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Flower of Life

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The Flower of Life, a symbol most commonly associated with New Age permutations of Sacred Geometry, is a curiously universal emblem, appearing in religious contexts all over the globe.

The oldest example can still be seen at the Temple of Osiris at Abydos (one of many geometric arrangements of circles found there). It can also be seen in early Phoenecian, Assyrian, Indian, Asian, Middle Eastern, and later medieval art. The example at the Osireion, with its multiplicity of vesica pisces shapes, may represent the 'eyes' of Osiris- a symbol of the omniscience of the god.

This delicate net of overlapping circles arranged in a six-fold pattern is called the "flower of life" because it contains a number of other shapes within its deceptively simple pattern, leading some to call it the "blueprint of creation." By connecting points in the pattern, a multitude of patterns and shapes can be traced, including a tree of Life, pentagram, and various representations of three dimensional objects.

The six-fold "see" pattern used as a basis for the larger pattern is often referred to on its own as the seed of life:


A flower of Life mosaic from the Sikh Temple at Amritsar

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Related Resources:

  • Sacred Geometry
  • New Age
    Learn about the varied beliefs and philosophies known collectively as "New Age."
  • Rosicrucianism
    The Rosicrucians are the fabled Hermetic brotherhood of the Renaissance.

 

From Jennifer Emick,
Your Guide to Alternative Religions.
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