In this blog post, we’ll be unearthing the secrets of the Fruit of Life.
While many symbols in Sacred Geometry are often alluded for their direct connections to the universe and the interconnections of existence, the Fruit of Life is full of meaning in its own unique way.
The Fruit of Life doesn’t boast of a single elegant symbol. Instead, it’s a mesmerizing pattern composed of 13 circles. And in the Fruit of Life, each of the thirteen circles holds a key, together, they may very well unlock the secrets of the cosmos.
Got your curiosity? Let’s dive right in!
What is the Fruit of Life?
The Fruit of Life is a network of data organized in a very specific way. It’s comprised of 13 informational systems, each one explaining another aspect of reality and consciousness.
These systems are able to give us access to everything ranging from the human body to the galaxies.
In the first system, for example, it’s possible to create any molecular structure and any living cellular structure that exists in the universe. (We’ll cover the others further down below.)
In simple terms, if you were to follow and connect the centers of the 13 circles in the Fruit of Life, you would end up with what’s called Metatron’s Cube.
This structure contains all Five Platonic Solids, which are the foundational blocks of life. These shapes are the building blocks of all organic life, and they provide the template for the creation of all matter.
By understanding the Fruit of Life, we are provided with tools that shows that every particle, object, and being in the universe is deeply intertwined with everything else.
The Fruit of Life in Sacred Geometry
What is Sacred Geometry?
Let’s take a step back and tackle a fundamental question: What exactly is sacred geometry? If you’ve been reading the other articles on Sacred Geometry, then you’re probably tired of hearing the answer to this question.
But for the new readers, let’s just make sure we’re all on the same page.
Sacred geometry is a bit like the “secret code” of the universe. It’s a series of geometric shapes and patterns that show up again and again in nature, architecture, art, music – you name it.
These patterns aren’t random; they follow precise mathematical rules and proportions, reflecting an innate order in the world around us.
Sacred geometry is sacred because people from diverse cultures have attributed spiritual meanings to these shapes.
For them, these patterns aren’t just about science or math – they’re a glimpse into the mind of God.
By studying these forms, they believed, one could gain insights into the mysteries of existence and the divine order.
Fruit of Life and Other Symbols
Think of sacred geometry as a colossal jigsaw puzzle with countless pieces, each one unique and just as beautiful.
Now, the Fruit of Life is one of the central pieces of this puzzle. It’s a link that connects different elements of sacred geometry.
Let’s begin with the Vesica Piscis, from which the Seed of Life can be formed. As we know, the Seed of Life is a basic component of the Flower of Life, which in turn gives birth to the Fruit of Life.
Each pattern is a more complex version of the one that precedes it, representing a higher level of consciousness or a more comprehensive understanding of the universe. Such as the movement from the Flower of Life to the Egg of Life.
And remember that with just a few additional lines, the Fruit of Life morphs into other intricate patterns like Metatron’s Cube, which encloses the five Platonic Solids.
Fruit of Life Meanings & Symbolism
Each of the 13 spheres in the Fruit of Life can be interpreted as representing an informational system, providing insight into different aspects of reality and states of consciousness:
The First Sphere
The first sphere symbolizes the genesis of all existence. It represents pure, divine consciousness, or “Source”.
In some belief systems, it is viewed as the divine spark that ignites all of creation, akin to the Big Bang in scientific terms.
It symbolizes the undifferentiated unity before duality arises. It is the state of oneness, the primal singularity from which the universe unfolded.
It embodies the idea of pure potentiality, the unmanifest that contains within it the design of all existence.
This corresponds to certain interpretations of the Tao in Taoism, which is viewed as the undifferentiated unity that precedes and gives rise to the complementary dualities of existence.
Similarly, in Hinduism, it is akin to the concept of “Brahman“, the ultimate reality.
In the human spiritual development, the first sphere symbolizes the primal, unconscious state of being before the onset of self-awareness, the ego.
The Second Sphere
As we move onto the second sphere of the Fruit of Life, it represents dualities that make up our world.
This is where differentiation begins and individual forms start to manifest from the initial unity represented by the first sphere.
This sphere symbolizes the polarity that is inherent in all aspects of creation – light and dark, positive and negative, expansion and contraction.
It represents the dynamic interplay of opposites that is fundamental to all processes of growth and evolution.
It symbolizes the onset of self-awareness and the recognition of the “other”.
This stage involves the exploration of the world of forms and the realization of our individual identities.
The concept of duality is central to many spiritual traditions.
For instance, in Taoism, it corresponds to the idea of Yin and Yang, the complementary forces that maintain the harmony of the universe.
In Hindu philosophy, it’s similar to the concept of Maya, the illusory world of forms and dualities, masking the true nature of reality.
The Third Sphere
The third sphere symbolizes the balance between the first two spheres, uniting them and giving birth to new potential.
It signifies the synthesis that arises from the interaction of duality and the emergence of a third entity, a new life. (In Sacred Geometry, it can also be known as the Tripod of Life)
In many spiritual traditions, this stage represents the principle of creation.
It can be likened to the Christian concept of the Holy Trinity, where the Father and the Son are united by the Holy Spirit.
In Hinduism, the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, who together symbolize the cycle of creation, preservation, and the dissolution of the Universe.
The Fourth Sphere
The fourth sphere symbolizes structure and order.
In numerology, the number four is associated with stability (which is why in photography composition, rectangles adds a sense of stability to your photos).
This sphere represents the physical plane. It is associated with the four elements (earth, air, fire, water), the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, west), or the four seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter).
The fourth sphere is the grounding of energy into matter or the manifestation of the spiritual into the physical.
In Hinduism, there is also the concept of the Four Fruits of Life: Dharma (righteousness), Artha (prosperity), Kama (pleasure) and Moksha (liberation).
Or the Four Noble Truths which a central belief in Theravada Buddhism amongst other schools.
It’s where ideas, dreams, and potential (symbolized by the previous spheres) start to take tangible form.
The Fifth Sphere
Now we’re going deeper.
Five is such a significant number. We have the five senses who are represented by the Five Pandava brothers from the Ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata.
In Christianity, the number five is symbolic of God’s grace and goodness, as seen with the five loaves of bread that fed the multitude.
Meanwhile, in Chinese philosophy, there are five elements (Wu Xing) – wood, fire, earth, metal, and water – that describe interactions and relationships between phenomena, which is also used in Feng Shui.
In Hinduism, there are five elements (Pancha Bhoota) that constitute the physical body – earth, water, fire, air, and ether.
There is also the five Platonic solids (also considered as Sacred Geometry) – the tetrahedron, cube, octahedron, dodecahedron, and icosahedron – which are derived from the Fruit of Life.
These geometric shapes have been associated with the same elements of the Pancha Bhoota: earth (cube), water (icosahedron), fire (tetrahedron), air (octahedron), and ether (dodecahedron) which are seen as the representing the fundamental building blocks of the universe!
Starting to see the connection?
The Sixth Sphere
The sixth sphere is often associated with equilibrium because of its divisibility and symmetrical nature.
This balance is visually reflected in the six-pointed Star of David or the hexagram, a symbol of integration and the union of opposites.
In Christianity, the six days of Creation is considered here, implying the completion of the physical universe yet the anticipation of a divine completion (on the seventh day).
The Seventh Sphere
Back to Buddhism and Hinduism, for these traditions, there are seven higher worlds and seven underworlds (similar to Dante’s 7 Layers of Hell!) or even the 7 Planes of Existence!
There’s also the belief that the human body has seven chakras, each corresponding to different energies and consciousness levels.
In ancient Egyptian beliefs, there were seven Hathors, goddesses of fate and fortune. These goddesses could offer both good luck and a protection against evil.
Which is why the number 7 is often considered a symbol of good fortune.
And don’t forget the Seven Archangels from Christianity too!
In many indigenous and shamanic traditions, there are seven directions: North, South, East, West, Above, Below, and Within.
The seventh sphere represents the point of perfect balance among all directions – the place of the individual in the center of the universe, connecting with all aspects of reality.
The Eighth Sphere
For the eight sphere, there is the Noble Eightfold Path from Buddhism which is a guide to ethical and mindful living that leads to liberation from suffering (Nirvana).
In Christianity, eight is also associated with the resurrection of Christ. It’s seen as the number of new beginnings.
In terms of the natural world, there are eight sabbats (seasonal celebrations) in the Wheel of the Year in pagan traditions, relating to the natural cycles of the Earth.
Here, the eighth sphere represents alignment with the natural cycles and rhythms of the world.
(As an added bonus, while 7 is considered a lucky number, in Chinese culture, eight is the lucky one for them because it sounds similar to the word for wealth.)
The Ninth Sphere
In Christian angelic hierarchy, there are nine choirs of angels.
Each choir represents a different level of divine responsibility, from maintaining the love of God to managing cosmic order and interacting with the human world.
In Norse mythology, the universe is divided into nine worlds, each with its own beings and characteristics which is represented by Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life (another profound symbol in Sacred Geometry).
The Tenth Sphere
In the biblical context, the number ten is used over 240 times and signifies a complete cycle.
The Ten Commandments and the tithing system (giving one-tenth of one’s income to the church) are other examples.
In Pythagorean philosophy, ten is considered perfect because it contains all the digits from one to nine and represents a model of the universe.
The ancient Chinese considered ten to symbolize the “full course of life,” again denoting a complete cycle.
In the Tarot, the number ten (Wheel of Fortune) again symbolizes the end of a cycle and the beginning of a new one.
There is also the 10 Emanations of God found within the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. Interestingly, it also has strong connections with the Tarot if you’re keen on learning more.
The Eleventh Sphere
Continuing on from the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, the eleventh hidden sephira, Daath represents the abyss and the challenging path to spiritual enlightenment.
Furthermore, in the science of sacred geometry, the 11th dimension is sometimes associated with the idea of parallel universes and the multiverse theory.
It’s a concept that suggests the existence of infinite universes, including the one we inhabit!
The Twelfth Sphere
Here come the 12 signs of the Zodiac! In Astrology, each one represents a specific energy. (Or even the 12 Animal signs from the Chinese Zodiac.)
The twelfth sphere is symbolic of the wholeness and completeness that comes from integrating all these diverse energies into a unified whole, akin to the completeness of the Fruit of Life.
There are also 12 months in a year, 12 hours on a clock, and 12 tribes of Israel in the Bible, among other examples.
And who can forget the 12 apostles, who facilitated the spread of spiritual teachings throughout the world.
There’s also the 12 Spiritual Laws of the Universe which I highly recommend checking out!
The Thirteenth Sphere
Finally, here’s where things get really deep. If you’ve read this far, buckle up cuz now I’m about to blow your mind.
The thirteenth sphere is the final piece of the Fruit of Life. Being at the center of all other spheres, it symbolizes the central point of unity, the origin, and the end of all creation but is that all there is to it?
The number 13 in Numerology is often associated with the cycle of life, death, and rebirth which is known as Samsara in Buddhist and Hindu traditions.
In Tarot, the 13th card of the Major Arcana is “Death”, but it’s not as ominous as it sounds. The card is often interpreted as a symbol of metamorphosis, of endings leading to new beginnings. It’s a sign of shedding old patterns and stepping into a new phase spiritual development.
In some ways, we can interpret that the 13th sphere alludes to a transcendental state where one rises above the physical realm to merge with the divine.
As seen in Sikhism, the number 13, written as “tera” in Punjabi, means “yours” referring to everything belonging to the Divine. Reminding us to surrender and the dissolve the ego.
Now here’s where things get a bit more interesting.
In Christianity, the apostle Paul (or Matthias) is often considered the 13th Apostle. He was not one of the original 12 but had a profound spiritual awakening and became one of the most influential figures in early Christianity.
Further emphasizing the thirteenth sphere as a symbol of awakening.
It also adds an element of the unexpected, challenging the established order, much like how the 13th sphere challenges our conventional understanding of the universe.
For example, the thirteenth sphere is also linked to Ophiuchus, the serpent-bearer and the 13th zodiac that’s also associated with enlightenment (the Kundalini awakening – which is also represented by a coiled serpent).
Yet, another instance of breaking from what we usually know (the 12 Zodiacs).
The Mayan calendar’s “Tzolk’in” has 13 months and there are 13 moons in a year. The concept is also found in Wicca and some pagan traditions.
This is also different from the concept of the rare Blue Moon.
Normally, we think of a year as having 12 months (12 full moons).
However, there are occasionally years with 13 full moons, and this is known as a blue moon year.
As you may have noticed by now, the 13th sphere represents concepts that transcend conventional understanding, appearing as the “unknown” in many cultural and spiritual contexts.
This symbolism aligns well with the Fruit of Life’s representation of the Universe’s fundamental structure in sacred geometry.
The Thirteen Spheres of the Fruit of Life
In the Fruit of Life, the thirteenth sphere can be seen as the encapsulating sphere that envelops the other 12 spheres.
It symbolizes a higher realm of consciousness, unity, and wholeness, encompassing the diversity and multiplicity represented by the 12 spheres within.
It is the sphere that binds and balances all others, suggesting a transcendent principle.
The 13th sphere is like the “missing piece” that completes the puzzle, the hidden knowledge that sheds light on the true nature of existence.
It invites us to go beyond the surface, challenge conventional wisdom, and seek deeper, more holistic insights into the nature of existence and our place in it.
Ultimately, the Universe is far more complex and intricate than what our puny human senses and understanding can grasp.
But by daring to venture into the “unknown” represented by the 13th sphere, we allow ourselves to engage with the Universe more fully.
This sphere is also seen as a gateway to higher dimensions, a sort of cosmic doorway that leads to higher consciousness and enlightenment as seen from the symbolic examples.
So, in sacred geometry, like all other symbols, it serves as the key to unlocking the secrets of the universe.
