The spiral is a key figure in ancient art and myth.The spiral can be found at the heart of many of the worlds religions.The people who founded these religions are the ancestors of the people who etched petroglyphs in the rocks.
Buddhism
Three Universal Truths as Taught by Buddha
Everything in life is impermanent and always changing.
Because nothing is permanent, a life based on possessing things or persons doesn’t make you happy.
There is no eternal, unchanging soul and “self” is just a collection of changing characteristics or attributes.
Christianity
Church spires have two symbolic functions. The spire reaches up toward the skies. It summons the congregation to church, and sends their prayers up to God.
The church spire also represents a large spear and is meant to give the impression of military strength.
Hinduism
The world rests as the lotus in the palm of my hand, the cosmos revolves around my
finger like a discus. my conch and wield my mace to protect all creatures.
Vishnu, in the
Krishna Upanishad
Islam
The Great Mosque of Samarra
(Iraq, built in the 9th century.)
The Great Mosque of Samarra was at one time the largest mosque in the world.
The immense brick minaret of Samarra’s Great Mosque is called the Malwiya, which in Arabic means snail-shell.
Pilgrims can ascended the tower by the spiral ramp that leads to the top of the minaret.
One of the directives of the Koran to Islamic scholars is that they should study nature in order to glorify god.
Jalaluddin Rumi:
13th century Persian poet, Islamic jurist, and theologian.
Excerpts from Rumi’s Poetry about spiralling:
As waves upon my head
So in the sacred dance weave ye and whirl.
Dance then, O heart,
a whirling circle be.
Burn in this flame -
is not the candle He?
We came whirling
out of nothingness
scattering stars like dust.
The stars made a circle
and in the middle
we dance.
-Rumi
