Symbol Meanings in MADART Paintings

As you may have noticed over the past couple of years, I use more and more symbols in my art, some more subtle than others.  They are particularly obvious in my Abstract and EMPOWERED collections of paintings and drawings.  I want to share with you many of the symbols that you will see repeatedly used throughout my art as well as their meanings.  Some of the symbols are well know and others are one's that I've created myself that provide a particular mood and feeling to the artwork that lends to the positive, uplifting and inspiring message I hope my artwork always invokes.

You will also notice that some of the traditional symbols have been slightly modified to fit in with my own personal style :)  Like arrows added onto the end of straight lines, flip flopping the symbols, adding additional lines and outlines, etc. I've also taken symbols from numerous different religions, mythologies, and more...because I like to use that which fits in with the theme and mood of each painting.

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Some of the different sources and definitions from where I gather symbolic inspirations.

ZIBU:
Means "listen within" from the zibu angelic language of symbols. Zibu angelic symbols were created by Debbie Zylstra Almstedt during a Reiki session in 2002. She claimed to have experienced a communication from a group of Angelic Guides. Each Zibu Angelic Symbol is an interpretation of a message from Angelic Guides.  A seemingly sub category of Celtic symbolism.

CELTIC:
​For centuries, Celtic symbols and signs held incredible power for the ancient Celts in every way of life.
The word "Celtic" refers to people who lived in Britain and Western Europe from 500 BC and 400 AD. Celts were of the Iron Age and lived in small villages which were led by warrior chiefs.
The written records remaining from the Celts of Europe are scant, therefore signs and symbols can be hard to determine and trace. Many facts come by way of the Romans, who conquered the Celtic lands during the rise of the Roman Empire.

REIKI:
​Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

CHAKRA: 
​I will be working on creating some of the symbols associated with Chakra soon!

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Many of these different teachings and ways of life overlap one another as they have throughout the centuries. You will see these, and others as I find, and create, new inspirational symbols throughout my artwork.  I hope you enjoy looking for them and feeling inspired by the energy and life that they provide through my art.  I will add to this blog post as new symbols are introduced into my art.