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.
While meanings may vary among the differing tribes, a little research will empower the wearer of such a piece with the ability to discuss it intelligently when asked. Origins of many symbols used by the original inhabitants of this country are a bit sketchy, but it does appear that the tribes of the Mississippian area were the first to use this symbol. Known as the Mound Builders, these people utilized such symbols in ritual artwork.
The ancestors of this land were a deeply spiritual group of people, and they created artwork and symbolism for ritualistic purposes. They incorporated various symbols into each other in order to expand the meanings attributed to their cave paintings. This incorporation of symbols to show meaning is the origin of what we would now call an alphabet, and these natives were one of the first societies to develop a written language.
To these Mound Builders, this symbol represented the barrier between the land of the dead or Underworld, the physical world, and the upper world, or Heaven. Some of their artwork showed this symbol coming together in a circle. Within that circle was the symbol again, in the center, showing how these four worlds, or dimensions, intersect.
The Celts used a very similar symbol in their artwork, often connecting realms with their Celtic knots. The meaning to the Celts was very similar to some of the tribes in that it was depicting the cardinal points as well as the four elements. The elemental connection is a symbolism which was sacred to most all ancient human societies.
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.
As with many circle symbols, it often represents perfection, or infinity. Each arm of the wheel has a separate corresponding color, which is variable, but when the colors are utilized it represents a Swastika. The circle itself is meant to be viewed as a sphere, and regarded as floating in space rather than being a fixed object.
What meaning is attributed to the symbol can relate to a tribal or clan group, or it can be a personal totem. When wearing this symbol, it is recommended that the wearer assign their own spiritual attributes to the item. This gives the jewelry greater significance for the wearer, and shows a great deal of respect for the ancient cultures who passed their heritage to us.
While meanings may vary among the differing tribes, a little research will empower the wearer of such a piece with the ability to discuss it intelligently when asked. Origins of many symbols used by the original inhabitants of this country are a bit sketchy, but it does appear that the tribes of the Mississippian area were the first to use this symbol. Known as the Mound Builders, these people utilized such symbols in ritual artwork.
The ancestors of this land were a deeply spiritual group of people, and they created artwork and symbolism for ritualistic purposes. They incorporated various symbols into each other in order to expand the meanings attributed to their cave paintings. This incorporation of symbols to show meaning is the origin of what we would now call an alphabet, and these natives were one of the first societies to develop a written language.
To these Mound Builders, this symbol represented the barrier between the land of the dead or Underworld, the physical world, and the upper world, or Heaven. Some of their artwork showed this symbol coming together in a circle. Within that circle was the symbol again, in the center, showing how these four worlds, or dimensions, intersect.
The Celts used a very similar symbol in their artwork, often connecting realms with their Celtic knots. The meaning to the Celts was very similar to some of the tribes in that it was depicting the cardinal points as well as the four elements. The elemental connection is a symbolism which was sacred to most all ancient human societies.
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.
As with many circle symbols, it often represents perfection, or infinity. Each arm of the wheel has a separate corresponding color, which is variable, but when the colors are utilized it represents a Swastika. The circle itself is meant to be viewed as a sphere, and regarded as floating in space rather than being a fixed object.
What meaning is attributed to the symbol can relate to a tribal or clan group, or it can be a personal totem. When wearing this symbol, it is recommended that the wearer assign their own spiritual attributes to the item. This gives the jewelry greater significance for the wearer, and shows a great deal of respect for the ancient cultures who passed their heritage to us.
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