The Pagan Heart

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Pathways of The Pagani By Axiom     In creating this logo for 'The Pagan Heart' I wanted to use images that held meaning for the many and diverse faiths represented by the word "Pagan". Unlike other belief systems (such as Judaism or Christianity) there is no one symbol that represents us all. We, Pagans all, follow many paths to reach the truth. This logo itself does not symbolise Paganism, but it does hold meaning for us here at the magazine - it's a reminder that we are striving to create a community that embraces all Pagan faiths. So I drew upon a collection of images, the meanings of which are as follows: The logo is developed around the Tree of Life - a common emblem to many faiths. The roots reach deep into the earth and the branches high into the sky, while the trunk rests in the middle, dividing the two. The Tree of Life is the connecting force between yesterday, today and tomorrow or death, life and rebirth. I feel that our religion, be it Pagan or otherwise, is a Tree of Life rooted deep within the beginnings of time and stretching forward into eternity. Within the centre of this tree I placed a spiral - probably the oldest of human symbols. The original meanings are lost, but a connection to the sun or rebirth seems likely from the places the symbol has been found, and the manner it's been used. The inclusion of this image as the central motif of the logo is tied to the concept of our common physicality and spirituality. We are all of the same family, regardless of our differences. Circling the logo is a ring of triple arm spirals. These represent three things - the personal, the communal and the spiritual, for these are the regions that define and support our development. On the personal level it is the balance between mind, body and soul. On a social level it's the balance of self, family and community. On a spiritual level it's the balance of devotion, study and practice. This is an ancient Greek symbol known as Hecate's wheel and often associated with the worship of Hecate. Here it is used to represent the followers of the Greek traditions. This image is known as the Tyet (Knot of Isis) Many modern goddess worshippers are associated with the mythos of Isis, Lady of 1,000 faces - a seperate path to the Kemetic or Paleolithic faiths. This image represents those people. The meaning of the Triquetra is unknown, although suggestions abound. It seems probable that the intricate patterns represent philosophical beliefs, and that (in this symbol) the use of triple imagery relates to the three-fold nature of the Celtic religion. This made it a good symbol to represent non-Druidic followers of the Celtic faiths - whether European, Irish or British based. Although the cresent moon and star is often seen today as an emblem of Islam, it is in reality a symbol of the Sumerians, representing the sun god and moon goddess. Its inclusion in the logo represents the followers of the Mesopotamian religions. Ma'at is the Egyptian deity of justice and truth and was often represented in Egyptian texts by a feather. The Kemetic Fellowship are modern practitioners of the Egyptian religion - and are included here, along with other practitioners of the Egyptian faith, through the inclusion of the Feather of Ma'at. The pentacle is a five-pointed star (often within a circle). Associated with magic, in Pagan traditions it represents the four elements of earth, air, fire and water and the fifth element created through their union. In the logo, the pentacle represents Witchcraft. The irminsul was used by the Germanic, Nordic and Scandinavian tribes. Its meaning is lost although it's believed to be related to Yggdrasil. I've incorporated the irminsul to represent the Heathen faith systems. The Romuvan Tree of Life symbolises the three worlds - living, dead and afterlife. I used this symbol to represent the various Pagan traditions of Central-Eastern Europe. This includes Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the region of former Prussia and the Ukraine. Chi-ro is often associated with Christian beliefs. However, prior to Rome's conversion, chi-ro represented good fortune. I am a great believer in reclaiming Pagan heritage - and so I chose this image to represent the Religio Romana groups. Carved fetishes are a common feature of any archaeological find involving the peoples of pre-metal working times. This particular one is based upon the Venus of Willendorf - from 22-24,000 B.C.E. People today associate them with fertility rites and goddess worship, and in the logo she represents the Paleolithic paths. Although the Unitarian Church is Christian in origin, its attitude to those of other faiths has made it a community many Pagans are comfortable moving within. The flaming chalice symbol of the UU church is included to show its involvement within the Pagan family. The awen portrays the balance between the male and female energies. A symbol of the modern Druids, it is used to represent followers of the Druidic movements.

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December 2004 Issue