The Platonic solids are the five regular polyhedra: the cube, tetrahedron, octahedron, icosahedron and dodecahedron. Plato linked them to the elements, and sacred geometry traditions see them as symbols of order and balance. Here is what each shape represents and how people display them.
Geometrical Shapes and the Soul
In sacred geometry traditions, geometric shapes are seen as symbols of harmony, unity and a connection to the spirit.
Metaphysicians describe sacred shapes and symbols as codes that open a connection with the divine realm, and many people pair them with healing crystals in their practice.
During meditation, people use them as visual focus points and see them as symbols of harmony, unity and balance.
This is where the Platonic Solids fit in the sacred geometry equation. Platonic Solids are believed to be the foundation or ˜building blocks' of the universe, the geometric codes of creation. The universe's knowledge, wisdom, and experiences can be utilized with the use of the Platonic Solids.
What Are the Platonic Solids?
These shapes are referred to as regular polyhedra, meaning closed shapes that are composed of angles, faces, and edges that are all congruent. These structures are everywhere. Even microscopic organisms such as algae, snowflakes, and crystalline structures may have one of these shapes.
The exact origins of the Platonic Solids remain unknown to this day, but they were first introduced by Plato in his work Timaeus sometime in 350 BCE. According to the philosopher, all forms of matter (earth, air, fire, water, and ether) are represented by five elemental solids. These are the cube (also called the hexahedron), the octahedron, the tetrahedron, the icosahedron, and the dodecahedron.
Plato compared the cube to earth as it causes dirt to crumble and represents the solidity of the planet. The octahedron was related to air because its smooth parts make the solid appear as if it is barely there. He associated the tetrahedron with fire due to its sharp points and edges that are like the heat from the flames.
The icosahedron was compared to water because like water, the solid flows out of one's hand. The dodecahedron was associated with ether, the fifth element; the shape that holds the stars and the entire universe together.
In this tradition, each solid is a symbol of balance and wholeness, and a distorted form is used as a metaphor for feeling out of balance.
The 5 Platonic Shapes and How They Work
In sacred geometry traditions, the Platonic Solids are used as meditation focuses and symbols of change and new beginnings. People who work with the solids describe them as a way to reflect on where they are and where they want to go.
Think of them as switches that you flick to activate a new reality.
1. Cube
The cube has six square faces and its element is earth. This shape represents structure and foundations. It promotes organization of ideas, stronger support, security, and firmness of conviction.
Work with the cube when you are living or working in a rowdy or disorderly environment. The cube is a symbol of stability and control, and of a grounded, positive outlook.
2. Octahedron
The octahedron consists of eight triangular faces and is linked to the air element. Air represents mental processes and this shape boosts mental focus, clarifies thoughts, and stimulates fresh ideas.
In this tradition, a "disrupted" octahedron is a metaphor for confusion and uncertainty. People use the octahedron as a symbol of self-awareness, clear decisions and a wider perspective.
3. Tetrahedron
With four triangular sides, the tetrahedron represents the fire element. Fire is associated with ˜divine spark,' which symbolizes creativity, inspiration, and ingenuity.
In this tradition, the tetrahedron is a symbol of the fire element: joy, motivation, enthusiasm and enlightenment.
4. Icosahedron
The icosahedron contains 20 triangular faces and symbolizes water. This element is associated with fluidity or the state of emotions. It enforces the form of emotional balance and your ability to adapt to experiences.
The icosahedron is a symbol of fluidity, adaptability and emotional balance, and of moving easily through change.
5. Dodecahedron
The dodecahedron and its 12 pentagonal sides symbolize the ether element. Ether represents the whole universe and the interconnection of all beings and creation. A disturbed form disconnects a person from their soul, causes disillusionment, and a lack of faith and divine guidance.
This Platonic Solid rekindles your connection with their inner being, increases acceptance of experiences, and brings inner peace. The dodecahedron also provides wisdom so you can understand incarnational experiences.
The Platonic Solids and the Chakras
Like natural elements, the Platonic Solids are also related to the chakras or the energy centers:
- Cube - Root chakra
- Octahedron - Heart chakra
- Tetrahedron - Solar Plexus
- Icosahedron - Sacral chakra
- Dodecahedron - Throat chakra
Other geometric shapes like the Merkabah are associated with the third eye chakra, while the sphere is related to the crown chakra.
How to Incorporate the Platonic Solids to Your Life
In this tradition, the Platonic Solids are said to move energy. Rotating each solid clockwise diminishes energy, while rotating it in a counterclockwise motion expands energy. Changing the angle and rate at which a solid is rotated creates new coordinates of consciousness.
Many people visualize the speed and direction of the rotation as they meditate with a solid, as a way to reflect on a situation.
You can also display the Platonic Solids in your home or office as decor with meaning. Some people keep all five figures together in a study; others separate them by element and place them in different rooms.
Here are some tips from Living Enlightened Relationships:
- The cube is a popular choice for a bedroom, as a symbol of calm and rest.
- The octahedron can go anywhere it is visible, as a symbol of enthusiasm and energy.
- The dodecahedron is a symbol of hope and spiritual connection; some people speak an intention into it.
- The icosahedron symbolizes flow; some people spin the figures as a ritual to "move energy" through a space.
Stonebridge Imports, a Canadian crystal wholesaler in Kitchener, Ontario, carries wholesale Platonic solids in a range of gemstones, along with pyramids and crystal spheres.
Sources:
Platonic Solids and Sacred Geometry. (2021). Soulful Crystals. Accessed at https://www.soulfulcrystals.co.uk/platonic-solids-and-sacred-geometry/
Sacred Geometry Explained. (n.d.). Destination Deluxe. Accessed at https://destinationdeluxe.com/sacred-geometry-explained-healing-benefits/
Plato's Timaeus. (2005, October 25). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Accessed at https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plato-timaeus/
DeHovitz, D. (2016, May 12). The Platonic Solids: An Exploration of the Five Regular Polyhedra and the Symmetries of Three-Dimensional Space. Whitman.edu. Accessed at https://www.whitman.edu/Documents/Academics/Mathematics/2016/DeHovitz.pdf
Hress, I. (n.d). Platonic Solids. Living Enlightened Relationships. Accessed at https://livingenlightenedrelationships.com/activations/how-to-use-the-platonic-solids-for-personal-growth/
Snider, A. (2018, September 6). Sacred Geometrical Patterns That Will Make You One with the World. Culture Trip. Accessed at https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/articles/sacred-geometrical-patterns-that-will-make-you-at-one-with-the-world/
Morgan, R. (2019. September 4). Sacred Geometry Art, Symbols & Meanings. Pardesco. Accessed at https://pardesco.com/blogs/news/sacred-geometry-art-symbols-meanings
Stelter, G. (2016, December 18). A Beginner’s Guide to the 7 Chakras and Their Meanings. Healthline. Accessed at https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/7-chakras
Acone, S. (2013, December 30). Platonic Solids. Healing Crystals. Accessed at https://www.healingcrystals.com/Platonic_Solids_Articles_11708.html
Stock this in your shop
Shape-led displays are easy to build with Platonic solids, pyramids and spheres side by side.
Stonebridge Imports is a Canadian crystal wholesaler with no minimum order, shipping from Kitchener, Ontario. Open a wholesale account.
