Growth. Creation. Evolution. Change. Pathways. Cycles. Fertility. Intuition. Change. Nature. Balance. Centering. Expansion.

• From the Latin: “Spirare” to breathe
• From the Greek: “speira” – coil. “Helix” – spiral shaped.

The spiral is one of my favorite motifs and symbols. It is what I doodle in the margins. It is what I add an an element when a piece needs “something”. To me its the path, the journey, the flow. Whether you are spiraling outward, always seeking and evolving, growing and becoming… Or spiraling inwards – to your core, your center, your truest self. Finding deep knowledge within…

The spiral is a structure that occurs in myriad ways in nature. From our double stranded DNA helix, to galaxies and storm patterns, shells, ferns, flowers…

In mathematics, the Fibonacci numbers, commonly denoted F_n , form a sequence, the Fibonacci sequence, in which each number is the sum of the two preceding ones. The sequence commonly starts from 0 and 1, although some authors start the sequence from 1 and 1 or sometimes (as did Fibonacci) from 1 and 2. Starting from 0 and 1, the first few values in the sequence are:^[1]0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144.

The Fibonacci numbers were first described in Indian mathematics, as early as 200 BC in work by Pingala on enumerating possible patterns of Sanskrit poetry formed from syllables of two lengths. They are named after the Italian mathematician Leonardo of Pisa, later known as Fibonacci, who introduced the sequence to Western European mathematics in his 1202 book Liber Abaci. ( Thank you Wiki)

Kundalini – Kundalinī is the feminine form of the Sanskrit adjective meaning “circular” or “coiled.” In yoga, the word applies to the life force that lies like a coiled serpent at the base of the spine and that can be sent along the spine to the head through prescribed postures and exercises. On the way, the kundalini passes through six chakras, or points of physical or spiritual energy in the human body. At the seventh chakra, the yogi is said to experience enlightenment.

Glastonbury Tor – a very special place to me… has a 7 circuit spiral path from the base to the top. As did the earthworks at Sillbury Hill.  The historian Ronald Hutton  mentions the possibility that the terraces are the remains of a medieval “spiral walkway” created for pilgrims to reach the church on the summit.

The spiral can also be seen as a symbol of interconnectedness, Its steady flow in and out creating a sense of balance.

This is truly a motif that could inspire me to eternity. ( And dont get me started on triple spiral, we will save them for later!) I hope that this has started some ideas swirling in your creative mind and that you will take it to the page this month!