Symbols and Meanings

Discover facts and information about the culture of Native American Indians via the Symbols and Meanings dictionary.Gain an understanding of symbolism and the meaning signs used by Native American Indian tribes from the Symbols and Meanings dictionary.Discover facts about the secret and mysterious Symbols and Meanings used by Native American Indians  in this comprehensive, illustrated Symbols and Meanings reference guide.Symbols with Meaning - What did the Handprint mean?

Symbols and Meanings

The Native American Indians used many Symbols and Meanings to convey secret meanings. Our illustrated Symbols and Meanings guide provide a unique insight into the ancient and mysterious symbols and meanings used in their unusual forms of non-verbal communication. For additional information refer to the article on the Interpretation of Symbols.

Native American Symbols and Meanings
The Native American Symbols and their Meanings were usually based on geometric portrayals of celestial  such as the sun, moon and stars, natural phenomena such as thunderstorms and rain and animal designs including eagles, serpents and spiders. War paint that used by Indian warriors contained secret Symbols and Meanings and even horses were painted with Symbols and Meanings.  Many Symbols and Meanings were spiritual in nature conveying various religious beliefs. For additional information refer to Power Animals. Other Symbols and Meanings conveyed immediately identifiable secret messages to other tribe members. The Symbols and Meanings used by Native Americans also had practical purposes such as recording important events, providing directions, indicating good hunting areas or as warning signs and meanings.

Symbols and Meanings - Pictograms
Some of the Symbols used by Native Americans were simple pictograms. A pictogram conveys a story through pictures using Symbols and Meanings that signified and resembled the shapes of physical objects or people. An Ideagram is another form of pictogram which conveys complex ideas, feelings and emotions. A pictogram is a form of writing which uses representational, pictorial drawings to tell a story with symbols and meanings.

Symbols with MeaningA full description of the Symbols and Meanings are detailed for each of the subjects shown on the following list.

Symbols and Meanings
	Pictures of Symbols and Meanings		Symbols and Meanings
			Arrow symbolized protection and defence.
			Arrowhead symbolized alertness
			Avanyu symbolized a benevolent but fearful creature
			Bear symbolized courage, physical strength and leadership
			Bear Track indicated a direction  and are also symbols of leadership
			Bird Man represented the Upperworld, order, and light
			Bird Symbols discover the meanings and myths about Native American Bird Symbols
			Bird Track symbolized  light-hearted freedom. The tracks of any animal or  bird were used to indicate a direction.
			Brothers symbolized brothers and blood brothers
			Butterfly symbolized transformation
			Cactus symbolized warmth, protection and endurance
			Camp Fire symbolized a temporary  overnight stop
			Circle symbols symbolized the cycle  of the seasons and the cycle of life to death  to rebirth and the four elements.
			Change symbolized by weather related symbols  of rain, lightening and clouds. These are all  important symbols representing change,  renewal & fertility.
			Chunkey symbolized players of a famous game practised by the ancient Mound Builders
			Courage - Morning Star symbolized  hope and guidance
			Coyote symbolized a trickster deity
			Cross Symbols symbolized  the earth's forces, their origin and the manner in which they work
			Cross in a Circle symbolized the Sacred Four elements, the great primary forces of Fire, Air, Water and Earth.
			Crow symbolized as one of the wisest birds
			Dancer symbolized a celebration or ritual dance
			Days and Nights symbolized the passing of time
			Death Any Native American symbols that were portrayed upside down signified death.
			Deer Track symbolized safety, prosperity, and shelter
			Dragonfly symbolized happiness,  speed and purity
			Drum was used to interact with a higher power known to most as  the Great Spirit
			Eagle symbolized courage,  wisdom and strength
			Earth represented the four nations
			Enclosure symbolized an area  had been set aside for a special event - a ceremonial dance or ritual
			Eye of a Medicine Man A Medicine Man, or Shaman, was believed to have magical  powers of Spiritual Healing and of seeing into the future
			Falcon symbolized as messengers to the gods
			Fire represents cleansing  and renewal
			Fox symbolized a trickster playing pranks
			Family symbolized within a circle or by a tepee or  pictogram of a man, woman, boy and girl
			Feathered Serpent symbolized a benign or benevolent although fearful creature
			Feathers symbolized honor &  connected the user with the Creator
			Fertility symbol and sign
			Friendship symbolized by crossed arrows
			Four Ages of Man symbolized the  milestones in a person's life
			Gila Monster symbolized preservation and survival
			Great Serpent symbolized a malevolent creature
			Great Spirit symbolized the principal deity in the religion of  many Native American people
			Hand represented success in hand to hand combat
			Handprint symbolized human life  and this sign was believed  to channel energy to the wearer.
			Hand Eye symbolized a  portal or a magical doorway
			Harmony symbolized by the Rainbow Kokopelli Symbol.
			Hawk symbolized the  life force of the animal
			Heartline symbolized the life force of the animal
			Homecoming signified the return of a warrior
			Hoof Print represented the number of horses that were taken on a raid
			Hope
	Pictures of Symbols and Meanings		Symbols and Meanings
Symbols and Meanings

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