Why are we drawn to certain symbols? Spiritual symbols have been central to human existence since ancient times. They speak to our greatest questions and desires and evoke a sense of the mystical and powerful forces that lie beyond our daily lives. Wearing these touchstones connects us not only to realms beyond us but to our own inner strength and spirit. Read on to learn more about these six spiritual symbols and meanings.
_____
1. The Hamsa, the healing hand. The Hamsa is a talisman from the ancient Middle East that is recognized across different cultures and beliefs including Jewish and Muslim peoples. In Judaism, it is called the Hand of Miriam; for Muslims it is known as the Hand of Fatima. For all, is a symbol of a protector. Essential elements of the Hamsa symbol are five spread fingers, often with an eye depicted considered to be protection against the middle eastern evil eye. For the wearer, the Hamsa is considered to give success, harmony, and protection. Carry the positive power of the ancient Hamsa, and browse our full Hamsa Jewelry Collection.
2. The Ankh, key of life.The Ankh, a sacred and ancient Egyptian symbol, ties into beliefs about eternal life and bridges life here to that beyond. With its emblematic cross shape topped by a closed loop, the ankh evokes both spirituality and eternity. The ankh, with its significance and graceful lines, is widely depicted in Egyptian art, artifacts, and in tomb paintings. Today, the ankh symbolizes not only the infinite nature of life, but life forces such as the sun and fertility. It also evokes the concept of harmony in its balance of the earthly and divine. Shop our ankh designs.
3. The Cross, an enduring symbol of infinite love, sacrifice, victory, and redemption. A sacred symbol for Christians, the cross actually has pagan origins. With origins as far back as ancient Greece and Mexico centuries before the introduction of Christianity, the cross has held various meanings including sun, fire, and the universe itself. The cross was first introduced as a Christian symbol in the 2nd century, and over time has become the most iconic symbol of Christianity, representing Christ’s death on the cross, his love, and the promise of redemption and everlasting life. Today, the cross is worn as a symbol of great love, faith, protection, and the power of forgiveness. Explore our beautiful cross designs.
4. The Eye of Horus, the great protector. The watching eye is an enduring symbol for protection, but the Eye of Horus carries even deeper meaning. In ancient Egyptian mythology, Horus, son of King Osiris and Isis, was the god of the sky. His right and left eyes were representations of the sun and the moon, the right eye (the sun) was called the Eye of Ra, and the left (the moon) the Eye of Horus.
Legend has it that Horus lost his left eye, either in battle or out of grief, and it was magically restored by another god, Hathor, the goddess of love. A stylized depiction of the Eye of Horus with round blue rings was adopted and is still used widely in the Middle East, particularly Turkey and is thought to be a strong talisman against harm and a symbol of love and protection.
5. Om, harmony with the universe. The syllable “om” is made up of several Sanskrit letters originally found in ancient Vedic texts from India that date from about 1500 to 1200 BCE. It was first found in a collection of hymns that praised the divine. “Om” is not spoken but manifested through sound vibrations as a chant.
The character for Om contains three curves, a semicircle, and a dot. That trinity of arcs carries multiple spiritual meanings – heavens, earth, underworld, or our waking, dreaming, and dreamless states. In yoga, Om is used as a vehicle to support the achievement of a single focus that brings clarity and a state of universal consciousness.
6. The Lotus, flower of awakening. The symbol of the lotus is a key part of many eastern religions. It starts its life in the mud below the water but rises to float on the surface and gracefully opens its petals one by one. This image is seen as a beautiful life metaphor with the mud representing our trials and obstacles and the flower representing the beauty and joy of overcoming and reaching our full potential. “Just like the lotus, we too have the ability to rise from the darkness and radiate into the world,” reads an old proverb. Celebrate your personal journey of overcoming by exploring our Lotus Jewelry Collection.