Symbols & Meanings


 
★ GANESH / ELEPHANT 
Strength | Wisdom | Purification
Ganesh, depicted with the head of an elephant, is a Hindu God that emerged as a widely worshipped deity in the 4th and 5th centuries CE. Ganesh and the elephant symbolize strength, royalty, patience and ancient wisdom. It is believed that Ganesh can remove obstacles and barriers, creating space for new beginnings with good fortune. He is revered as benevolent supernatural being of great intellect and appreciation of the arts and sciences. He represents everything that derives from the material universe. Ganesh is believed to be gentle and compassionate.

 

★ HAND OF HAMSA 
Protection | Good Fortune | Healing
The Hand of Hamsa (also Hand of Fatima) is an ancient Middle Eastern palm-shaped amulet symbolizing the Hand of God. In all faiths it is a protective sign. It brings its owner happiness, luck, health, and good fortune. Depicting the open right hand, an image recognized and used as sign of protection in many times throughout history, the Hamsa is believed by some to provide defense against negative energy as it deflects the gaze of the evil eye away from the wearer. Believed to channel the forces of good, embrace the energy of the charm and promote healing and miracles.

 

★ HEART 
Love | Life Energy | Compassion
The heart symbol is a universal symbol for love, caring and affection. It originally dates back to the mid-13th century where it was found in a manuscript. It represents the flow of creative life energy that sustains our being and animates our life. Metaphorically, the heart is used to represent four interconnected to all beings and when we navigate our lives from our heart-center, we bring awareness to our consciousness and begin to see the world through a loving and compassionate viewpoint.

 

★ INFINITY 
Limitless | Boundless | Love
The infinity symbol looks like a sideways 8. In mathematics, the infinity symbol represents the concept of a number that goes on indefinitely, like pi 3.141592653. When used to describe feelings, space or any other concept, it means limitless and boundless. The infinity symbol brings forward never ending possibilities to our lives throughout eternity. It has also become popular indicating unconditional, unstoppable love.

 

★ LOTUS ★
Purity | Spiritual Awakening | Fidelity | Fertility
Lotuses are symbols of purity and 'spontaneous' generation and hence symbolize divine birth. The lotus is symbolic of purity of the body, speech, and mind as while rooted in the mud, its flowers blossom on long stalks as if floating above the muddy waters of attachment and desire. It is symbolic of detachment as drops of water easily slide off its petals. In Buddhism the lotus is known to be associated with purity, spiritual awakening and faithfulness.

 

★ OHM 
Creation | Vibration | Oneness
Ohm (or Om, or Aum) is believed to be the primordial sound of the Universe representing creation and the Oneness of all creation. It is a sanskrit word most commonly used in Buddhist and Hindu religions when reciting mantras. Chanting Ohm brings into your awareness the physical reality of this world and your body, the subtle impressions of the mind and emotions, thoughts and beliefs of your life and this world.

There are three vibrational and energetic parts and meanings to Ohm.
The A (aahhh) sound represents the creation aspect of the Universe and all of the gross objects within it. Ahh is the beginning of all sounds. This is the most common letter that starts alphabets. It connects us to our sense of self, the ego. With this syllable you experience the existence of the world through the activity of the senses. When you chant this sound notice that it is produced in the throat and back of the mouth where the tongue is rooted and resonates in the lower abdomen. The first sound embodies “Sat”, the sound that starts to bring you back to unity, to the truth of your existence.

The U (oooh) sound signifies the maintaining energy of the universe and the subtle impressions of the mind. It connects us to an inner sense of something greater than that which we can see and feel with our senses. Oooh lets in lightness, clarity, balance and goodness. When you chant this letter the sound moves forward between the tongue and the palate up to the lips and vibrates in the solar plexus. The sound denotes “Chit”, an illumination of knowing, pure wisdom.

The M (mmmm) sound characterizes the transformative energy of the universe and the thoughts and beliefs of your being. This sound unites you to the awareness of oneness. It allows you to slow down in order to feel the connectedness of all that is. The sound “mmmm” is produced by closing the lips and it vibrates the crown of the head. The sound symbolizes “Ananda”, to be at one with bliss everywhere with all things. *Description of Ohm by Mindy Arbuckle with Yogi Times LA.

 

★ TREE OF LIFE 
Connection | Regeneration | Transformation | Growth
The Tree of Life is a many-branched tree that represents the interconnectedness of all life on our planet. A symbol for life, regeneration, healing, transformation and growth, the Tree of Life is present in various philosophies. It evokes a sense of protection, abundance and strength illustrating the idea that all life on earth is related and we all come from the same beginnings. The tree can protect us from the weather, provide us with its fruits, and continues to create season after season. With beauty and diversity, we are all leaves on the same and ever growing Tree of Life.