Like the symbols of the Sun and the Moon, fire and flames also have common meanings in different cultures and religions. Fire has been the symbol of the Supreme Lord in almost every religion and symbolized the ‘brilliance’ of the Lord.
In Greek mythology, Prometheus created men from clay and gave them a gift that was ‘a good servant and a bad master’. Prometheus stole fire from the hearth of the gods and handed this to humanity to illuminate us with the wisdom and knowledge. In Roman mythology, Vulcan is the god of fire.
Examples of fire in religions are; In Hinduism, Brahman is fire. In Buddha’s teachings, as a flame can pass from one candle to another, so too can truth be passed. In Zoroastrianism, fire was the last creation, and brought life to all that was created before it. The fire symbolizes the essence of life, and the presence of God.
In the Hebrew Scriptures fire is used as a symbol that God is present. Example for this is the Burning Bush from which God spoke to Moses. The symbol of fire can be found in religions that are based on the Hebrew Scriptures. In Christianity, fire represents love Divine; the love from the Lord as a sun, which gives life to mankind. The Jews worship their God as a pillar of fire. A single flame is used as a symbol for the Holy Spirit.
Fire is also one of the classical elements. The elements are water, earth, wind, and fire in Greek history and this influenced Europe into the Renaissance. In Far East, the elements often come in five, with ‘ether’, ‘void’ or ‘heaven’ added to the classical four elements. The element of fire is commonly associated with masculine principles as energy, dynamism, passion, strength, and courage.
Fire and flames are traditionally seen as masculine or the male power, related to the Sun. Freud also found fire to be a male symbol of power. And the alchemical symbol for fire (upward pointing triangle) is originally a phallic masculine symbol. The opposing feminine symbol to fire is usually water or ice.
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