From a young age, we begin to recognize shapes and attach meanings to them. Hearts, stop signs and arrows are a few common examples, as well as religious symbols like a cross or star of David. There may be certain shapes we feel drawn to, or that carry emotions or memories for us.

A symbol that holds special meaning for healing is the lemniscate, more commonly known as the infinity sign or figure eight. As a variation on two circles with an intersecting point, it represents harmony and creates peace between opposites. It “reminds us of the flow of life, always returning to center and the importance of balance.” (Cynthia Hutchison).

The infinity symbol can be especially helpful as a holistic meditation tool to integrate various aspects of life. Personally, I like to use it when I feel tension between two parts of myself, or between me and another person or situation. Here are a few ideas to try:

Set an intention for experiencing peace within yourself, or in relation to another person or situation of concern.

For those who are visually inclined, draw an infinity sign on paper and trace it with a pen or your fingers for several minutes. By crossing the midline of the body with your eyes, this requires the left and right sides of the brain to work together.
For those who prefer physical movement, walk as if you are following an imaginary path shaped like a large figure 8 a few times. You may want to do this at a slower pace than you normally walk to encourage physical balance (and prevent dizziness).
Or, for those who resonate with an energy-based approach, picture a vertical infinity sign with a moving point of light. Start at your heart center and see the point of light travel up around the head, back through the heart, down around the lower trunk, and return to the heart. You could also use your hand in front of your body to follow this pattern of energy. This method can be useful to align thoughts, emotions, and actions into a state of wholeness.

When you feel a sense of completion, take a moment to notice any shifts in your mind, body or spirit that have occurred as a result of using the infinity sign. There are many ways this powerful symbol can deepen our personal healing practice and harmonize how we relate to the world. You may find your own unique way, or for more ideas check out these resources:

The Power of the Infinity Symbol by Barbara Heider-Reuter

Sacred Geometry applied to Energy Therapy throughout Life Cycles by Cynthia Hutchison