It is a habit of some people to wear jewelry with symbols that they do not fully understand. While this can be excused for a teenager wearing a giant pentacle and thinking it refers to the Devil, but adults who adorn themselves in mysterious symbolism run the risk of looking foolish. This is also true with those who wear a Native American cross necklace, having done no research in order to understand what it means.
The symbolism of intersecting lines can vary from one tribe to another, making research on the subject a bit daunting. However, if one intends to wear such a piece, being able to answer questions they may get from friends and family shows that they cared enough to learn about the Mississippian tribal people known as the Mound Builders. While the symbol appears to have originated from this group, it is still widely used among various tribes to this day.
These original Americans were a very spiritual group of people, and their use of symbolism as sacred ritual tools, some of which can be seen in museums even now, is well established. The symbol, when combined with other lines and shapes, may have had altered meanings to these people. This is the origin of their written words, as the first Americans were also some of the earliest people to develop an alphabet, and were the first to have a printed newspaper.
The Mound Builders saw the intersecting lines as barriers between the Underworld where the dead live, the physical world, and the upper world, which our culture often describes as Heaven. Their artwork often depicted these lines as coming together in the center of a circle. Within the center of this circle, these dimensions were shown to intersect.
The most rudimentary of this equilateral symbolism, contained within a circle, has roughly the same meaning as the Celtic variety. It represents the four elements which emanated from God and created the Universe. Some tribes also use it to represent the four tribes of mankind, coming here to keep balance in the world.
Many people know this symbol as the Medicine Wheel, which is frequently seen in modern artwork. The term Medicine Wheel was given by the settlers who came to the Americas from Europe, and was not a term used by the Natives at all. The wheel is often seen with four separate colors which vary greatly among differing tribes and family clans.
Within the circle, it may represent continuity, perfection, or infinity. When such artwork is made with colors, each arm or quadrant of the wheel has a particular color that can correspond to a cardinal direction or an element. When seen with the four colored quadrants, it becomes quite clear that it is the same as the Swastika symbol that originated from the ancient Hindu people.
While the uses and meanings of this symbol vary to a great degree, those still living within the culture of these people retain the notion that a Medicine Wheel can be created by an individual, each quadrant having a meaning that is personal to them. This meaning given to an adornment mimics the ways that ancient humans maintained a connection with what we might call God. By giving such a piece specific attributes, it reminds the wearer to emanate that energy in their daily life.
The symbolism of intersecting lines can vary from one tribe to another, making research on the subject a bit daunting. However, if one intends to wear such a piece, being able to answer questions they may get from friends and family shows that they cared enough to learn about the Mississippian tribal people known as the Mound Builders. While the symbol appears to have originated from this group, it is still widely used among various tribes to this day.
These original Americans were a very spiritual group of people, and their use of symbolism as sacred ritual tools, some of which can be seen in museums even now, is well established. The symbol, when combined with other lines and shapes, may have had altered meanings to these people. This is the origin of their written words, as the first Americans were also some of the earliest people to develop an alphabet, and were the first to have a printed newspaper.
The Mound Builders saw the intersecting lines as barriers between the Underworld where the dead live, the physical world, and the upper world, which our culture often describes as Heaven. Their artwork often depicted these lines as coming together in the center of a circle. Within the center of this circle, these dimensions were shown to intersect.
The most rudimentary of this equilateral symbolism, contained within a circle, has roughly the same meaning as the Celtic variety. It represents the four elements which emanated from God and created the Universe. Some tribes also use it to represent the four tribes of mankind, coming here to keep balance in the world.
Many people know this symbol as the Medicine Wheel, which is frequently seen in modern artwork. The term Medicine Wheel was given by the settlers who came to the Americas from Europe, and was not a term used by the Natives at all. The wheel is often seen with four separate colors which vary greatly among differing tribes and family clans.
Within the circle, it may represent continuity, perfection, or infinity. When such artwork is made with colors, each arm or quadrant of the wheel has a particular color that can correspond to a cardinal direction or an element. When seen with the four colored quadrants, it becomes quite clear that it is the same as the Swastika symbol that originated from the ancient Hindu people.
While the uses and meanings of this symbol vary to a great degree, those still living within the culture of these people retain the notion that a Medicine Wheel can be created by an individual, each quadrant having a meaning that is personal to them. This meaning given to an adornment mimics the ways that ancient humans maintained a connection with what we might call God. By giving such a piece specific attributes, it reminds the wearer to emanate that energy in their daily life.
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