Have you ever found yourself drawn to a specific symbol? For me that symbol is the spiral. As such, I have found it to be an inspirational design in my jewelry.
Spiral are one of the earliest known geometric shapes seen in ancient artworks. In fact the spiral was a very predominant symbol in ancient Celtic art. From the Single Spiral to theTriskeles (three legs) spiral, Celtic art is ripe with spiral designs.
But ancient art is not the only place we have seen spirals. These symbols are thrown at our feet daily by the naturalworld. Snell shells, Nautiluses, fer fiddle-heads, spiderwebs, DNA, hurricanes, even the arms of our galaxy all share the spiral shape. So what does it mean?
Photo courtesy By Dicklyon - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35543222
There are many variations on what the spiral represents.
The spiral motif is a link to nature, representing the ever changing seasons. It represents the cycle of life; birth, growth, death, and re-incarnation.
Spiritually the spiral represents a connectivity with the divine, spiralingfrom the outer ego (the outside world) into the inner soul (cosmic awareness and enlightenment). The spiral represents evolution and growth of the spirit. It is a symbol of change and development.
Personally, to me, the spiral represents a couple of things.
First it is a symbol of change, as all things in this world must change over time. Nothing can live and be stagnant. Heck, you are not even the same person you were when you began reading this. And as scary as change is, it is also wonderful, because that means that everyday we have a new chance, a new choice, to change ourselves and bring more light into the world.
The spiral also represents our never ending journey of knowledge. With each idea we learn, we grow both on a physical level (learning increases brain functionsafter all) and on a spiritual level. When we overcome an obstacle, we grow. But we grow from the process, not the actual goal. It is the journey that makes us who we are, not the results.
Photo by April Williams (Wide Spiral Necklace)
You will notice quite a few spirals in my work. Each piece represents a special lesson that we have (or need to) learn. Some of those lessons are deep moving encounters, and some are just plain fun, but regardless we walk away from each lesson a better person. Join me inhonoring the lessons we learn, as we walk our personal spiritual paths.
FAQs
The spiral symbolizes constant growth and change. Just like a spiral keeps expanding outwards without end, our spiritual journey involves continuous evolution. It reminds us that personal growth is an ongoing process without a final finish line – it's a lifelong journey.
What does a spiral symbolize? ›
The spiral is a sacred symbol representing the journey and change of life as it unfolds, taking a labyrinth-like passage that leads to the source. The spiral symbol can represent the consciousness of nature beginning from its center expanding outwardly and connectivity with the divine.
What does the spiral mean in paganism? ›
It is based on the historical use of the triskele in Celtic Ireland and it is used as an alternative to religious imagery. In this context, the three spirals represent the cycle of birth, life and death. The spiral is used by some polytheistic reconstructionist or neopagan groups.
What is the spiritual path of the spiral? ›
The path to enlightenment, awakening, or maturity (or whatever you want to call it) is a spiral, a shape woven into your inner heart. It involves you and your human spirit as it connects and moves with the Spirit of God. The path then follows a labyrinth or maze as you discover the non-linear progress of growth.
What is the spiral in the Bible? ›
It is a growing spiral in which each round penetrates more deeply into our identity as fallen, but redeemed, image-bearers of God. Spiritual growth can be a long, slow process—with one step backward for every two steps forward—but as you trust in Christ, God will complete the work he has begun in you (Phil. 1:6).
What is the metaphorical meaning of the spiral? ›
Spiral Circle Meaning
The circle signifies wholeness and unity, while the spiral represents growth and evolution. Together, they convey the idea that life is an ever-expanding journey towards completeness.
What is the spiritual meaning of the Celtic spiral? ›
Most scholars believe the spiral of life represents the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Others say this deeply mystical symbol represents the male, female, and child on the path of life. Another interpretation is that it also represents the Triple Goddess.
What does the spiral symbolize in Buddhism? ›
A Matter of Karma in Buddhism
The spiral shape can be found in human physiology, plants, animals, minerals and even in the air. With its shape that has no beginning and no end, it symbolizes our journey on the path to self-discovery. Every end is a beginning, and what comes and goes is not our body, but our spirit.
What does the spiral ring mean spiritually? ›
The spiral is one of the most ancient and enduring symbols, it represents the winding journeys we must take inward if we're to truly know and love ourselves. From these never ending journeys we return with infinitely more power and wisdom.
What does the healing spiral mean? ›
Spiralling Towards Healing
It is said that a single clockwise spiral represents the concept of growth, expansion and cosmic energy while a single anti clockwise spiral is represents the sun, and a double spiral represents how opposites depend on each other.
Carl Jung thought that the form of a spiral represented the idea of “eternal return” in the pattern of human thought and insisted that the archetypal symbol represented the cosmic force (Bobroff, p. 27). Various ancient cultures viewed the spiral as a symbol for journey, growth, and evolution.
What is the spiral of life? ›
The Spiral of Life is a time-scaled modern phylogenetic tree. It uses a radial branching out of species from the last universal common ancestor in order to emphasize that evolution is not exclusively linear or vertical. It also considers the role that lateral gene transfer plays in the evolution of life.
What does the spiral symbolize? ›
The clockwise spiral was believed to represent the Sun – a popular motif in the early art of many cultures. Supposedly, a loose spiral represented long summer days, whilst a tightly wound spiral represented the shorter days of winter.
What is the philosophy of the spiral? ›
In brief, Goethe's concept of the spiral works to overstep boundaries, transgress binaries, and resist stasis and closure.
What is the Greek meaning of spiral? ›
The world Elissos derives from the Greek verb 'ελίσσω' (elisso) that is to twist, wind, curve and the noun 'έλιξ΄ ( helix) that is twisted, winding or spiral, such as the tendril of a vine, the outer ear, or in mathematics a spiral line.
What is the meaning of spiral shape? ›
/ˈspaɪr.əl/ shaped in a series of curves, each one above or wider than the one before: a spiral staircase.
What does spiral mean emotionally? ›
Having recurrent negative thoughts, also known as a mental spiral, isn't a mental health condition in and of itself, but it's often linked to issues like anxiety and depression. Learn more about our Clinical Review Process. Stress.
What is the spiral symbol in psychology? ›
The spiral in psychology means that when you make a spiral you always come over the same point where you have been before, but never really the same, it is above or below, inside, outside, so it means growth (Jung 5, p. 21).
What does a spiral mean in nature? ›
Spirals appear in nature due to radial growth or the shape of an organism such as a chameleon's tail or a fiddlehead fern. Spirals are a natural pattern produced as the organism develops or a hurricane is formed depending upon the dynamics of growth and formation.
