Decode The Symbols: Unveil The Inner Wisdom, #3

By Hima Agarwal

BOOST YOUR INTELLEGENCE

Having unraveled our belief systems through past experiences and judicious reflection, we step into the authentic realm of inner wisdom. Here, we immerse ourselves in the diverse symbols of the universe, engaging in profound contemplation to unlock spiritual insights that lead us towards the path of spiritual awakening.

Learn from this book

In what ways does the symbolism of nature, colors, mirror, silence offer insights into hidden wisdom?

Why have certain symbols persisted throughout history, carrying profound meanings?

How does the study of symbolic language contribute to personal and collective growth?

Can decoding symbolic meanings lead to a deeper understanding of life's mysteries?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hima Agarwal
• Release date: Dec 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223618713

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

S

YMBOL IS A WORD SIGN or mark with a significance representing an idea, object, or relationship. It is a place beyond the known that creates links between different concepts and experiences. It can be a means of communication. It takes the form of sound, gesture, ideas, words, and covey other ideas and beliefs.  For example, a red octagon is a common symbol for STOP; on maps, blue lines often represent rivers; and a red rose often symbolizes love and compassion. Numerals are symbols for numbers; letters of an alphabet may be symbols for certain phonemes; and personal names are symbols representing individuals. A symbol speaks without any words. Beauty is also a symbol where we perceive and feel numerous things. It has a secret embedded in it.

Beauty has as many meanings as man has moods.

Beauty is the symbol of symbols.

Beauty reveals everything because it expresses nothing.

When it shows us itself, it shows us the whole fiery-colored world.

- Oscar Wilde

THE ORIGIN

The symbol is derived from the late middle French masculine noun symbol that appeared around 1380 in a theological sense signifying a formula that was used in the Roman Catholic church as a synonym for the credo which meant a maximum or external sign of a sacrament.

It was during the early Renaissance that the meaning of the symbol was revealed. It is a natural fact or object evoking by its form or its nature an association of ideas with something abstract or absent'. This French word was derived from Latin, where both the masculine noun symbolus and the neuter noun symbolum refer to a mark or sign as a means of recognition. The Latin word is derived from the Greek word symbolon which means throw together, put together, compare alluding to practicing breaking a piece of ceramic into two and giving one half to the person to get a future message and the other half would send it. So when the two parts join and fit in, the receiver can be sure that the messenger bearing it carries a genuine message from the intended person.

Symbols are complex communications that may have multiple levels of understanding. It is a vehicle of the conception of all human knowledge. It gives an understanding of the world in which we live. It is a journey from outside to inside or illusion to reality or false to the truth. Reaching the truth is called inner wisdom.

In the book Signs and Symbols, it is stated that-

A symbol ... is a visual image or sign representing an idea – a deeper indicator of universal truth.

Symbols hold the mind to the truth but are not themselves the truth.

VALUE OF SYMBOLS

Symbols encompass three primary forms of symbolic value: Ideological, comparative, and isomorphic. Ideological symbols, such as those rooted in religion or state, convey intricate sets of beliefs, indicating a moral compass or the right thing to do. Comparative symbols exemplified by prestigious office addresses, fine art, and notable awards, offer responses to queries of better or worse and delineate notions of superior or inferior. Isomorphic symbols seamlessly integrate with the cultural milieu, enabling individuals and organizations to assimilate into their surroundings and navigate social and political scrutiny. Instances of isomorphic value include donning professional attire in business meetings, Western greetings through handshakes, or Eastern greetings marked by bows. Importantly, a single symbol is adept at carrying multiple, distinct meanings, thereby providing diverse types of symbolic value.

Symbols are used in cartography to communicate geographical features. Visual variables like size, shape, texture, orientation, and pattern provide meaning to the symbol. Map symbols are read by map readers by connecting graphic marks on the map, a general concept, and a particular feature of the real world. The categories of map symbols are shown in the image below.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Cartographic_Symbols.jpg

TRULY SPEAKING, THE whole universe is filled with symbols. It is unlimited when we dive into the depth of wisdom.

SYMBOLISM IN LITERATURE

In literature, authors have consistently favored the use of symbols among a diverse array of literary devices. The earliest forms of human storytelling, such as cave paintings and hieroglyphics, are tangible symbols representing intricate narratives or beliefs. Ancient Greek theater, the foundation for many contemporary narrative art forms, employed symbolic props like phallic objects to embody Dionysus, the god of fertility. Symbolism persisted through the Middle Ages, often with religious connotations, and experienced a resurgence during the Renaissance, representing a spectrum of human desires from lust to ambition to heartbreak.

Renowned authors have adeptly utilized symbols to convey nuanced meanings. William Shakespeare employed symbols like blood in Macbeth to represent inner conscience, while Edgar Allan Poe utilized symbols, such as the eponymous bird in The Raven, to evoke feelings of dread and mortality. William Blake employed religious symbols, including Jesus himself, to symbolize human emotion and desire in