The Spiritual Meanings and Symbolism Behind the Flower of Life

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Uncover the Flower of Life’s ancient history & mystical benefits

Co-authored by Devin McSween Reviewed by Stina Garbis

Last Updated: July 7, 2023 Fact Checked

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What is the Flower of Life?

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Spiritual Meanings

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Sacred Patterns in the Flower of Life

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Cultural & Religious Significance

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Using the Flower of Life

The Flower of Life is a beautiful, intricate symbol that is spiritually significant to the belief of sacred geometry. If you’ve been captivated by this mesmerizing shape and want to know what it means, you’ve come to the right place to find out. Come with us as we uncover the mystical secrets of the Flower of Life, what it means to believers of sacred geometry, how it’s culturally significant, and how you can use it in your spiritual practice.

Things You Should Know

The Flower of Life is composed of 19 circles that intersect each other at the center to form an intricate, floral pattern.
In sacred geometry, the Flower of Life is one of the building blocks of creation.
To believers of sacred geometry, the Flower of Life represents the interconnectedness of all things in the Universe and the cycle of life.

Section 1 of 5:

What is the Flower of Life?

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The Flower of Life is a 2D symbol made up of 19 overlapping circles. Each circle in the Flower of Life is the same size and overlaps the circle next to it at its center. It starts with 1 circle in the middle and the rest of the circles surround it in layers. As the circles overlap, they create the Flower of Life’s distinct, floral pattern.^{[1]
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- The Flower of Life is thought to have divine proportions. All of the circles are the same size and overlap to create a perfectly repeating pattern.
Sacred geometry is the belief that shapes, patterns, and mathematical proportions are the basis of all creation in the Universe. According to believers of sacred geometry, the Flower of Life is one of the building blocks of creation. Its pattern forms the structure of things from DNA to planets.^{[2]
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Section 2 of 5:

Spiritual Meanings of the Flower of Life

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To believers, the Flower of Life might hold the secrets of the Universe. The Flower of Life is often considered to be the key to all of life’s mysteries. Within its floral pattern are thought to be all the shapes that make up the Universe, which can explain the Universe’s creation and the fundamental structure of space and time.^{[3]
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- Many sacred geology believers think the Flower of Life contains something similar to the Akashic Records.
- The Akashic Records are thought to be a collection of the Universe’s history, including the past, present, and future. They are stored in the astral plane.
To believers, the Flower of Life shows how the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. While it is made up of 19 circles, they overlap to form something far greater: the blueprint to matter, space, and time. This illustrates how all life is united and works together to make up the Universe.^{[4]
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The Flower of Life starts with 1 circle, which to sacred geometry believers symbolizes the moment of creation. As the Universe expands and new life emerges, more circles are added to form the blooming flower. When life eventually dies out, the petals fall off to reveal the circle in the center. Then, the cycle starts again.^{[5]
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Many sacred geology believers see the Flower of Life as the union between masculine and feminine energy. The curved lines of the petals represent femininity while the sharp, tapered points symbolize masculinity. Combined together, the Flower of Life is incredibly balanced and grounding.^{[6]
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Because the Flower of Life is thought to contain the blueprint to creation, many people believe it holds secrets and knowledge about the Universe. People often use the Flower of Life in their spiritual practice to connect to their divine self, tap into higher states of consciousness, and uncover the mysteries of life.^{[7]
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Section 3 of 5:

Sacred Patterns in the Flower of Life

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The basis of the Flower of Life is formed from the Vesica Piscis. The Vesica Piscis is a fundamental pattern in sacred geometry. It is composed of 2 circles that intersect in the middle, creating an eye or almond shape in the space they overlap. In sacred geometry, it represents birth, duality, and new beginnings.^{[8]
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- In nature, the Vesica Piscis shares the same shape as a single cell dividing into 2.
- Many sacred symbols use the Vesica Piscis, like the Eye of Horus, the ichthys or Jesus fish, and the Celtic knot.
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The pattern of the Flower of Life is made by the Seed of Life. The Seed or Egg of Life is an extension of the Vesica Piscis. It consists of 7 equal-sized circles that intersect each other at the center. One circle is in the middle while the other 6 surround it. Like the Flower of Life, the Seed of Life is thought to represent the beginning of creation.^{[9]
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- To some Christian sacred geometry believers, the Seed of Life represents God creating life in 7 days. The center circle symbolizes the moment of creation, while the remaining 6 circles represent each day.
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The Fruit of Life pattern is found within the Flower of Life. This sacred symbol consists of 13 touching circles that form a snowflake-like shape. One circle is in the center while the other 12 circles make a ring around it. To sacred geology believers, the Fruit of Life contains the framework of creation.^{[10]
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- The Flower of Life starts as the Vesica Piscis, opens into the Seed of Life, and blooms into the Fruit of Life. This represents the beginning of creation and ascending to higher states of being.
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The Flower of Life helps form Metatron’s Cube. Metatron’s Cube is a powerful, 3D object in sacred geometry. It is believed to contain all of the shapes that make up the Universe, from microscopic cells to gigantic, spinning galaxies. Metatron’s Cube is also thought to represent balance, harmony, and spiritual cleansing.^{[11]
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- Metatron’s Cube is so important because it contains the 5 Platonic solids: the tetrahedron, hexahedron, octahedron, dodecahedron, and icosahedron. All of these shapes have equal-sized faces.

Section 4 of 5:

Cultural and Religious Significance

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The first Flower of Life was found on the walls of the Temple of Osiris in Abydos, Egypt. While historians can’t pin down an exact date, they believe it was burned or inscribed into the temple sometime between 535 BCE and the fourth-century CE.^{[12]
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The Italian inventor Leonardo da Vinci studied the Flower of Life. While da Vinci is best known for painting the Mona Lisa, he often sketched the Flower of Life and other sacred geometric shapes. His works might have been inspired by the Flower of Life, as his famous Vitruvian Man is perfectly proportioned when placed on top of it.^{[13]
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- Da Vinci also used the Golden Ratio in his paintings, like The Last Supper. This is a mathematical ratio that forms a perfect spiral. It is found all throughout nature, like in snail shells, and is fundamental to sacred geometry.
- Some people believe the Golden Ratio comes from the Flower of Life, as the circles follow the Golden Ratio’s proportions.
In China, you’ll see the Flower of Life carved underneath the paw of a lion statue in the Forbidden City in Beijing. It also decorates the walls and floors in various temples in India, like the Rama and Golden Temples. ^{[14]
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Many Christians consider the Flower of Life a religious symbol that symbolizes the story of creation in the Bible. In churches and cathedrals across Europe, it adorns the ceiling, floors, and windows.^{[15]
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In Judaism, the Flower of Life is connected to the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is a sacred geometry symbol comprised of 10 circles. According to Jewish mysticism, or Kabbalah, each circle, or Sefirot, represents attributes of the physical and spiritual realms. The Tree of Life is considered the blueprint of your spiritual journey, showing you the path to take to reach enlightenment.^{[16]
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- The circles of the Tree of Life are connected by lines to form a rectangular shape.

Section 5 of 5:

Using the Flower of Life

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Meditate with the Flower of Life to awaken your spirituality. The Flower of Life is considered a powerful spiritual tool that can ground and heal. To cleanse your spirit and tap into your higher self, just visualize or hold a Flower of Life talisman as you meditate.^{[17]
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- Or, get into a meditative state by drawing the Flower of Life.
- Placing a talisman, painting, or tapestry of the Flower of Life in your home is also a great way to ground yourself and be reminded that all things are connected.
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Balance your chakras with the Flower of Life. The Flower of Life contains the Seed of Life, which is composed of 7 circles that correspond to the 7 chakras. To open your chakras with the Flower of Life, get into a seated position, breathe deeply, and visualize it as you meditate. Then, focus on each chakra point until your body relaxes.^{[18]
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- When you balance your chakras, work your way from the Root Chakra to the Crown Chakra to mirror the Flower of Life’s path to higher states of consciousness.
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Wear the Flower of Life to inspire creativity and peace. The Flower of Life’s hypnotic, floral pattern might serve as a source of inspiration if you’re feeling stuck. Its grounding qualities can also help calm you down and relieve negative energy. Just wear it as a necklace or bracelet, or carry it with you as a talisman to feel its effects.^{[19]
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- Or, get a Flower of Life tattoo to permanently feel its creative, harmonious energy.