Symbols

Symbols 

Symbols are fascinating. They are connected to my personal life and activity. What is most interesting is how individual societies can view the same exact symbols in very different ways. 

What is a symbol? A symbol represents an idea. It is an item that holds a deeper meaning beyond the surface. It is recognized among cultures, religions, particular societies or individuals.

Just as objects have their own unique characteristics and symbolism, the people in our lives can also act as very powerful symbols. We are all mirrors and teachers in each other’s lives. Some people represent characteristics that we do want to emulate, other people represent the traits that we don’t want to develop. If we spend our time with people in the “do” category, we are more likely to cultivate those positive characteristics.

Similarly, if we surround ourselves with objects that symbolize the things we want to attract into our lives, we are more likely to manifest those desires. We each give strength and meaning to the objects in our lives. For example, I have a lucky shirt that I always wear to job interviews, a lucky coin that I keep in my wallet for material blessings, and here is my entertainment ring, which makes me happy and raises my spirits.

I can also think about our superstitions. Is a black cat indeed a bad sign? Some say it is better not to look through a broken window, it is better to enter the house with the right leg etc., but who actually decides?

It is interesting to ponder the fact that sometimes a symbol's meaning can vary from culture to culture. For example the owl is a symbol of wisdom in ancient Greece but it is a bad omen according to the Native American Navajo tribes. Who is “right”? Maybe the belief itself gives power and meaning to all of these things. If you truly believe in a lucky charm or a superstition, your thoughts can actually help you manifest good or bad luck.

It is also interesting to consider religious symbols. The six-pointed “Star of David” has appeared at different times in various cultures, but only in recent centuries did it become widely known as a Jewish symbol. The cross was a meaningful symbol in other religions before it became associated with Christianity. The Hamsa, which was  originally for protection against the evil eye and according to Islamic tradition, is also known as the hand of Fatima, so named to commemorate Muhammad's daughter Fatima Zahra. Levantine Christians call it the hand of Mary, for the Virgin Mary. Jews refer to it as the hand of Miriam in remembrance of the biblical prophetess, sister of Moses and Aaron.

Another fascinating example is the symbol of the swastika. The earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization as well as the Mediterranean Classical Antiquity and Paleolithic Europe. Swastikas have also been used in various other ancient civilizations around the world including Turkey, India, Iran, Nepal, China, Japan, Korea and Europe. It remains widely used in Indian religions, specifically in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, primarily as a tantric symbol to evoke Shakti, or the sacred symbol of auspiciousness. As we all know, the Nazi Party of Germany adopted the swastika in 1920, as a symbol of the Aryan race.

Interesting – isn't it? Many images that look the same from the outside, can have very different meanings on the inside, depending on the energy that humans assign to it.

And what about the zodiac? I am a Libra – what does it mean and what does it say about me? We can think about our own horizon, about the stars and sun, which we see – but is there something absolute?

The personification of my coins- my jewelry gives human qualities to each and every coin, and connects with the symbols on the currency. In this way, humans can connect with the energy of the object in a deeper way. To me, this is more than just attractive jewelry, this is jewelry that can actually help you attract certain energies by connecting with symbols.

I once met a beautiful woman—sharp, energetic, and only 89 and a half years old. I asked her “ What is the secret to health, happiness and longevity?” She replied with a smile, as if revealing a secret, "Good genes and good luck."

There may not be too much we can do about genes—we just work with what we’ve got! But as for fortune, abundance, and luck, I believe that we can increase our ability to attract more goodness into our lives. We are like energy magnets… Find the true value and deeper meaning in everything around you, and let this awareness attract even more greatness into your life.

With blessings of abundance, prosperity and many smiles,

Noa Tam

https://www.etsy.com/listing/194568568/peace-simply-coined-ring