The Hen’s Leg, or Akoko Nan, is an Adinkra symbol of protection commonly used in African cultures, particularly those in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Hen’s Leg Image by Pablo Busatto, CC BY-SA 4.0 This ritual was believed to bless and protect communities against hostile spirits. For this reason, hammers were used to beat drums in ceremonies to simulate thunder. Thor is also associated with lightning and thunder. The symbol was often used as a token during ceremonies to bless significant milestones such as marriages, births, and funerals. Thor’s hammer is also known as the Mjolnir and is used as a symbol for blessings and protection. In Norse Mythology, Thor was the God and guardian of Asgard and his hammer was his primary weapon. They were commonly embossed onto the shields of soldiers, carved into the doorways of important buildings and homes and used to adorn tombstones to protect the spirits of the dead. It’s a stylistic weave that has no beginning or end and the unbroken design is believed to bear the power to ward off negative energy.Ĭeltic Shield Knots come in several variations and date back thousands of years. The Celtic Shield Knot is a symbol of protection commonly used in jewelry, décor and as a motif in Celtic design. The pentacle was also traditionally placed over the doorway to protect pagan homes from evil spirits. When worn, the pentacle can symbolize protection for a traveler and a connection to the elements. This is why the symbol is used in rituals to protect against evil spirits. It is depicted as a five-pointed star in a circle.Įach point of the star corresponds to one of the core natural elements – earth, fire, air, water, and spirit, while the encompassing circle represents a protective womb. The Pentacle, or Pentagram, is a protective symbol in pagan and Wiccan beliefs. Pentacle A pentagram symbolizes protection. They can be found everywhere in Turkey, where the symbol is believed to have originated thousands of years ago. The Nazar is popular in the form of an amulet or bead that is usually blue and white and is used in jewelry and home décor. It thwarts the evil eye from impacting you. It can be cast under the guise of a compliment, which is why many use a symbol, such as the Nazar, for protection. The evil eye is the name given to the destructive energy given off by a spiteful or jealous gaze which is believed to have the power to cause a recipient to fall ill or face misfortune. It’s an apt name for the eye-shaped blue and white amulet that is used to protect against the evil eye. The Arabic word Nazar translates to sight, surveillance, and attention, while the word Boncugu means bead in Turkish. In Christian folklore, the mistletoe is also symbolic of protection, as well as peace and friendship. The Celtic Druids were one of the first cultural groups to ascribe meaning to the plant and used it to cure illness, as an antidote to poison, to bring fertility and to protect against witchcraft. Mistletoe is the common name given to a parasitic shrub commonly found throughout Europe and North America. But the plant is also symbolic of protection. Mistletoe is commonly associated with the Christmas tradition of a kiss when two people stand underneath a sprig. This connection is believed to produce potent protective energy. The Hamsa Hand is also a powerful symbol in Buddhist and Hindu spirituality as each of the five fingers connects to an element of the chakra.įrom the thumb, each finger connects to fire (solar plexus chakra), air (heart chakra), ethereal (throat chakra), earth (root chakra), and water (sacral chakra). For example, placing a Hamsa Hand in the room of an expectant mother is said to protect the new family from evil spirits. It’s commonly placed above doorways, in homes, or worn as jewelry. The Hamsa Hand is used in many cultures as a symbol of protection and is believed to protect the home or wearer from the negative energy of the evil eye. The word Hamsa translates to five in Hebrew, and the symbol is depicted by an open right hand, often with an eye in the center. Hamsa Hand A Hamsa hand represents protection. This is commonly used as a symbol to bestow protection on a family. The arrows in this symbol represent closeness and protection enclosed by a circle that represents family. Sometimes two arrows are depicted pointing towards each other in a circle. An arrow pointing towards the right can symbolize protection and an arrow pointing to the left is used to ward off evil. In general, arrows are used as symbols to depict weapons in illustrated storytelling but are also used to represent protection and defence. However, it’s important to note that the specific meaning of the arrow can differ from tribe to tribe. Arrows are a commonly used symbol in many Indigenous American cultures.
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