Symbol of a philosophy/belief
Triad/triade - symbol of reincarnation
The triade, based in the celtic belief, is a symbol for earthly life, afterlife and reincarnation. It is the reincarnation that is of my interest because it is a belief that I have been wondering about a lot during my time. There is no denial in that reincarnation has a big part of the Buddhist belief, but there is a lot of people who still believe in reincarnation even outside the Buddhism. My grandmother, for one, was certain that you will be re-born as someone else, and did not therefor fear death. I admire people who is confident in things that can't be scientifically proven, and I wish I was the same.
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Intangible symbol
The internet/world wide web
Today, the internet, is commonly well-known and used by the majority of people on a daily basis. We have our jobs on the internet, we socialise, meet new people and partners, people spend their free time, and (more or less) hard earned cash, playing games. Crime is being committed and our money can be used on the internet, this is done without us even seeing anything real. The world wide web is just existing and we are exposed by it through a
computer screen.
We can send text, images or sound to a friend on the other side of the world, instantly, without the ability to grasp the actual content that we send. That we also put us in a position where we depend on the access to internet is something that worries me. When you can do so much with only a couple of mouse clicks can easily make people apathetic and dependant on technology, which in fact is something that is intangible. That is in comparison to an actual letter, that you send to your friend on the other side of the world, which takes days and gives you the opportunity to feel the texture of the paper or smell the glue on the envelope.
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Symbol of revolution, then/today
Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) became, during early 1900, a leader for the Indian independence movement which had as a goal to free India from the British colonial authority in South Asia. He promoted a total nonviolence in the resistance against tyranny and mass civil disobedience. His work and philosophy resulted in Indians independence and he later was assassinated in 1948.
I see Gandhi as a symbol for revolution, although a non-violent and peaceful revolution. But he has become a symbol for so much more. He has influenced many important leaders and politicians (i.e. Martin L. King, Al Gore, Barack Obama) as an inspiration and a reminder that together, people can achieve great things.
So I would say that what Gandhi accomplished is a revolution but he became associated with nonviolence, which isn't the word you would relate to "revolution".
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A symbol that has been changed over time
Peter's cross
Cross of St. Peter
Very commonly associated with satanism or black metal but its origin is from the Catholic belief when the crucifixion of Simon Peter occurred. He was crucified upside down to show humility and dependence to Jesus Christ. Simon Peter (later known as Saint Peter) said that he felt unworthy to be crucified the same way as Jesus Christ was and after that gesture the upside down cross is known as the Cross of St. Peter and a symbol for humility towards Christianity and Catholicism. But the later use of the symbol, the way that satanists and metal heads have adapted it, is today the most normal way to read it. In satanism they say that upside down cross is a symbol of satan himself.
I would like to see the way they explain that Pope John Paul II's seat has an upside down cross carved into the back of it. Because either the pope is a satanist or a metal head according to
their belief of the Cross of St. Peter.
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A cross
Without being too controversial and starting to touch a subject that can upset
alot of people I'll explain the symbol quick. From my point of view I find religion
to be just as much superstition as the belief in witches and horoscope. If there
is no factual evidence i deem it superstitious.
A black cat
The black cat is a symbol for bad luck, especially if you see one cross the road in front of you. You then have to spit three times over your left shoulder.
As well, the black cat is a symbol for witches. If you choose to believe in it a black cat is actually a witch transformed during the day. Same here as with the horseshoe, I do not know if this is a typical Swedish superstition (the part with the witches).
Horseshoe
It is said that the one who finds a horseshoe gets lucky and protected against
accidents. You have to nail the horseshoe on a wall inside your home, preferably
over a door, with the ends pointing up so the luck does not fall out.
If this is a unique tradition for Sweden alone I do not know, but there is
a lot of lores about the horseshoe.
Horoscope
Horoscopes has its roots in astrology and is an interpretation of sun signs and stars that is said to affect us.
Four-leaf Clover
According to the tradition it is supposed to give luck to the one who find a clover with four-leaf.
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Group Symbol.
I tried to count the other day on how many groups i actually belong to. Think I found about 3 on the top of my head and then it became really hard to think about another one. This was before I started to open my mind and see more things as symbols. Every car brand that has a symbol divides people into groups. If you have a Volvo, you want to be a part of a group that values safety. If you have a Porsche, you want to be in a group that does not care if you get a parking ticket. Suddenly there was endless possibilities and here follows 5 examples.
"Dalahästen" Dala Horse Symbol. A Swedish symbol for the state Dalarna, but has been
more or less adapted as a international symbol for Sweden as a country.
Jesus Symbol. A symbol for Christianity, has to be one of
the most recognisable symbols.
Rastafarian symbol (Bob Marley as a symbolic figure). If you are rastafari,
you are a part of a group who has another point of view and values then others.
Ferrari symbol. Shows that you are a part of a specific group of people
that can afford this car, a symbol of high status.
Mac symbol. Shows that you're no PC user and that you want to be
associated with certain things and a certain lifestyle.
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Directional Symbols
Symbols and signs that tells us where to go surrounds us
all. When you go to school, or your job, you probably use more of
these than you can imagine. With these five examples I've tried to
go deeper into more detailed symbols, i.e the symbols that shows you
where you should put your coins when you buy a bus ticket.
A symbol of a hand that shows direction
with the index finger where you need
to press when you make a phone call
at a pay phone.
A gender symbol/sign at the toilet that
shows people in what direction they
should go to use to correct bathroom.
A directional symbol on a fire extinguisher
that shows you in what direction you should
aim at the fire. Consider the possibility that
one who does not have english skills
can see this and still understand.
This green light for pedestrians
shows us when and where to cross.
A pair of legs that shows you
where to cross the street.
