The eight-sided polygon known as an octagon, signifies harmony and resonance. The intersection and relationship of two overlapping squares creates an eight-pointed star symbolized by the sun, i.e. the star that represents the center of our solar system. The sun is an energy source that is continuously regenerating itself every moment. The sun exemplifies change.
The eightfold pattern repeatedly vibrates in sympathy within the source of its own frequency. The octad is structured about the parameters of an even greater network.* The sun represents the beginnings of a new source being "formed" within a field of greater complexity. The sun is perceived as a keynote and single point of origin.
The sun is a source of harmony, a symbol of energy in motion, an involuntary force finding its own equilibrium within the infinity of the cosmos. The sun takes on the form of a nucleus and at the center of a system of energy that harbors a complex mathematical geometry. Multiple configurations and patterns of energy in motion are in perpetual transition and transformation as they swirl about this central core of attraction.
The image of the sun symbolizes the notion that there are certain vibratory frequencies that appear to harmonize (resonate) to frequencies that parallel the sun's own attributes and qualities. Together these frequencies create patterns and networks of their own while stewing within a cosmic soup of energy in motion. Certain vibrational impressions attract, others repel in an orchestration of what has been interpreted by Pythagoras as a harmony of the cosmos and the spheres.
* It is important to realize that the formation of an octad appears in every dimension and at every scale.
* It is important to realize that the formation of an octad appears in every dimension and at every scale.
The final eighth note is sounded to complete every octave. The final note finishes the scale while retaining reference to its original context. The last note represents the beginning of a new octave. This position is made apparent in reference to its frequency or pitch. Every note remains sympathetic to an original blueprint while still bringing into expression to an identity all its own. These are the elements that give expression to an arrangement of notes (vibration) seeking harmony and fulfillment.What appears to be the end of one scale (density) is the beginning of another. The completion of one phase remains impossible if not for the sounding of the final note. The octad represents the natural ending of one level of consciousness (dimension) and the entrance into another. Cyclic in character, periodic in expression and symbolic of major change are the principles that underlie the expression of eight-ness.
The design of the octad resonates to the division of a cell and its relationship to the body. The original eight cells remain identical during the process of conception, a pattern commonly shared by all forms of life (Egg of Life). Here is where eight cells form to become the cube.
The Egg of Life is the name given to the second iteration in the process of construction of the Flower of Life. Therefore, it contains 7+6=13 circles as shown in Figure 1. This figure surely can be translated to three dimensions in several ways.
Source: Sacred Geometry
* * *
This original eight-cell formation creates the base octave from which all other cells experience their life cycles by changing every five to seven years. Located in the center of the body and growing 360 degrees eight cells become sixteen thereby creating the next level of complexity. At this point further cellular symmetry is no longer possible and individual life forms begin to take on their own identifiable shapes.
There is a close relationship between the heptad and the octad. What appears to harbor chaos, diversity and a virtual world of potential and probability the heptad becomes resolved by a single note indicating the beginning of a new direction and/or reality. A single note harbors the potential to end and finalize the past while remaining sympathetic to a greater singularity, e.g. the Tao.
Eight-fold consciousness exemplifies both the intensity and flexibility required for change. Harmony is sympathetic to the expression of every substance that contributes to the greater whole. Listen to any symphony to understand the basic eight-fold concept of resonance, sympathy and harmony.
The eight-fold octad describes the formation of an autonomous system of energy in motion. Where the pentad symbolically begins what might be considered an identifiable consciousness, the octad finalizes the process by bringing this awareness to completion through substantiation (form). The eighth note encapsulates a certain awareness that can be discovered in the four elements of earth, air, fire and water.The summation of four plus four being eight is brought to completion in the octad. Points reach out and a sense of stability is expressed in its two formative squares (duality).
There appears to be a harmonious balance between the known and the unknown. The octave describes and in sense substantiates, the symbolic middle ground.
Consciousness is contained within a scale of limitations yet aspires to reach beyond these constraints, especially when the complementary square is discovered to be in the shape of a diamond. Central to both squares a common field where every design takes place. Understanding can be found in this state of awareness where experience is balanced and absorbed within the formative concepts of meaning and purpose (design). The octagon begins to approach the perfection of a circle and in many cultures has been described as the wheel of transformation.
* * *
This text explores the symbolic and metaphysical significance of the octagon, octad, and the number eight, drawing connections between the shapes, sound, energy, and cosmic principles. To refine and expand on the themes within this text, I’ll break down the key concepts and their interrelationships in more detail, bringing out nuances while maintaining the essence of the original ideas.
1. The Octagon and the Concept of Harmony
The octagon, with its eight sides, is a symbol of harmony and resonance. In its geometric structure, the eight sides represent balance, stability, and completion. It embodies the idea of a cycle, as eight is often associated with the completion of a process that simultaneously sets the stage for a new one. This cyclical nature mirrors the behavior of energy in the universe—constantly regenerating and transforming.
The octagon’s relationship to two overlapping squares, creating an eight-pointed star, evokes the image of the sun, the central source of life and energy. The sun is not only a physical entity but a symbol of perpetual transformation—just as the sun's energy radiates outward in a dynamic, continuous process, so too does the octagon encapsulate the idea of change and movement. This reflects the greater cosmic process in which every change leads to renewal, and every ending is simultaneously a new beginning.
The overlap of two squares forming a star also symbolizes the way different forces, when in harmonious interaction, create new, emergent patterns. This duality—the two squares—serves as a metaphor for the relationship between opposites or complementary forces, such as light and dark, male and female, or order and chaos. The result is not conflict, but the birth of a more complex, integrated whole that echoes the principles of balance and interconnection inherent in the cosmos.
2. Resonance, Vibrations, and the Sun's Role
The concept of vibratory frequencies and resonance is central to this text, illustrating the idea that all matter and energy vibrate at specific frequencies. The octad, or eightfold pattern, is in constant resonance with itself and with the greater field of energy from which it emerges. The sun, as a source of energy, symbolizes not only life-giving light but also the regenerative power that sustains the vibratory patterns that underlie the structure of the cosmos.
The idea that the octad represents a frequency that resonates with the sun's own vibratory qualities aligns with the ancient belief that the universe is made up of sound and frequency. This belief is most notably found in the concept of the Music of the Spheres, a Pythagorean idea that the movements of celestial bodies create harmonic sounds, though inaudible to the human ear. Thus, the octagon, through its association with the sun, becomes a symbol of the cosmos in perfect harmony, vibrating with frequencies that reflect both the unity and the diversity of existence.
3. The Octave: Completion and Renewal
The octave in music—specifically the final eighth note—is a powerful symbol of completion and renewal. Every octave ends with the eighth note, which doesn’t just complete the scale; it also signifies the beginning of a new cycle. This cyclical nature of the octave speaks to the inherent pattern of life itself—each phase or stage is but a part of an ongoing process of growth, transformation, and rebirth.
In this context, the eighth note represents the beginning of a new dimension of existence, a higher frequency or vibration that brings about a new awareness. It emphasizes the natural flow from one state of being to another, embodying the continuous evolution of consciousness and experience. The transition from one octave to another echoes the process of moving from one level of consciousness (or dimension) to another, symbolizing major transformation or awakening.
This can be further expanded in the context of personal and collective growth. The final note of an octave represents both the culmination of a process and the potential for change. In this way, every completion is not an end, but a point of transition, suggesting the infinite nature of existence.
4. The Octad as a Symbol of Life's Development
The number eight is deeply embedded in the processes of life and creation. The eight cells in the early stages of conception represent the foundation of life, with each cell a unique part of a greater whole. This aligns with the Egg of Life, a symbol often used in sacred geometry to represent the potential of life unfolding. The eightfold structure at the cellular level can be seen as a metaphor for the development of consciousness—growing from a singular, unified state to a complex, multifaceted existence.
In relation to DNA and the Periodic Table, the octad can be seen as an archetypal representation of life's structure. DNA’s double helix itself contains a balance of opposing forces, much like the duality found in the octagon, where balance and symmetry hold a central place in the natural order. Similarly, the Periodic Table of the Elements, with its repeating octaves of atomic properties, mirrors the idea that the material world is governed by cycles that repeat, yet each time the cycle completes, it does so at a new, higher level of complexity.
This idea of evolution and growth through repetition reflects a broader philosophical principle—that complexity emerges from simplicity, and each new cycle brings about more refined forms of life and consciousness. In the same way that cells double and divide, life itself progresses through cycles, each bringing new possibilities and perspectives.
5. Heptad and Octad: The Resolution of Chaos
The relationship between the heptad (seven) and octad (eight) is particularly insightful. The heptad, associated with chaos and potential, becomes resolved and brought into harmony through the eighth note, the symbol of a new beginning or a new direction. In this sense, the heptad represents the unresolved, the field of possibility and probability, while the octad symbolizes resolution and the emergence of order from this potential.
The transition from the heptad to the octad can be viewed as a shift in consciousness or the birth of a new reality. The seventh point marks a state of flux, while the eighth signifies the resolution and finalization of that flux. This mirrors the idea that chaos, when integrated with order, leads to creativity and creation—much like the process of gestation, where the birth of a new being is a resolution to the chaos of development.
6. The Octad and the Tao
The reference to the Tao, the ultimate unity or principle of the universe, highlights the deeper philosophical resonance of the octad. The octad, with its dual squares and symmetry, embodies the principle of balance that is central to Taoist philosophy. The octad is the manifestation of unity within duality—where opposites find their natural equilibrium.
This balance between the known and the unknown, the manifest and the unmanifest, is key to understanding the cyclical nature of existence. The Taoist idea that the Tao is both immanent and transcendent is mirrored in the octad, which simultaneously represents the finite and the infinite, the form and the formless. It is within this dynamic tension that the process of creation, growth, and transformation unfolds.
Conclusion
The octagon, through its geometric, vibratory, and symbolic properties, represents the inherent principles of balance, harmony, and transformation that govern both the material and spiritual realms. From the cellular level to the cosmic scale, the octad symbolizes the perpetual cycle of creation, destruction, and renewal, offering a framework for understanding the continuous evolution of consciousness, energy, and existence itself. Whether through the music of the spheres, the progression of life’s cycles, or the fundamental structures of the universe, the octagon reminds us that completion is never truly an end—it is always a precursor to something new.
The author generated this text in part with GPT-3, OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model. Upon generating draft language, the author reviewed, edited, and revised the language to their own liking and takes ultimate responsibility for the content of this publication.
* * *
* * *
- CODEF19
* * *
"To believe is to accept another's truth.
To know is your own creation."
Anonymous
Edited: 11.28.2013, 01.19.2014, 01.11.2017, 03.30.2017, 09.11.2019, 02.26.2023, 10.01.2024, 10.06.2024, 02.17.2025, 03.29.2025
Find your truth. Know your mind.
Follow your heart. Love eternal will not be denied. Discernment is an integral
part of self-mastery. You may share this post as long as author, copyright and
URL https://designconsciousness.blogspot.com/ is
included as the resource and shared on a non-commercial no charge basis. Please
note … posts are continually being edited over time. Copyright © 2009 C.G.
Garant. All Rights Reserved. (Fair use notice.) You are invited to visit https://designmetaphysics.blogspot.com/. Now visit Design Consciousness on https://www.pinterest.com
No comments:
Post a Comment