Symbols of female empowerment now play a massive role in affirming the courage and tenacity of women everywhere. So if you want to wear that courage as part of your personal statement or fashion, nothing’s stopping you today! Xinar has been encouraging creativity and crafting for over two decades, and our hypoallergenic, lead-free, and nickel-free jewelry-making supplies make it all possible.
Explore the depths of creative freedom with our sterling silver charms and make mixed metal jewelry easily with our selection of precious and semiprecious beads and findings. Shop from the comfort of your home, and we’ll ship your symbols of female empowerment and other items you need to design handmade jewelry ASAP!
Venus De Milo
First on our list of symbols of female empowerment is the Venus De Milo. One of Western civilization’s most famous works of art is the ancient Greek statue known as the Venus de Milo. It was likely created by the Hellenistic period sculptor Alexandros of Antioch, who lived from about 150 to 50 BC. The Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite, is said to be represented in the artwork. The sculpture’s two pieces fit together to form an almost horizontal line concealed by a garment roll at the hips.
Heart
While ubiquitous, the heart charm remains a powerful symbol of female empowerment because it goes against all the negativity in the world. The heart symbol is a reminder of the power of loving and kindness. It is also the perfect antidote to negativity and helps empower females by showing the world what truly matters.
Leaves with a heart shape have been used as a symbol of loyalty or fertility as early as 3000 B.C.E. when they were used as decorations on ceramics. Yet, it is unclear why they came to be associated with the human heart. It’s also possible that the design was inspired by silphium, employed as a contraceptive.
Only in the Greek city of Cyrene did it grow, and its seed was so vital to the local economy that it was depicted on coins.
The power of love is one of the few forces acknowledged by people everywhere. The heart is the universal symbol of love; no other image comes close. The universally recognized sign of the heart symbol is that we constantly encounter it. But the question remains: where did the heart symbol originate, and how come we identify so strongly with it now?
Heart-shaped artifacts from the Indus Valley Civilization provide the earliest evidence of this love symbol and its significance. The Middle Ages traced the history of the heart emblem back to Aristotle’s writings. He said there are three chambers in the human heart, with some depression in the middle. The overall heart shape first appeared in ancient medical writings when painters and scientists attempted to depict that shape.
Given the heart’s traditional link to feelings of joy and affection, it’s no surprise that this symbol has come to represent love in popular culture. Art, coats of arms, and textiles were just a few mediums that began, including hearts. Today’s “point-down” heart shape evolved from earlier pictures of inverted hearts.
Lioness/Lion
The lion, third on our list of symbols of female empowerment, represents many noble qualities, like wisdom, family, protection, strength, courage, and majesty. Lions were previously widely distributed outside of Africa, Asia, and perhaps Europe.
As a result, the lion features prominently in the mythology and folklore of various countries. Furthermore, for individuals who sense a connection to these stunning wild cats, the lion spirit animal is a unique power animal.
The lion is a universally recognized symbol of monarchy. In fact, “Simba” (lion) also signifies “king” in Swahili. The female lion, or lioness, would fit this description as well. The lion has an air of authority and magnetism about it. Lions are the top predators in the animal kingdom, with few natural predators to compete with them. Therefore, when we want to honor or memorialize someone, we use the term “lionize” amongst ourselves.
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Seeing a lion in any form—real life, art, or the media—may be a message that you must assert yourself and take charge. It’s much simpler to follow a good leader than to become one. A leader might take heart from the lion’s noble nature. Keep your head up and lead by example like the best leaders of the past.
Swan
Part of the symbolism family of female empowerment is acknowledging the grace and beauty of the female mind and form. Therefore, the swan becomes a perfect addition to our list of powerful symbols of female empowerment.
Light, purity, metamorphosis, intuition, and grace are all represented by the swan charm, representing an animal popular in myth and literature. For example, the swan represented the soul in Ancient Greek mythology and was associated with Apollo, the Sun God. At the same time, in other religions, it took on the feminine connotations of the Moon.
Swans were used in Celtic mythology to guide the Sun boat through the sky. In alchemy, the swan united the elements of fire and water, making it neither feminine nor masculine. In Hinduism, the swan represents a connection between the celestial and earthly, the air and the sea. According to shamanic beliefs, swans had the unique power to cross into the Otherworld.
Ankh
The Ankh, an Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol sometimes known as the “key of life” or “everlasting life,” has come to symbolize these concepts, as well as fertility and a woman’s ability to give birth. It was thought to have the secret of navigating the afterlife and is usually portrayed as a cross with a loop at the top. Throughout history, it has represented a woman’s ability to provide for her family and community in times of need.
In Ancient Egypt, the treatment of women was based on religious principles. Feminine ideas like reproduction and rebirth were central to Ancient Egyptian belief in balance and equality. The Egyptian pantheon had numerous female goddesses, each with her specialization. They included anything from the mundane (such as keeping tabs on pregnancies and making beer) to the heavenly.
Isis was responsible for shepherding the dead securely into the hereafter, and Neith, an early goddess commonly regarded as the principal creator in narratives of how the world was founded. At various stages in Egyptian history, both Hathor and Isis were revered as the pharaoh’s heavenly mother and received significant adoration.
Tree of Life
The feminine goddess, the symbol of life, is often associated with trees, like the one in our Tree of Life cuff. Asherah was a female goddess revered by ancient Jews. She was considered the spouse of El (the Father God) and the mother of Jehovah. Her adoration was performed in domestic settings and secluded groves atop nearby hills. Asherah is often connected with olive trees, sycamore, palm, date, tamarisk, and oak, though any tree might represent the feminine divine. The Feminine Divine is connected to sacred trees like the Tree of Life because of this.
Wolf
The Native American Wolf Symbol denotes loyalty, family unity, open lines of communication, wisdom, and intelligence. The Wolf is the most supernaturally mighty and skilled hunter of all terrestrial creatures. Wolf pack members interact with one another through vocalizations, body language, and touch. Native North Americans attach great cultural value to the Wolf.
Due to their similarities, First Nations hold Wolves in the highest regard. Both humans and wolves can provide for, protect, and even teach their communities. The Wolf has always been held in high regard as a family-oriented creature due to his reputation for maintaining lifelong partnerships, caring for his offspring until they are mature enough to fend for themselves, and guarding older people. To emulate the Wolves’ prowess as hunters, some fishermen tacked wolf heads onto lightning snakes and painted them onto their canoes.
To honor the spirits of their ancestors who died while hunting, some First Nations people often dress up like wolves during ceremonies. Fear, indecision, and bewilderment can be conquered by channeling Wolf’s unwavering resolve whenever one lacks direction and purpose. The Wolf is a common form taken by healers when performing rituals. Wolves are strong, loyal, and independent, making them great companions on even the most trying road to recovery.
