Platonic Solids: The Language of the Universe
“Philosophy is written in this grand book, the universe, which stands continually open to our gaze.
But the book cannot be understood unless one first learns to comprehend the language and read the letters in which it is composed.
“It is written in the language of mathematics, and its characters are triangles, circles and other geometric figures without which it is humanly impossible to understand a single word of it; without these, one wanders about in a dark labyrinth.”
—Galileo Galilei (1564 – 1642)
And since none of us would consciously choose to wander about in a dark labyrinth for very long, let’s get a little more familiar with the letters that compose the language in which the universe is written.
The Platonic Solids are, at their essence, the basic shapes that underlie observable reality. These five forms govern the structure of everything from atoms to planetary orbits, and if we desire to comprehend “this grand book, the universe,” then we are well-advised to study the characters.
We’ll begin by connecting the five solids to the five-element theory proposed by many ancient healing modalities — in this case, Ayurveda. Having established the relevance of these shapes to the human body, we’ll explore the micro and macro realms as well to see if there are any useful connections to be made.
Five Elements
Sankhya is one of the most ancient natural philosophies still alive on planet Earth today and is the source for Ayurveda’s concept of the body. The Sankhya philosophical system proposes that everything created on this plane of existence is a compound of five essential elements. Planets, people, plants and atmospheric particulate alike are all just a conglomerate of earth, water, fire, and air interacting within the ether.
Earth is the densest element, the stuff of rock and bone, giving solidity and form. Water is the universal solvent and the ruling archetype for all fluids, including rivers and oceans of course, but also plasma and mucous. Fire is the only element that gives heat and is responsible for all transformative processes such as digestion. Air is the element of mobility, carrying ideas, inspiration, and disease around the cosmos and our bodies.
Ether, or Akash, is commonly called “space,” and that is accurate insofar as it is everywhere around and within us. It is the vacuum; the matrix; space through which we move; the three-dimensional field in which we arise, survive, and transform. It is within the ethereal container that the other four elements dance and intertwine.
Elementary Geometry
The interaction of the five elements is well described by the five regular polyhedra known as the Platonic Solids. These are the only three-dimensional shapes that are perfectly symmetrical in every direction, with every internal angle and side length the same. According to Plato, each solid corresponds to a specific element:
The cube corresponds to earth; the icosahedron corresponds to water; the tetrahedron corresponds to fire; the octahedron corresponds to air, and the dodecahedron corresponds to ether.
Looking at the shape of the sides, we notice that three of the five Platonic Solids are composed of equilateral triangles – the icosahedron, tetrahedron and octahedron, representing water, fire, and air, respectively. The two exceptions are the cube and dodecahedron – earth and ether – which are built of squares and pentagons, respectively.
The triangle represents the number three, which in the story of creation according to sacred geometry is truly a magic, catalytic number. Three is the number of proliferation and completion. Triumvirates dominate this dimension in the form of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva; beginning, middle and end; Mom, Dad, and child; waking, dreaming and deep sleep; past, present, and future; space, time and observer, and so on.
With that in mind, one way to understand the interaction of elements is to see them as sets of triangles crashing into one another and combining to make different sets of triangles.
Water, fire, and air are in this constant dance, intermingling to make bigger triangles and dissolving into tinier fragments. Is this not a simplified description of what we call chemistry?
Plato himself is said to have given the following example in order to make abstract teaching more real to our experience. It is commonly understood that something spicy must be associated with the fire element, and thus the tetrahedron. The tetrahedron is a very sharp shape, with spiked angles that you can imagine would be very prickly if you had several million of them in your mouth. This points to the burning sharpness of spicy food.
On the other hand, more soothing, creamy foods are associated with the water element, and thus the icosahedron. The icosahedron has twenty sides, with much duller angles, very near to a sphere. Compared to the tetrahedron, you can imagine how the roundness of this shape is far more gentle, sweet, and pleasing to the tongue.
Air, represented by the octahedron, is nothing but two tetrahedrons stacked back to back. Ayurvedically speaking, foods with a predominance of the air element is considered very dry and rough, difficult to digest, like popcorn or crackers. There is a certain intuitive logic to how these shapes connect to our experiential reality if you are willing to tune in and do the experiment.
Somewhat outside this process, although not entirely immune, is the square-based cube, representing earth. As the densest element, it makes sense that each of its sides is made of not one, but two triangles (aka a square). The eight square sides that make up a cube are indicative of the infinite potential of material creation, as well as the power of stability, as the number eight is both an upright infinity symbol and a perfectly balanced shape suggesting, as above, so below.
Outside the triangular paradigm altogether is the five-sided pentagon that makes up the dodecahedron. Given that the ether acts as a container for the other elements, it only makes sense that it is not overly susceptible to entanglement.
That being said, a pentagon can be created by five inwardly-directed triangles (though not equilateral), which is appropriate as well, since even the ether is within the third-dimensional realm and not entirely devoid of physical characteristics.
Generally speaking, though, the dodecahedron is the outlier of the group, and rightfully so since its role is to hold space for the ongoing dance performed primarily by the other four elements.
The Fluidity of Ether
Observing the relationships between the Platonic Solids, one may notice that the icosahedron is the precise inverse of the dodecahedron. This is to say, if you connect the center points of all twelve pentagons that compose the etheric element, you will have created the twelve corners of the watery icosahedron.
This is intriguing because what we have thus far been able to observe of the ether indicates that it does indeed behave like a fluid. Granted, measuring and observing the ether has proven rather difficult to this point, due to its all-encompassing pervasiveness. How can one measure something from which one cannot escape? And if we cannot measure it, how can we be sure that it even exists?
We have little trouble measuring the other elements: the kinetic mass of earth; the chemical reactions made soluble by water; the radiant heat of fire; the volts of electric wind. These are relatively effortlessly observed, standing “continually open to our gaze” as they do. But the super subtle ether evades easy detection.
Einstein’s Theory of Relativity predicts the existence of the ether, requiring that “physical space has physical qualities.” Indeed, this hypothesis has recently been proven by the direct detection of the gravitational waves created when two black holes collide. In February of 2016, scientists at LIGO were able to measure actual ripples in the fabric of space-time.
This is big news! It is the last major piece of Einstein’s famous Theory of General Relativity to be experimentally verified and for our purposes here, demonstrates that massive gravitational forces behave just like water. When the black holes collide, they send waves of gravity rippling out through the very fabric of space-time, just like a still pond disturbed by a stone.
This being the case, we can learn a great deal about the nature of the ether by studying fluid dynamics. Water is far easier to access and observe than ether, so we can take clues from the spiraling of water down a drain, or the path of a hurricane to better understand what is happening at a more subtle level way out in the universe, or way deep within, all the same.
From Micro to Macro
Beginning on page 328 of The Source Field Investigations, David Wilcock describes the work of Dr. Robert Moon in exploring how the Platonic Solids govern the structure of any given atom, accurately predicting the number of protons found therein.
“The cube, with eight protons… corresponds to oxygen, which is highly stable — and makes up 62.55% of all the atoms in the Earth’s crust.” According to Dr. Moon, the eight corners of the cube indicate eight protons. This gives scientific credence to the assertion that the cube shape is associated with the esoteric earth element.
Using this model, we can extrapolate the entire periodic table of elements, stacking several solids together to create the larger, less stable structures. This is a very exciting reimagining of how chemistry functions. Dr. Moon was involved in the Manhattan Project and his model may prove useful in cold fusion experiments as well as many other applications beyond the scope of this author’s current awareness.
Moon’s atomic model was inspired by Johannes Kepler, who suggested a model of the solar system based on the Platonic Solids all nested within one another. This conception of the planetary orbits is not only an elegant wish but a mathematical reality.
On page 337 of Source Field, Wilcock tells us that “the spacing of planetary orbits in our solar system [can] be precisely defined by the Platonic Solids… the planets are apparently being held in place and driven through their orbits by the same geometric forces that very likely create atoms and molecules.”
This is by no means a new idea. Many scientists and philosophers before have suggested that the micro is essentially a reflection of the macrocosm. What is exciting in this case, is the mathematical precision with which we can make this assertion.
Pulling just one of many examples from John Martineau’s magical classic, A Little Book of Coincidence, wherein “the sphere” refers to the orbit of a given planet, Wilcock tells us how “the distance between the sphere of Venus and the sphere of Mars is precisely defined by the dodecahedron… Then, if you flip this dodecahedron inside out to get the icosahedron, you can fit a larger sphere inside of it — and that happens to be the exact distance of Earth’s orbit.”
To use the word “coincidence” in describing such astonishing alignments is clearly tongue-in-cheek. Such elegant arrangements must be the result of a divine architect. Whether we choose to name this Nature or God matters very little. What seems to matter is that by studying the creation, we come to better know ourselves as both created and Creator.
These shapes, the Platonic Solids, are the letters of the alphabet of the third-dimension. Once we have these as a key, we can decode many of the mysteries of the observable universe.
If these patterns govern atomic structures and planetary orbits, they must also influence the human form, which exists in the exact middle of those micro and macro forces.
As an Ayurvedic practitioner, I am extremely excited to continue exploring the potentials for healing offered by this conceptual understanding. Each of the five elements is specifically associated with one of the five senses, with an organ of action, with color and chakras. Now we know that they also have a specific shape.
What are the practical applications of this knowledge? I invite you to explore these potentials in your own mind and body. Meditate on these shapes and see what changes take place. Practice drawing them, or better yet, build models of the solids using construction paper to become acquainted with their physical qualities. I promise you such exercises will reveal valuable insights into your own true nature, and literally reshape the way you see the world around you.
Enjoy the journey!
About the Author
7 Sacred Geometry Symbols and Their Meanings
Sacred geometryis a discipline that studies the geometric shapes and patterns found in nature and in human-made structures. These figures are considered sacred due to their perfect symmetry and proportions, which are believed to reflect the harmony of the universe. In this article, we explore the meanings of seven sacred geometry symbols and how they can influence our spiritual and daily lives.
Table of Contents
- What is Sacred Geometry and What is its Purpose?
- 7 Sacred Geometry Symbols and Their Meanings
- History and Origin of Sacred Geometry
- How to Integrate Sacred Geometry into Daily Life
What is Sacred Geometry and What is its Purpose?
Sacred geometry is the study of geometric shapes that appear in nature and human constructions, considered sacred due to their perfect symmetry and proportions. These shapes include structures such as the cube, tetrahedron, and dodecahedron, among others. It is believed that sacred geometry connects with the order and harmony of the universe, providing a deeper understanding of the structure of reality.
These geometric figures are found in a variety of contexts, from ancient architecture to modern art. Temples and cathedrals often incorporate sacred geometry patterns in their design, using these shapes to create spaces that promote meditation and spiritual connection. Additionally, these figures are also found in nature, such as in the structure of crystals and the shapes of plants and animals.
Sacred geometry is also applied in meditation and spiritual practices. By meditating on these figures, one can harmonize internal energies with universal energies, promoting healing and spiritual growth. Geometric shapes act as a bridge between the physical and the spiritual, facilitating a deeper connection with the cosmos.
In the series Sacred Geometry: Spiritual Science, available on Gaia, it is explored how these geometric shapes are essential for understanding the structure of the universe and how they can be used in spiritual and meditative practices to enhance awareness and spiritual connection.
7 Sacred Geometry Symbols and Their Meanings
There are several sacred geometry symbols that are widely known and used in various spiritual traditions. These symbols include the Metatron’s Cube, the Merkaba, the Seed of Life, the Flower of Life, the Sri Yantra, the Torus Yantra, and the Celtic Labyrinth. Each of these symbols has a profound meaning and is used for different purposes in meditation and spiritual practices.
Before we explore each symbol in depth, it can be helpful to see a quick overview of what these geometric forms represent.
Quick Meanings of Each Sacred Geometry Symbol
- Metatron’s Cube: Represents the geometric blueprint of creation and is used for protection, balance, and energetic alignment.
- Merkaba: A star-shaped field symbolizing ascension, higher consciousness, and the union of body and spirit.
- Seed of Life: A seven-circle pattern representing the first stages of creation, new beginnings, and the foundation of all geometric forms.
- Flower of Life: A multi-circle design symbolizing unity, interconnectedness, and the underlying structure of life.
- Sri Yantra: A complex diagram representing cosmic order, divine balance, and the union of masculine and feminine energies.
- Torus / Toroid: A donut-shaped energy field symbolizing infinite flow, cyclical creation, and the movement of life force.
- Vesica Piscis: The intersection of two circles symbolizing the union of complementary forces, creation through duality, and the portal between the material and the spiritual realms.
Metatron’s Cube
Metatron's Cube is a sacred geometry figure that contains the five Platonic solids: tetrahedron, hexahedron, octahedron, dodecahedron, and icosahedron. These solids are arranged in such a way that they represent the fundamental structure of the universe. The cube is used in spiritual and meditative practices to connect with universal energy, providing balance and harmony to the user. Additionally, it is considered a powerful tool for protection and energy cleansing.
This symbol is not only visually impressive but also holds deep spiritual meanings. It is believed that Metatron’s Cube acts as a bridge between the material and spiritual worlds, allowing practitioners to access higher dimensions and sacred knowledge. Meditating with Metatron’s Cube can help align internal energies with cosmic forces, promoting healing and spiritual growth.
The Merkaba
The Merkaba is a geometric figure formed by two interlocking tetrahedrons that rotate in opposite directions, creating a three-dimensional star. This symbol represents the union of spirit and body and is used to facilitate spiritual ascension and the expansion of consciousness. By activating the Merkaba, one can balance and harmonize the body’s energies, facilitating connection with higher dimensions and access to elevated states of consciousness.
In spiritual practices, the Merkaba is known for its ability to protect and heal. Meditating with the Merkaba can help activate the energy field around the body, known as the Merkaba field, which acts as a protective shield against negative energies. Additionally, this energy field is believed to facilitate astral travel and mystical experiences, providing a powerful tool for spiritual exploration and personal development.
The Seed of Life
The Seed of Life is a sacred geometry symbol composed of seven interlocking circles that form a flower-like pattern. It represents the seven days of creation and is considered a symbol of fertility and creation. This basic pattern is the foundation of more complex figures like the Flower of Life and is used in meditation to promote healing and spiritual growth.
The spiritual meaning of the Seed of Life lies in its representation of the interconnectedness of all life in the universe. Meditating with this symbol can help connect with the energy of creation and foster a sense of unity and harmony. The Seed of Life is used in various spiritual practices to stimulate creativity, fertility, and the manifestation of new beginnings.
The Flower of Life
The Flower of Life is an expansion of the Seed of Life and is composed of multiple interlocking circles that create a more complex pattern. This symbol is considered one of the most sacred patterns and is believed to contain the secrets of the universe, including the shapes of the Platonic solids. The Flower of Life represents the interconnectedness of all life and is used to meditate on unity and harmony.
This symbol is not only visually appealing but also holds deep spiritual meanings. The Flower of Life is considered a visual representation of the life force energy that flows through all living things. Meditating with the Flower of Life can help activate this life force energy, promoting healing and spiritual growth. This symbol is also used to connect with universal energies and to explore the mysteries of creation.
The Sri Yantra
The Sri Yantra is a Hindu symbol composed of nine interlocking triangles that form 43 smaller triangles, all enclosed within an eight-petaled lotus. This complex geometric design represents the cosmos and the structure of the universe, symbolizing the union of the masculine and feminine. It is used in meditation and rituals to promote prosperity, peace, and harmony. The Sri Yantra is considered a powerful tool for manifesting desires and connecting with divine energy.
Meditating with the Sri Yantra helps align internal energies with cosmic forces, promoting healing and spiritual growth. This symbol is also used to balance the chakras and improve concentration and mental clarity. The intricate structure of the Sri Yantra acts as a map of the spiritual journey, guiding the practitioner toward a greater understanding and realization of their connection with the universe.
The Torus Yantra or Toroid
The Torus Yantra, or Toroid, is a geometric shape that represents a ring-shaped energy field, similar to a donut. This symbol reflects infinite energy and continuous creation, symbolizing the flow and balance of energies in the universe. The toroid is considered a model of the universe’s structure and is used in meditation to harmonize internal and external energies, facilitating a state of balance and well-being.
Meditating with the Torus Yantra helps activate the flow of energy in the body, promoting healing and spiritual growth. This symbol is also used to connect with universal energies, facilitating the expansion of consciousness and the integration of cosmic energies into daily life. The toroid is a visual representation of the human energy field, providing a powerful tool for transformation and spiritual elevation.
The Vesica Piscis
The Vesica Piscis is an essential figure of sacred geometry formed by the intersection of two circles of the same radius, whose centers lie on each other’s perimeter. This overlap creates an almond-shaped form at the center that symbolizes the union of two complementary principles. On a spiritual level, it represents the meeting point between the material and the divine, as well as the origin of creation emerging from duality. Due to its precise and symmetrical structure, it is considered a fundamental geometric matrix within many ancient symbolic systems.
This symbol has been used in spiritual and artistic traditions as a representation of birth, manifestation, and universal balance. Meditating with the Vesica Piscis allows one to work on the integration of inner opposites and to foster states of greater energetic coherence. It is also the structural foundation of more complex figures such as the Flower of Life, reinforcing its importance as a primordial pattern of creation and expansion of consciousness.
History and Origin of Sacred Geometry
Sacred geometry has its roots in ancient civilizations, where geometric patterns observed in nature were replicated. The Egyptians, for example, used geometry in the construction of the pyramids, believing that these shapes contained mystical and energetic properties. Egyptian structures were designed to align with cardinal points and certain astronomical events, reflecting a deep connection with the cosmos.
In ancient Greece, sacred geometry was formalized and deeply studied by philosophers and mathematicians such as Pythagoras and Plato. Pythagoras observed that certain geometric patterns and proportions repeated in nature and developed the concept of the Platonic solids, geometric shapes that represent the building blocks of the universe. Plato, in his work “Timaeus,” linked these solids to the fundamental elements of creation: earth, water, air, fire, and ether.
The cultures of India and China also incorporated sacred geometry into their spiritual and architectural practices. The mandala and yantra are examples of geometric symbols used in meditation and temple construction, aiming to facilitate connection with the divine and promote spiritual harmony. These patterns reflect the belief in an interconnected universe, where geometry is the foundation of all things.
During the Renaissance, interest in sacred geometry resurfaced in Europe, driven by artists and scientists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Johannes Kepler. Da Vinci studied and used the golden ratio in his art, while Kepler explored the relationship between the Platonic solids and planetary orbits. This period marked a fusion of art, science, and spirituality, highlighting the importance of sacred geometry in understanding the universe and human experience.
How to Integrate Sacred Geometry into Daily Life
Integrating sacred geometry into daily life can bring balance, harmony, and a deeper spiritual connection. Here are some practical ways to do so:
- Meditation with symbols: Use figures like Metatron’s Cube or the Flower of Life during your meditations. These shapes can help focus your mind and harmonize your internal energies.
- Home decoration: Incorporate sacred geometry patterns into your home decor. Placing paintings or objects with these symbols can create an atmosphere of peace and balance.
- Yoga and energy exercises: Use postures and movements inspired by geometric shapes during your yoga practice. This can help align your body and mind with universal energies.
- Art and creativity: Create your own designs based on sacred geometry. Drawing and painting these patterns can be a meditative and creative way to connect with the divine.
