Common Artistic Forms in Sacred Geometry

The study of sacred geometry has always been a fascinating one, both from a scientific and a spiritual point of view.  There are times when people who have taken to advocating one facet of sacred geometry scoff at the people on the other side of the fence.  Nonetheless, it cannot be denied that the study of sacred geometry, whether for scientific or spiritual purposes, is something that can blow the mind away.

What is Sacred Geometry?

Since there are two ways of looking at sacred geometry, there are also two ways of defining it.  One is finite and academic while the other is spiritual.

Defining sacred geometry in the finite and academic way has a lot to do with studying the mathematics and algorithms to be found in the geometric shapes considered to be sacred and holy.  These shapes are thought to occur naturally and can be seen in some creatures and forces of nature.

On the other hand, the spiritual viewpoint involved in sacred geometry tries to go beyond the mathematical and algorithmic formulas.  They use sacred geometry to find meaning and significance in the pattern of the universe.

One does not have to be a mathematician or a practitioner of geomancy to be able to appreciate sacred geometry.  Sacred geometry exists as an art form, and for the layman who does not want to take any side, it can be appreciated as such.

Sacred Geometry in Art

One can find elements of sacred geometry in almost any art form, but they are most prominent in art forms related to sacred art and architecture – churches, temples, meeting places, iconographies, altars, mosques, monuments and such. 

Sacred geometry actually transcends culture and religion; some figures that are found in the holy places of one religion can be found in another, and often they carry the same meaning across religions and culture.

Some common artistic forms in sacred geometry are:

• The circle - The circle is the simplest of shapes in both Euclidean geometry and sacred geometry.  It is a figure formed by connecting the points radiating in equal distances from one defined center.  The circle is seen in many other forms of sacred geometry.  It is always meant to signify unity and oneness.

• The Flower of Life - The Flower of Life refers to a geometric figure that is created using overlapping circles of the same circumference.  The overlapping is done in such a way that the center of each circle is a point on the circumferences of six circles surrounding it.  The end result is a geometric pattern that looks like a flower with a hexagonal shape.

There are many other forms in sacred geometry that are said to have been derived from the Flower of Life, such as the Tree of Life, the Seed of Life, the Borromean rings, the tube torus, the Egg of Life and Metatron’s Cube.

• Vesica piscis - The vesica piscis literally means bladder of the fish in Latin.  It is created by drawing two circles of the same circumference and overlapping in such a way that the center of one circle is part of the circumference of the other.  The vesica piscis is prominent in Christian art, where it has become one of the symbols associated with the Christ.

• The golden spiral -  The golden spiral is a spiral whose growth is represented by the golden ratio, also known as the phi.  The most common representation of the golden spiral is the nautilus shell.

• The torus - The torus is also referred to as the doughnut.  It is the shape formed when a circle is made to travel another circular path on a three-dimensional plane.

It is also very important to mention the five Platonic solids as part of the sacred geometry shapes.

It does not really matter whether one believes in the spiritual nature of sacred geometry or is merely interested in the mathematics involved in it.  It is easy to appreciate sacred geometry for their artistic merits alone

Related category

Sacred geometry Jewelry

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