TriskelionĪlso known as the “triple spiral” or the “triskele”, there’s not quite a consensus on what this Celtic symbol means– however, many believe that the triskelion may symbolize cyclical flow. When you connect with Earth, you connect with both Gaia and with your feminine instinct to nurture all living beings. She is said to be the first Greek deity, born from chaos the Greeks hail Gaia as the creator of our Earth. Those who know goddesses will recognize Gaia as “the great mother”. As a whole, this symbol is aligned with the goddess Venus and her feminine attributes of passion and love. In this commonplace symbol, the circle represents the womb, while the cross underneath it was added to make the symbol look like the goddess Venus’s hand mirror. You’ll recognize the Venus symbol both as the universal symbol for “female”, and (for astrologers) the symbol for the planet Venus. This can be said to symbolize the way that aligning with the feminine essence of flow (as opposed to striving, pushing, and forcing) can allow our deepest needs to fall into place without harsh effort. The gorgeous bird glides across the water’s surface with (seemingly) no effort at all.
Most will recognize the swan as a universal symbol of beauty and grace. In addition, lotus flowers are known to grow beautifully from murky, muddy depths this can serve as a metaphor to the way a woman can birth new life from the darkness of her womb. It’s a symbol of clarity, purity, and perfection.
Iconic to Buddhist culture, the lotus can also symbolize aspects of the divine feminine. These are the three phases of a woman’s life: carefree maidenhood, the mothering years, and wise cronehood. It looks like the waning, full, and waxing moons put together, and it represents what Wiccans and Pagans call the “triple goddess”: maiden, mother, and crone. If you’ve studied Paganism, or any kind of witchy spirituality involving goddesses or moon phases, you’ve surely come across the triquetra. Often, patriarchy teaches us that our journey must progress in a straight line, always improving, never faltering the Unalome exemplifies femininity by teaching us that our journeys are more of an ebb and flow. This Buddhist symbol, consisting of spiraling and interweaving lines, is meant to suggest one’s journey to enlightenment. You’ll likely see the Unalome on dainty tattoos, or perhaps hanging as art in yoga studios. They can help you in your practice to surrender to flow, build compassion, and empower yourself with self-love.
Seeing or meditating on the following symbols daily can leave a deep psychological impression, as long as you’re aware of the symbol’s original meaning. So many beautiful ancient cultures, from the Celts to the Hindus to the Pagans, have much to teach about the divine feminine, and you can study their iconic feminine symbols to achieve this. Patriarchy expects us to rush, to constantly achieve, to have all of the answers, to never rest or slow down in other words, it devalues the feminine qualities of flow, nurture, restoration, and compassion.Īll this is to say that, if you’re feeling tired, under-nurtured, under-empathetic, or even stuck, you could use a boost to your inner feminine! So you can bring your masculine and feminine energies into a balance. Living in a harshly patriarchal world can feel crushing for all people (not just those who identify as female). Look at them when your subconscious is in an open state Wear them as jewelry or place them in your house