02/15/2025
Meaning of the AUM (OM) symbol
The AUM symbol — also spelled “Om” — consists of three curves, one semicircle and a dot. They are symbols of each person’s self and potential:
The large curve (the lower left corner of the image) symbolizes the waking state. Perhaps it is best to think of this curve as symbolic of the ego, our outward persona, the person we think we should be, the identity that we consciously associate with the self.
Moving clockwise, the upper curve (upper left) symbolizes the unconscious state, that part of the self that is hidden to one’s consciousness, but is equally part of the self.
The middle curve, which extends from the center to the right side, symbolizes the dream state. The dream state, positioned vertically between the conscious and unconscious elements of the self, serves as a means to connect the two, a means for the conscious and unconscious to interact. This is certainly what we do when we dream: the unconscious becomes conscious, affording a more complete view of the self.
The semicircle or crescent (upper right) symbolizes illusion, specifically in this case, the illusion that the self exists as a separate entity at all. Notice that the crescent separates the dot from the other three curves. It is this illusion that separates the individual from becoming one with his infinite self, beyond boundaries.
The dot signifies the infinite, absolute self, hidden from the individual by illusion; this is what the Eastern faiths of Hinduism and Buddhism consider god. Dispelling the illusion and becoming one with the infinite self is the ultimate experience of life and the experience of the divine.
Source: https://approachguides.com/blog/aum-symbol-sound-and-silence/