Writing my way through the A-to-Z blogging challenge, I’ve tasked myself with creating a manifesto reflecting wonders, curiosities, and delights currently captivating me – all through the lens of unusual, obscure, or simply charming-to-me words.
L is for…
lemniscate – infinity symbol
I have been deeply immersed in the study of sacred geometry and symbolic language, and the lemniscate is of profound interest to me. Not particularly for its mathematical significance but for its rich spiritual symbolism.
For me it represents energies flowing back and forth, with the center intersection the point of integration of both.
With the loops reflecting the balance of opposites, endless things can be considered with this model. Masculine and feminine energy; matter and anti-matter; light and dark; involution and evolution; the past and future merged into the now moment.
For many cultures it is a sacred healing symbol representing equality, balance, and rhythm – the inherent rhythm of nature.
The convergent point is the connection, pulling things into wholeness and completion. If we expand our awareness and understanding we can view this as multidimensional – that the center point is the interlocking point, the merge point, the anchor point, the zero point.
I began my work with the lemniscate first as a way to explore the idea of reciprocity.
On the surface, the rather mundane definition of reciprocity certainly has to do with giving and receiving. Using the lemniscate to demonstrate this, you can think of one of the loops in this symbol as the energy of giving – expanding outward, and the other loop as bringing back in – receiving. But what I’ve come to understand as really important is the centered balance point between the loops. Once I saw this it all fell into place for me. Reciprocity really allows the knowing that what is inside you is what is outside you – the whole “as above so below” thing. Striving for the balance point is important because if you move too far off center (in giving or receiving) the loops get unbalanced, just as our lives do when we’re giving too much or taking too much.
But the absolute beauty, and the challenge perhaps, is that life isn’t a strictly equivalent transactional kind of affair. If you give me three beautiful apples, I don’t have to give you, and only you, 3 apples back. We as humans, particularly in this society, seem incredibly stuck in the idea of transactional exchanges, particularly in our relationships. I give you this, you owe me that. Energy exchange can be complex and exquisitely multi-layered, but ultimately the goal is to be in balance.
Breathing is another splendid “living” example of the lemniscate. Thousands of times a day there is the profound reminder. Inhalation – exhalation – the moment between. Breathing in and receiving; briefly holding that breath and having; and then releasing and giving. For me that’s exactly what reciprocity is about: receiving-having-giving.
The lemniscate has taught me many things, including
- What you put out comes back to you, in energetic terms, not necessarily physical
- As you touch something, you are touched – that middle point of the lemniscate; the integration/merge point
- Each of us has an inherent responsibility to share, to collaborate, to give and receive
- There is nothing except ALL-that-is — which expresses in the outbreath and the inbreath
Being mindful of the state of flow in my life is important to me, and I quite like what Rainer Maria Rilke said:
“May what I do flow from me like a river, no forcing and no holding back, the way it is with children.”
If you physically make the motion of a lemniscate, either by drawing it or simply tracing it in air, it doesn’t take long to really get that sense of the infinite. Endless flow. There’s something so simple and yet so utterly complex about it that I find it delightfully reassuring. It also makes me smile to know that lemniscate literally means “adorned with ribbons.” Just imagining that helps bring everything back into a sense of innocence and purity for me.
I value the lemniscate as a reminder that everything is naturally in a state of endless flow, seeking integration and wholeness and from that a new level of expansion.
What about you? Is there a symbol or archetype that you return to again and again for reminders? Are there practices you engage in to create and nourish balance? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
Thanks for a reframing of this symbol. I value and support all the concepts behind it, but hadn’t associated it with the infinity. Lovely image of the two hands.
Beth
https://bethlapinsatozblog.wordpress.com/
Sometimes it can be not only interesting, but really helpful to see things through another’s eyes. I love being immersed in that big time during A-to-Z.
I know of the infinity symbol, but have never seen the hands making it before. I sometimes use mudras, as I learned them in a yoga class, as a way of calming myself down in stressful situations. Knowing that my hands are quietly engaged in a symbol that has profound meaning helps me remain balanced in emotionally difficult times.
I find mudras particularly helpful as well Ally. To hold them even just for the course of a few deep breaths can be extremely powerful.
I love the idea of non-reciprocal giving because it’s important not to feel owed and to give for the intrinsic benefits.
I am fascinated by the idea that we might all be able to live differently, and particularly evolve our relationships, if we stopped holding so tightly to the idea that everything must be transactional.
There’s always a balance to be sought though, because a misaligned sense of giving can turn into a sense of martyrdom, and that’s certainly not a good or useful thing.
Hari OM
it is a most wonderful symbol of eternal unity for sure! Your exploration of it is delightful. In terms of a symbol of focus and contemplation for myself, it is (no surprises!) the OM. YAM xx
Indeed no surprise Yamini, but certainly a powerful, expansive, and inspiring choice.
I spent the last several minutes trying to make the symbol with my own hands Deborah and in desperation I asked my husband to help me – he tried to work my fingers this way and that but no go – only after a while did we realise that 2 different people use their hands – talk about a lesson! I love the infinity symbol and often doodle them … my older son has a large painting of this that he did ..
I love this post – thank you so much!
LOL – it is a lovely little “oh-yes!” kind of reminder isn’t it?!
yep – a thumbs up!
I’m going to try to convince my husband to make that our new secret handshake! I know the infinity symbol but never knew the name of it.
I firmly believe in what goes around comes around. Thanks Deborah.
LOL – now you’re inspiring me to create my own secret handshake – how fun!
Lovely post, Deborah. I have always liked the infinity symbol but did not know it had a name other than “infinity symbol.”
Emily In Ecuador | Lights Reflecting Off the Ocean, Puerto Lopez, Ecuador
Thanks Emily.
Excellent post about a fascinating word. I’ve known the infinity symbol, but had never come across the word lemniscate. A lot of thought went into this wonderful post. I loved the thoughts of the recirculating energies. Now I need to catch up and see what other nuggets of wisdom you’ve shared with us over the past few days!
Thanks for stopping by Trisha, and for your kind words.
I very much needed to read this today. Thank you. Good reminders.
And then, not to be irreverent, but I want to share my favorite brainiac joke from Big Bang Theory:
Why did the chicken cross the Mobius strip?
To get to the same side.
LOL – perfect!
Thank you for this gem (another one) Deborah.
LOVE this :“May what I do flow from me like a river, no forcing and no holding back, the way it is with children.” Such a powerful motto to live by.
I spent a good few minutes trying to make that symbol with my hands and then just drew it in air and continued reading.
Then, I read Susan’s comment. Ha! HA!
Life lessons are everywhere:) Thank you. xx
N is for No to News
LOL – life lessons everywhere indeed Arti! Wishing you a day of joyful flow.
I don’t have a symbol as such that I go back to but I often see a pair of eyes in my mediation. Sometimes, they look like Ganesh’s tiny eyes and sometimes they’re fierce like Kali’s and then there are times when they belong to ET. So, I don’t know what to make of it, but they settle me, silence me and calm me:)
Oh I find that wonderful Arti!
delighted to have come across your blog. I too love this symbol. I use it in visualisation with clients to balance both brain hemispheres. Energy medicine draws figures of 8 in the energy filed to restore and balance- there’s that symbol again. I run a writing group and last time I included ”rutilate’ as an optional word prompt, telling them its meaning, and afterwards we discussed what the word might mean if we had not been given the meaning. I said I would look for ‘new’ words for next time, not give them its meaning, and let them write a riff around it. I will take lemniscate…they might already know it of course..but if thats the case they can play with their joy in words
That’s a beautiful use of the lemniscate Zannie. I like running it on both the horizontal and vertical axis. There is infinite potential there – pun intended. 🙂
Your writing group sounds fun. Rutilate is a wonderful prompt, but I also like your idea of offering a word with definition and seeing what magic comes forward.
lemniscate – infinity symbol and your interpretations of it are really enlightening. I especially liked the concept of flow.
I’m an artist and any for art is a meditative experience for me. Apart from that, nature nourishes me. If noting, just looking at fish in pond, the leaves flying in the wind – its so soothing.
Never used symbols much in my art … I like paisley a lot.
Do check out my #BlogchatterA2Z submission for letter L:
https://lonelycanopyblog.wordpress.com/2018/04/12/legend-of-bhangarh-fort/
Thank you for stopping by Seema, and I look forward to heading over to visit your blog as well.
I think artists have a very special way of looking at the world – allowing it to inspire them in ways many others don’t. But then through the artist’s work, those viewing it perhaps can expand their own appreciation. There’s a lovely flow to it all I think.
I didn’t know either the meaning of this symbol…how is this different from a circle, Deborah? Thinking of infinity…
Circles are lovely symbols as well Patty, and can certainly symbolize infinity; wholeness; the progression of a cycle in a smooth and predictable manner.
For me, in the lemniscate the central point is key, as point of origination, point of integration, and as a reminder that balance is always required. If you trace the movement of the loops of the infinity symbol, one way you move in clockwise direction and the other counter-clockwise, and that feels like an important reminder to me that we’re bringing counterpoints into balance in the center – finding wholeness.
Never thought of it that way and I just love this explanation. Bringing counterpoints into balance. Beautiful thought.
Thank you, Deborah for enlightening me again.
XxX
You are a master at knowing donversation often deepens and expands our understanding Patty, and I thank you.
Preparing steps for a new adventure, these words really lift my spirit and give me even more confidence to follow through. I really don’t mean to ‘over-do’ it, but I am re-visiting your blog and stumbled on this comment. I just have to thank you again, for your this kind affirmation.