The Eye of Providence is one of the most well-known but also the most confusing symbols for many people. It is a religious symbol that dates back to antiquity. Christian symbol, theEye of Providence has seen many uses over the years in both Christian and Freemasonry iconography, the Great Seal of the United States, and various independent and often artistic projects and objects.

Today, simply as a popular symbol, the Eye of Providence can often be seen in jewelry or crafted pieces and its meaning can either be kept true to its origins or used ironically due to all conspiracy theories and misunderstandings surrounding it.

What is the Eye of Providence and what is its use injewelry store ? And above all, should you buy ajewel bearing the symbol of the Eye of Providence?

What is the Eye of Providence?

Even if you don't know what it's called, chances are you've seen the Eye of Providence somewhere before. This symbol represents the all-seeing eye of God in Christianity.

It can be represented in different environments and in different contexts, but it is usually drawn as an eye from which rays of light radiate in all directions. He is usually depicted in a triangle, representing the Holy Trinity in Christianity.

However, you will find stylized versions in modern jewelry, with the eye depicted in several different ways.

Symbolism of the Eye of Providence

The eye has long been a symbol of luck, protection and fortune. Throughout history we see the eye being used as a symbol of good luck, the eye has been valued as a symbol of protection all over the world.

The Eye of Providence was originally created as a representation of the all-knowing eye of God and that is how it has been used officially ever since. It is a benevolent symbol, representing God's protection, salvation and blessings.

Today, it is very likely that many people do not know what the Eye of Providence is supposed to represent. For many, it is simply the symbol of Freemasonry, "Big Brother", the Illuminati or any other conspiratorial notion. It's a shame, because for people who want to continue to use it in its traditional meaning – the all-seeing eye of God – it creates the problem of always having to explain themselves to those around them.

Eye of Providence Jewelry Types

Like many other well-known and established ancient symbols – whether religious or cultural – the Eye of Providence also has its place in the jewelry and craft industries.

It is often used in various designs of pendants and necklaces, on bracelets or as the centerpiece of earrings. The Eye of Providence is also often depicted on rings.

The symbol is also widely used in charms. Due to its benevolent connotations, it can be worn by anyone, regardless of religious affiliation.

There are also many stylized versions of the Eye.

Eye of Providence and Eye of Horus

It is relatively easy to confuse the Eye of Providence with the Eye of Horus if one is not too familiar with the meaning of these two symbols. And, to be fair, both symbols represent the eye of a deity watching over people.

In the case of the Eye of Horus, the deity is the ancient Egyptian sun god Horus, while the Eye of Providence is the eye of the Judeo-Christian God.

While the Eye of Providence symbolizes that God sees everything and watches over us, the Eye of Horus, also called Wadjet, is meant to be a symbol of protection that wards off evil and promotes healing and rejuvenation.

The easiest way to tell these two divine eyes apart is that the Eye of Horus usually has a more artistic design with two swirls underneath, while the Eye of Providence is usually depicted in a more realistic style with or without the light rays and with a triangle or a cloud drawn around it.

Both symbols can be said to look quite pretty on pendants and amulets, and both have strong and positive meanings. Choosing one or the other is therefore a matter of personal preference.

The Eye of Providence controversy

The Eye of Providence originated in Christian iconography, representing the all-seeing eye of God. Since then, it has been picked up by many different organizations, religious and otherwise.

Freemasons and the Eye of Providence

Since 1797, the Eye of Providence has been a major symbol of Freemasonry thanks to a publication by Thomas Smith Webb in the Freemasons Monitor. He is not represented there in a triangle, but under a cloud.

The Great Seal of the United States

Another popular use of the Eye of Providence is as the Great Seal of the United States. It was included on the reverse of the seal in 1782 - 14 years before Freemasonry adopted it as its own symbol.

In the Great Seal, the Eye of Providence is depicted in its original form - inside a triangle. In addition, the triangle with the Eye was placed on top of a 13-step pyramid. These 13 steps were meant to symbolize the thirteen states of the United States of the time. It's a complex metaphor, depicting the United States as a "work in progress" and the Eye of Providence, watching over it and overseeing its progress.

While this metaphor was appropriate at the time, the presence of the Eye of Providence in the Great Seal has caused much controversy ever since. Because the pyramid is a rather foreign symbol to American citizens, and because Freemasons adopted the Eye of Providence as their own symbol around the same time, many conspiracy theories hold that the Grand Seal of the United States is proof that the country is ruled by Freemasons.

Of course, all the Freemason organizations have denied this claim and all have invoked the fact that they adopted the Eye at a later date. Also, of all the members of the committee that approved the design of the Great Seal of the United States, only Benjamin Franklin was a Freemason, and his own ideas for the design of the seal were all rejected.

As controversial as the origins and history of the Eye of Providence may be, they are certainly fascinating. Whatever your thoughts and feelings towards this symbol, it is undoubtedly an iconic and very popular symbol even today.

The Illuminati and the Eye of Providence

The "Illuminati", in particular, are a very popular conspiracy theory in modern times. The first "Illuminati" were created around the same time as the Eye of Providence on the Great Seal and in Freemasonry - the Bavarian Illuminati.

This group was an Enlightenment secret society founded in 1776 by Adam Weishaupt. Their aims seem to have been to oppose superstition, obscurantism and religious influences on public life. Naturally, they have never been known to use the Eye of Providence officially. However, the name "Illuminati" has continued to be used as a synonym for "secret societies, ruling over the people" to this day, and the Eye of Providence has simply been attached to the name by the people.

Should I wear the Eye of Providence?

The eye is often misinterpreted as evil, and it's easy to see why. An eye on its own doesn't tend to show much feeling, unlike a mouth, and can appear cold, motionless, and unresponsive. These traits then translate into the representation of evil and bad things. But it is far from being the case. We've said it once and we'll say it again: the Eye of Providence is meant to be a benevolent symbol.

:

Should I wear the Eye of Providence or should I avoid it altogether?

The answer to this question is quite simple. Wear the symbol if you like what it represents and how it looks. After all, it is a symbol of good luck with a religious connotation. For Christians, the Eye of Providence is significant and should not have a negative meaning.