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S Y M B BHAGYASHREE

NAYAK

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Sacred geometry is the nature of nature.

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S Y M B BHAGYASHREE NAYAK

PROLOGUE We all have symbolic emissaries that inspire us to see our lives in powerfully transformative ways. Do you actually believe what you see? Do you think every thing has a meaning behind it?

Do you think there are unseen mysteries which are abandoned and foresaken? This book is a journey of alligning one’s heart, mind and spirit to source. It combines the energy of design and spirituality to provide a gateway between the etheric and physical realms.

S A C R E D

J O U R N E Y

SACRED G E O ME T R Y

Nature, full of patterns, designs and structures from the minute particles, to expressions of life invisible to human eyes, to the greater cosmos. These inevitably follow geometrical archetypes, which reveal to us the nature of each form and its vibrational resonances. They are also symbolic of the underlying metaphysical principle of the inseparable relationship of the part to the whole. This principle of interconnectedness, inseparability and union provides us with a continuous reminder of our relationship to the whole, a blueprint for the mind to the sacred foundation of all things created. Sacred geometry involves sacred universal patterns used in the design of everything in our reality. It is the invisible patterns that animate our physical world much as spiritual traditions believe that the soul animates the body.

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Platonic solids are the core patterns of Physical creation.

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PLATONIC SOLIDS

A Platonic solid is a regular, convex polyhedron with congruent faces of regular polygons and the same number of faces meeting at each vertex. These are 3 dimensional polygons with a sequential relationship to one another called duals or congruency. Congruency occurs when one polygon with its unique shape, size and facets can be transformed into the next polygon by changing its placement by flipping or rotation. They were first catalogued by the ancient philosopher, Plato and hence their name. The Five Platonic solids are crucial as they form the building blocks for all organic life. They are found in all organic life forms, minerals, music, language and sound.

Platonic Solids are shapes which form the basis of Sacred Geometry.

T E T R A H E D R O N The Tetrahedron (also called the Triangular Pyramid). It contains 4 faces, 4 vertices and 6 edges. Each face is triangular.

The Tetrahedron represents the element of Fire and is linked to the Solar Plexus; the centre for personal power and acceptance. It creates the natural balance between the physical and spiritual. Each side sits flat, no matter how it is turned, making it the perfect symbol for balance and stability. It is also linked to creating change.

H E X A H E D R O N The Hexahedron (also called the Cube) is the second of the five shapes. It has 6 square faces, 8 vertices and 12 edges. Each face is square. The Hexahedron is associated with the element of Earth and corresponds to the Root Chakra. The Hexahedron sits flat, firmly rooted to its spot. Meditating on this shape will assist in grounding energy, maintaining focus, removing tension and easing physical stresses. It will reconnect your energies to those of the earth and nature.

O C T A H E D R O N The Octahedron has 8 faces, 6 vertices and 12 edges. It is made up of 8 triangles, which is formed from placing two square based pyramids base to base. The Octahedron represents the element of Air and is linked to the Heart Chakra; the centre for love and compassion. This chakra is where we access our healing and nurturing aspects, where we find acceptance and forgiveness. By working with the Octahedron, we attune to the more spiritual nature our self and begin to understand our true nature.

D O D E C A H E D R O N The Dodecahedron has 20 faces, 12 vertices and 30 edges. Each face is shaped in the form of a Pentagon. The Dodecahedron is linked to the Universe. It is a perfect tool to use in meditation as the energy held within this sacred shape can raise your vibration up to facilitate connection to your Higher Self and the Source. The Dodecahedron is an expression of life and consciousness, allowing us to go beyond the vibrations of the physical body and to reconnect with the higher vibration of our true nature.

I C O S A H E D R O N The Icosohedron has 12 faces, 20 vertices and 30 edges. Each face is in the shape of an equilateral triangle. The Icosahedron is associated with the element of Water and corresponds to the Sacral Chakra.

Water is all about movement, flow, and change. This shape can assist in enhancing the creative thought process. It may assist in removing any emotional blockages that are disrupting creative energies. The Icosahedron is an amazing tool that allows freedom of expression, creativity and positive change to flow effortlessly through us.

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Common pattern which links us all at a molecular as well as spiritual level.

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Symbols are the language of something spoken in the visible world.

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SYMBOLISM

Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. Symbolism can take different forms. Generally, it is an object representing another, to give an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and more significant. Symbols do shift their meanings depending on the context they are used in. An image that has a specific meaning today needn’t have always symbolized the same thing. Many symbols have existed for centuries, so their connotations evolved significantly over time. Conversely, other symbols simply fade away into obscurity until they are brought back with a different meaning entirely.

T R E E

O F

L I F E

The tree of life is a mystical and magical tree well known throughout many cultures, dating back to ancient times. Every culture has its own tree of life in their mythologies but with similar meanings. The symbols of the tree itself are comprised of all the aspects of the tree itself. The tree of life provides the breath of life. This breath, is also represented by the spiritual nature of air, which is to inspire.

The significance of leaves of the tree is believed to be “healing� in its properties. That is why we look at healing from not only physical but emotional and spiritual point of view. In its branches, it symbolizes reaching out to accept the nourishment of the Sun, in its leaves it captures that nourishment and cherishes it through transformation into the life giving food. In its roots, it digs deep into the soul of the Earth, embraces it and recognizes the soil as its mother. The roots and branches acknowledges Mother Earth and Father Sun. It is a full recognition of life that supports it and its spiritual origins.

P A G A N

S Y M B O L S

F I R E The element of fire is regarded as strong and masculine. Although fire can destroy can anything in its path but it can also be an aid to life like for cooking food and keeping ourselves warm in winters. It is associated with strong will and energy as well as transformation and change.

W A T E R The element of water is believed to have a strong feminine connection and so is associated with all aspects of goddess. The inverted triangle symbolizes the womb. It is a healing and purifying element. Water is regarded as emotion and love which flows and takes away negativity and other such aspects from life.

A I R Air is considered as connected to the soul and the breath of life. Air is one of the four classical elements that are often invoked during pagan rituals and spiritual workings. The element of air is associated with the colour yellow and white, communication, wisdom and the mind. Air can also be represented by feathers, a fan or incense.

E A R T H Earth is one of the classical elements. The symbol of earth is also sometimes used to symbolise Mother Earth. The element of earth is associated with the colours of brown and green, abundance, prosperity, and fertility.

ICONOGRAPHY

Iconography is the description, classification, and interpretation of the subject matter of a work of art. Its primary purpose is to understand and explicate the meaning behind what is represented.

It is by definition closely related to the equally complex but more abstract term iconology, traditionally understood as a more advanced (and secondary) phase in visual definition. Iconology has been described as the description, classification, or analysis of meaning or symbolism in the visual arts that takes into account the tradition of pictorial motifs and their historical, cultural, and social meaning.

Iconography dates back to the Byzantine period and was introduced by the Christians. In Christian religious painting there is an iconography of images such as the lamb which represents Christ, or the dove which represents the Holy Spirit.

E I K O N & G R A P H I A Although iconography is still largely the province of the art historian, in whose discipline it was first used and with which it became irretrievably linked, it is clear that this is no longer true.

Within that discipline its purpose has changed significantly from its prime association with the representational; iconography is now used to support new fields of research at the crossroads of disciplinary studies. Increasingly iconography is being applied to the nonvisual and to studies using textual, aural, or verbal material, which has extended its meaning.

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Iconography of an artwork is the imagery within it.

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Graphic Design is the fiction that anticipates the fact.

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GRAPHIC DESIGN

Graphic Design is all around us! Words and pictures—the building blocks of graphic design, are the elements that carry the majority of the content in both the digital world and the printed world. As graphic design becomes more visible and prevalent in our lives, graphic design as a practice becomes more important in our culture. Graphic design, also known as communication design, is the art and practice of planning and projecting ideas and experiences with visual and textual content. The form it takes can be physical or virtual and can include images, words, or graphics. The experience can take place in an instant or over a long period of time.

S Y M B O L S In design, symbols always stand for something; and there are times that they give more depth and meaning, and communicate more effectively than words – especially in logos, emblems, or icons, or even the overall theme of a graphic design project. Each design element should be used wisely and for a reason. You don’t just choose and apply a particular colour and character just because you want to or just because they look good. Each of them must be well-thought-out and suits the message and overall design. In addition to the design elements being aesthetically harmonious, designers also make sure that the symbols used appropriately represent the purpose.

SWAN

SPIDER

BAT

Wisdom

Fear

Cult

SWAN

SWAN

SWAN

Wisdom

Wisdom

Wisdom

ARROW

CURVE

DASHED

Direction

Movement

Incomplete

I C O N S From travelling on a local bus to a full on adventure at an airport, our lives and journeys are helped along by icons. They form a visual language that help us to make an action or decision in an intuitive way by creating simple visual references. Some icons despite their stylistic approach share a standardised system of helping us to do a task or make a decision. Other icons, although seemly appear to carry the same action could be misconstrued and could be interpreted differently by the user to what the intended original message was. In some cases the icons are intuitive, while in other the user may have to do some work or tool tips included in order to give a better understanding.

Each of the above can be found on many web pages and they all intuitively tell us that we can print without actually using any wording.

Each of the above are similar but can be interpreted diffrently and hence need much understanding.

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Design is thinking made visual.

S Y M B BHAGYASHREE NAYAK

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EPILOGUE Visual literacy is the ability to see, to understand, and ultimately to think, create, and communicate graphically. Generally speaking, the visually literate viewer looks at an image carefully, critically, and with an eye for the intentions of the image’s creator. We live in a society characterized by “a massive intrusion of images into the symbolic environment: photographs, prints, posters, drawings, advertisements.� Images no longer function as a supplement to language but now tend to replace it as our dominant means for construing, understanding, and testing reality.

Feelings of separation Lack of wholeness Heights of joy Hopes for greater existence

Experience the untold and unseen juxtaposition of what you see and what you believe

S Y M B BHAGYASHREE NAYAK