Symbols have long served as vessels of meaning, encapsulating complex ideas, values, and histories within simple yet evocative forms. In 2009, I crafted a symbol that, at the time, felt incomplete—a rough sketch of something deeper I couldn’t fully articulate. Such is the default facts of life for artists; something every human artist has encountered at one point or another among other things.
After years of abandonment, I recently revisited and remade this design, breathing new life into it with refined intent and clarity. What emerged is a symbol rich with layered significance, blending personal philosophy, ancient resonance, and a nod to traditions that are both new and old.
This essay explores the elements of this remake—the inverted star, the stag skull, the light torch, the six stars, the number 33, and the six pillars—along with the deliberate choice of gold against a black background.
At the heart of the symbol lies an inverted star, a shape that defies its more common upright counterpart. Where the upright star, in my original conception, signified death and banishment—a severing from the earthly plane—the inverted star now embodies life and incarnation. This inversion is not mere contrarianism but a reclamation of vitality, a grounding in the here and now. It suggests a descent into being a willingness to embrace existence with all its messiness and potential. The star’s five points radiate outward, like roots seeking nourishment, anchoring the symbol in the material world while hinting at a cosmic connection.
Crowning the design is a stag skull, an emblem of courage, strength, and a tether to ancient roots stretching back at least 35,000 years. The stag, a creature of both grace and resilience, has appeared in human art and mythology since the Paleolithic era—think of the deer-like figures in the caves of Lascaux or the antlered motifs of early European tribes. Its skull, stripped of flesh yet enduring, speaks to survival through time, a quiet power that persists beyond the ephemeral. In this symbol, the stag skull serves as a reminder of humanity’s deep lineage, a call to draw strength from the past while standing firm in the present.
A light torch blazes within the design, its flame representing truth, knowledge, and a summons to watchfulness. Fire has always been a dual force—destructive yet illuminating—and here it takes on a guiding role. The torch urges diligence, a steady gaze toward what is real and knowable, cutting through the shadows of ignorance or complacency. It is both a tool and a beacon, suggesting that truth is not passive but something to be actively sought and guarded.
In a world awash with noise, the torch’s light feels like a personal and collective imperative.
Surrounding the central elements are six stars, each a stand-in for a core value: dedication, kinship, hospitality, endurance, perseverance, and reliability. These are not abstract ideals but practical virtues, the kind that sustain communities and individuals alike. Six, a number often tied to harmony and balance, feels fitting here—each star a point of light reinforcing the others, creating a constellation of mutual support. Together, they form a moral compass, a guide for navigating life’s challenges with integrity and connection.
The number 33 anchors the symbol to a specific place: Oregon, the 33rd state of the Union. This is a quiet nod to identity, a way of rooting the design in the rugged, verdant landscape that has shaped my perspective.
Oregon’s history—its blend of indigenous heritage, pioneer grit, and natural splendor—echoes the symbol’s themes of endurance and ancient ties. The number 33, with its own esoteric resonance in various traditions, adds a layer of subtle mystery, though its primary role here is geographic and personal.
Beneath it all, six pillars rise, representing the foundations of culture: tradition, teaching, learning, sharing, cooperation, and consistency. These are the unseen supports that hold societies together, often overlooked yet essential.
Tradition connects us to what came before; teaching and learning ensure growth; sharing and cooperation build bonds; and consistency provides stability. Like the columns of an ancient temple, these pillars suggest both strength and reverence, a framework for living that honors the collective as much as the individual.
Gold, with its sheen of worthiness, evokes value, achievement, and something precious earned through effort. It’s the hue of a hard-won truth or a life well-lived. Black, meanwhile, is the void, the space of contemplation and private thoughts. It’s where ideas gestate, where the self turns inward before stepping into the light. Together, they create a striking contrast—gold’s boldness against black’s depth—mirroring the interplay of outward action and inner reflection that the symbol seeks to capture.
Revisiting this design after years of neglect has been an act of rediscovery. What began as a fleeting idea in 2009 has matured into something deliberate, a synthesis of personal belief and universal echoes. The inverted star, stag skull, torch, six stars, 33, and six pillars weave together a narrative of life, strength, and purpose, framed by gold and black. This remake is not just a symbol but a statement—a testament to the power of returning to what was left behind, refining it, and finding meaning anew.