What's the meaning of the Hand Eye Symbol »

Hand Eye Symbol

This page is about the meaning, origin and characteristic of the symbol, emblem, seal, sign, logo or flag: Hand Eye Symbol.

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The Hand Eye symbol featured strongly in the Mississippian culture. The following picture shows the Hand Eye Symbol surrounded by the Horned Serpent.

The meaning of the Hand Eye is obscure, its true meaning has been lost in the midst of time. However there seems to be a common belief that the Hand Eye symbol is related to gaining entry to the Upperworld (Heaven), in other words a portal. A portal is a magical doorway that connects two distant locations and provides an entry point from one world to another. The Eye-in-the-Hand symbol is believed to be representative of a supreme deity and is solar (and therefore Upperworld) in origin. To reach the Upperworld the deceased had to undertake a journey along the Path of Souls, the Milky Way.

The Hand Eye motif is one of five symbols that often appear together in Mississippian iconography. The other symbols are a skull, bones, panther and serpent. The skull and bones symbols represent death and the Panther symbol and the Great Serpent Symbol are icons of the Underworld and depicted as fearsome monsters. On the journey of the dead along path of souls, the milky way, the demons of the Underworld had to be avoided to gain entry to the Upperworld (Heaven). The Algonquin people believed that crossing a bridge in the shape of an enormous serpent would lead to the road of the afterlife. All those who had led and honest life would cross the bridge but others would fall into the waters below and turn into serpents. Our grasp of Mississippian symbolism is only rudimentary. Their true meanings can never really be known and the meanings of the symbols are based on best guesses. Our conclusion and best guess is that this Mississippian Hand Eye symbol would have been recognised by the Mississippian people to symbolize the journey along the Path of Souls and their ultimate goal of achieving eternal happiness in the Upperworld.

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Graphical characteristics:
Asymmetric, Closed shape, Colorful, Contains both straight and curved lines, Has no crossing lines.

Categories: Native American Symbols, Religious Symbols.

Hand Eye Symbol is part of the Astrological aspects group.

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Have a discussion about Hand Eye Symbol with the community:

3 Comments
  • jessical.88088
    So what if this symbol is on my actual palm naturally
    LikeReply2 years ago
  • Buddy Brown
    Buddy Brown
    It's not an eye in a hand. It is the opening to the female vagina. It is the portal by which men and women enter the world.
    LikeReply6 years ago
  • Michael Hudson
    Michael Hudson
    i had the vision of the hand with the eye in the center i hear and also see the words eye of the healer it is 80% better after eleven years i am preparing for another opperation clearing the other half of the blood clot i am thankful to God for the direction and relief of epilepsy and seizures. i will continue to thank God through the Holy sprit the sprit of Jesus Christ . 
    LikeReply 16 years ago

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"Hand Eye Symbol." Symbols.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.symbols.com/symbol/hand-eye-symbol>.

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