The Zia Sun Symbol and the Spiral

The people of the Zia Pueblo in New Mexico regard the sun as  sacred. Their symbol, a circle with groups of rays pointing in four directions, is painted on ceremonial vases, used to introduce newborns to the sun, and is featured on the New Mexico state flag.  Four is a sacred number of the Zia, and can be found repeated in the points radiating from the circle. The number four is embodied in:

• The compass (north, south, east, and west)
• The seasons of the year (spring, summer, autumn and winter)
• The periods of each day (morning, noon, evening and night)
• The stages of life (childhood, youth, middle years and elderhood)
• The sacred aspects one must develop (a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit, and a devotion to the well-being of others)

The spiral reflects an understanding of a universe constantly in motion. As we know scientifically, our universe spirals out infinitely, reinforcing the concept of our endless skies. The spiral symbol can also represent the path leading from outer consciousness (materialism, external awareness, ego, outward perception) to the inner soul (enlightenment, unseen essence, peace, energetic awareness). Movements between the inner world (intuitive, intangible) and the outer world (matter, manifested) are mapped by the spiraling of rings which signify the evolution of humankind on both a personal and societal scale. In terms of rebirth and growth, the spiral can represent the consciousness of nature, initiating from the core and traveling and expanding outward.

• Evolution, change and growth
• Releasing, surrendering, letting go
  
• Awareness of the individual within the collective
• Connectivity with spirit and higher powers
• Cycles and circles of our clocks, stars and planets