The Symbolism of Horns
The Meaning of Horn Symbolism
Horns are a symbol of connectivity to the Spiritual world
symbolically the Sun, Moon and Stars
One horn indicates that connectivity exists
Tassels and bobbles mean an enlightened being
Two horns indicates connection to the symbolic Sun and Moon
Three horns often used by the jester is very advanced connectivity,
the Sun and Moon and Stars [via one’s Higher spirit]
What sorts of spiritual help are covered?
what can they receive and hence achieve
The Gift of Prophecy The Prophet
The Gift of Inspiration The Poet or Painter
[this is a statue representing Ovid]
The Gift of Wisdom and Intuition the Seer or Hermit,
here we have Plato and Socrates
The Gift to Diagnose and Remedy Illness the Healer
The History of the symbolism
The symbolism can be found in Egypt, with Hathor,
this example is from Khnum in Egypt,
but also in Sumeria with Marduk - the "bull of Utu".
But even though the symbolism appears superficially to derive from India
with the Bull and Cow symbolism found in Hinduism
- Shiva's steed was Nandi, the Bull.
Twin horns are used by the Gurunsi tribe in Africa
Can be found in Norse helmets as stylised cones
Can be found in the dress of Mongolian shamans in Wenzhou
and elsewhere
Are sculpted in sacred objects such as the Gundestrup Cauldron
and its depiction of Cernunnos.
The cauldron is the largest known example of European Iron Age silver work
and was found in Denmark
And engraved on the Sutton Hoo helmet
as well as the The Viking Tjele helmet
and The Veksø helmets at the Nationalmuseet, Denmark.
Twin horns especially can be found all over Africa
and are even used today to indicate royalty on ceremonial occasions
occasionally they show the sadness of the shaman,
who has lost his power due to western influence, war and colonialism
In some countries they are barely noticeable as symbolic horns,
even though the shamanic costume has been preserved
And the western fashion industry keen to exploit anything they think has a market,
but with no understanding of the significance or symbolism
[or the correct way of wearing the headdress], have now sadly made it a fashion item
But the twin horns symbolism when properly applied
is a worldwide symbol with a common meaning,
and its meaning can be best understood by using the Egyptian system
The Source and the Egyptian mystic system
The Egyptian Mystic system used the term UPT to mean the crown of the head.
UPT is represented by the picture of a set of ox horns, and the door sign AP
In other words the fontanelle was regarded as the door that opened to the twin tunnels.
In the Hindu system it is known as the Aperture of Brahma.
It is no accident that the skull particularly of a baby as here -
is divided up into four plates by the Sign of the Cross.
This was originally what the symbol of the Cross meant
At one time the frightening practise of trepanning was intended
to keep this ‘pathway to the gods’ open as one got older and the plates closed
The ox horns and the door - yield a word UPU-TAU which means messengers
or messages so spiritual input. The addition of the SHU sign means to illuminate.
So the doors of enlightenment.
The word PR, when added then means to ascend (to heaven).
In other words the twin horns are the symbol of an enlightened person
one who has ascended and is contact with the gods
Other ways of representing twin horns
This indication of abilities,
does not have to be represented using the actual horns of an animal
Sometimes it is represented using hair
As a woman’s headdress [this is Isabella of Portugal]
or wimple [this is Hildegard of Bingen]
As bunches [this is from the Nuremburg chronicles and shows Judith Holofernes]
or even pigtails
[this is Beryl the Peril a fictional character created by David Law, a scotsman]
Horns and the Orans posture
The Orans is a posture that people sometimes unconsciously adopt
during spiritual experience.
It is not the inaccurate stylised version you sometimes see clerics adopt
It is ecstasy symbolically shown, arms raised very high,
head normally tilted back or forward.
The Laughing Buddha laughed for a reason.
And it may be from this natural actual unforced posture
that all the symbolism ultimately derives.
This is Salvador Dali’s Christ of Saint John of the Cross
The Cap and Bells By William Butler Yeats
The jester walked in the garden: The garden had fallen still;
He bade his soul rise upward And stand on her window-sill.
It rose in a straight blue garment, When owls began to call:
It had grown wise-tongued by thinking Of a quiet and light footfall;
But the young queen would not listen; She rose in her pale night-gown;
She drew in the heavy casement And pushed the latches down.
He bade his heart go to her, When the owls called out no more;
In a red and quivering garment It sang to her through the door.
It had grown sweet-tongued by dreaming Of a flutter of flower-like hair;
But she took up her fan from the table And waved it off on the air.
'I have cap and bells,’ he pondered, 'I will send them to her and die’;
And when the morning whitened He left them where she went by.
She laid them upon her bosom, Under a cloud of her hair,
And her red lips sang them a love-song Till stars grew out of the air.
She opened her door and her window,
And the heart and the soul came through,
To her right hand came the red one, To her left hand came the blue.
They set up a noise like crickets, A chattering wise and sweet,
And her hair was a folded flower And the quiet of love in her feet.