Magicians and Alchemists used the heart symbols for incantations pertaining to matters related to love and romance. They were also used in rituals with a goal to strengthen relationships.
The heart has long been recognized across cultures as being a symbol for love, charity, joy and compassion. In mythology, spirituality and religion the heart has historically been ascribed much mystical significance, either as metaphor or as an organ genuinely believed to have spiritual or divine attributes.
In early science and philosophy many classical and medieval philosophers and scientists, including Aristotle, considered the heart the seat of thought, reason or emotion, often rejecting the value of the brain.
The Roman physician Galen located the seat of the passions in the liver, the seat of reason in the brain, and considered the heart to be the seat of the emotions. While Galen’s identification of the heart with emotion were proposed as a part of his theory of the circulatory system, the heart has continued to be used as a symbolic source of human emotions even after the rejection of such beliefs.
In European traditional art and folklore, the heart symbol is drawn in a stylized shape. This shape is typically colored red, suggesting both blood and, in many cultures, passion and strong emotion.
Often the simplest symbols are the ones with the richest meanings. The infinity sign, the figure of eight, and the mathematical lemniscate all refer to the same shape that contains a wealth of complex meaning within its fluid lines. This mysterious symbol is found on an everyday object, the camera, where it appears as the infinity lens focus.
As a mathematical device, the infinity sign was first “discovered” in 1655 by John Wallis, but its significance as a religious symbol is much older. The infinity sign has its origins in the Arabic numerals that actually came from India in the first place. The sign can be drawn in one continuous movement, making a seesaw movement of clockwise and counterclockwise loops. These loops reflect the balance of opposites; male and female,day and night,dark and light.
Because the circles of the lemniscate sit side by side, the sign implies equality between these opposing forces, with the connecting point in the center the convergent point. The sign epitomizes the idea of sexual union and of “two becoming one.” The infinity sign stands for wholeness and completion.
The lemniscate appears in the elaborate curlicues in Arabic calligraphic renderings of the Name of God; the elegant loops providing a decorative device as well as pointing toward the idea of eternity.
The symbol appears in the Tarot, as part of the Magician card. In the Pamela Colman/Rider Waite version, the magician has the lemniscate floating boldly above his head; in other decks, the brim of his hat conceals the shape.
Declare your love with this beautiful handmade heart! It’s made of sterling silver 925.
The measurements are as follows:
1.8cm long (0.7 inches)
1.4cm wide (0.6 inches)
The pendant will be sent with an adjustable black cotton strap but it also looks great with a silver chain.
If you have any questions feel free to ask!
Happy buying 🙂