By definition, a symbol is something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible.
An object, animate or inanimate, standing for or representing something moral or intellectual; anything which typifies an idea or a quality; a representation; a figure; an emblem; a type: as, the lion is the symbol of courage, the lamb of meekness or patience, the olive-branch of peace, and the scepter of power.
Symbology is a rich and intriguing field. The word “symbol” traces its roots back to the ancient Greek verb symballein, which means “to throw together” or “to coincide.” This term suggests the idea of bringing disparate elements into a meaningful connection, much like how symbols themselves often unite abstract concepts with tangible representations.
Derived from symballein, the noun symballon refers to a “mark” or “token,” emphasizing the role of symbols as identifiers or signs that carry deeper significance. Interestingly, symballein also carries a more esoteric meaning: it implies a gathering or assembly that is “occluded” or “veiled.”
In this sense, symbols often function as hidden messages, accessible only to those who are initiated or deeply familiar with their context, while remaining obscure or camouflaged to the casual observer. This duality—of symbols as both overt markers and concealed meanings—means that symbols are powerful tools for communication, art, and cultural expression.
Symbols include alphabets, numbers, shapes, colors, logos, and icons.
Why is Symbology Important?
Symbols are the language of the subconscious mind, serving as a bridge between our conscious thoughts and deeper, often hidden, layers of understanding. They are the building blocks of dreams, which are written entirely in this symbolic language, revealing insights and emotions that words alone cannot fully capture.
Through their deliberate and contrived usage, symbols have the power to communicate messages directly to our minds, bypassing the need for lengthy explanations. They act as visual shortcuts, conveying complex ideas, emotions, and narratives in a single, powerful image.
Moreover, symbols transcend cultural and linguistic barriers, functioning as a universal language that speaks to our intuition and imagination. By tapping into this shared visual vocabulary, symbols evoke emotions, spark creativity, and connect us to a deeper, collective understanding of the world around us.
The Mysterious Nature of Symbols
Symbols often carry a dual nature—they are both accessible and enigmatic, revealing only as much as the observer is prepared to understand.
At first glance, a symbol may appear simple or easily decipherable, but beneath its surface lies a deeper, often sacred or secret, “inner meaning.” This hidden layer is what gives symbols their enduring power and intrigue. They act as vessels of mystery, concealing truths that are not immediately apparent to the casual observer.
To fully grasp the depth of a symbol, one must often be initiated into its context or possess the insight to uncover its veiled significance. This interplay between the obvious and the concealed is what makes symbols so compelling—they invite us to look beyond the surface and explore the profound mysteries they guard.
Why use symbols to conceal Secrets?
Throughout history, symbols have been employed to protect and conceal secrets, often out of necessity. Some knowledge is powerful—even dangerous—and not everyone is prepared or equipped to handle it responsibly. By encoding secrets within symbols, those in the know can safeguard sensitive information while still communicating effectively with others who share their understanding.
This practice has been utilized by numerous organizations across time, from early Christians who used the fish symbol (Ichthys) to identify themselves during times of persecution, to the Knights Templar, who embedded hidden meanings in their architecture and rituals. Even the students of Pythagoras relied on symbols to conceal their teachings and protect their intellectual traditions.
Symbols, in this context, served as both a shield and a key—shielding secrets from the uninitiated while providing a means for trusted members to recognize one another and locate safe meeting places. This dual function highlights the enduring power of symbols as tools for both protection and connection.
Symbols and Knowledge of Self
Symbolism is often regarded as the key to unlocking knowledge of self, offering a profound pathway to understanding both the individual and the universe. Symbols transcend the limitations of written language, speaking directly to the spirit in a way that words cannot. They are the language of the soul, conveying truths that resonate on a deeper, more intuitive level.
Unlike static words, the meaning of symbols is fluid and dynamic, capable of evolving over time—much like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. This transformative quality makes symbols a powerful tool for meditation, as they invite us to explore layers of meaning and connect with the infinite.
Through symbols, we not only uncover insights about ourselves but also tap into a shared, universal consciousness, bridging the gap between the personal and the eternal.
Some philosophers believe that perhaps man is the greatest symbol of them all. Manly P. Hall Man is the author of a book titled “Man Grand Symbol of the Mysteries.
Below we will explore a variety of basic symbols.
Alphabet Symbols
Letters and words are among the most fundamental and widely used symbols in human communication. They serve as the building blocks of language, representing thoughts, ideas, people, places, objects, and abstract concepts. Each letter is a symbol in its own right, carrying specific sounds and meanings that, when combined, create words capable of conveying complex narratives and emotions. In this way, written language is a symbolic system—a structured code that allows us to externalize our inner worlds and share them with others.
Just as visual symbols like icons or images communicate meaning at a glance, letters and words function as tools for encoding and decoding the vast tapestry of human experience. Through these linguistic symbols, we are able to preserve knowledge, tell stories, and connect across time and space.
Ones and Zeros
At the heart of symbolic representation lies the simplicity of ones and zeroes—the most basic of all symbols. The number one, represented by a vertical line, is often associated with the masculine principle, embodying qualities such as action, strength, and the phallic energy of creation. In contrast, the zero, represented by a circle, symbolizes the feminine principle, reflecting receptivity, wholeness, and the yonic energy of potential and containment. Together, these two symbols form a binary system that underpins not only modern computing but also ancient philosophical and spiritual concepts.
The interplay between the line and the circle mirrors the dynamic balance of opposites—masculine and feminine, active and passive, form and void. This duality is a universal theme, reminding us that even the simplest symbols can carry profound meaning and serve as the foundation for understanding deeper truths.
Phallic Symbols
Phallic symbols are representations of the male genitalia, often embodying themes of power, virility, and creation. These symbols manifest in various forms across cultures and contexts, from towering skyscrapers and majestic mountains to weapons like swords and guns.
Towers and mountains, with their upward-reaching forms, symbolize dominance, aspiration, and a connection to the divine. Swords and guns, on the other hand, carry a more aggressive connotation, representing penetration, force, and the act of “taking”—whether it be life, land, or power. Even projectiles, such as arrows or missiles, evoke the idea of penetration and conquest, often tied to themes of violence or domination. While these symbols can celebrate masculine energy and creativity, they also reflect the darker aspects of power dynamics, such as aggression and control.
Through their varied representations, phallic symbols invite us to explore the complexities of masculinity and its impact on culture, society, and the human psyche.
Yonic Symbols
Yonic symbols, representing the female genitalia, are deeply rooted in themes of receptivity, fertility, and the nurturing aspects of creation. These symbols often take the form of shapes like the triangle, which points downward, evoking the idea of openness and the sacred feminine.
Objects such as bowls, cups, chalices, and the Holy Grail symbolize containment and the life-giving properties of the feminine principle, often associated with nourishment and spiritual sustenance. Natural formations like forests and caves also serve as yonic symbols, representing mystery, protection, and the womb of the Earth. Fruits such as apples and cherries, with their suggestive shapes and associations with temptation and vitality, further embody the feminine essence.
Even animals like the beaver and fish have been used as yonic symbols, reflecting themes of abundance, fluidity, and the cycles of life. Together, these symbols celebrate the power and mystery of the feminine, inviting us to explore its role in creation, sustenance, and transformation.
The Triangle
The triangle, as the first plane figure, holds profound symbolic significance across cultures and traditions. It represents the trinity of relationships and forces, such as Mother, Father, and Child, or Soul, Spirit, and Flesh.
The orientation of the triangle further refines its meaning: when pointing upward, it becomes a masculine symbol, embodying elements like fire, flame, and heat, which signify energy, aspiration, and transformation. Conversely, a downward-pointing triangle is a feminine symbol, associated with water, cold, and the receptive qualities of the Great Mother (Goddess).
This duality highlights the triangle’s ability to balance opposing forces. In spiritual contexts, the triangle often symbolizes the triad of Knowledge, Wisdom, and Understanding, guiding seekers toward enlightenment.
In ancient Egyptian mythology, the triangle is echoed in the divine triad of Asar (Osiris), Aset (Isis), and Heru (Horus), representing the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth.
Through its geometric simplicity, the triangle encapsulates the interconnectedness of all things, serving as a powerful tool for both contemplation and representation.
The Square
The square, with its equal sides and right angles, is a symbol of stability, structure, and foundation. It represents the tangible and the material, often embodying concepts of limitation and order.
As a shape, the square is deeply tied to the idea of law and regulation, reflecting the boundaries and rules that govern our physical and social worlds.
It also symbolizes the four cardinal directions—North, East, South, and West—anchoring us in space and connecting us to the Earth’s natural order. However, the square’s rigidity can also imply constraint; someone who is “square” is often seen as bound by rules and conventions, lacking flexibility or creativity.
The phrase “thinking inside the box” captures this notion, suggesting a mindset limited by established norms. Yet, the square’s stability also offers a sense of security and reliability, reminding us that structure, while sometimes restrictive, is essential for growth and balance.
Colors Are Symbols Too
Colors hold profound symbolic power, deeply influencing the human psyche and evoking a wide range of emotions and moods. They are intrinsically linked to the natural elements, as seen in children’s drawings where blue skies, orange suns, and green grass reflect our instinctive connection to the world around us.
The seven colors of the rainbow—which can be broken down into 700 shades—carry even greater symbolic weight. These colors are often associated with the seven classical planets, the days of the week, the seven heavens, and the seven notes of the musical scale, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected meanings. For example, red may symbolize passion and energy, while blue evokes calm and introspection.
This universal language of color transcends cultural boundaries, offering a way to communicate emotions, ideas, and spiritual concepts without words. Whether in art, nature, or daily life, colors serve as a bridge between the visible and the invisible, shaping our perceptions and enriching our experiences.
List of Color Symbol Meanings
Red – blood, love, passion, lust, danger, aggression, importance, attention
Orange – creativity, sexuality, amusement, fire, energy, extroversion
Yellow – sunshine, joy, cowardice, fear.
Green – nature, healing, health, youth, fertility, illness, jealousy, greed
Blue – serenity, stability, inspiration, wisdom, depression, sadness, ocean, sky
Indigo – wisdom, devotion, justice, intuition, creativity, elegance, mystery
Violet – royalty, luxury, creativity, mystery, protection, sadness, arrogance, immaturity
Religious Symbols
Religious symbols are powerful representations of sacred mysteries, serving as visual gateways to the divine and the spiritual. Among the most ancient and universal symbols are the Sun and Moon, which have inspired reverence and awe across cultures, embodying the duality of light and darkness, life and cycles.
The symbol of the Cross is associated with the Christian religion, the 6 pointed star with Judaism, and the crescent moon with Islam. There are as many religious symbols as their are religions, in fact many more, because each religion employs a myriad of symbols to convey various messages and meanings to its members.
The cross, a central symbol in Christianity, represents sacrifice, redemption, and the intersection of the earthly and the divine.
The cube, often associated with the Kaaba in Islam, symbolizes stability, unity, and the sacred center of faith.
Pentagrams and hexagrams, with their intricate geometric designs, hold deep esoteric meanings; the pentagram is often linked to the elements and the human microcosm, while the hexagram (such as the Star of David) represents the harmony of opposites and divine protection.
These symbols, whether simple or complex, transcend language and culture, offering a profound way to connect with the sacred and explore the mysteries of existence.
Book List – Study References
- The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Signs and Symbols by Adele Nozedar
- The Forgotten Language by Erich Fromm
- Dictionary of Symbols by Carl G. Liungman
- An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Traditional Symbols – J.C. Cooper
- Fairy Tales: Allegories of the Inner Life – J.C. Cooper
- Man: Grand Symbol of the Mysteries – Manly P. Hall
