Signs & Symbols: What do they all mean?

I’m often inspired during moments when I least expect it. All I could think about was the brutal chill while taking a stroll in Toronto’s Distillery District, yet little did I know that this experience was brewing a new opportunity.

Being the curious person I am, I often dabble in existentialism, exploring issues related to the meaning, purpose, and value of human existence. Looking at this photo late one night, there were a handful of symbols I could identify, but many I questioned.

Signs and symbols are meaningless without humans denoting meaning, yet their looks or meaning can develop and change over time. Many of the signs below have religious connotations attached; however, I encourage my readers to comment below about their opinion on a symbol they identify with, which may not be any of the signs here.

Let’s start meaningful conversations about meaning – check out the description of some signs and symbols below.

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Ankh

The ankh is an ancient Egyptian symbol commonly used in hieroglyphic writing as the word for ‘life’ and Egyptian art as a symbol of life itself. Sometimes referred to as the key of life or the key of the Nile, the ankh symbolizes eternal life in ancient Egypt. The ankh is often shown in the hands of Egyptian pharaohs, kings, and gods, such as Osiris, Isi, and Ra, to preserve their immortality; additionally, ankhs were placed in sarcophagi to ensure life after death.

Other theories believe in the physical connotations of the ankh representing water, air, and the sun – the elements that provided and preserved life in ancient Egyptian culture. The ankh could also signify the cohesion of heaven and earth, interlinking male and female symbols, or ceremonial girdles.

Armenian Eternity

The national symbol of ancient Armenia and its people, the eternity sign symbolizes the concept of everlasting, celestial life. It is one of the most common symbols in Armenian architecture carved on khachkars (Armenian cross-stones) and walls of churches. As it symbolizes the identity of the Armenian nation, it has become a prominent and integral part of artistic expression and spiritual symbolism. Everything Armenian starts from the eternity sign.

Bahai

The nine-pointed star received its name from its informal adoption into the Bahai faith. The number nine is the highest single-digit number, symbolizing completion and fulfillment of the expectations of all prior religions, which the Bahais honour. The Bahais believe that God continually educates humanity through progressive revelation, all religions come from one Creator, and the unity of humanity represents the highest and most spiritual goal of our age.

Catholic Christian Cross

The Catholic Christian Cross is present in many Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches. For the celebration of Mass, the Roman rite of the Catholic Church requires that "on or close to the altar there is to be a cross with a figure of Christ crucified." Whilst Catholics display the Crucifix in their churches and often wear a Crucifix or carry them for prayer and protection, people of the Protestant faith wear a plain cross.

Celtic Cross

The Celtic Cross is a traditional symbol of Christianity used for religious purposes as well as to symbolize concepts like Irish pride. While the Celtic Cross is a variation of the Christian Cross, its design developed into a high cross commonly used in stone monuments.

Eye of Providence

The Eye of Providence – an eye set within a triangle – is often associated as a Christian symbol, with Freemasonry representing the all-seeing eye of God. The triangle was a long-standing symbol of the Christian Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with the rays of light representing divine providence. It serves as a reminder that humanity's thoughts and deeds are always observed by God.

This symbol has also been adopted by the Illuminati, a secret group of elite individuals allegedly seeking to control global affairs. The Eye of Providence is a lightning rod for conspiracy theorists because it is very much hidden in plain sight: it appears in countless churches and Masonic buildings worldwide, the American one-dollar bill, and the Great Seal of the United States.

Greek Cross

The Greek Cross is a main religious symbol of Christianity and is discernable by its equal arms.

The Greek Cross is often used by the Eastern Orthodox Church and Early Christianity.

Hamsa

The Hamsa is an ancient Middle Eastern amulet symbolizing the Hand of God. The amulet carries significance to both Jews and Muslims as the Hamsa symbolizes both the Hand of Miriam (Moses’ sister) and the Hand of Fatima (Mohammed’s daughter). In all faiths, the Hamsa can be worn facing up or down and is thought to give the owner success, harmony, and protection from the ayin ha’ra, also known as the evil eye. It is commonly used in jewelry and wall hangings.

The Happy Human

Rooted in Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, the Happy Human is the international symbol of secular humanism, the spiritual belief in humankind. A secular humanist does not believe in the otherworldly tenets of a religion. They believe in the many noble and righteous things of this world, such as cooperation, reason, education, science, humour, inquiry, democracy, compassion, tolerance, imagination, open debate, human rights, etc.

Ichthys

Ichthys (the fish) first emerged from the Greeks; the fish represents the phrase, “Jesus Christ God’s Son is Savior.” During the times of persecution by the Romans in the first centuries, ichthys was used among Christians in hiding to display meeting places for everyone to meet and worship; it was also used in determining who was a Christian and who was an enemy.

The meaning of ichthys has been changed by many, including evolutionists (those who believe we evolved from the earth, not God) to favour Darwinism and fans of Star Trek (Trekkies) to represent the shape of the USS Enterprise.

Khanda

The khanda is the symbol of the Sikhism adopted in the 1930s when India liberated itself from British colonial rule (otherwise known as the Ghadar Movement). The khanda consists of:

• A double-edged khanda (sword) in the centre, a metaphor of Divine Knowledge, its sharp edges cleaving Truth from Falsehood;

• A chakar (a sharp throwing weapon) as the never-ending circle around the khanda, symbolizing the perfection of God and its eternity; and,

•  A kirpan as the two curved knives around the chakar, representing the intertwining of temporal and spiritual authorities.

In Sikh faith, the khanda serves as a guiding principle to find balance in spiritual aspirations and obligations to society.

Menorah

The menorah has been an important symbol in both ancient and modern Israel, originating as a symbol of both Judaism and Christianity. In modern times, it is primarily considered a symbol of Judaism and the Jewish people as a whole. The menorah’s seven lamps allude to the branches of human knowledge, represented by the six lamps inclined inwards, towards, and symbolically guided by, the light of God represented by the central lamp. The menorah also symbolizes the creation in seven days, with the center light representing the Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest on the seventh day of the week.

Om

Om is the sound of a sacred spiritual symbol in Indic religions, representing the holy trinity of Hindu gods – Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. In Hinduism, Om symbolizes the Universe and the ultimate reality (consciousness). It is the union of mind, body, and spirit - the whole universe connected into a single sound.

The symbol itself is spelt as ‘aum,’ the A representing creation, U as manifestation, and M as destruction.

Peace Sign

The modern peace sign was designed by Gerald Holtom, a designer and pacifist, for the 1958 British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). Holtom used the semaphore alphabet (the shapes used by sailors when communicating by flags) to represent the letters ‘N’ (the small diagonal lines) and ‘D’ (the middle line) to spell nuclear disarmament. Holtom originally considered using a Christian cross but disliked its association with the Crusades and ultimately chose something he considered to be more universal. It is one of the most widely recognized designs in history.

Pentagram

Pentagrams were first used in ancient Greece and Babylonia, commonly used to represent the five wounds of Jesus. Over time, the meaning of the pentagram changed from culture to culture. Pentagrams are still used as a symbol of faith today by many Pagans and Wiccans. In Paganism, the five points of the pentagram have five different meanings, representing earth, sky, fire, water, and spirit (occupying the top and most important point). Pentagrams are believed to have magical properties and are often incorporated into jewelry.

Star & Crescent

Originating in Sumeria, the crescent was associated with the moon god Sin and the star with the goddess Ishtar; together, they symbolized power. The star crescent rose to prominence with its adoption as the flag and national symbol of the Ottoman Empire.

While the star crescent symbol doesn’t hold spiritual meanings, it is often used as a symbol of the Islamic religion and strongly associated with Muslim traditions. The crescent moon marks the start of a new month in the Islamic calendar and indicates the proper days of Muslim holidays such as Ramadan, a period of prayer and fasting. However, the star crescent symbol is not used in worshipping, and many believers refuse to use the symbol since Islam has historically had no symbol.

Star of David

The Star of David is a symbol of Judaism and Jewish identity dating back to 17th century Prague; however, historically, the symbol was not limited to Jews. The predecessor of the Star of David was the Seal of Soloman, a symbol of both Muslims and Kabbalistic Jews for decorative and mystic purposes. The Seal of Soloman was believed to be engraved on the signet ring by God and given from heaven to King Solomon. The Seal of Soloman and the Star of David both represent protection against evil spirits.

In the 19th century, the Star of David was adopted as a striking and simple emblem of Judaism that imitated the cross of Christianity. Today, the star is used as the central symbol on the national flag of the State of Israel.

Torii

A Torii is a traditional Japanese gate in the Shinto religion; it is a compulsory feature of every Shinto shrine. A Torii gate represents the border between secular and sacred Shinto religion - a metaphorical passage to the sacred place of the shrine. A single shrine may have multiple Torii gates, with each gate representing a path into increasingly more sacred zones compared to what was present after passing through the earlier gate.

Trishula

The Trishula (trident) is a powerful tool with three prongs like a fork, each signifying the three fundamental aspects of life – the Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna.

Ida and Pingala represent the duality in the existence (i.e., masculinity and femininity, emotional and logical, material and abstract, etc.). A balance between Ida and Pingala brings out the best in a person and helps them navigate life better. Sushumna is the central space that is initially empty; as new life is created, the space gradually fills by energies to attain inner balance in one’s life. This space is sacred to the individual as it holds one’s personal space that no one but the individual can control.

The Trishula is believed to be the tool or weapon of the Hindu God, Lord Shiva. Since Shiva is considered to be the destroyer, it is believed that worshipping the Trishula can destroy the three problems or sufferings – physical, spiritual and ethereal.

Triskele

Originating in pre-Christian Europe, the triskele (or triskelion) is an ancient symbol consisting of a triple spiral exhibiting rotational symmetry from a common centre. In Greek antiquity, triskeles were represented as three bent human legs, often found on pottery and coinage. In the Hellenistic period (323 BCE to 31 BCE), this symbol became associated with the island of Sicily and continues to represent Sicily on its national flag.

The triskele, like many signs and symbols, varies in meaning throughout cultures. In both ancient and modern Celtic art, triskeles represent the three Celtic realms of material existence: earth, water, and sky (and all their interconnections). Other meanings of the triskele include life-death-rebirth, past-present-future, earth-water-sky, and creation-protection-destruction. Throughout all these interpretations, the three spirals represent the spiritual, physical, and celestial worlds.

Vegvisir

“If this sign is carried, one will never lose one’s way in storms or bad weather, even when the way is not known.” This quote is from the Huld manuscript, an Icelandic collection with the only description of the Vegvisir. The Vegvisir helps its bearer find its way through bad weather.

Wheel of Dharma

The Wheel of Dharma is a widespread symbol used in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, and especially Buddhism. It is traditionally represented as a chariot wheel with varying numbers of spokes and three shapes swirling together in its centre. The round shape of the wheel represents the perfection of dharma, the Buddha’s teaching. The rim of the wheel signifies meditative concentration and mindfulness. Finally, the centre spiralling stands for moral discipline and the Three Jewels: Buddha, dharma, and sangha.

Yin Yang

Yin Yang is a Chinese philosophy that describes how opposites may be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another. It is a harmonization ensuring everything in existence is in constant and dynamic balance; yin is never superior to yang or vice versa.

“Yin in its highest form is freezing while yang in its highest form is boiling. The chilliness comes from heaven, while the warmness comes from the earth. The interaction of these two establishes harmony, so it gives birth to things. Perhaps this is the law of everything, yet there is no form being seen.”1