The Sacred Geometry of The Circumpunct

April 8th, 2025

By Ethan Indigo Smith

Contributing writer for Wake Up World

“God is an intelligible sphere, whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere.” ~Attributed to Alan Lille, who claimed it was obtained from a fragment of writing of Hermes Trismegistus

“Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference nowhere.” ~Blaise Pascal

The Pythagoreans were said to have noted the above sentiment as well: that the infinite and eternal creative generative forces of God are center everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere. All ancient symbols communicate multiple ideas. In a world where most people were illiterate, symbols were used to communicate moral or political ideas, inspire positive action, be perceived as conceptual models, and even be utilized as meditation tools.

The Circumpunt or monad is one such symbol. It is certainly one of the oldest symbols shared by humanity and is possibly the simplest symbol that paradoxically encapsulates and depicts totality. As a thinking model and meditation tool, the Circumpunct soothes comprehension of totality toward eased mindfulness.

The Circumpunct is one of the simplest symbols, yet it is also one of the most profound. It is the Ancient Egyptian hieroglyph for Ra, the Sun, and the infinite repeating cycle of life. The Circumpunct can also represent the sacred mound of creation.

The ancient Maya had the Circumpunct too, and it was bestowed with similar symbolic values as the Egyptians. The Mayan Circumpunct was central to four flowers, which were symbolic of the Sun and the Mayan Sun God, Kinich Ahau, creative forces and sacred mounds or mountains. It is believed that these sacred mounds would eventually inspire the creation of pyramids worldwide.When turned 90 degrees, the point then resembles a line or a phallus symbol, and the circle resembles a sphere, demonstrating expansive generative becoming symbolism. With this in mind,, the sacred Vedic symbols in the heart of temples, called The Lingam is a three-dimensional Circumpunct. Lingams are used in sacred structures as a ceremonial device representing unifying creative forces with a phallus at the center of a circular yoni ring. The Circumpunct contains the four dimensions of geometry in the point, line, plane and in total it becomes the intelligible volume of a sphere.

The Circumpunct is a transformational and self-development symbol, representing and unifying the microcosmic individual and the macrocosmic universal. It is an Ancient Greek symbol for God, the divine, and creation.

The Circumpunct is an ancient Chinese symbol for the Sun and the divine. It can be found worldwide, symbolizing similar energetic qualities. It even resembles the universally conceptualized idea of the cosmic egg and its creative forces. The Circumpunct can be seen as the center spoke of the Wheel of Dharma. It is demonstrated frequently, and though subtle, it is a powerful symbolic influence.

The Circumpunct is also a simple depiction of an eye. It sort of beckons one to stare into it, to meditate on it, as it seemingly stares back. The Circumpunct is sometimes accompanied by two straight lines or pillars, one on each side. In this design, it appears even more like an eye. Freemasonry’s symbology uses the Circumpunct, which often includes the two pillars. In this variation, the Circumpunct depicts the four dimensions of geometry in its generative symbolism: the point, line, plane, and volume. The pillars represent the destructive and creative forces of severity and mercy.

There is a lot to the simple Circumpunct symbol. When I examine esoteric symbolism in a story or image to extract esoteric lessons and inspirational ideas, I use certain philosophical windows that are helpful as base examination tools. The duality of polarity is one such window, and the four dimensions of geometry are another. The Circumpunct has esoteric and inspirational ideas as well as meditation tools and ideas for enhanced meditation comprehension.

The Circumpunct is a yantra in a way, a visual meditation tool. And in observing as such, it is a visual representation of Buddhist meditation processes. Some are related to the four dimensions of geometry and the four dimensions of meditation on their own. The four dimensions of geometry are points, lines, planes, and solids, which symbolize the four meditation dimensions of concentration, connection, circulation, and unity consciousness.

Many lessons in Buddhism are taught and considered in sets. Each idea of the set is powerful on its own, but together, they are even more profound. Some of the fundamental lessons of Buddhism arrive in sets of four and form a certain basis of comprehension. One such set is The Four Thoughts. Each idea in The Four Thoughts has numerous lessons within it, but they are together for their completeness in viewing the individual system and the universal system.

The Four Thoughts are a contemplation set on The Precious Human Body, Impermanence, Karma, Samsara. The Four Thoughts are meant to be contemplated individually and are a unit as a meditative tool and meditation process. In brief, precious human body is you and your ability to develop yourself and help others. Impermanence is the limitations of time. Karma is the energy of cause and effect in the world. Samsara is the totality of the mess we are in, all.

The Four Thoughts together correspond with the four dimensions of geometry and The Circumpunct symbol. Precious Human Body represents the point in geometry, and the point in The Circumpunct, Impermanence represents time and the circle cycle. Karma represents the plane in geometry as the optimal shape of circle of space within The Circumpunct, and together, the individual in space and time form the volume and The Samsara of the entirety of the Circumpunct. The three compose a fourth.

The Point

“The most primitive and fundamental of all symbols is the dot.” ~ Manly P. Hall

The point represents an individual being, mind, and ego. The point is the spark or the heart center of the individual. The point is the seed of the idea and the spark of life. In a sacred structure, we can understand the point to be the holy of holies, the center of the center or the most important room.

In meditation comprehension, the point represents the concentration of the mind. The point can be many things as a meditation tool, like an idea or an image in the mind, or like an inspirational picture or candle flame in front of you. Or it can be as mundane as a crease in a cave wall, as Bodhidharma, a Buddhist monk, famously utilized. Single-pointedness is concentration. It is frequently the first step in a meditation process for the more we can concentrate our energy, the less diffused our energy is, the less scattered our thoughts are and the more relaxed and capable we become.

Just as we may be concerned with many thoughts at once, we may similarly be losing or diffusing energy in many ways. As soon as we enable concentration, our energy can shift into more useful thoughts and more efficient being. The point represents the unmoved self, the self in still meditation.

“Reality has no inside, outside, or middle part.” ~Bodhidharma

 The Circle

The circle represents time. The circle is symbolic of the feminine divinity of the universe. In contrast, the line is symbolic for masculine energy. The circle here represents the cycle of The Sun and the cycle of time. It is the time circle. In school, we are taught certain timelines as linear, but time can also be accurately depicted as a circle, for it is daily, annual and cosmic cycles. Time circles can be found worldwide as calendars of monolithic circles or circles constructed of other earthworks, and even clocks depict the cycle of the circle in the hands of time.

The circle represents time and timelessness. Timelessness refers to not being subject to temporal constrictions, triggers, or stressors to start. The circle also represents smooth movement and flow, as in circumambulation/circuiting around a sacred site or meditative walking/meditative movement.

The Space

The space represents space, of course. The space in the Circumpunct is the most subtle to recognize, but no less important. Space in The Circumpunct represents the formation of three-dimensional objects and the void in between. The idea of space as opposed to time eventually leads to contemplation on what is tangible and intangible and what is the distinction between the material and immaterial.

In any event, how do we hold our space? Do we hold our being in a capacity that can receive and emit ideas? Is our perception field broad or is it small and shallow? Is our space like a still, glassy lake that can experience the tiniest ripple? Or is our space a roiling, tumultuous sea where things are easily lost?

The Volume

In considering the Circumpunct in totality as a meditation tool, we consider the mind/ego a small point, perhaps a point of no size whatsoever, with an unseen connection to and centrality in space and time. Some of the meditation lessons in the Circumpunct may represent meditative qualities that are lifetime pursuits for some, like centered balance.

“Muddy water, let stand, becomes clear.” ~Lao Tzu

In order to maintain a more balanced and refined state, we can begin with the guarding of the mind. To be balanced and refined, we must keep our ego concentrated and yet small, central, and not in the way of the flow of our inner world and the outer world, like the point. To be balanced and refined, we need to make a connection with ideas and ways of being, like the unseen line. To be balanced and refined, we need to be smooth in our thinking and being and let go of any skips or stutters in the flow of time. To be balanced and refined we need to make our field settled and calm like waters. When we get out of our own way, make connections and not hold onto skips and stutters in space and time, we can enhance our awareness.

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” ~ Aristotle

Take the time to stand or sit still and soften the mind and body flow to smooth over skips and stutters. Let the mud settle. Focus on something in a relaxed manner. Perhaps something entirely simple and yet infinitely profound, like our Circumpunct. And as it is said in Tai Chi practice, ‘soften the gaze.’ Gently focus on a pleasing idea or symbol, like the Circumpunct, in all its simplicity and profundity. In its totality, the Circumpunct is an inspiration not to be as constricted by our bodily impulses, and not to be as constrained by space and time.

About the author:

Activist, author and Tai Chi teacher Ethan Indigo Smith was born on a farm in Maine and lived in Manhattan for a number of years before migrating west to Mendocino, California. Ethan’s work is deeply connected and extremely insightful, blending philosophy, politics, activism, spirituality, meditation and a unique sense of humor.

You can connect with Ethan on Facebook, check out his author page on Amazon, or visit his new websites, Geometry Of Energy and Meditation 108, where Ethan offers lessons on individuation, meditation, the conceptualization of energy, and the metaphysical significance of 108.

Ethan’s books include:

• The Geometry of Energy: How to Meditate: Simple and profound, this book offers an empowering four-step meditation, focused through the sacred dimensions of geometry.
• The Little Green Book of Revolution an inspirational book based on ideas of peaceful revolution, historical activism and caring for the Earth like Native Americans.
• Meditation and Geometry for The Youth: A short and sweet book to introduce young people to meditation and sacred geometry, in a simple format for the youth and youthful alike.
• 108 Steps to Be In The Zone, a set of 108 meditative practices for self discovery and individual betterment, including techniques to develop balance, transmute sexual energy.