Any adult who adorns themselves in jewelry containing symbols that they have not researched runs the risk of looking completely foolish when friends and family ask them about the piece. Society tolerates this sort of ignorance from children and teenagers, but adults are expected to show more respect. This is even more pertinent when the symbolism is something like the Native American cross necklace.
The attributes of symbolism can vary a great deal from tribe to tribe, so a full study of this is called for so that the wearer can speak intelligently on the matter. The origins of this symbol appear to have come from the ancient Mound Builders, also known as the Mississippian tribes of Midwestern America. Modern tribes still have elements of these Mississippian people in their culture, and they still use this symbol in their rituals, although different groups utilize it in various ways.
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.
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.
For some tribes, the meaning behind the symbol is very much like the Celtic symbol, although without the decorative knotwork the Celts were known for. It can represent the four sacred elements, or the four cardinal directions. The Mound Builders sometimes depicted it as representing the four tribes of mankind whose task it was to create and maintain balance in the universe.
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.
When contained within a circle, as it is generally shown here in the Americas, it can represent perfection or continuity. Each of the four zones or quadrants has a color, and the colors do vary. While it is intended to be viewed as a sphere that floats freely in space, the four quadrants, when colored, make the symbol of the Swastika.
The meanings and spiritual attributes vary greatly from tribe to tribe. However, anyone can utilize this symbolism for their own spiritual purposes. When one wears such an adornment, it would show great respect to have their piece represent four attributes that they choose for themselves.
The attributes of symbolism can vary a great deal from tribe to tribe, so a full study of this is called for so that the wearer can speak intelligently on the matter. The origins of this symbol appear to have come from the ancient Mound Builders, also known as the Mississippian tribes of Midwestern America. Modern tribes still have elements of these Mississippian people in their culture, and they still use this symbol in their rituals, although different groups utilize it in various ways.
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.
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.
For some tribes, the meaning behind the symbol is very much like the Celtic symbol, although without the decorative knotwork the Celts were known for. It can represent the four sacred elements, or the four cardinal directions. The Mound Builders sometimes depicted it as representing the four tribes of mankind whose task it was to create and maintain balance in the universe.
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.
When contained within a circle, as it is generally shown here in the Americas, it can represent perfection or continuity. Each of the four zones or quadrants has a color, and the colors do vary. While it is intended to be viewed as a sphere that floats freely in space, the four quadrants, when colored, make the symbol of the Swastika.
The meanings and spiritual attributes vary greatly from tribe to tribe. However, anyone can utilize this symbolism for their own spiritual purposes. When one wears such an adornment, it would show great respect to have their piece represent four attributes that they choose for themselves.
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