The journey toward self love is one of the most beautiful and fulfilling journeys that you will ever undertake. There are many practices that can help you in this journey, one such practice being, working with symbols.
Why symbols? Symbols carry deep meanings and can speak directly to your subconscious mind. They can serve as a constant reminder to keep taking positive actions toward loving yourself and also help reprogram your mind to let go of negative beliefs and replace them with positive ones. You can use these symbols in the form of drawings, tattoos, stickers, jewelry, figurines, prints, etc. They can also be used during meditation, journaling, ritual and energy work.
This article is a collection of various symbols associated with self love and acceptance. Take your time to go through all of them; find the symbols that resonate with you and start using them in your life.
38 Symbols of Self Love & Acceptance
1. Dara Knot
The Dara Knot is a Celtic symbol that represents inner strength, courage, self acceptance, stability and wisdom.
The word Dara translates to Oak Tree. The knot represents the root system of the oak tree that holds the massive body of the tree in place.
Dara knot is a symbol of self love as it encourages you to connect with your inner strength through self acceptance and awareness.
2. Tree of Life
The Tree of Life symbolizes self-love by reflecting how you relate to and nurture yourself. Its roots represent staying grounded in who you are, the trunk reflects inner strength and stability, and the branches show growth and expansion into your potential.
It reminds you to care for your inner self, stay rooted, and allow yourself to grow at your own pace, because self-love is what supports every part of your life.
Since its such a powerful symbol, it’s no surprise that this symbol is found across so many ancient cultures.
3. Saule
Saule is a Latvian symbol that represents the Sun. It symbolizes inner stability, vitality, self love, confidence, and the ability to shine from within.
It reminds you that you carry your own inner sun, encouraging you to turn inward and connect with your own light instead of constantly seeking it outside.
4. Hexagram
The hexagram is a powerful ancient symbol found across many cultures that encourages you to bring balance into your life as a basis for self-love.
It is made of two interlocking triangles that represent the harmony of opposites. These opposites exist within you, and peace arises when they are brought into balance.
The downward-facing triangle represents your heart, instinct, and intuition, while the upward-facing triangle represents your conscious mind. This symbol reminds you to not live only from the mind, but to include the wisdom of the heart, allowing both to work together so you can make balanced choices and live more fully.
Here are more symbols that represent balance and harmony.
5. Pentagram
The pentagram has five points, that represent the give elements of earth, water, fire, air, and spirit. When these elements are in balance, they reflect a state of inner harmony.
This symbol reminds you to stay centered and aligned within yourself, honoring every aspect of your being. True self-love arises when your body, mind, emotions, and spirit are in balance and working together.
Also, as shown in the image below, the pentagram resembles the pattern traced by the planet Venus over an eight-year cycle as observed from Earth.
Because Venus is associated with love and beauty in many traditions, the pentagram is also linked to love, harmony, and balance.
6. Auseklis (The Morning Star)
Auseklis (kaheksakand) is an ancient Latvian symbol that represents the planet Venus, also known as the Morning Star because it appears in the early hours just before sunrise. The symbol is depicted as an eight-pointed star and represents protection, self-love, and the victory of light over darkness.
Its connection to self-love comes from Venus being traditionally associated with love and beauty.
The number 8 is linked to Venus because it forms a repeating cycle with Earth every eight years, returning to nearly the same position in the sky.
7. Aya (Fern)
Aya is an Adinkra symbol that represents the fern, known for its ability to grow in the most challenging environments by making the best use of whatever is available.
Because of this, it symbolizes endurance, independence, and resourcefulness.
It also encourages self-love and inner strength, reminding you to trust your ability to adapt, thrive, and grow, no matter where you are planted.
8. Sankofa (Return and Get It)
Sankofa is an Adinkra symbol depicted as a bird looking back, picking up a gem from its back with its beak.
It represents the idea that things often repeat in our lives until we learn the lesson they carry. But once you learn the lessons, you break the loop.
Sankofa encourages you to reflect on the past, gather its wisdom, and use it to move forward.
It is a symbol of self-love, reminding you to release the weight of the past while still honoring what it taught you, so you can break the cycle and grow.
9. Triquetra
Triquetra, also known as the Trinity Knot, is an ancient symbol that represents the connection between mind, body, and spirit, a key part of self-love.
It encourages you to take care of all three in simple, daily ways: keep your mind clear and positive, support your body with rest and nourishment, and give yourself quiet moments to reset emotionally.
When these are in balance, you feel more stable, clear, and at ease within yourself.
10. Serch Bythol
The Serch Bythol is a Celtic symbol formed by joining two triquetras. It symbolizes everlasting and unconditional love between two people. It is also a symbol that encourages you to love yourself, give love to the other and most importantly allow yourself to be loved.
11. Lotus Flower
The Lotus Flower is a symbol found across many ancient cultures, including Egypt, India, and other parts of Asia. It holds deep significance because it grows in muddy waters yet blooms pure and untouched above the surface.
It reminds you that no matter your circumstances, you have the ability to rise above challenges without losing your inner clarity. This makes it a powerful symbol of self-love, reminding you to stay connected to the calm, pure center within yourself.
12. Yaz
Yaz is a symbol from the Amazigh (Berber) people, where it represents the “free person.” It stands for liberty, personal agency, and pride in your identity.
In a practical sense, it reminds you to be yourself without shrinking, make your own choices, and take ownership of your life instead of being controlled by others’ expectations. This makes Yaz a powerful symbol of self love.
13. Koru
Koru is a symbol from the Māori people, inspired by the unfurling fern. It represents new beginnings, self love, growth, and renewal.
In a practical sense, it reminds you to keep evolving, be gentle with yourself as you grow, and allow space for fresh starts instead of being stuck in the past.
14. Runes
Runes are ancient sacred symbols from the Norse culture. Each rune carries a deeper meaning, and has been used as sacred tools for guidance, and inner alignment. The following are 4 runes that are associated with self love:
- Gebo: Represents a gift or exchange. It reminds you that love is not only something you give to others, but also something you must give to yourself.
- Berkana: Symbolizes the birch tree and stands for growth, healing, and nurturing.
- Wunjo: Represents joy, harmony, and contentment. It reminds you that self-love includes allowing yourself to feel happiness and finding peace within your own presence.
- Isa: Represents stillness and reflection. It encourages you to pause and reconnect with yourself, because self-love begins in moments of awareness.
You can use runes as individual symbols or combine them into bind runes, keeping them as visual reminders of self love in your daily life.
15. Enso
Enso is a Zen symbol from Japanese Zen Buddhism, drawn as a simple, incomplete circle. As a symbol of self love, it reminds you that you do not have to be perfect.
It encourages you to accept yourself as you are, let go of constant self-judgment, and stay present instead of overthinking your flaws.
16. Fawohodie
Fawohodie, meaning “independence,” is an Adinkra symbol that represents freedom, self-love, and personal responsibility.
It originates from the proverb, “Fawohodie ne obre na enam,” meaning “freedom comes with responsibility.”
At its core, it encourages you to let go of blame and take ownership of your life, because true independence is not just the absence of control, but the presence of responsibility.
The moment you take responsibility, you take your power back. And that is the first step to truly changing your life.
17. Heart Chakra
The heart chakra is an energy center associated with self-love, empathy, compassion, forgiveness, innocence, joy, and transformation. Meditating on your heart chakra can help activate it, supporting you on your self-love journey.
To meditate on your heart chakra, focus on the center of your chest. You can also place your left hand over your heart, close your eyes, and chant the word “peace” or the Sanskrit seed mantra “YUM.”
In face, the syllable you see in the center of the heart chakra symbol is, “YUM”. Chant this mantra 20–25 times and notice the vibrations in and around your heart space. Practicing this for just one or two minutes daily can help awaken your heart chakra and gradually open you to higher states of awareness.
18. Rose quartz
The beautiful Rose Quartz in its raw, unpolished form symbolizes accepting and loving yourself as you are with all your perceived flaws and imperfections without worrying about what other people might say or think.
It teaches that true beauty isn’t found in perfection, but in authenticity. When you stop resisting who you are, you begin to open, and return to your natural state of love.
Rose quartz has long been used as a stone of love. The ancients believed it carried the energy of the heart and used it in rituals, and amulets to attract love and restore harmony.
You can use it simply by holding it or placing it over your heart as a meditative practice, while setting the intention to accept yourself fully. Over time, this practice helps open your heart, and deepen your sense of self-love.
19. Peacock
In Native American culture, peacocks symbolize self confidence, self esteem, pride, honor, integrity and self love. Peacocks dance joyfully when they sense rain while revealing their true beauty. This is why they also symbolize joy and the ability to express yourself fully without worrying about what others might say or think.
20. Flower mandala
Flower mandalas are complex geometric patterns created using hundreds of overlapping circles and shapes resulting in a flower like design. They have deep spiritual meaning and are typically used for focus and concentration during meditation. Flower mandalas represent immortality, healing, self love, compassion, growth and inner connection.
21. Rhodochrosite
The beautiful pink Rhodochrosite is considered a stone of unconditional love, forgiveness, compassion, understanding, healing and acceptance. In-fact, it is known as the ‘stone of the compassionate heart’.
This stone is associated with self-love because just like the Rose Quartz, it helps activate the heart chakra promoting feelings of love, peace, healing and happiness.
22. Pink dahlia
The pink dahlia is a mesmerizingly beautiful flower that symbolizes self-love, kindness, compassion, beauty and feminine energy. You can use this flower or its mandala during meditation (by simply looking at it) to promote feelings of self love, inner child healing and connecting with your inner power.
23. Pink Tourmaline
Pink Tourmaline is a stone generally associated with unconditional love, friendship, emotional balance, peace, relaxation and joy. Meditating using this stone or simply having it near you can help open your heart chakra and promote self love and a joyful state of mind.
24. Pink Kunzite
Just like Pink Tourmaline, Pink kunzite is a stone that is deeply connected with your heart chakra. This stone can help open your heart chakra and also create a connection between your heart and mind encouraging free flow of energy. Kunzite also helps raise your vibration, release anger and reach a state of self acceptance and understanding.
25. Amaryllis flower
Amaryllis is an extremely beautiful flower that symbolizes self love, self acceptance, courage, inner strength, joy, pride and determination. The name Amaryllis comes from the Greek word amarysso, which means “to sparkle. Because of its height and sturdiness, this flower encourages you to accept yourself fully and thereby move toward reaching your true potential. This flower also helps open your heart chakra and encourage feelings of self love, acceptance and worthiness.
26. Emerald
Emerald is a symbol of self love as it opens your heart and promotes feelings of unconditional love, compassion, forgiveness, peace, balance and harmony. Emerald is called the “Stone of Successful Love” for this very reason.
27. Rose
Roses are generally associated with romantic love but they also symbolize self love, beauty, courage and confidence. The sight and scent of a rose promotes feelings of love, calmness and relaxation in your entire being. It helps heal emotional wounds so you can begin to love yourself and others.
You can bring roses into your life by adding petals to your bath, growing rose plants to enjoy their beauty and scent, or diffusing rose essential oil to create a calming, heart-opening atmosphere.
28. Heart & Bow
The heart and bow symbol represents everlasting love and friendship. The heart in the symbol represents loving yourself and the bow represents everlasting love.
29. Hummingbird
Hummingbirds symbolize lightness, joy, freedom, good luck, higher vibrations and living life to the fullest. It is also a symbol of self love as it encourages you to let go of things (negative emotions) that weigh you down and raise your vibration to reach your true potential.
30. Lamat
Lamat is a Mayan symbol that symbolizes self love, abundance, transformation and new beginnings. It encourages you to let go of the old through forgiveness and to embrace the new by cultivating self love, compassion and abundance. The symbol also represents the planet Venus and hence is connected with love.
31. Sapphire
Sapphire symbolizes joy, inner peace, calmness, abundance, clarity, good luck and prosperity. It helps calm the mind and strengthen intuition. Sapphire also helps free your energy helping you release feelings of guilt, hate, anger and other negative emotions that weigh you down. In doing so Sapphire helps you cultivate feelings of love toward yourself and toward others.
32. Swan
Swans represent inner beauty, trust, self love and loyalty. Swan symbolism is also linked to inner beauty and self love. When two swans bring their necks together, they form the shape of a heart which represents love. A reflection of this shape formed within the water represents inner love or self love.
33. Butterfly
Butterfly symbolizes loving and trusting yourself when you are going through change knowing that you will come out stronger and discover your true nature and potential. Just like the changes a caterpillar has to go through before turning into a beautiful butterfly. Butterfly also symbolizes rebirth, transformation, beauty, hope, patience and joy.
34. Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle is a climbing plant with sweet smelling flowers. It is a symbol of happiness, sweetness, kindness, love and affection. It is also a symbol of self love as it reminds you to be kind toward yourself and always work toward raising your awareness (signified by the climbing plant) and reaching your true potential.
35. Self hug
Giving yourself a hug is one of the most powerful gestures of self love. It has been seen that hugging yourself increase levels of Oxytocin which is also known as the Love Hormone. Hugging yourself can also help you let go of stress while generating feelings of relaxation.
36. Starfish
The Starfish is a celestial symbol of infinite divine love. It encourages you to accept yourself completely by connecting with your divine inner self.
37. Giraffe
Giraffe is an exotic animal that symbolizes uniqueness, courage, confidence, pride and self love. Because of its long neck, the Giraffe stands out in the forest and it does so with courage and confidence. Thus the giraffe also represents your ability to stand out by accepting yourself fully and not being afraid of being different. Self love is all about accepting yourself.
38. Padma Mudra
The Padma or Lotus mudra is deeply associated with the heart chakra. This mudra when done while chanting the seed mantra, ‘YAM’, helps open and activate your heart chakra which helps cultivate feelings of self love within.
In Conclusion
When used correctly, symbols can play a powerful role in your self love journey. You can even combine a couple of symbols and create a unique symbol of you own. For instance, combining the Lotus and Unalome or the Padma Mudra and Heart Chakra. Experiment with different shapes, patterns, and colors to make it deeply personal. The more meaningful and distinctive your symbol is, the easier it becomes to remember and connect with
If you want a symbol included in this list, please feel free to get in touch with us. We wish you all the best in your self love journey.
