From Head to Toe
The body is a temple. We’ve all heard the expression. And everybody knows a temple is place for worship, a place to access the Divine. Even Apostle Paul said, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
It should come as no surprise that our body parts hold ancient symbolic meanings. So before fixating on a character’s body part you might want to explore the symbolism associated with it— in case you want to give your story some symbolic ZING!
Heads up! It’s time for blog-quick look at body symbolism.
Head
most important part because reason, wisdom, intellect, and spirituality reside within
equated with authority and power ( heads of state, heads of corporations)
bowed is a sign of respect
tilts, nods, or shakes are powerful communicators
many-headed gods depicted different aspects or personalities —Shiva, Hecate, Brahma, and Janus have multiple heads
Hair
divine power and virility
inner and physical toughness—when Delilah snipped Samson’s tresses she reduced his physical strength
cutting the hair was a sign of sacrifice or surrender. In modern times—if done by women–the act symbolizes rebellion or liberation from feminine gender roles/expectations
Mary Magdalene’s long flowing hair was a sign of immoral sexual behavior
Ears
equated with a seashell or a spiral
associated with birth—Karma was born from his mother’s ear.
long ears are linked to wisdom in Buddhism
the Satyr’s large pointed ears reflect his sexual and sensual nature
Eyes
all seeing. Eye of Providence. Right Eye of Horus. Left of Eye of Horus
perception and spiritual enlightenment
giving someone the Evil Eye brings misfortune to the recipient
windows to the soul
for an entire blog on eyes click here
Nose
knowing
intrusiveness or meddlesome behavior/personality
valued by early man as a way of finding food
a phallic symbol
a nose that grows in length indicate lies—courtesy of Pinocchio
a turned up nose displays contempt
Mouth
deemed the creative force, but it’s our mouths which can get us in trouble
the Mouth of Hell devours the wicked
articulates our heart’s desires
just slap a big X-rated sign on the lips
Tongue
symbolic of speech
visible manifestation of the spoken word
teeth are symbolic of animistic strength and aggression
long teeth are a sign of ambition
Agrippina, Nero’s ambitious mother, had double canines
the tongue is either a destroyer or a creator
sticking one’s tongue out harkens back to times when that gesture warded off evil spirits
Shoulders
strength— think Atlas holding up the world
power
carrying responsibilities
Skeleton
harbinger of death
Bones symbolize strength, stability, determination
Chakras, the body’s energy forces, are aligned with the spine
Organs
intestines are symbolic of long life and eternity
intestines were used for divination in early times
the spleen is where melancholy and laughter come from ( part of the ol’ 4 Humors of the Body theory)
the liver symbolized passion during ancient Rome times
Limbs
balance and movement
good luck
arms are symbolic of strength, power, protection, and justice
Hands
command
protect
bless/bestow
pledge
symbolize power and strength
teach
heal
there’s the omnipotent Hand of God
Hamsa hand is a protective talisman used by Muslims and Jews to protect against the Evil Eye
As expressive communicators, we are familiar with the meanings of: palms out, finger pointing to heaven, handshakes, hand wringing, and hand washing (Pontius Pilate and Lady Macbeth)
hidden hands denote respect in Asian cultures, but mistrust in western
Gender-specific body parts ( this is a PG-rated blog ). Early man was obsessed with those particular parts—wait, we still are!
male: strength, power, and virility
female: regeneration, fertility, procreation, and the miracle of birth
Feet
mobility
rooted or in touch with self and nature
bare feet touching the ground is man’s link to the Divine Earth
the monk’s bare feet signify their vow of poverty
in Asian cultures, feet are considered unclean so its wrong to display soles to another
solid foundation
washing another’s feet is a symbol of hospitality and humility
the Buddha’s footprint found at Buddhist temples indicates the Buddha’s presence
As you can see, lots of body parts were left out! This is just the tip of the Body Iceberg! A quick Google search will reveal many more symbolic aspects.
Note: I teach literary analysis and remind my students to look closely at the symbolism in a novel. Why did the author include that fruit? Or name the character Neil? Why is the protagonist sitting under a pear tree? Why is her dress blue? Why did the character lose a limb? Before jumping to any symbolic conclusions however, we look at the symbol in context of setting, history, and culture.
Related Links: Rock Your Writing; Symbolism & more symbols;
Click Amazon link for novels.
