Sofia Buob
personal make-up project
SYMBOLISM
As my character design includes many symbols, I though it was appropriate to research properly all of them to find out what they truly mean, and if they might mean something that I do not intend to represent.
SPIRAL : spiral it is a symbol that has been used by several cultures and religions.
It is mainly seen in Celtic culture, through their spiritual art, and it has different meaning and shapes. This symbol date back to Neolithic period, which means it has been used even before the knowledge of writing. It is also quite often represented and associated with feminine presence and Goddesses. Therefore it is often related with fertility, birth, intuition and lifecycles, which is what usually femininity represents in terms of symbology.
It is easy to find a spiral shape in nature, ( well easier than squares, triangles, and so on ),
so it is of course a symbol that really connects with earth and circles. Since ancients times, it has been established that nature follows certain cycles like lunar and solar patterns, seasons, etc. In fact the spiral sometimes represents the sun, sun is always associated with male energy. Cycles also mean something is going to change : the old die, so the new can come.
So it is also a symbol that represents mutation and creativity. In fact it has sometimes been related to the element of water, which is a mutable “material”. In other cases, instead, it represents the fifth element, so our spiritual element.
Through researches, I noticed there are so many different meanings related to this particular symbol, so I only focused on the most popular and common uses of it. However here is a list of other meaning related to the spiral :
Balance
Progress
Direction
Centering
Awareness
Expansion
Connection
Development
Evolution
Connection with cosmic energy
Revolution of time
Initiation
Spiral in nature
YIN YANG SYMBOL
Yin Yang it is a concept originally from ancient chinese philosophy based on the theory that everything is dominated by two main opposite forces ( example : dark and light – night and day ) , and they are both equally necessary in order to achieve balance.
The symbol it is a circle, divided in two identic shapes, one is white with a little black circle and one is black with a little white circle. The black part represent our male side and the white one represent our female side. Following the theory, we all have both side. All that has to do with male energy is about, light, logic, strenght, energy of the sun, being active, dominance, creation, expanding, enlightment, movement, mountains. Of course the feminine energy it associated with the opposite characteristic : passive, intuitive, dark, energy of the moon, submssion, contracting, night, stillness, rivers, delusion, cold, downward seeking..
The two section together, represent interaction with all things. The reason there are two smaller circle, is again to show that nothing is absolute .
“Located in the areas of their opposite colors, the small circles show that nothing is absolute. In each of the opposing forces there is a small part of the other. In all yin there is yang and in all yang there is yin. This holds true for everything in the universe, for example in every female there is a little male and in every good there is a little evil. Nothing in the universe, or in life, is simple black or white. Each exists in the other and each needs the other to exist” Hurley T, 2015, lovetoknow.com
the shape of both sections, it is simular to an S, and the reason is to better represent that the dependence of each other, is in fact together they form a perfect and infinte circle ( one shape starts where the other ends following ).
According to this taoist theory , the forces of the universe are in costant movement, changing from yin to yang, and from yang to yin, forming the natural balance of energies, therefore harmony with everything. Most western religions achievement is to find the balance in ourself so that we can pass to the next level, and it may requires several life to achieve that through experiences, and the circle of life and death wont stop until we can find that balance, that would permit us to connect with the harmony of the entire universe.
The pentacle symbol
This symbol is 8000 years old. Especially in our modern times, the pentacle is often erranously associated with satanism. It has in fact nothing to do with it : a simple way to proof this is correct is the fact that this symbol exists even before christian religion appeared, which is the cult who first mentioned the existence of Satan. It is very common to find whatever does not appeal with christian theories, it has something to do with Satanism. Following their belief, everything has been created by God, and anything that says this particular God does not exists, or any practice that differs from christian practices, it is the work of Satan, who tries to bring us to the wrong path and distract us from our holy mission. Pentacle symbol has been used by pagan cults, history clearly tell us there was no simpathy between them and christians which claimed pagans were wrong, evil and must be converted, and in more extreme situations, burned to purify the world from evil forces. I sometimes wear this symbol as jewerelly, and I noticed quite a few people who were looking at me with disappointment or fear in my country, Switzerland, which is mainly christian. This happened less in England, as the population is more familiar with Wikkan and pagan cults. However satanics use a similar symbol for their rituals, which consists in an overturned star, so it is easy to confuse it with the pentacle.
I though it was important to clarify this fact, as unfortunately this symbol is still quite mistaken for something I don’t want to take credit for such as incorporating satanic characteristics in my design..
What the pentacle really means :
this witchcraft symbol has the shape of a 5 points star,surrounded by a circle.
The highest point represents ( the fifth point ), represents the sanctity of spirit. The circle represents wholeness, unity. In other words this symbol represents the quest of Divine Knowledge.
The pentacle has been found in the earliest babylonese ritual written texts, Celts culture and Native American. It is still a popular symbol, used by Neo-Pagans. It is mainly used for magic rituals, decorate ceremonial tools, ceremonies and protection.
The triple Moon symbol.
This wikkan symbol, also called triple Goddess, clearly represents 3 phases of the Moon : waxing, full and waning. The moon has always been associated with feminine energy, therefore it also represents 3 womanhood phases : maiden, mother, crone. Following wikkan beliefs,
the full moon is the time when magic is more powerful and effective.
The waning moon is a time for new beginnings, for the new, regeneration. The waxing moon instead, is the right time to send things away and get rid of the old.
The presence of the Goddess /Mother Earth /the Mother, ( feminine divine presence ) it is often represented with the triple moon.
THE SUN SYMBOL
The sun, symbolically represented in almost every culture. it is mainly associated with vitality, light, action, fire, growth, authority, victory, power, sky gods, energy, consistence, brilliance, clarity, self.
It was a very important symbol for Native Americans, which practiced several rituals in honor of the sun and the summer solstice.
In Greek culture the sun is the eye of Zeus, in Christianity it is the house of Archangel Michael.
Our ancestor believed, and it is still a popular belief today, that the position of the sun at our time of birth is very significant to determinate different aspects /characteristics of ourself.
SYMBOLIC MEANING OF THE COLOR WHITE
In my design I incorporated several decoration in white color. But, for several tribes, white is not only a color. It symbolize purity, innocence,cleanliness, virginity ( which is originally why in so many cultures bridesmaid wear white), completion, perfection, neutrality.
It is believed white is encouraging, protective, calming and gives hope.
I particularly like the use of white in African tribes, where bodypainting was and still is ( in some villages and tribes ) a way to protect your body from all the dangers found in nature, and against demons, so it’s function is also about intimidation. One common material to create natural white paint is Limestone, which is also an effective natural insecticide
SYMBOLIC MEANING OF THE COLOR GREEN
My character skin color it is green. The reason is because she has been created inside a plant, but I made sure to look at what green could mean to see if there was any spiritual connection with it or if it could represent something I don’t intend to.
Psycological studies claim that green color can be associated with balance and harmony, and improves our positivity.
It was the color of Heaven in the Ming Dinasty, the lucky sign for Ireland, a holy color for Muslim countries. In paganism there was a symbol called green man, which represented fertility. However in China it represented infedility, apparently men used to wear green hats when their wifes cheated on them, and in some areas of Australia it is considered a bad luck sign. Overall, green it is a lucky culture or a good sign for most cultures in the world. Today green represents ecology and enviroment, it is the color that represents nature and I feel positive about using it for my Character.
CELTIC AXE
Axe symbolize strenght, power, virility. It is associated with Thor, the God of thunder. Jewerelly symbolizing axes were used to honor Thor and stay in his favour, to increase strenght, to protect the house. Even tho my character it is a female, it has already been stablished talking about Yin and Yang symbol, that we all have both side and has she does wear Yin Yang symbol, I though it wouldn’t be a problem to incorporate this strong male symbol as she also wear strong female symbols, so there is a sort of balance between the two forces.
LLAMA SYMBOL
Llama is the national symbol of Peru. Llama represents balance, hard work, service. this animal is a reminder about the importance of focusing in yourself, your own goals, and to listen to your heart rather than your ego.
ABORIGINAL LIZARD SYMBOL
The lizard, it is an important animal and therefore symbol in australian aborigenal culture. This animal represents intuition, perception and wisdom. When a lizard loose the tale, the tale will grow back. This has been observed by aborigens, and interpretated this way : the ability to let go of , in order to carry on, to survive, move forward
