Interested in Native American love symbols? Read on to discover some of the most popular love symbols from the Native American culture…
Native American art is loaded with the use of many symbols each having its own meanings. The use of these symbols is what gives character to Native American art. Amongst the various symbols developed and used by the Natives were special love symbols.
The concept of Native American love symbols was broader than most people conceive them to be. The love symbols did not just reflect the love that exists between two members of the opposite sex. Rather the Natives were known to be nature loving people and these symbols would also be suggestive of that love.
For example the clouds, rain and lightening have meanings that can be associated with love. Clouds represent fertility which for the Natives was a natural outcome of love. Another popular symbol used for depicting fertility is Kokopelli. This symbol comprises of a man playing his flute. As it is flute music was associated with courtship. A man would play his flute to attract the opposite sex. When the two would be joined in marriage the man would destroy his flute and never play it again. This is why it came to be regarded as a symbol of love. Before the advent of the missionaries the Kokopelli symbol featured exaggerated male sexual organs. This was to show the readiness of the individual to fall in love.
Native American Warding Symbols
The Native Americans had a symbol for everything. They were known to be great observers of nature from where they developed symbols with inherent meanings. Amongst the various kinds of symbols used by the Native Americans were the ones used to ward off evil.
The Arrow
The arrow is perhaps the single most important Native American warding symbol. However it was only when the arrow was pointing to the left that it was taken as a symbol of warding off evil. This symbol can often be seen depicted on objects that performed a functional role in the home. This was done for the purpose of warding off evil from the homes. When pointing to the right the arrow would symbolize overall protection. Warding off evil was included in this symbol. Crossed arrows, a broken arrow and an arrow head on its own had separate distinctive meanings of their own.
The Buffalo Eye
The buffalo, as an animal was considered to be very sacred by the Native Americans. This was because the buffalo was a source of much benefit to the Americans. They would drink from its milk, eat from its meat and use its hide to make their clothing. Thus it was a symbol of mother earth in itself. However the eye of the buffalo was taken as a symbol of warding off evil by the Natives.
Native American Water Symbols
Water was rightly considered to be one of the most vital elements for the sustenance of life by the Native Americans. Having a great respect for nature the Native Americans made use of water in different forms to symbolize different things. The symbolic meaning that water carried varied with the way in which it is was depicted.
The most common conception of Native American water symbols is that they reflected purity. This however is not true to the full extent. It is only in the stagnant form that water signifies spiritual purity. When it took on other forms the meanings changed.
Running water for example was a symbol of the continuity of life. The Native Americans believed that life was in continuous circular motion and the flow of water reminded them of the on going flow of time.
When water would appear in the form of rain clouds it was taken as a sign of good prospects. Raindrops on the other hand were taken as a symbol of plentiful crops. This symbolism is quite understandable given that Native Americans were heavily involved in agriculture.
