Which Symbols Help You Feel Closer To God?

Symbols hold power. What symbols do you feel empowered by? Symbolism is a huge part of this Afro-diasporic spirituality. Symbols are how they talk to God. Which symbols help you feel closer to God?

Which Symbols Help You Feel Closer To God?
Via Wikimedia Commons

Haitian Vodou culture is spilling with symbolism like the sacred cosmogram, also known as vèvè. 

Drawn by Vodou priests or priestesses using cornmeal, coffee, and flour, each vèvè is uniquely designed to honor a specific Lwa (spirits). 

In the ancient kingdom of Dahomey, spiritualists used palm oil to paint geometric shapes on the ground. It’s possible our enslaved ancestors carried this practice with them, and infused it into Vodou tradition. 

This feels especially sweet when we remember the purpose of vèvè are to be vessels for the spirit realm.

Portals for Lwa to usher energy in and out of our world, vèvè are essential for Vodou ceremonies

Vèvè are used to anchor Lwa while they temporarily possess someone’s physical body.

Often we want to wait for a sign to show us the way, but which signs can we show that we’re ready to receive divine guidance? 

Which symbol would you use to convey that you’re ready to surrender? 

Even in a non-spiritual sense, symbolism has always been powerfully woven throughout Black culture. The North Star, Black Power fist, machete, or breaking of chains, all hold the ancestral weight of liberation. 

These symbols are cultural remembering and preservation. Let’s leave symbols for future generations that translate to, “liberation has always been our birthright.”


We have a quick favor to ask...

We hope you're enjoying PushBlack Spirit! Spreading the truth about Black spiritual practices and history is just as important to you as it is to us.

And as a small non-profit, we need your support to keep spreading these important stories.

With as little as $5 a month, you will support our tech and writing costs, so we can reach even more people like you. It only takes a minue, so will you please donate now?