Vesica Piscis

Vesica Piscis/Oval
Symbols

Quotes [Symbol quotes Symbol quotes (specific)]
“The vesica is “a universal exponent of architecture or Masonry, and the original source or fountain from which its signs and symbols are derived— it constituted the great and enduring secret of our ancient brethren”
-George Oliver, Discrepancies of Masonry

“As a symbol, it was frequently employed as a church decoration by the Freemasons of the Middle Ages. The seals of all colleges, abbeys, and other religious communities, as well as of ecclesiastical persons, were invariably made of this shape. Hence, in reference to the religious character of the Institution, it has been suggested that the seals of Masonic Lodges should also have that form, instead of the circular one now used.”
Albert G. Mackey, Encyclopedia of Freemasonry

Vessica Piscis
"Vessel of the Fish," vesica piscis, was a worldwide ancient synonym for the yoni or vulva. In religious symbolism it stood for the feminine creative force, the Mother-spirit that gave birth to the world and the gods. In prepatriarchal philosophy the general explanation for sexual activity was that spiritual nourishment for males was inherent in the act of "plugging in" to this female power, resulting not only in a moment or two of godlike bliss, but also in an essential contact with the mysterious magic inside a woman's body that could actually produce life.
The ancients insisted that women's sexual secretions smelled like fish, which is why the sign of the yoni came to be called vesica piscis. One of the Hindu titles of the Great Goddess was "a virgin named Fishy Smell, whose real name was Truth." Particularly in her Love-goddess aspect, the ancient Mother was associated with fish, seashells, seawater, salt, ships and fishermen. She often appeared in mermaid form with a fish tail, or even two fish tails like the medieval Siren. In her honour, fish were eaten on Friday, which was her official day, named after Freya, her Scandanavian incarnation. (Latins called it the Day of Venus) Thus it was - and in some areas still is - believed that fish are aphrodisiac food.
The vesica piscis passed into medieval Christian art as a frame for holy figures (see Mandorla), however incongruous this might have seemed in the light of its older connotations. Renaisannce painters often showed the "cloud" that took Jesus up to heaven in the form of a vessica piscis, which appeared to be swallowing him headfirst, so that sometimes only his dangling legs remain visible. http://forum.davidicke.com/showthread.php?t=2368&page=4

Burning bush

The Flag of the Church of Scotland - bearing a Mosaic "burning bush" motif. The "fiery tree" with 3 roots is, however, Druidic in origin, as is the zodiacal cross in the background. This cross is also meant to symbolize the numeral 1O (Ten), another insignia of Aten or Aton (Ten). See 10 Downing Street. "X" stands for Aton and also for the biblical hero Nimrod, known as the "mighty hunter of Jehovah" http://www.irishoriginsofcivilization.com/irishoriginsexcerpts/book2_chap41.html