| rus . - sink lat .: - concha - shell; female external genitalia - ostrea - oyster - pecten - comb shell In the era of antiquity, certain types of mollusks were well known, but their symbolism is almost the same. Moreover, mollusk shells are often indistinguishable from snail shells. Already by virtue of the name, and also because of the similarity with the vulva, the leading association in the symbolism of mollusks is the reproductive organs and external female genitalia. Vulva; universal womb, source of life. A kind, erotic, lunar, feminine and watery symbol associated with conception and fertility (fertility), renewal, baptism and, in many cultures, prosperity. Sexual symbolism makes the mollusk an attribute of the goddess of love. The nascent Venus already in Pompeian frescoes, and later in Botticelli and Titian, stands on a shell. The afterlife or rebirth; sometimes served as mourning attributes. And in the latter case, and as an element of women’s jewelry, it can mean both death and life. It is believed that the mystical power of the shell continues for a very long time after the death of the mollusk. Basic values:
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Magic
Sink. Sina's son says the best look is fresh, white and smooth. The shell is burned and mixed with eye medications. And they burn it like this: they mix earth and manure, coat the shell, put it in tonir and burn it until it turns white. And then crushed, washed, dried and crushed again. Its nature is cold and dry. And they say it's cold and wet. And its beneficial effect is that it removes thorns from the eyes. It also stops the loss of moisture and lacrimation. It cleanses the eyes well and gives them shine. But there is an excess of dryness in it. If you grind it after burning, it will completely remove the moisture. And if mixed with dental medicine, it will give shine to teeth and soothe pain of a hot nature. Its dose per appointment is half a dram. But it is harmful to the lungs. Its harmful effects are eliminated by honey.
(AANN)
Symbolic meanings of the shell
The sea shell is one of the most beautiful creations of the sculptor named Nature, capable of carrying meaning for the human Mind and being a sign on its life trajectory.
The reading of this sign depends on the form of creation, the main ones are:
The main basic forms of shells; many varieties are found in nature.
- shell resembling external female organs;
- spiral shell;
- bivalve shell.
Each of them has its own unique symbolic meaning.
Sink
The main abstract meaning is the source of life and energy, this is the water YIN symbol. It is directly associated with the process of conception and female fertility .
Ancient fresco from Pompeii
In culture, this meaning is enshrined in the frescoes of Pompeii and Botticelli’s masterpiece, where we see the beautiful goddess of love Venus, emerging from the sea foam (from the cosmic womb), standing in a shell.
Spiral shell
Associated with space, galactic forms. Values:
- inhalation and exhalation of the Creator;
- the folding and unfolding of creation;
- unwinding and twisting of matter.
In the Hindu tradition, the shell is an attribute of the divine Vishnu and a symbol of the primary sound “ Nada-Brahma ”, which gave life to our Universe. There are similar stories, only with different names, in Buddhism.
Shankha in the Temple
In Buddhism and Hinduism there is a “shankha” - a sacred ritual shell, usually:
- very big,
- white,
- must be twisted clockwise.
It is through her that the Gods can bless a person and awaken him from the sleep of ignorance.
In Hinduism, in addition to the type of spiral twist, shells were also divided into:
- by gender: female (thinner) and male (thicker and coarser);
- by color - caste membership was determined: white - Brahmins; red - to warriors; yellow - for traders; gray - workers.
The Spiral Shell of the Nautilus is associated with a mathematical model:
The logarithmic spiral is a special type that is often found in nature. The size of its coils gradually increases, but their shape remains unchanged.
Logarithmic spiral: Nautilus shell, atmospheric, mathematical, cosmic.
As a sign, this shape of a shell can symbolize for a person the process of unfolding or folding , depending on the direction of movement:
- if outside, outside - time goes out into space, manifested life is formed, you are in the process of creation, realizing yourself, your energy and information from the inside out;
- if on the contrary, inward , a process of decompression occurs, a collapse of spatial life. Along with this - understanding, comprehension of what has been lived. As a private symbol, this is a sign of the completion of something, death (not necessarily physical) - a return from Space to Time.
Something in our body is also made in the shape of a shell. This is the auricle - an instrument of Hearing, the connection of the human brain with the outside world through the perception of sounds.
Please note that inside the head there is a spiral shape, the cochlea: 1 - auricle. 6 - cochlea in the inner ear
Nature doesn’t create just anything, which means this form is especially convenient for capturing and collecting external information, which is processed, understood, and takes on some meaning inside the head:
Double shell
With a pearl inside - can mean integrity and creation .
In different aspects, such a creation of nature symbolizes for humans:
- virginity and feminine purity, integrity - then she herself is an undiscovered pearl;
- When a woman carries a child , then the pearl of the future life matures inside her, and she herself is a shell.
“To withdraw into one’s shell” is a phraseological unit that means that a person has psychologically ceased to be interested in the outside world, and has limited his life to himself, to his inner content.
For many people, especially for representatives of the two water signs Cancer and Pisces, this is a normal state of returning to the subconscious mechanisms of restoring one’s own strength and energy, tuning into the internal ri, just taking a break for a while).
The best result of such isolation is maturation into a Pearl, beautiful, original. It is important to remember: in this state there is a danger of freezing, while you need to periodically open up to the outside world, realizing what has accumulated inside.
An undesirable result is a loss of connection with external reality, a withdrawal into oneself (maybe in one’s most beautiful and amazing self, but no one will know about it). A very suitable symbol for autistic people.
Scallop
The scallop is perhaps the most familiar type of sea shell. The scallop is the emblem of St. James the Apostle. It can be taken as an amulet by anyone on a spiritual quest. The scallop was present on pagan altars as a symbol of the sea goddess and the element of water. Nowadays, scallop forms can be seen in countless Christian altars and cathedrals.
Art connoisseurs recognize the scallop as the seat or carriage of many ocean deities. One of them depicts Poseidon, and Aphrodite swims to the shore in a scallop-shaped shell. The scallop is distinguished from other shells by its numerous rays and ridges, converging at one point at the base. For medieval Christians, this represented the varied paths taken by travelers on their way to a holy place. The rays of the scallop resembled the rays of the sun converging on the horizon at sunrise or sunset.
Cowrie
Cowrie shells are tropical mollusk shells that were used as money in ancient times. Their shape often represents the life-giving vulva. They are used in magical rituals for wealth and fertility. Cowrie shells are strung on necklaces or sewn into clothing. They are used to make amulets to attract money and increase income, and are used in attractiveness rituals, as well as for fortune telling and predictions. The “Cowrie” talisman is a symbol of inexhaustible cash flow.
The natural cup shape of many shells makes them great for storing magical items! Cleaned shells make wonderful little dishes for incense, sand, crystals and herbs.
Seashells collected by yourself are more pleasant than those bought in stores. If you go to the sea, be sure to collect shells. If this is not possible, you can buy them on Aliexpress.
Source
Abalone or Abalone shells
Abalone has been an important food source for coastal communities for tens of thousands of years. Externally, Abalone look like a precious stone. These shells include all the colors of the sea and sky. The inside of the shell is covered with mother-of-pearl. The iridescent hue promotes feelings of abundance, peace and compassion.
The vibrant color and natural shine of Abalone shell make it ideal for jewelry and decorative items. They are cut into thin slices and used to decorate pendants. Wearing an Abalon shell amulet imparts a calming, spiritual vibration and helps with magical work on emotional issues.
Of course, the most popular way to use shells is in their natural, unaltered form. Large shells can be placed on your altar or used for decoration indoors and outdoors. Small shells are used to make beautiful jewelry.
Seashell
In the mythological beliefs of many peoples of the world, the sea shell is identified with the feminine principle. This is largely due to the external similarity of the shell and the female external genitalia. This symbolism gives the mollusk a connection with concepts such as fertility and conception. The depths of the sea from which the shell originates also symbolize the source of origin of all forms. Coming from the water, imbued with its memory, energy and knowledge, sea shells carry a powerful magical charge. Shells, along with sea creatures and pearls, are attributes of the water deity - the goddess of fertility.
Cowrie shells
Among all other sea shells, the cowrie shell has gained particular popularity. It received its name in honor of the goddess Kauri. The shell symbolizes the generative principle of the mother goddess.
The use of these shells as a symbol of rebirth dates back to ancient times. To this day, this attribute is valued in many countries around the world. In India, for example, the shell is used as a protective amulet against the evil eye. In Egypt and the Middle East, shells are used as talismans to attract good luck, health and fertility. On the Pacific Islands, cowries are also endowed with magical powers that carry the energy of rebirth.
Simon Renard de Saint-André "Vanitas" 1650
The emergence of such a genre in painting as “Vanitas” (from the Latin Vanitas - “vanity, vanity”) made adjustments to the symbolism. Such paintings were intended to remind us of the transience of life, the futility of pleasures and the inevitability of death.
Vanitas gained the greatest popularity in the 16th-17th centuries in Flanders and the Netherlands. If the picture involved Christian symbols - bread and wine, then the opened shell meant a soul ready to leave the earthly shell. “All is vanity” - this is the symbol of the shell in the Vanitas still lifes.
Interesting Facts
During World War II, when the Japanese army captured the traditional cowrie mining area - the shores of the Indonesian islands, the neighboring Dutch colonies experienced an acute shortage of shell currency. The economic life of the population was practically paralyzed. In order to somehow correct and stabilize the situation, local authorities decided to start searching for a valuable shell on the Australian coast. The search was in vain. And then one of the authorized walkers accidentally ended up in a local department store. Imagine his surprise when he discovered the desired shells on store shelves as children's toys! Thus, the Dutch travelers did not return empty-handed. They managed to return prosperity and stability to the people.
