning, we may have an inclination to rescue someone (or ourselves).  Swords in dreams may also confirm our internal strength, that we are not prisoners of our circumstance, but we may cut away these limiting ties that bind us.

The symbolic meaning of the sword plays a large role in the language of the Tarot.  In  this esoteric light, a whole new realm of meaning about swords opens up to us.  I have written about the symbolic sword of the Tarot in depth here.

I’ve also written more in-depth thoughts on sword symbolism (including cultural perspectives) here.

The symbolism of wisteria deals with:

• Honor
• Memory
• Patience
• Endurance
• Longevity
• Exploration
• Creative expansion
• Releasing burdens
• The duality of love
• Victory over hardship

In matters of love we see the wisteria’s appearance in the 1820’s Japanese kabuki drama Fuji Musume (Wisteria Maiden).  The Wisteria Maiden is depicted in a painting holding a wisteria branch, until one day she becomes smitten with a young man and steps out of the painting in an effort to capture his attention.  Unfortunately, her attempts are futile – her loves goes unrequited, and she sorrowfully steps back into the two-dimensional world of her lonely painting…still holding her weeping wisteria.

Here the symbolism of wisteria speaks of love lost, but also of the ability for the heart to endure in spite of rejection.  In other words, here the weeping wisteria expresses sorrow – but it is also an incredibly durable vine, able to live (even flourish) through mistreatment and harsh conditions.

We see more duality in love symbolism from the Victorian era, in which the language of flowers was quite intricate.  The symbolism of wisteria in this age dealt a warning of clinging love – an understanding that love is the fruit, but our obsession with it will be as choking as the vine.

Wisteria blossoms, eloquently falling in tapered clusters, are considered a visual indication of bowing or kneeling down in honor and respect in Feng Shui.  Practitioners of Feng Shui are encouraged to plant wisteria in quadrants requiring somber moments of contemplation to instill quiet honor.

Shin Buddhism also views the wisteria as a symbol of prayer, or thoughtful reverence for the same reason.  The branches and blossoms seem to lower their head in gentle supplication.  These vine gestures naturally bring to mind our need for peace, quiet, and time to honor the divine essence (of our own understanding).

Flora records indicate wisteria has been known to live up to 100 years or more, and so here it picks up its symbolism of longevity and immortality.  European families mark the ages of generations passing with the growth of this vine, and so it makes sense the vine embodies an essence of immortality (as fathers and grandfathers tell their sons of stolen kisses beneath the same wisteria that grew during the day of their great grandfathers).

Most interestingly, is the wisteria’s pattern of growth.  Like most vines (and ivy’s), the wisteria’s expansive tendrils grow out in a spiraling motion.  The meaning of spiral’s deal with expansion of consciousness.  Spiral’s also point to our awareness as the inner-most center.  This awareness spans outward in as spiraling motion to indicate our influence on the outside world.  In this manner, vines and ivy’s also remind us of our interconnectedness with everything on every level.

The wisteria is a voracious grower with the ability to spread out over acres, spiraling out into impressive expanses.  Symbolically, we might see this as an external reflection of our own expanding consciousness.

However, keep in mind the wisteria can be destructive in her growth, and requires discipline to avoid spiraling out of control (indeed, the vine has been known to take down entire buildings and trellises with her burdening weight).  Wisteria reminds us that the journey into our conscious evolution is vital to our own blossoming.  However left unchecked, or practiced without foundational discipline may cause unsavory results.

If you found this post on the symbolism of wisteria intriguing, check out these other pages of relevance:

Meaning of Flowers

Symbolism of Flower Colors

Your Flower Astrology Sign

Some attributes and symbolism of the pheasant include:

• Solar/Sun/Energy
• Refinement
• Sexuality
• Nobility
• Virtue

The pheasant is a native bird of China where it is revered for its beauty, and thought of as a solar animal.  Indeed, the Golden pheasant’s body is a shock of flaming red; its head a ruddy yellow.  So intense are these solar colors that there is some debate as to whether or not the Golden pheasant (image shown right) may be linked to the legendary phoenix.

Whatever the case, the pheasant represents yang energy and so it carries attributes of fire, life, summer, male, and action to name a few.

Also in China the pheasant is a symbol of nobility, and is associated with high-rank in political office and civil service. 

In Japan the pheasant is a divine messenger for Amaterasu, the great sun goddess.  Amaterasu is a focal point of the Shinto pantheon.  She is the ruler of the heavens, so her association with the pheasant made this creature an important symbol of power, abundance and promise.

Native American lore considered the pheasant a symbol of protection and concealment.  Presumably because regardless of their airborne capabilities, they prefer most of their time hunkered down in tall grass, concealed from sight.  Further, unlike most winged creatures, the pheasant nests on the ground rather than trees. 

Pheasants are considered symbols of sexuality because of the amazingly attractive male.  Furthermore, the male’s appearance is quite effective, and often wins him a harem of females. 

Lastly, the pheasant is a cousin of the peacock, and its symbolic attributes are similar to those of the peacock which can be found here.

Pheasants make excellent animal totems for many reasons.  Their energy stimulates sexuality, encourages creativity, and enhances energy.  I’ve gone into more detail about the symbolism of the pheasant  (including the types of people who attract pheasants as an animal air totem) here.

Post Script: Thank you Petra for this magnificent photo!
 

Symbolic meaning of the crab deals with:

• cycles
• regeneration
• protection

These creatures are lunar symbols, as indicated in the Tarot where a crab (or sometimes a lobster or crayfish) is indicated on the Moon card and enhances the overall symbolism this card represents.

Crabs cast off their shells for new ones, and this is where the rebirth/cycling association plays its part.

The protective symbolism is evident in the hard, spiny exo-skeleton found with these creatures.

When the crab crawls into our consciousness we’re reminded of the cyclical nature in our lives and what protection we may need for the path on which we embark.

The Crab signifies prosperity, success and high status in Chinese symbolism because the Chinese word referring to its shell is a pun on the term used for the highest score a candidate can make on the Chinese Imperial Examinations (first, or jia). Two crabs represent the first and second scores of the Examinations.

This Chinese new year is the year of the rat.  Meanings dealing with this animal of the Chinese zodiac include:

• Industriousness
• Ingenuity
• Necessity
• Resourceful
• Production
• Foresight
• Luck

Rats cycle an appearance every 12 years.  Rats also occur on even-numbered years (1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, etc.). 

To begin interpreting the meaning or portents of this year within the context of its identification with the rat, we could begin by combining the above listed Chinese attributions with its numerological associations.

 For example even-numbered years are symbolic of :

• Balance
• Duality
• Compensation
• Partnerships
• Judgement
• Choice
• Planning
• Joining

 This year is about structure, and completion only for us to turn around and see something new pop out and surprise us.

This is the year to finish long term projects that have been hanging over our heads for far too long (years long even).  Whatever loose ends we have been slack in tying will be snipped this year if we don’t tend to their completions once and for all.

The message of this year is preparation.  The more prepared we are, the more able we are to roll with the flow this lunar year.  If you’ve had control issues, anxiety issues or a need for dominance, begin to slip out of these behavioral patterns as pedestal-toppling is likely this year.

 This is also evident in the leap year which we are now currently experiencing.  It’s only one extra day, but it’s vastly significant in the churn mill of consistent energy.  In other words, leap years are a bit like wild-cards. 

Leap years take place every 28 years. 

In numerology, we practice reduction of numbers to bring down a sequence to a single numeral (making it easier to handle). 

When we reduce the 28 year leap year cycle - 28 is reduced to number 1.  Similarly, 2008 is also reduced to a number 1.  This number is symbolic of new beginnings, and can be further interpreted from the Magician card in the Tarot deck.

What does this mean?  Just as we work to tie up those loose ends, something new is going to fall right into our laps.  The sky certainly isn’t falling chicken little - but there is a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on. 

Of course, that’s just my view - ultimately you are the only observer & therefor the only accurate interpreter. 

Do some research on the Chinese culture and how they interpret various symbols.  Do some reading on their concept of time, and their perspective on cycles. 

Meditate on the year, does it have a feeling to it?  Look at all the variables and subtle differences this subject presents - bring them all together and draw your own well-informed conclusion.

An interesting request from one of my readers…she wanted a symbol for divine, or divinity symbols to which I respond: 

Dear Symbol Seeker,

The Divine is a broad subject, but below are a few symbols that represent Divine, or Divinity.

In Alchemy - the human body is considered a symbol of the divine

In Native American symbology (specifically plains tribes) a large, equilateral triangle pointing downard represents trust in divine guidance. It is a symbol of our ability to join with the divine and have a divine perspective.  Further in this genre, an equilateral triangle pointing heavenwards represents the divine point, the highest point of knowledge (cosmic awareness or higher spirit if you will).

In most cultures, a crown is a symbol of not only royalty and nobility - but also divinity.  For example deities and Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt wore double crowns to signify their divine stature as well as mark their endowment of divine power.  In some religions, including Christianity, the crown represents divine glory and crowns were placed on the heads of newly deceased as a sign of their union with God upon their passing.  In Eastern religions the crown worn is a sign of spiritual evolution - one step closer to divinity.

In the animal kingdom we find more symbols of the divine…

In Christian traditions, the dove is a symbol of divinity as it is the representation of the Christ.

Further, the starfish is considered a representation of the Virgin Mary in Christian iconography and as such is a symbol of the keeper of divine wisdom.

The dolphin is considered a divine messenger of the sea by some Native American cultures.

In the Orient as well as Celt, Norse and Greco-Roman mythologies the horse is thought of as a divine messenger too - a carrier of high divine insight for the Gods & Goddesses it serves.

In various cultural & mythological realms (Christian, Greco-Roman, Native American, Byzantine) the eagle is considered a divine creature of the air and held firm as a symbol of the divine.

In other areas of nature such as the plant world, we find more symbols of divinity.

The peach has long been symbolic of divinity as well as longevity, good fortune and paradise to the Chinese and Japanese.

The pine cone is a symbol of immortality and the divine in earth-based religions (i.e. paganism) as it is an evergreen.

Another earth-based symbol of the divine long honored by the ancient Celts and Norse is the acorn.  Druids swallowed the acorns whole in order to touch the divine mind.   They were sacred to the god Thor, and in Norse mythology the Tree of Life was an oak (from which the acorn springs forth).

The number ten is symbolic of spiritual achievement and return to unity.  Consequently, many systems of thought treat this numeral as a symbol of the divine. Specifically, the sephirotic Tree of Life of the Kabbalah is made of ten sephira - as such it represents unity, spiritual attainment, and divine accomplishment.

The Tarot holds infinite symbols for divinity.  The Hierophant is a symbol of uniformed or contained divinity where the human may pour out the prescribed nature of divine to the public.  Also in the Tarot, the Moon is a symbol for the divine.

As you can see, symbols of the divine are numerous.  Even in our day-to-day lives we can find symbols that vibrate with the divine.  Even candles -long thought of as carriers of divine light in places of worship and occasion of ritual.

In considering symbols for the divine, I would encourage you to find elements in your life that focus upon your own unique perspective of what is divine for you.  Meditate upon divinity itself, and your own special symbols will come to you from your effort.

I get requests for quick & easy symbols.    After countless attempts to explain the intricacies of symbolism, I finally save my breath and throw a bone or two.  So,  for those of you who would rather not invest much thought to the depth of symbolism, here are two basic symbols for friendship:

Shown left are the Arrows of Friendship.  In Native American cultures (primarily plains tribes), the owner of an arrow would always leave a mark on the shaft, indicating its maker (i.e., the makers mark). 

Hence, two arrows together in such a fashion is symbolic of bringing together two people or two tribes for the common goal of both parties as well as friendship.  

These interlinked hearts shown left are another symbol for friendship.  The hearts side by side symbolize togetherness.  The symbol is for good fortune, and is a good omen for a lasting relationship.

These are nice if you are looking for a fast fix (or worse, a no-brainer tattoo).  If you are willing to dig a little deeper, my post on the Celtic symbols for friendship  as well as my comment on the Celtic dolphin as a symbol for friendship may be interesting for you.   The cardinal bird is also a friendly symbol, and here I have the Chinese symbol writing for friends.

Keep in mind, adopting symbols to represent your own life situations is a very personal endeavor & deserves personal participation!  Research, contemplation and meditation are strongly recommended before dedicating a symbol to represent the aspects of you or your life.

Here are some hard, fast, quick-facts on the symbolic meaning of Birch:

Birch is symbolic of beginnings, renewal & starting over.  The Birch is in the primary position within the Ogham.

Ancient Siberians hailed it as sacred - calling it the ladder that spanned the gap between heaven & earth.

Used by the Native American Indians as the center pole in yurts & tee pees.   This was symbolic of new beginning - the center must start fresh the process of gathering, shelter, and all other representations of home.

Ancient Europeans also hold the Birch as a symbol of hearth & home.  Bringing in twigs inside the home is a physical intention of invoking protection.

Further, the best brooms are considered to have Birch branches at the end as they are thought to “sweep away” negative energy.

Symbolic meaning of Birch continues with the Gauls who used Birch twigs in marriage ceremonies.  Traditionally, branches would be lit during marriage as a sign of good luck and an omen for a long, happy marriage.

It was also considered a sacred tree to the Germanic gods Freya, Thor & Donar.

As a Chinese symbol, Birch is honored for its attributes of protection, communication, & rejuvenation.

Click here for more on the Birch and other trees from the Celtic symbolic Ogham perspective. 

Many cultures have a five-fold symbol, and with each culture, there are different rules.

A more robust understanding of this symbol can be obtained by investigating the meaning of number five itself (here). The meaning of numbers give us powerful insight into the nature of symbolism, and the number five is deals with expansion, integration, and synchronistic journeying to higher understanding.

I have an explanation of the five-fold on my Celtic symbols pages - here is a link to Celtic five-fold symbol (sixth symbol from the top).

Another five-fold symbol is found in alchemy - here is a link to this alchemical five-fold symbol meaning: (refer to the “Quincunx” entry).

You might want to read the “Pentacle” entry on this page too - as this is another powerful cultural five-fold symbol. 

When considering the Pentacle, you may also want to consider consider DaVinci’s Vitruvian Man - on which a five-fold star is superimposed. As humans are in much the same shape as the star - the five points symbolize the five senses of humans….the circle around the Pentacle is symbolic of the Divine - the higher energy that encircles us - connects us and protects us.

The ancient Asian cultures were big into tying knots and/or depicting images in a five-fold pattern to represent the following:

The Five Happinesses:
The following are the “five happinesses;” ancient Chinese symbols depicted in their art and culture. They are considered emblems of good luck & joy.  They are:

• Shou (longevity symbol)
• Ch’i Lin (chimera)
• Lung (dragon)
• Fen Huang (phoenix)
• Ju-I (scepter)

The Five Noble Strengths:
In the Kung-fu tradition, students are required to learn the five noble five animal forms representing nobility, strength, wisdom and responsibility. They are:

• Crane
• Tiger
• Leopard
• Dragon
• Snake

Five Human Powers:
Also in the Asian tradition, the Buddhists refer to the five human powers. They are:

• Effort
• Memory
• Faith
• Concentration
• Wisdom

Five Aspects of Enlightenment:
Also in the Buddhist tradition - mandalas are often incorporated in meditations. Within many of these mandalas are representations of the five states of enlightenment.  They are:

• Speech
• Mind
• Body
• Wisdom
• Bliss

Christianity utilized a five-fold pattern called the Five Sacred Wounds (here is a link to an artistic rendition of this symbol).  This symbol dates back to the Middle ages and honors the sacrifice the Christ made through crucifixion at Calvary - depicting the five mortal wounds he endured.

In Islam the five-fold symbol is expressed in the Hand of Fatima which is a symbol of spiritual power, strength, domination, and protection. The Hand of Fatima (Muhammad’s daughter) is worn as a good luck symbol in Islam - each finger representing an attribute :

1. Faith
2. Prayer
3. Pilgrimage
4. Charity
5. Fasting

As you can see the five-fold symbol is found in countless varieties, in countless forms, with countless meanings.  Take the time to relate to this symbol and all its implications.  Devote a personal study to it - your results will be well worth your investment.

I often get the question: “how do I go about finding my animal totem?” or “what is my animal sign?” 

The answers are as many as the number of paths we take to find ourselves, but the following is my response to finding your animal totem … it might narrow down the search .

There are many ways to identify ourselves with specific totems, and most people want the quick/easy way.  Here are a few:

Most obvious ways to obtain our animal totems are to consult various zodiac sources.  The Chinese have their own animals for the zodiac.  Click here for Chinese zodiac animal information. 

Or, we may also consult the common Native American zodiac   for determining our animal totems.

Legend has it that the ancient Celts would adopt animals according to the season in which he/she was born (this was particularly useful in indicating newborn male children predispositioned to be warriors). 

The Bull is the sign of Summer.
The Cat the sign of Winter.
The Dog is the sign of Spring. 
The Goose the sign of Fall. 

You can discover these and Celtic animal symbol meaning on my symbols website. 

These are quick/easy ways of finding animal energy that resonates with your own. 

However,  I would encourage you to open communication with the animal realm.  Invest the time to meditate and contemplate, and really reach out to the realm of animal spirit.  You will find that these animals are quite willing to communicate with and, and their knowledge is profound.  It’s worth the time you invest.

Furthermore, we find that animals are willing to share their attributes and wisdom with us out of an innate knowledge that this will both benefit ourselves, and will benefit the animal kingdom. 

We take take all these paths and more to determine our animal totems.  Ultimately, however it is up to us to open ourselves to the natural realm.  Finding our animal totem is a mutual process between you and the animal/natural world.  It takes time, meditation, soul-searching, and a clear understanding who we are in relation to our planet. 

Yes, it is a big deal.  Taking up union with an animal energy is something quite larger than just flippantly claiming an elephant as one’s totem.  It is about honor, awareness and devotion to both self & the natural world.

Find more information on identifying animal totems here.

I hope this helps you in your search to obtain that which you seek.