The Vesica Piscis is one of the most powerful sacred geometry symbols. This is because it is the primary or foundational symbol from which all other sacred geometry symbols are derived!
Despite its seemingly simplistic design, consisting solely of two intersecting circles, the meaning it contains is extremely profound. In this article, let’s explore this symbol in-depth and learn about its historical significance, hidden meaning, and the 12 secret sacred geometry symbols it holds within.
What is the Vesica Piscis symbol?
Simply put, the Vesica Piscis is a circular symbol that consists of two circles (of equal radius) that overlap in such a manner that the circumference of one circle passes through the center of the other. The resulting almond-shaped lens (that resembles the shape of a fish) is known as the Vesica Piscis.
The term Vesica Piscis translates to ‘Vessel of the Fish’, or ‘Fish Bladder’. It is interesting to note that across various cultures, the fish is a symbol that is often associated with life, creation, fertility, regeneration, wisdom, and good luck. These are the same symbolisms that are associated with the Vesica Piscis as well.
The historical significance of the Vesica Piscis symbol
Although its origin remains unknown, the Vesica Piscis as a symbol has appeared across various ancient cultures and religions. For instance, in Christianity, it is referred to as the Mandorola (which is an Italian word for almond). Jesus and Mary are often portrayed surrounded by a Mandorola, symbolizing their role in bridging the spiritual and material realms.
Similarly, the Ichthys symbol, also known as the Jesus Fish, closely resembles the Vesica Piscis and was used to represent Jesus Christ in Christian iconography. This symbol was also used to represent creation and the materialization of the spirit.
In Greek and Roman mythology, the Vesica Piscis symbolized procreation and renewal of life and was associated with the goddesses Venus and Aphrodite. The symbol was often connected with fish.
In Hinduism, the fish symbol is considered sacred and is associated with Lord Vishnu whose first incarnation on earth was in the form of a fish. Fish is thus considered a symbol of life and new beginnings and is often depicted in Hindu art and mythology.
In ancient Egypt, the fish symbol was associated with rebirth and regeneration.
Overall, the Vesica Piscis symbol or its resemblance (like the fish symbol) has played a significant role in the art, mythology, and spiritual practices of many cultures throughout history. It is a symbol that has mostly been associated with creation, life, rebirth, renewal, fertility, and divine feminine energy.
14 powerful symbols contained within the Vesica Piscis & their meanings
As mentioned earlier, the Vesica Piscis is not an ordinary symbol. It can be used as a base to create pretty much all symbols of sacred geometry!
Let’s look at the 12 important symbols found within the Vesica Piscis and the various symbols that can be created using it. We will also look at the meanings associated with each symbol.
1. Cosmic Egg
When viewed in 3D (3 dimensions), the Vesica Piscis resembles the shape of the cosmic egg. The Cosmic Egg is an ancient symbol that has appeared in various cultures around the world, representing the concept of creation and the birth of new life.
For instance, in Hinduism, it is believed that Brahma, the Hindu God of Creation, was born out of the cosmic egg. In fact, the Sanskrit word for the universe is Brahmanda (Brahma + Anda) which translates to the Egg of Brahma.
Similarly, as per Greek mythology, the cosmic egg (known as the Orphic Egg) hatched to give birth to the first deity Phanes, who created the other gods. The orphic egg is often shown with a serpent around it ‘suggesting the infinite or cyclic nature of existence. In Egyptian mythology, Ra, the god of the sun, is said to have emerged from the cosmic egg and begun his journey across the sky, bringing about light and life.
Overall, the cosmic egg symbolizes the idea of creation and renewal across various cultures and mythologies. It represents the cyclical nature of life and the eternal process of birth, growth, death, and rebirth.
2. Equilateral triangle
One of the most prominent symbols found within Vesica Piscis is the equilateral triangle, which is formed by connecting the point where the two circles intersect with the centers of the circles. The equilateral triangle is a powerful symbol in many cultures and is often associated with concepts such as unity, balance, and harmony.
3. Vesica Diamond
Another symbol that can be found within the Vesica Piscis is the rhombus or diamond shape. The rhombus (known as Vesica Diamond) is created by connecting all the four points where the circles overlap. The rhombus is often used as a symbol of balance, symmetry, fertility, purity, and protection.
The rhombus consists of two equilateral triangles, one facing upward and the other facing downward which represent the concept of Yin and Yang. Similarly, in some cultures, the four corners of the rhombus are associated with the four elements with the central dot representing Ether, God, or Source Energy.
The Rhombus with a central dot is known as Shaman’s Eye in Native American culture and is associated with spiritual healing.
4. Pagan Cross
The cross can be found within the Vesica Piscis by extending the lines of the intersection points between the two circles to create a central axis. The cross within the Vesica Piscis is believed to represent the union of heaven and earth, the spiritual and physical realms, and the balance between opposing forces. The cross is also a powerful symbol in Christianity, representing the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
5. Jesus Fish
The Jesus fish, also known as the Ichthys, is another important symbol in Christianity. The Jesus fish can be found within the Vesica Piscis when it is viewed horizontally by placing one circle on top of the other. The two circles create a shape that resembles a fish, with the center of the fish intersecting the central axis of the Vesica Piscis. The Jesus fish within the Vesica Piscis represents the divine nature of Christ and his union with the physical world.
6. Gothic Pointed Arch
Another important symbol found within the Vesica Piscis is the Pointed Arch. During the Gothic period, the pointed arch pattern was frequently used to design the entrances of cathedrals and represented the gateway to heaven. This design was not only symbolically important, but it also served a practical purpose as it was more capable of supporting weight.
7. Hexagon
The Vesica Piscis has within it the hexagon and within the hexagon, you can see the six-pointed star.
The hexagon is a powerful symbol in sacred geometry, representing balance and harmony. The hexagon is a six-sided polygon, with each side and angle being equal. This creates a shape that is both symmetrical and balanced, reflecting the idea of equilibrium and interconnectedness.
In addition, the hexagon also has significant connections to nature. It is seen in the honeycomb patterns of beehives, in the crystalline structures of many minerals, like quartz, snowflakes, Basalt Columns, and many more.
8. Hexagram or the Six-Pointed Star
As depicted in the image above, the Six-Pointed Star is found within the Vesica Piscis.
The Six-Pointed star consists of two equilateral triangles, one facing upward and the other facing downwards. The upward-facing triangle represents the divine masculine energy and the downward one represents the divine feminine. Their merging together symbolizes the act of creation. This is an ancient symbol found across various religions. For instance, in Judaism the Six-Pointed star is known as Star of David and in Hinduism, it is known as Shatkona.
What’s even more intriguing is that within each circle of the Vesica Piscis lies a Six-Pointed Star. As these stars converge at the center, they create another Six-Pointed star right within the Mandorla, as illustrated in the image below.
Here’s how it looks when viewed vertically.
The presence of 3 six-pointed stars within the Vesica Piscis emphasizes the message that it’s a powerful symbol of creation.
9. Cosmic Eye & the Third Eye Chakra
When viewed so that the lens is horizontal with overlapping circles placing one on top of the other, the Vesica Piscis symbolizes the All Seeing Eye of the divine. This symbol is often associated with the concept of enlightenment and the ability to see beyond the physical realm into the realm of the spiritual. The Cosmic Eye symbolizes the ultimate truth and knowledge that exists beyond the physical realm, and the insight and awareness that can be gained through spiritual practice.
It also represents the third eye (inner eye) or the pineal gland. In fact, the Pineal Gland is said to be ovoid in shape similar to the shape of an almond. The pineal gland is thought to be the seat of the soul and the gateway to higher states of consciousness.
Thus the Vesica Piscis can be seen as a powerful symbol of spiritual awakening and the opening of the third eye.
10. Triquetra
By adding one more circle to the Vesica Piscis you get the Triquetra also known as the Tripod of life. The Triquetra is an ancient symbol that denotes the power of 3 in creation.
In Christianity, it is used to symbolize the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. The Father is the creator, the Son, is the redeemer, and the Holy Ghost is the Sustainer. Similarly, in Hinduism, the Triquetra represents the three primary Gods associated with the process of creation – Brahma (Creator), Vishnu (Preserver), and Shiva (Destroyer). Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the preserver of that which is created and Shiva destroys the old so as to make way for the new. This in a way is consistent with the cyclic nature of life – Birth, Life, Death, and Rebirth. Triquetra is also associated with the Triple Goddess and is used as a symbol of protection and feminine energy.
The circle surrounding the Triquetra represents the infinite nature of God.
11. Seed of Life
When you add five additional circles to the Vesica Piscis, you get the Seed of Life.
The Seed of Life symbolizes creation, fertility, interconnectedness, and protection. It has a total of seven circles that represent the seven days of creation in the Judeo-Christian tradition. The Seed of Life is also seen as a fundamental building block for many other Sacred Geometry symbols like the Torus, the Lotus of Life, and the Flower of Life.
12. Lotus of Life, and the Torus
When you superimpose two Seeds of Life Patterns on top of each other and rotate the top pattern by 30 degrees you get the Lotus of Life (as depicted in the image above). This is a 12-sphere pattern that looks like a tube torus when seen in 3D. The Lotus of Life symbolizes purity, strength, and spiritual enlightenment.
In the same vein, if eight Seeds of Life are placed on top of each other and rotated slightly, they merge together to create the Torus energy field, as demonstrated in the video below.
The torus is a potent symbol that embodies numerous concepts such as completeness, unity, the cyclical nature of life, and boundlessness.
At its core, the torus is the fundamental shape of all magnetic fields. It is even thought that the electromagnetic field generated by the heart is similar to that of a torus. Additionally, both the energy field surrounding an atom and the aura field surrounding the human body exhibit toroidal properties. Some even propose that the Earth exists at the center of a toroidal electromagnetic field.
13. Flower of Life
When you add 12 additional circles to the Seed of Life, you get the Flower of Life symbol. This symbol is often considered to be the blueprint of the universe and represents the essence of all existence.
At its core, the Flower of Life symbolizes the interconnectedness of all things, balance, and harmony. It is believed to signify the infinite cycle of creation, continuously expanding outward as more circles are added.
The Flower of Life is also the source of many more symbols related to creation, including the Fruit of Life, Kabalah Tree of Life, Metatron’s Cube, and the Platonic Solids. Each of these symbols represents unique concepts related to creation and the universe.
14. Fruit of Life, Metatron’s Cube & Platonic Solids
When we expand the Flower of Life by adding 34 more circles, you find another pattern known as the Fruit of Life. The Fruit of Life is also seen as a symbol of fertility and abundance, representing the potential for growth, creation, and nourishment.
The Fruit of Life contains a total of 12 circles with one circle in the center. The circles represent feminine energy. When the centers of all the circles are connected with each other using straight lines, you get a pattern known as the Metatron’s Cube. The straight lines here represent masculine energy. Hence Metatron’s cube represents the union of masculine and feminine energies and therefore is a symbol of creation. Interestingly, Metatron’s cube houses within it all the 5 Platonic Solids. These include the Tetrahedron, Octahedron, Icosahedron, Hexahedron, and Dodecahedron.
The Platonic Solids are five special shapes that many cultures believe represent the five elements: fire, water, earth, air, and ether. These elements are the basic building blocks of everything in the universe. By combining them in different ways, all things in creation can be formed.
These shapes are also thought to be the basis for all physical forms in the world, including living things like plants and animals. They can be found in many places, such as snowflakes, minerals, and even DNA molecules. Interestingly, each element in the periodic table is linked to one of the Platonic Solids.
As you can see, the Platonic Solids hold important information about the very creation of the universe. This is why the symbol of Metatron’s Cube, which contains these shapes, is considered so powerful and significant.
Spiritual meaning of Vesica Piscis
Here are five significant meanings associated with the Vesica Piscis.
1. Creation, Creativity, & Fertility
The Vesica Piscis is the ultimate symbol of creation. Let’s see how.
To start with, there is a story behind the creation of this symbol which goes like this: It is believed that in the beginning there was only a dot (spirit), within which everything was contained. Then came the circle which is the representation of the spirit expanding its consciousness in all directions. Spirit then decides to replicate itself in order to understand itself, forming another circle, and thus the Vesica Piscis was formed
The two overlapping circles of the Vesica Piscis are said to represent the intersection of the Spiritual and Physical realms and the Almond Shaped lens formed by their union symbolizes the cosmic womb from where creation begins.
The two circles also represent the world of duality or the union of opposing polarities which is the fundamental aspect of creation. The balance between opposing forces is at the very core of existence, such as the balance between masculine and feminine, light and dark, hot and cold, heaven and earth, and so on and so forth.
In addition, as we saw earlier, when we visualize the Vesica Piscis in 3 dimensions it resembles the cosmic egg which again is an ancient symbol of creation found across various cultures.
Also, the Vesica Piscis is considered the first or mother symbol of sacred geometry that births all other symbols. It contains within many other symbols of creation including the Cross, Six Pointed Star, Triquetra, Seed of Life, Lotus of Life, Torus, Flower of Life, Fruit of Life, and the Metatron’s cube.
Also scientifically speaking, the shape of the Vesica Piscis closely resembles the shape of the first embryonic division that happens after fertilization (as shown in the image below). This then divides further to form a complete human being.
All of these factors make the Vesica Piscis a potent symbol of creation, creativity, and fertility.
2. Oneness within Duality
The Vesica Piscis is a symbol that represents both oneness and duality. The symbol is created by the overlapping of two circles, which can be seen as representing opposing forces or energies. The overlap creates a shape that is neither completely one circle nor the other, but rather a merging of the two. This merging of the two circles symbolizes the coming together of opposing forces to create something new, representing duality.
At the same time, the Vesica Piscis symbolizes oneness, as the overlapping area represents the underlying unity that exists between these opposing forces. The Vesica Piscis can be seen as a metaphor for the interconnectedness of all things, highlighting the idea that seemingly opposing forces or energies are actually part of a larger whole. This recognition of oneness within duality is a key concept in many spiritual and philosophical traditions.
3. Illumination, Enlightenment & the Ultimate Truth
As per Christianity, in the beginning, God created light. This is important because scientifically speaking, light is nothing but photos or charged electromagnetic (electric + magnetic) particles (as shown in the image below). And everything in this universe is made up of these electromagnetic particles. So it won’t be wrong to say that everything is made up of light. Also, light particles vibrate at a particular frequency which creates a sound. So the sound is a byproduct of light.
The Vesica Piscis in the form of the Cosmic Eye (as seen earlier) symbolizes this light of creation. This is because the eye is always synonymous with light or illumination. Also, the cross symbol found within the Vesica Piscis is a representation of light. This is because light is an electromagnetic wave as shown in the image above and it has both longitudinal (vertical) and transverse (horizontal) components. The longitudinal component of the wave is the electric field and the transverse wave is the magnetic field. Both of these components are represented by the cross that has a vertical and horizontal arm.
In addition, as seen earlier, the Cosmic Eye also symbolizes the ultimate truth that exists beyond the physical realm. It also represents the Third Eye Chakra which is associated with intuition, spiritual insight, and enlightenment.
Thus the Vesica Piscis symbolizes light, illumination, enlightenment, and the ultimate truth of the universe.
4. Simplicity
The Vesica Piscis is a simple pattern that consists of two overlapping circles. Yet, the secrets it contains within are profound.
The simplicity of the Vesica Piscis is a reminder that profound truths can often be found in the most basic and fundamental aspects of our existence. In this way, the Vesica Piscis reminds us of the importance of simplicity in our lives. By stripping away unnecessary complexities, we can focus on what is truly important and meaningful, and find greater clarity and understanding in our experiences.
5. Balance & Interconnectedness
The Vesica Piscis is also a symbol of balance and harmony, representing the idea that opposing forces can come together in a way that creates a harmonious and balanced whole.
One of the key features of the Vesica Piscis is its symmetry. The two circles that form the shape are perfectly equal, and the lens shape that results from their intersection is also symmetrical. This symmetry is a reminder of the importance of balance in our lives.
Furthermore, the Vesica Piscis represents the interconnection of opposing forces. The overlapping circles represent opposing forces such as light and dark, masculine and feminine, or heaven and earth. The lens shape that results from their intersection represents the balance and harmony that can be achieved when these opposing forces are brought into alignment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Vesica Piscis is a deceptively simple symbol that contains profound knowledge and meaning. It is a potent symbol of creation, unity, simplicity, balance, spiritual enlightenment, illumination, and interconnectedness.
The Vesica Piscis symbol invites us to explore the mysteries of creation and the interconnectedness of all things. It reminds us of the importance of balance and simplicity in our lives and offers us a path toward spiritual enlightenment and illumination.
If the Vesica Piscis symbol resonates with you, consider incorporating it into your life as a way to connect with its powerful energy. Whether you use it in your meditation practice or wear it as a piece of jewelry, this symbol can serve as a reminder of the profound knowledge and meaning it contains.
