I always use some kind of geometric harmony as the backbone of my logo designs and this was no exception. However, I found that many sacred geometries are interconnected which dovetailed into the concept behind my client's Reiki healing practice.
My client, a spiritual healer and energy worker, came to me needed a logo for her business, Cosmic Shanti. She was clear that she wanted the following:
- An Eye: Symbolizing divine insight, spiritual awareness and perception beyond the physical realm
- A Lotus Blossom: Symbolizing Buddhist and Hindu enlightenment and rebirth
- Spiritual Fire: Symbolizing transformation, purification and the divine
This kind of prescription can easily lead to disaster but all these things were important to her so I set out to bring the symbolism and meaning to life. Since spiritual meaning was clearly important to her, I researched the spiritual meanings behind a plethora of sacred geometries and settled on the following:
The Seed of Life is created from a series of interconnected circles – each of the same size, whose center sits equidistant around the parent's circumfrence.
- Creation and Potential: The Seed of Life is a visual representation of the creative potential within all things, like a seed holding the blueprint for a tree.
- Unity and Interconnectedness: The overlapping circles emphasize the interconnectedness of all life and the universe, suggesting that everything is part of a larger, unified whole.
- Spiritual Growth and Harmony: The symbol is used in meditation and spiritual practices to connect with universal consciousness and promote harmony and balance.
- Blessing and Protection: Historically, the Seed of Life has been used as a symbol of blessing and protection, believed to ward off negativity and promote well-being.
The Tree of Life in Kabbalah grows from the Seed of Life and symbolizes the structure of creation, the divine emanations and the human soul..
It is a diagram of 10 interconnected spheres which map the soul's journey from the material world to the divine. It represents an understanding the universe, consciousness and the journey of spiritual elevation.
- Interconnectedness: The Tree of Life emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things, showing how everything emanates from the divine and is ultimately unified
- Spiritual Growth: It serves as a map for spiritual development, guiding individuals on a path of self-discovery and union with the divine.
- Divine Emanation: The Tree illustrates how divine energy flows into the manifest world, shaping creation and human consciousness.
- Human Psyche: Kabbalists also view the Tree as a representation of the human psyche, with the Sephirot corresponding to different aspects of the soul.
- Pathways to God: The paths on the Tree can be understood as avenues for spiritual ascent, leading individuals towards greater connection with the divine.
Perhaps the most well-known of the sacred geometries, the Golden Spiral symbolizes growth, evolution and the interconnectedness of all things.
It embodies a journey from the outer ego towardss inner aawareness and enlightenment, reflecting a process of spiritual ascencion and transformation.
Related to the Golden Spiral, the Golden Triangle often represents a framework for transformation, emphasizing the interconnectedness of various aspects of life.
In Hinduism, triangles are symbolic of divine energy, balance, and the interplay of different forces. Additionally, a specific "Golden Triangle" in Indian spirituality links Ayodhya, Prayag, and Kashi, representing a journey from birth to liberation.
Layering these sacred geometries on top of each other I was struck with how seamlessly the interconnect, hinting towards a unifying theory of spirituality.
From here, anchor points became obvious for building shapes around. I create an additional framework of points and circles to help give shape to the fledgling logo.
I used these guides to construct the first of three elements mandated in the design: The Cosmic Eye.
I leaned into the Golden Spiral to create the petals of the Lotus Blossom, and used the spiral again to dictate it's structure.
Using the verticality of the Golden Triangle, I constructed the sacred flames within its boundaries.
The flames originate from the third eye, a point coincidentally mapped by the Tree of Life's "Beauty" (Tiferet) point which has become associated with spirituality, balance, miracles and compassion; the perfect summation of a spiritual healer in her prime.
As a bonus I also designed custom Chakra symbols for her business
Layering all these elements together became simple thanks to the rigorous structure developed underneath it.
Layering on top of the Root Chakra, I organized the elements according the sacred numerology the underscored her personal journey opening up a new business... a blessing if you will.
- One Eye: One symbolizes new beginnings, leadership, independence, and individuality
- Five Petals: Five symbolizes freedom, adventure and change
- Four Flames: Four symbolizes stability, practicality and hard work.
Ultimately, for a client that wanted a lot going on in her logo, I felt that the only saving grace was a rigid underlying structure of both geometry and meaning.