Hair

Hair symbolizes physical strength and virility; the virtues and properties of a person are said to be concentrated in his hair and nails. It is a symbol of instinct, of female seduction and physical attraction. Baldness may suggest sterility. Hair flowing depicts freedom and looseness; the unwilling removal of hair may be a castration symbol. Carries the context of magical power; witches had their hair shaven off, as well as in the Bible, in which Samson loses all his power when his locks are stripped. Heavy relations to fertility and even love (the quantity is related to love-potential). It can be thought of as the external soul.

Hair on differing parts of the body infers different meanings as well: hair of the head - spiritual powers, hair of the body - irrational powers. In addition, different forms of hair also carry differing connotations: loose hair - usually kept by a woman suspected of adultery, dishevelled hair - a conventional sign of bereavement, long hair - is usually associated with a woman, but can mean penitence in a man, curly hair - an artist, speaker of many languages. Hair color carries symbols too: golden - related to SUN symbolism, white - eternity, red - demoniacal, Satanic, violet - associated with goddesses, brown/black - chthonic forces, green - having to do with the sea, water.


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