Square Symbol

Native Indian Tribe

The Square Symbol - Meaning of Security and Permanence


The Square symbol visually represents an enclosed space. It symbolizes a safe place, permanence and security.
 

   

Meaning of the Square Symbol
Native American Indians were a deeply spiritual people and they communicated their history, thoughts, ideas and dreams from generation to generation through Symbols and Signs such as the Square symbol. Native American symbols are geometric portrayals, celestial bodies, natural phenomena and animal designs. The square is used as a basis for many symbols, patterns and designs. The simple shape of the square sign was easy to depict on any raw materials such as rock, stone, wood, shell and animal hides.

The Square Symbol - Meaning of the Magic Four
The meaning of the Square symbol has many similarities to the meaning of the Circle Symbol and the Meaning of Cross in a Circle symbol which symbolize the sacred and spiritual, including the "sacred" earth. The reason for this is simple - a square is much easier to draw than the curved lines of the circle. Like the quartered circle which is the basis of the Native American Medicine Wheel, the square symbol has a four-sided structure.

Solar Cross Symbol

 

The four-sided symbols point to the four compass directions of north, east, south and west, the four sections can indicate the four great primary forces, or the Sacred Four, emanating from the Creator and representing the individual elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth. There are other magical symbols and signs which can be connected to four-sided symbols such as the four seasons of winter, spring, summer and fall, the four ages of man that symbolize birth, growth, maturity and death. The use of the four sided square symbol is sometimes extended to include the four cosmic elements of the sun, moon, planets and stars.

The Square Symbol
The Iroquois Confederacy Wampum belt contains a square symbol for each of the original five tribes in their geographic order. The first square symbol represents Seneca tribe (Keepers of the Western Door), the centre arrowhead symbol represents the Onondaga tribe, the next symbol the  Oneida tribe and the end square symbol the Mohawk tribe (keepers of the eastern door). Each of the square symbols is linked by a line running between them which symbolised peace in the Confederacy.

Picture of the Hiawatha Wampum Belt of the Iroquois Confederacy

The Square Symbol - Meaning
The meaning of the Square symbol was used in conjunction with the enclosure sign to signify that an area had been set aside for a special event - a ceremonial dance or ritual. Native American Indians recorded their historic events through storytelling and symbolic drawings.

Native Indian Symbol
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Updated 2018-01-01

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