Sacred Spiral Symbolism in African Vodun

April 13, 2025

The Sacred Spiral

𞤤𞤯𞥇𞤤𞤯𞥇𞤣𞤮𞥊𞥅 lɛ́lɛ̌dó- spiral, circle

The spiral symbolism I'm primarily speaking of is what is called a logarythmic spiral like a snail's shell. As the snail grows, its shell gets larger. Log spirals are growing living spirals, so that is why they are used by nature. All living things must grow. Log spirals are alive.

When we trace a line around the sankofa bird, from the tip of the tail feathers or even from the feet around to the mouth, a spiral is formed.

The abstract Sankɔfa, below without the bird, also clearly illustrated its connection to spiral symbolism.

Pictured below is the Adinkra called Dwennimmen. The spirals are in pairs because this represents two rams butting heads. Its proverb says: “it is the heart, and not the horns, that leads a ram to bully.” It is also a symbol that involves peace, composite, pure attentions, and self accountability. Notice that symbol makes use of the log spiral, just like the real ram's horns.

The king of the Adinkra symbols is called the adinkrahene - Adinkra + hene. Hene means "monarch". It is 3 circles one within the other. The idea is to look at this symbol from the outside going on. The greatness is closest to the center. These 3 circles are a play on the ancient spiral.

Vodún cosmology has two basic aspects of the spiral. The spiral is either 𞤫𞥊 𞤦𞤤𞤢𞥉 𞤼𞤤𞤭𞥊𞥅𞤼𞤤𞤭𞥊𞥅 È blá tlítlí, tightly coiled, or 𞤫 𞤦𞤤𞤢𞥉 𞤶𞤤𞤽𞤶𞤤𞤽 È blá jlɔjlɔ, loosely coiled.

Then there's the ancient motif found all over Mawufe in the serpent dirty that bites its tail while in the shape of a circle. In Ajã culture, this Great Serpent is Dangbè and Ayìdóxwedo - Dangbè being the "world serpent".

The 𞤸𞤵𞥊𞤲 hùn (deities) 𞤣𞤢𞤲𞤩𞤫 Dangbe and 𞤢𞤴𞤭𞥊𞤣𞤮𞤿𞤱𞤫𞤣𞤮 Ayidoxwedo are represented by a snake biting its tail and by a rainbow. Both are versions of the spiral. According to the spiral, a lifetime does not travel in a straight line but cycles ever-proximate to the center––however one defines that center. The center could be your soul, your purpose, the core mission of an organization, a key value, or consciousness itself. The snake represented transformation, life force, Mother Earth, rebirth, our connection to The Mother, and our fidelity to nature as a wisdom teacher. The serpent as a spiral is a powerful symbol that reminds us of our roots, our connection to nature, and the transformative power available to us. The spiral as a symbol calls us back to a larger intelligence system, our mother. It is a symbol of our belonging to all of life. It reassures us that we are never lost (even though we may feel so), always orbiting around the core “premise/value / purpose/origin” If reminds us of the the journeys we take inwardly (Ajo Inu) if we are to truly know and love ourselves. The spiral in the Kɔngo cosmology represents the muntu's (elevating human) celestial origin and universal elevation. The spiral is said to represent the path leading from outer consciousness to the inner soul. It marks the evolution of mankind from the physical to the spiritual realms.

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