What Does a Spiral Mean Spiritually?

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Plus, how to use a spiral’s energy yourself

Co-authored by Amy Bobinger, BA Reviewed by Stina Garbis

Last Updated: December 13, 2025 Fact Checked

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Spiral Spiritual Meaning

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Spiral Symbols in Various Cultures

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Embracing the Spiral’s Power

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The spiral has been meaningful to numerous cultures across history. Spirals in human art date back to at least the Neolithic Period, which stretches from around 7000–1700 B.C. And they’re still important to people today, making this one of the most enduring and universal symbols known to humanity. We’re exploring the spiritual meaning of the spiral, where it’s appeared in various cultures, and how you can use the spiral on your own journey.

What does a spiral mean spiritually?

An illustration of a spiral with text that says, “The spiral is an ancient, sacred symbol that represents spiritual growth, transformation, and change.”

The spiral has been revered as a sacred symbol since at least the Neolithic period. It represents spiritual growth, either by expanding outward or journeying inward. It also symbolizes transformation and change—just like the spiral expands on its journey, we learn and grow each time we repeat a cycle in our lives.^{[1]
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Section 1 of 3:

What is the spiritual meaning of a spiral?

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Spiritual growth and journey To many people, the never-ending spiral shape represents our journey through life.^{[2]
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Pam Muller
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Expert Interview} In particular, it symbolizes the ongoing search for enlightenment and wisdom. For instance:
- If you follow the spiral from the outside to the inside, it can represent a journey deep inward, where we can uncover wisdom and learn more about our hidden selves.
- If you follow the spiral from the inside to the outside, it can symbolize growing beyond yourself to become more aware of the broader world around you.
- The spiral is not always a flat, 2D shape—it can also travel upward and outward, symbolizing a journey toward freedom.
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Transformation and change The spiral is a reminder that life is cyclical, yet ever-changing. All living things go through the same pattern of birth, life, death, and rebirth, and each generation carries that cycle forward into the future.
- This can apply on a personal level, too. Sometimes it might feel like we’re going in a circle or repeating the same cycles over and over, but we’re actually progressing, widening our scope of experience and wisdom with each pass.
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Connection between all things The spiral appears throughout the natural world. It manifests in the tiniest ways (our double-helix DNA, a snail shell, or a fern frond) to the most grand (tornadoes, hurricanes, and even the galaxies).
- The recurrence of the spiral shape in all of these things is a reminder that everything—humans, plants, animals, and even the universe itself—is interconnected.
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Duality and balance The spiral is made up of a solid line and negative space, and it constantly travels through opposite directions—up and down, left and right. Similarly, some people see the spiral as representing a balance between two opposing concepts, like light and dark or masculine and feminine energies.
- This is sometimes applied to the direction the spiral is facing. For instance, if the spiral rotates counterclockwise, some people see it as an inner journey that channels feminine or lunar energy, and if it rotates clockwise, it might be an outward journey channeling masculine or solar energy.

Section 2 of 3:

Spiral Symbols in Various Cultures

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Mathematics: Golden Spiral and Fibonacci Spiral The Golden Spiral expands by the Golden Ratio (1.618) at every quarter-turn. It’s considered the most aesthetically pleasing spiral—and it’s also the one found most commonly in nature.^{[3]
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- For instance, sunflower seeds, pinecones, and seashells often closely approximate the Golden Spiral.
- The Fibonacci Spiral is similar to the Golden Spiral, but is drawn inside boxes that increase in side based on the Fibonacci sequence.^{[4]
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Reiki: Cho Ku Rei In the Japanese practice of energy healing known as Reiki, practitioners often draw a healing symbol known as Cho Ku Rei. This symbol looks like a spiral with a hooked line running through it vertically. Cho Ku Rei is often referred to as the “power symbol” and is used to help concentrate or focus energy.^{[6]
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- Cho Ku Rei is also thought to help dispel negative energy.
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Hopi: Healing Hand Several Native American nations, including the Hopi people, used a symbol known as a Healer’s Hand, an upright hand with a spiral over the palm. In this symbol, the hand represents human life, and the spiral is the symbol for eternity or one’s journey through life.^{[7]
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- The Hopi also used carvings of spirals to track winter and summer solstices.^{[8]
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In Buddhism, the Unalome symbol shows a vertical spiral path that moves from side to side, with a curved spiral at the bottom. It represents the journey to enlightenment and the difficulties people face in life.^{[9]
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Paganism: Triskelion/Triskele The Triskelion (sometimes called the Triskele) is a Pagan symbol used by the Celts (although it’s actually older than their civilization). It features three spirals connected in the center, and is thought to represent the earth, sky, and spiritual realm.^{[10]
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- The oldest known instance of this symbol—at Newgrange in Ireland—pre-dates the Egyptian pyramids.
- Some early Christians—especially those of Celtic descent—may have adopted the Triskele to represent the Holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.^{[11]
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  Research source} However, another three-sided Celtic symbol played a more prominent role in early Christianity—the triquetra, which looks like 3 interlocking triangles.^{[12]
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The spiral goddess is a female figure with her arms outstretched and a spiral covering her womb. While this symbol does draw from ancient carvings and paintings of goddesses, this is likely a more modern symbol that represents fertility, freedom, and women’s empowerment.^{[13]
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Spiral labyrinths date back at least 4,000 years. These paths circle around and double back on themselves, and they’re often used as part of walking meditations. They’ve been found around the globe, including India, Scandinavia, North America, and the Mediterranean.^{[14]
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Section 3 of 3:

How to Embrace the Power of the Spiral

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Use the spiral as a way to accept change and transformation. Every pass of the spiral widens it into a new space. In the same way, life can push you into unfamiliar territory. But expanding beyond your comfort zone is necessary for growth, just like a fern has to keep pushing through the spiral so it can unfurl, or the snail has to continue adding to the spiral to grow its shell.
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Consider how you feel personally connected to the spiral. Spiritual symbols are inherently personal. While there may be some universal truths you can connect to the symbol of the spiral, ultimately, the way those apply to your life will be unique to your experiences. Spend time thinking about how the spiral can be a meaningful symbol to you.
- For instance, if you’ve overcome difficult experiences in your past, the spiral might symbolize breaking free of old patterns or the transformation you went through in the process.
- If you’re beginning a journey of self-discovery, the spiral might represent your path into understanding your inner world and the spiritual guides that have helped you along the way.
- It could also be a reminder that you are connected to the universe on a cellular level, helping you overcome feelings of isolation or reminding you to appreciate the natural world around you.
- If you’re struggling to accept change, the spiral can remind you that it’s necessary to expand past your comfort zone in order to grow, just like the spiral expands with every pass.
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Meditate on naturally occurring spirals. If you’re spending time in nature, look for the spiral patterns that appear. For instance, you might notice it on a seashell, unfurling leaf, fern frond, pinecone, or the center of a sunflower. When you see one, spend some time meditating. Concentrate on the spiral and think about the growth and transformation that takes place in order to create it.^{[15]
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- You can do the same if you see images of larger spiral shapes, like aerial images of whirlpools, tornadoes, or tropical storms.
Add spiral-themed artwork, jewelry, or home decor as a subtle, creative reminder of your inner journey and outward growth. It could be as simple as a pair of spiral earrings or a spiral pin on your backpack, or as dedicated as a mural on your wall. Use it as a way to stay in touch with the spiral’s personal meaning for you.