In today’s post, we will be looking into the symbols of harmony and balance across cultures around the world. Without further ado, here is the list of symbols representing unity, harmony and balance.
Ouroboros, Also Known As the Symbol of Infinity, the Ancient Symbol of Harmony and Interconnectedness
The ouroboros is an ancient symbol of a serpent or dragon eating its own tail, representing the cyclical nature of the universe as well as the interconnectedness of everything within it.
Also known as the symbol of infinity, the ouroboros was used as a symbol in ancient Egypt, Greece, Assyria and other cultures. The earliest example of the symbol was found in alchemical documents from the Middle Age, namely, the Chrysopoeia of Cleopatra.
There is harmony, balance and order between the forces in the universe. Everything returns to the universe in the end and nothing is truly dead and/or lost as the snake eating its own tail shows us.
Dharma Chakra, the Eight-spoked Wheel As a Harmony Symbol
The dharma chakra is a symbol of the natural order of the universe. It has been used in Hinduism and Buddhism for centuries as a representation of harmony.
The dharma chakra wheel is composed of eight spokes, each representing one of the eight “limbs” or steps on the Noble Eightfold Path known as Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha, Padha (Prati), Dnyana (Pati), Vyavahara (Vapi) and Aparigraha (Apti).
The symbolism behind the dharma chakra is similar to the ouroboros; the wheel turning no matter what represents the cyclical nature of the universe.
Everything has come from nature and whatever happens, everything will return to nature and the order of the universe will not be broken.
The Tree of Life, A Mythological Symbol of Interconnectedness and Unity
Another perfect symbol of harmony and unity is the Tree of Life. Being a popular symbol in several mythologies, the Tree of Life represents interconnectedness and the natural order of everything in the uıniverse.
While In Norse mythology it is portrayed as a tree that connects the nine realms in other mythologies it is also interpreted as a way to reach Heaven in some other faiths.
It can also be seen as a symbol of the life cycle and how all living beings are connected to one another through birth and death.
Yin-yang, One of the Most Prominent Symbols of Harmony
The yin-yang is an ancient Chinese symbol representing the balance of opposing forces., the yin and the yang which are always in a state of change and motion.
The yin is seen as dark, passive, feminine, and negative while the yang is seen as light, active, masculine, and positive. These two parts of the symbol can also be interpreted to represent the different aspects of life.
The balance between the two opposite forces gives rise to harmony within oneself as well as with others around you. This is why this powerful ancient symbol is considered one of the most prominent symbols of harmony and balance.
Endless Knot, An Ancient Eastern Unity Symbol
The endless knot is a symbol of balance, harmony and interconnectedness which has been commonly used in Buddhist and Hindu teachings since ancient times.
The knot that does not have a beginning and an end is the perfect symbol of how everything in this universe is connected whether you can realize the connection at first sight or not.
Circle, the Perfect Shape of Harmony
The circle is the perfect shape to symbolize unity and harmony as it has no beginning or end.
It is the only shape that is a closed curve, meaning that its boundary is an unbroken line.
Circles are also found in nature, in everything from atoms to planets orbiting around the sun making them perfect representations of unity and equality.
Koi Fish, a Perfect Symbol of the Harmony of the Opposites
The last item on our list of symbols of harmony is the koi fish. Sometimes used together with a yin-yang or even superimposed on it, the two koi fish in perfect symmetry is a popular harmony symbol, especially in Eastern cultures.
The two koi fish drawn as if they are chasing each other’s tails is a very common symbol that is believed to represent the harmony of the opposites like dark and light, life and death and feminine and masculine energies, much like the yin-yang.
This wraps up our post on symbols of harmony across cultures, if you enjoyed reading it you should definitely check out our pieces on the symbols of prosperity and wealth here and peace colors here. See you in the next post.
