The Spiritual Meaning And Symbolism Of Scissors

Scissors are a common household item used for cutting paper, fabric, and more. But did you know that scissors also have a profound symbolic and spiritual meaning? If you keep seeing scissors or find yourself fascinated by them, it could be a sign that it’s time to cut things out of your life or make an important decision.

Scissors have a long history of being used ceremonially and ritually across many spiritual traditions and cultures. They represent polarity, duality, separation, decision-making, and spiritual transformation.

In this in-depth guide, we’ll explore the deeper meaning behind scissors and how they can inspire growth and change in your own spiritual journey.

Read on to learn the hidden meanings behind scissors seen in dreams, visions, astrology, numerology, tarot, and more.

The History and Symbolism of Scissors in Spirituality

Ancient Origins of Scissors and Spirituality

The earliest scissors appeared around 1500 BC in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. They were associated with the gods and used in spiritual rituals like cutting umbilical cords and hair. Scissors represented duality, the ability to sever ties, and spiritual transformation.

Ancient priestesses used bronze and iron scissors ceremoniously to cut bonds and shift energy.

Scissors and Duality

Scissors embody duality with two sharp blades pivotting around each other. They symbolize the dance of opposites – opening and closing, coming together and separating. Carl Jung spoke of integrating opposites within the psyche. Scissors represent this inner spiritual work.

In Hinduism and Buddhism, scissor motifs epitomize the destructive and creative gods. The Tibetan Buddhist deity Vajrayogini wields a scissor in one of her four hands, cutting through ignorance.

Scissors and Cutting Ties

Scissors serve as mystical tools for cutting cords to release relationships or situations, opening new possibilities. Cord cutting rituals allow people to consciously end connections by ceremoniously clipping bonds with special scissors. This practice brings spiritual closure.

Hair cutting with scissors facilitates transitions in numerous faiths. Amish and Buddhist monks shear hair during rites of passage. Scissor snipping severs prior social ties and marks new beginnings.

Scissors in Ritual and Ceremony

Beyond severing ties, scissors hold creative symbolic power – opening portals to call in fresh energies.

In Wiccan rituals, practitioners use intricately-decorated scissors to cut circles casting magical spells. Scissors carve sacred space for magic and shifting spiritual forces.

According to numerology, scissors relate to the number 8 – representing infinite possibilities, renewal, and new phases of spiritual evolution.

Scissors in Dreams and Visions

Common Dream and Vision Scenarios with Scissors

Scissors often show up in dreams and visions when we are going through a transition or need to cut something out of our lives. Some common scenarios include:

• Cutting hair – This can represent a need for change or letting go of old habits and beliefs
• Cutting umbilical cords – This can symbolize cutting energetic ties with people or situations from our past
• Cutting threads – This can represent cutting karmic ties or patterns that no longer serve us
• Cutting fabric – This can signify preparing for change or creating something new in our lives

Scissors as a Call to Cut Things Out of Your Life

When scissors show up in a dream or vision, it’s often a call from our subconscious to cut things out of our lives that no longer serve our highest good. This could include:

• Toxic relationships
• Unhealthy habits or addictions
• Outdated beliefs and perceptions
• Clutter and things we don’t need

The scissors ask us to honestly evaluate aspects of our lives and “cut away” what weighs us down. Though this process may be uncomfortable, scissors assure us that what is removed will open space for growth, healing, and transformation.

Scissors as a Message for an Important Decision

Scissors can also symbolize an impending important decision we need to make. The symbolism reminds us we have the “power to cut away” parts of our current path and choose a new direction.

Some questions scissors may prompt when they point to a decision:

• What needs to be purged or released from my life now?
• What path or possibility is spirit asking me to cut toward?
• What is draining my energy and needs to be trimmed away?
• What empowers my soul and wants to emerge?

As you reflect on these questions, scissors assure us the answers will become clear if we listen to inner guidance.

Scissors as a Shift in Perspective or Viewpoint

Finally, scissors can symbolize a shift occurring in our way of thinking or viewing the world. Just as scissors cut paper and fabric to create new shapes and forms, they remind us it’s time to “cut through” limiting perspectives.

Some signs a mental shift is brewing when scissors appear:

• Feeling restless with old ways of seeing things
• Questioning beliefs, assumptions, or biases
• Becoming aware of mental patterns that hold you back
• Sensing new ways of perceiving your life’s path emerging

Rather than resist this shift, scissors encourage allowing these new viewpoints to take form. Where might they lead us if we open our minds to the change? Often to amazing breakthroughs and transformations we might never have imagined before!

Scissors Symbolism in Astrology and Numerology

Scissors and Zodiac Signs

In astrology, scissors are most closely associated with the zodiac signs of Gemini, Virgo, and Aquarius. Gemini is represented by the Twins and often depicted as two figures or faces side-by-side, similar to an open pair of scissors.

This reflects Gemini’s dual nature and ability to see both sides of an issue.

Virgo is symbolized by the Virgin and associated with service, health, organization, and discernment. Like using scissors for precision cutting or crafting, Virgos have an eye for detail and talent for discrimination. Scissors in Virgo symbolism can represent cutting away excess or imperfections.

Aquarius is represented by the Water Bearer. The simple machine physics of scissors utilizes opposing forces for function, an analogy of Aquarius’ inclination toward progress through contradiction. Just as scissors cut, separate, and reshape, Aquarians challenge norms to spur human advancement.

Cutting the Cord Link Between Birthdates and Scissors

Interestingly, numerology draws connections between birthdates and pairs of scissors. Scissors operate via the hinge where two blades pivot and meet, representative of our lives’ trajectories coming together according to influences at the precise time and date of our birth.

In Chinese culture, scissors are thought to sever one’s ties to past lives or karmic cycles. The Chinese custom of cutting the birth cord reflects a belief that scissors break us from whatever we were bound to in previous existences, allowing a fresh start in this lifetime.

Number Symbolism Behind Scissors

Beyond zodiac archetypes, the dual structure of scissors bears numerological significance. Two is the smallest and only even prime number. It embodies the first experience with polarity – pairs, doubles, counterparts – as seen with the two blades of scissors.

In Tarot, the number Two is linked to the High Priestess – she who sits between dual pillars of light and dark, action and inaction. Two also represents the first choice, for instance, whether to cut or not to cut with a pair of scissors. This relates to free will, decisions, and new directions.

Scissors in Tarot and Divination

The Two of Swords and Other Relevant Cards

In Tarot readings, the Two of Swords often represents difficult decisions, indecision, compromises, or balances between opposing forces – all symbolized by the blindfolded woman holding two crossed swords.

The stillness of the imagery reflects an inner conflict, much like the tension before cutting with scissors. Other Tarot cards featuring scissors include the Three of Swords, representing heartbreak; the Eight of Swords representing being trapped or restricted; and the Nine of Swords indicating anxiety.

Scissors as an Answer in Pendulum Divination

Pendulums swinging in different directions can provide yes or no answers to questions. Often “side-to-side” motions indicate “no,” while “front-to-back” oscillations mean “yes.” However, meanings can vary by practitioner.

Some associate the abrupt cutting motion of scissors with a “yes,” while others view it as “no.” When the pendulum forms a scissors shape, it could show something needs to be cut from one’s life or that a decision is trying to be made.

Scissors in Tea Leaf Readings

In tea leaf reading, scissors generally signify tension, conflict, or the need to sever ties. An open pair symbolizes peaceful resolutions or loosening of restrictions, while closed scissors warn of potential hostility. Scissors also relate to gossip and secrets being revealed.

Their orientation in the cup indicates whether these revelations will be positive or negative. Handle pointing outward means secrets exposed causing upset; handle pointing inward means confidences shared leading to closeness.

Tips for Interpretation and Working with Scissors Symbolism

Reflect on What Needs Cutting Out

When scissors appear in your life, it’s often a sign that it’s time to cut something out. This could relate to habits, relationships, thought patterns, or behaviors that no longer serve your highest good.

Reflect on what in your life feels draining, toxic, or holding you back from growth and fulfillment. Is there a person you need better boundaries with? An unhealthy coping mechanism like emotional eating or drinking?

Scissors as a spirit animal encourage you to get clear on what needs to be released with compassion.

You can even get symbolic with an actual pair of scissors. On a piece of paper, write down what you want to cut out of your life. As you cut the paper with the scissors, visualize yourself cutting cords to those harmful patterns or situations.

Let the snipping sound affirm your commitment to positive change!

Pay Attention to Synchronicities

Synchronicity refers to unlikely or meaningful coincidences, especially those that seem rich with spiritual symbolism. Scissors sightings can show up in uncanny ways when you need the message. You might see scissors images everywhere, find scissors symbols in dreams or meditations, notice scissors references in conversations or media by surprise.

Pay attention to those aha moments!

An example synchronicity could be hearing a friend talk about needing to “cut things off” with someone abusive the day after you had a vivid dream about scissors. It could be a nudge that you both need strength right now in ending unhealthy patterns.

Stay open to special winks from the universe when scissors become a recurring sign for inner work to be done.

Try a Scissors Ceremony or Ritual

Incorporating ritual allows us to engage spiritually on a deeper level. It can enhance inner transformation through meaningful action steps. If you feel called to work with scissors as a spirit symbol, you can create ceremonies to harness the cutting power they embody.

A cord cutting ritual is common for releasing people, places, or limiting mindsets. Simply tie cords together representing the connection, then cut while voicing the intention to let go with love. For banishing negativity, write what you want to clear on paper then cut up the paper as a symbolic act.

You can also incorporate scissors near sacral chakra crystals that aid healthy boundaries and life transitions. Find what resonates for integrating this blade spirit guide on your path.

Conclusion

As we’ve seen, scissors and their act of cutting carry deep spiritual meaning representing division, decision-making and the cutting of ties. Across cultures and divination tools, they remind us to eliminate what no longer serves us and make choices that align with our highest path.

If you’ve been coming across repeated scissors symbolism or feel called to work with scissors ceremony or ritual, it could very well be divine guidance nudging you towards major growth and change. Pay attention to the synchronicities, reflect on what needs to be released in your life, and lean into the transformative power of cutting cords and making decisive choices.