What is Flower of Life?
The Flower of Life is a geometric symbol composed of 19 evenly-spaced, overlapping circles arranged in a hexagonal pattern, creating a flower-like appearance. When you look at the complete Flower of Life symbol, you see 19 complete circles surrounded by two outer rings, creating a flower-like appearance that contains profound mathematical and spiritual significance. The pattern forms when circles are drawn with their centers positioned on the circumferences of surrounding circles, producing a precise mandala of interlocking shapes. Within sacred geometry—a philosophical framework attributing spiritual meaning to geometric forms—the Flower of Life is considered one of the most fundamental patterns, believed to represent the cycle of creation and the interconnectedness of all existence.
Origins & Lineage
The oldest known Flower of Life carving appears at the Temple of Osiris in Abydos, Egypt, dating back over 6,000 years. Artists later carved a wonderful composition of the Flower of Life into a granite pillar in the Temple of Osiris (Osireion) at Abydos. This building was commissioned by Pharaoh Seti I in the 13th century BC, though debate exists about whether these specific carvings are dynastic Egyptian or later Greek additions, as the inscription is ancient Greek. The first thought is that this would have been inscribed after Alexander’s invasion in 332 bc and before the beginning of the Roman period in 30 bc, when the Greek Ptolemies ruled Egypt.
Beyond Egypt, historians can date the flower of life to 645 B.C. based on Assyrian relics, specifically an Assyrian palace threshold during King Ashurbanipal’s reign, carved into stone as a protective symbol. The pattern appears across diverse cultures: The Flower of Life has also been found in Assyrian, Phoenician, Indian, Middle Eastern, Asian and medieval art. Byzantine churches incorporated similar overlapping circle motifs as protective symbols. Islamic art embraced the geometric framework as a foundation for intricate patterns. Even in Asia, the design found expression in 14th-century Indian temples and within Beijing’s 15th-century Forbidden City.
During the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci’s sketch of the Flower of Life pattern (Codex Atlanticus, late 15th century) demonstrates renewed European interest in the symbol’s mathematical properties. Leonardo incorporated it into his collection of images and notes known as Codex Atlanticus. Da Vinci studied and documented the Flower of Life.
How It’s Practiced
The Flower of Life functions primarily as a contemplative and symbolic tool rather than a practice per se. The symmetrical design of the Flower of Life serves as a focal point for meditation, similar to how mandalas are used in Hinduism and Buddhism for spiritual enlightenment. The perfect proportions and symmetry act as a visual representation of cosmic order and balance. Practitioners report that gazing at or tracing the pattern quiets mental activity and facilitates meditative states.
Contemporary applications include:
Meditation: Spiritually, the symbol can be used as a focus for attaining a sense of enlightenment and the awareness of peace. It can also be used symbolically as a pathway to seek our personal and unique purpose within the greater universe. Some practitioners report seeing the pattern spontaneously during deep meditation or energy work sessions.
Energy Work & Crystal Grids: The Flower of Life itself as a grid can be used with crystals when harnessing the energy to create positive change in any area of your life, but can also be meditated upon to open up your connection to a higher consciousness and bring mind, body and spirit into balance.
Environmental Harmonization: Some practitioners place the Flower of Life symbol in their homes as a protective amulet or use it to harmonise their environment.
Wearable Symbolism: The pattern appears commonly on jewelry, clothing, and body art as a reminder of universal interconnection.
Geometric Study: Mathematicians and sacred geometry students trace the pattern to understand the Seed of Life (seven circles), Fruit of Life (thirteen circles), and Metatron’s Cube (which contains the five Platonic Solids) nested within it.
Flower of Life Today
The Flower of Life has experienced significant resurgence within New Age spirituality, holistic wellness communities, and conscious culture. Walk into any spiritual shop, and you’ll spot it immediately. The Flower of Life adorns jewellery, clothing, tattoos, and meditation tools such as yoga mats. Most people recognise it as a protective symbol or associate it with good fortune. It appears on album covers (Coldplay’s A Head Full of Dreams), in visionary art, at music festivals, and yoga studios worldwide.
Seekers typically encounter the symbol through:
- Workshops and classes on sacred geometry offered at retreat centers and metaphysical schools
- Meditation tools including printed cards, wall hangings, and altar cloths
- Energy healing modalities that incorporate geometric patterns
- Books and online courses exploring sacred geometry principles
- Tattoo art as a personal spiritual emblem
- Jewelry and talismans worn for protection or spiritual connection
The symbol bridges ancient mysticism and contemporary spirituality, appealing to those exploring consciousness, universal patterns, and geometric approaches to understanding existence.
Common Misconceptions
It is not ancient Egyptian religious iconography. While the most famous examples appear at the Osireion in Abydos, archaeological evidence suggests these may be later Greek additions rather than dynastic Egyptian sacred art. The dating and origin remain scholarly contested.
It is not a singular symbol with universal meaning. Due to its widespread occurrence, we cannot interpret the design as a single, unambiguous symbol. Indeed, its meaning varies depending on the historical and cultural context. Attributing identical spiritual significance across Egyptian, Assyrian, and Chinese contexts oversimplifies distinct cultural uses.
It is not inherently “energetic” or scientifically verified. Claims that the Flower of Life emits measurable vibrations, affects molecular structure, or has been “burned into granite at the atomic level” lack scientific evidence. While the pattern reflects mathematical principles (six-fold symmetry, Vesica Piscis geometry), assertions about energy fields or quantum properties remain metaphysical beliefs, not empirical facts.
It does not “contain” other symbols. The Seed of Life, Fruit of Life, Metatron’s Cube, and Tree of Life can be traced or derived from the Flower of Life pattern through geometric extraction, but they are conceptual overlays rather than hidden embedded images.
The name itself is modern. In the 1990s, it was called the “Flower of Life.” Ancient cultures used the pattern decoratively without this specific designation.
How to Begin
For those curious about the Flower of Life meaning and practice:
Study the geometry: Begin by drawing the pattern yourself. Start with one circle, then add six circles around it (Seed of Life), then continue outward. The act of construction reveals the pattern’s mathematical elegance.
Meditation practice: Print or obtain a clear image of the symbol. Sit comfortably, soften your gaze, and let your eyes rest on the center point where circles converge. Allow the symmetry to quiet mental chatter. Notice if patterns, insights, or states of calm arise.
Contextual learning: Explore sacred geometry more broadly. The Flower of Life connects to the Vesica Piscis, golden ratio, Platonic Solids, and other geometric principles. Understanding these relationships deepens appreciation.
Recommended resources:
- Books on sacred geometry that discuss mathematical and symbolic dimensions
- Online tutorials demonstrating how to draw the pattern
- Museums and historical sites (the Louvre houses Assyrian examples; travel to Abydos if exploring Egyptian archaeology)
- Workshops at retreat centers or metaphysical schools offering experiential sacred geometry instruction
Apply discernment: Distinguish between mathematical/historical facts and metaphysical interpretations. The pattern’s geometry is objective; its spiritual significance is subjective and culturally constructed. Approach with both wonder and critical thinking.