Have you ever stopped to tally them? The multitude of logos and symbols you encounter in just one day. Studies reveal that individuals are exposed to anywhere from three hundred fifty to fifteen hundred different symbols daily. Remarkably, a staggering 95% of these pass by unnoticed, barely making a dent in your awareness. But what if these designs are more than just corporate insignia? What if they are conduits for timeless wisdom, subtly imparted to us every day?
Symbols wield immense power in communication. As a graphic designer, symbols are my daily playground. To me, a symbol isn’t merely a graphic element like a logo; it can be a seasonal festivity, an article of clothing, a ritual, a mythological figure, or a character from folklore. Together, these form a rich symbolic language with origins often shrouded in mystery to the uninitiated. However, despite the varied mental associations different people may have, symbols can ultimately be traced back to the same source. These symbols find their roots in the shapes, attributes, and processes observed by humanity in the natural world since time immemorial. A symbol inevitably references one or more of the following characteristics:
- Nature’s orientation (male/female);
- (Sexual) design of nature;
- (Period or action of) impregnation;
- Birth (rising);
- Growth and (full) glory (strength);
- Death (fall);
- Rebirth (resurrection).
These attributes extend beyond the external world (the macrocosm – As Above) to our own bodies (the microcosm – So Below), operating on physical, psychological, or spiritual levels. Let’s now delve into some symbols from this perspective.
Symbolism of energy
Since antiquity, the fusion of red (fire, “masculine”) and blue (water, “feminine”) has symbolized energy. Our world operates within an electromagnetic spectrum, hence the red and blue coding of electrical wiring. In the realm of sexual reproduction, the merging of masculine and feminine polarities is indispensable for energy generation. Let’s set aside the psychological interpretation of balancing intellect (masculine) and emotions (feminine), and instead consider energy in the context of fuel. Observe the logos when refueling your vehicle or replenishing engine oil. Brands such as Esso, Mobil, Tamoil, Chevron, Elf, Valvoline, and Gulf utilize shades of red and blue to signify the energetic qualities of their fuels.
Twix and Bros/Aero
Your body also requires energy, which is provided by food and drink. At first glance, iconic logos may seem simplistic, but their simplicity belies deeper meanings. Consider these two heavenly energy bars.
Twix, which appears to be named after the twins from the Gemini constellation, embodies the union of two. The astrological glyph of Gemini comprises two parallel, connected vertical dashes – a symbol of duality. Interestingly, the original name, Raider, harkens to the “hunter” Orion preceding the Gemini constellation in the yearly cycle.
Similarly, the Dutch chocolate bar Bros references the two bros (brothers) Castor and Pollux from the Gemini constellation. In the United Kingdom, the brand name of this candy bar is Aero. This name does not just refer to the air bubbles that characterize this bar. Each constellation in astrology has attributes of either the classical element Fire, Earth, Air, or Water. It won’t surprise you to learn that Gemini is an Air sign.
McDonald’s
For those seeking additional calories, a trip to McDonald’s suffices. This fast food chain goes to great lengths to embed itself in your mind from a young age.
Let’s start with the name. “Mc” is an abbreviation of the Gallic “Mac,” which means “son.” “Son” sounds like “Sun.” “Don” means “world,” “mountain,” or “head” in various languages. Finally, the Old English “ald” comes from “weald” and means “power.” So, the name McDonald’s roughly translates to “Son, power of the head.”
We need to look at the logo to understand what they’re getting at. The Golden Arches didn’t just descend from the heavens – or probably they did. The first sign of the zodiac is Aries, the Ram, symbolizing initiation (Springtime), leadership, or being at the forefront, hence the “head.” McDonald’s logo designers subtly extended the astrological glyph for Aries to etch this M symbol in your mind.
This is fascinating because the Golden Arches are present in everyone’s head from birth. It relates to Ammon’s horn, as the light-yellow arches of the fornix connected to the hippocampus are esoterically named. According to secret doctrines, the hippocampus is a crucial part of the human brain involved in reaching higher consciousness and experiencing paranormal phenomena. Ammon’s horn also plays a vital role in transferring memories from your working memory to a specific part of your long-term memory. (By the way, this is why your computer has a working memory called RAM. The words “Random Access Memory” are consciously chosen for this purpose.) Thus, McDonald’s uses its brand name and the Ram glyph to remind you of the “Big Mac,” the inner light (son/sun) within you!
Safari
Whether you’re reading this article in print or digital form, chances are you’re using the Safari web browser. Originating from Swahili and Arabic, the term “safari” surprisingly denotes a “long journey” – akin to your exploration of the Internet. The sun is the greatest explorer we know. Just look at the word “discover:” The sun shines like a bright “disc over” the earth’s surface, traveling daily to awaken our world to life.
The red compass needle in the Safari logo points northeast – where the midsummer sun rises. This needle, represented by an upward-pointing triangle, symbolizes Fire in alchemy, resonating with the sun. It also aligns with the Leo constellation, associated with fiery attributes and aptly representing the lion – the king of the African safari. Let’s add the Lion to our list of energy bars here.
Would you like to discover more?
Author Rognvaldr shares his fervor, expertise, and insights in “The Dance of the King.” This exceptional book explores the origins and significance of familiar logos, symbols, and visual representations across history, media, advertising, art, culture, language, religion, science, sports, and architecture.
Find out more at thedanceoftheking.com
