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The history of the Sacred circle
The circle has been used in the sacred art of many religious traditions as an image of wholeness. It symbolizes the sacred unity of existence and is used in the designing of sacred spaces all over the world. Called 'mandalas' in Hindu and Buddhist traditions they are used as objects to aid contemplation. The same use of geometric patterns is seen in Islam, Celtic and African Art. But the Rose Windows of Northern Europe are the among the grandest of all.
In the Middle Ages Rose windows first appeared after the conquering of Moorish Spain and the translation of Arab libraries which contained books on Sacred Geometry - knowledge that had been lost in the Northern European tradition since the Dark Ages. The term 'rose' was first used in connection with Aphrodite but then became associated with the Virgin Mary in the Christian tradition. Most of the Great French Cathedrals, and many of their rose windows, are dedicated to Mary as the most perfect expression of human obedience and Divine Love combined.
In the Womb of the Rose - Geometry of section showing levels
IN THE WOMB OF THE ROSE- design of geometry
Seven is a number that has always been associated with the feminine in sacred geometry. It was used in connection with Pallas Athena in Ancient Greece and the seven mother goddesses of Hinduism. It was also the number sacred to the Virgin Mary as it signified the seven visible planets which were believed to govern the human psyche in the Medieval World. Mary - as the perfect human soul- reconciled and transcended the baser human qualities represented by the planets.
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Goddess/Archetype, Heroine and Women's Work panels
In the design there are twenty eight major figurative panels revolving around a seven petals heart. This numerology is also reflective of the 28 days in the lunar month - the moon and female menstrual cycles having been linked since earliest times.
There are the different shapes used for the designing of the separate panels in pattern of the window. The base unit from which all the major panels are evolved is also an echo of the earth and moon relationship with a small circular panel orbitting a larger circle. The traditional symbol of Venus is the circle of the sun above a cross representing the earth but as this is now associated with biological determinism a new symbol would be more appropriate. The original design is on a scale of 1:10 and if made full scale would be equal in size to the great rose windows of Chartres (about 15 meters in diameter).
Accurate templates are available in Templates.
©DA Whitbread MA(RCA), School of Arts, Design, Media and Culture, University of Sunderland, UK. June 1st, 2006