| Sacred Geometry and Ring Symbolism |
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Written by Peter Breslin Tuesday, 23 August 2005 What does the phrase "sacred geometry" mean? And what does it have to do with rings? For as long as recorded history, humankind has sought to distill the apparent order of the natural world and the cosmos into patterns, shapes, figures, and designs. The awe-inspiring combination of both beauty and simplicity of these symbolic forms makes them well-suited to use in rings and other jewelry.  Rings themselves have had symbolic significance for thousands of years. These symbols have reinforced and preserved spiritual and religious connections in a variety of ways, including as public signs of ceremonial commitments such as engagement or marriage, reminders of key aspects of spiritual beliefs, and as shamanic totems enhanced by the incorporation of power-bearing images. What follows is a brief catalogue of some of the curving symbols and patterns involved in the creation of rings and the sacred geometry of those patterns. The Circle: The circle, the basic shape of the vast majority of rings, is itself a central design in sacred geometry. The open circle symbolizes wholeness, completion, stillness within motion, and a unifying order of cycles that repeat in time. Circles are a pure distillation of both the shapes of the planets and their cyclical course through the sky. Universally used as a symbol for the sun, the circle has therefore represented clarity, awareness, completion with renewal, and the integrated self. The circular "palette" of the surface of a ring has provided artists with a perfect opportunity to design patterns that flow dynamically. Change within permanence is a fitting symbol indeed for engagement and marriage. The Lemniscate: An ancient symbol for infinity, a leminscate is basically a "figure 8" oriented horizontally. Its introduction into European culture and mathematics began with its formal description by Jacob Bernoulli in 1694, but it occurs as a basic shape in ancient Tibetan art, and several other cultures. In ancient cultures, the symbol was sometimes shown as the touching of two perfect circles. Arcs, Waves, and Spirals: Flowing symbols as embodied by arcs and waves reoccur frequently in sacred symbolism. Waveforms, however, are more dynamic than closed curves like the lemniscate or circle. Waves of sound and light are forms of matter imbued with energy, and as such symbolize life, the music of the spheres, and the driving force behind the order of creation. Celtic knots, as used in the design of Celtic wedding and engagement rings, make beautiful use of these organic waveforms. Spirals capture a sense of the order of an experience that is centered, but continues to grow and evolve. Sacred labyrinths and paths of creation, in the form of spirals, have been represented on rings since prehistoric times, in cultures ranging from Indo-European to Hopi. The enormous variety of sacred geometry as incorporated in the design of rings provides endless fascination. In wedding and engagement rings, the goal is to represent the sacred order and dynamic creativity of lifelong partnership. Peter Breslin, Reflective Images Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com About The Author: Peter Breslin is a musician, astrologer, Tarot reader, teacher and freelance writer for Artisanweddingrings.com and Celticjewelry.com living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has taught mathematics, music, writing, and literature in the course of a 20-year teaching career in Pennsylvania, New York, New Mexico, and California. Writings include a variety of pieces for publications online and otherwise. He is currently at work on a novel. Reflective Images can be found at: http://www.artisanweddingrings.com http://www.celticjewelry.com For a free full color catalog contact us at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |