To understand the language of symbols, we start with the basic geometrical forms, starting with the simple in order for the quest for deeper understanding can begin.
We teach our children basic shapes to help them to begin to understand the shape of their world. In much the same way, studying the symbol meaning of basic shapes helps us to understand what the shapes in the symbols mean.
We begin with the most common shapes found in symbols: The circle, the square, the triangle, the spiral and the cross. Basic shapes are the building blocks that the first humans used to make their symbols, symbols that they scratched onto cave walls. These were the first method of written communication as well as the first example of creative expression.
Squares - What Do They Mean?
Squares are stable - they are very familiar and trusted shapes and suggest total honesty. They have right angles and represent order, mathematics, rationality, and formality. Squares suggest conformity, peacefulness, solidity, security, and equality.
In Buddhist symbolism a square inside a circle represents the relationship between the human and the divine.
The square is a symbol of the heart in Islam. Each side of the heart-square symbolizes an aspect or opening for awareness and inspiration: angelic, diabolic, human and divine. This train of thought underscores the duality in everything and balance as well as oppositional balance... dark vs light, up vs down and so on.
Those kinds of attributes are what cause the square symbol to be an anchor to the Hindu way of thought. The squares represent the natural or structured order of the universe. Such as:
- The four directions - north, south, east and west
- The four seasons - winter, spring, summer and autumn
- The four prime elements - fire, earth, air and water
- The four phases of human life - birth, child, adult and death
The square is a symbol for the earth in the Chinese way of thought, with the circle representing the shape of the heavens. This further enforces the grounded nature of the square symbol meaning.
So unlike the circle, or the spiral symbol meaning - the square is made up of straight lines. Those fixed straight lines offer a feeling of stability and security.
