The Circles are Everywhere

If you look around, circles are all around us everywhere. 

The circle has been an integral part of human life and influenced human behavior even before the beginning of recorded history. Primitive men would have observed circles in their daily lives, such as the moon, the sun, or even the ripples in a pond. They were likely a bit more scared, but also would have been mesmerized by solar eclipse just as we are today. The circle was at the basis of the wheel, the most groundbreaking human invention which made life much easier, mobile and many subsequent inventions possible.

Circles have fascinated people throughout the ages. In Ancient Greek culture the circle was thought of as the perfect shape. To the Greeks the circle was a symbol of the divine symmetry and balance in nature. Greek mathematicians were fascinated by the geometry of circles and explored their properties for centuries. In Chinese philosophy, the circle of yin and yang describes how seemingly opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary, interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another. In Islam, the circle represents the unity of the monotheistic God. Its center represents God, as well as the city of Mecca, considered the spiritual and geographical centers of Islam. For a Zen master, the circle represents strength as well as elegance. It also symbolizes both the void and the universe in all its wild complexity. For many native cultures, a circle is the reflection of eternity. It has no beginning and it has no end. It is the interconnectedness of all of nature that defines the circle of life.

Today, circles are often used to symbolize harmony and unity. A perfect example is the five interlocking rings of different colors for Olympic Games which represent the five major continents of the world united together in a spirit of healthy competition.

Circles are everywhere.