The concepts of left and right have held deep symbolic meaning across cultures and spiritual traditions throughout history. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: the left side is often associated with receptivity, femininity, the moon, emotion, and the unconscious, while the right side is linked to assertiveness, masculinity, the sun, logic, and consciousness.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the intriguing spiritual meanings behind left and right. We’ll cover symbolism from various spiritual and mystical perspectives including astrology, ancient mythology, religion, occult studies, and psychology.
Left-Right Duality in Ancient Myths and Symbols
Yin-Yang in Chinese Philosophy
The concept of yin and yang represents the ancient Chinese understanding of complementary opposites in the natural world. Yin symbolizes femininity, darkness, passivity, and is associated with the left side, while yang signifies masculinity, light, activity, and the right side.
This dualistic cosmology posits that all things exist as inseparable combinations of yin and yang energy. Neither aspect is superior, they simply manifest different properties. Yin and yang forces continually interact, oppose, transform, and balance each other in processes of cyclical change.
The yin-yang symbol epitomizes this duality. The dark and light halves symbolizing yin and yang energies pursue each other in perfect symmetry and unity, encapsulating the Chinese view of the coherence and harmony of opposites in the universe.
Gods and Goddesses of Left and Right
Various world mythologies feature gods and goddesses associated with left-right symbolism. For instance, in Hinduism, the fearsome Tantric goddess Kali, representing dissolution and destruction, is depicted with four arms, holding weapons of battle and conquest in her left hands indicating her power to demolish enemies.
Her right hands make protective gestures dispelling fear and offering blessings, representing her role as divine protector.
Likewise in Norse mythology, the powerful god of war and fury Odin had traits distributed across left and right sides. Contrasting attributes like ecstatic inspiration, wisdom, sorcery, and rage existed in asymmetric balance within his nature.
He famously sacrificed an eye for wisdom, leaving him with a blind side hinting at left-right duality.
| Deity | Left Side | Right Side |
|---|---|---|
| Kali | Destruction | Protection |
| Odin | Rage | Wisdom |
Across cultures, gods of death, darkness, wildness, and warfare are associated with left, while solar, intellectual gods rule the right side. This mythic divide between emotional/intuitive elements and ordered/rational qualities maintains harmony by counterbalancing opposing forces within divine figures.
Left vs Right in Esoteric Traditions
Kabbalah and the Tree of Life
In the mystical Jewish tradition of Kabbalah, the Tree of Life diagram depicts the 10 Sephirot (divine emanations) as a map of the spiritual world. The Sephirot are arranged vertically into left, center, and right columns.
The left column represents the feminine, intuitive, compassionate energies while the right embodies the masculine, action-oriented forces.
The left side of the Tree is seen as more spiritual, elevated and close to the divine infinite light compared to the grounded, worldly right side. However, both columns need to be balanced for spiritual wholeness.
The left and right recall the yin-yang duality in Eastern traditions – seemingly opposite but complementary forces that create dynamism.
The Right and Left-Hand Paths in Occultism
The terms Left-Hand Path (LHP) and Right-Hand Path (RHP) originated in Hindu Tantra but became popular in modern Western occultism. The LHP embraces a more defiant, taboo-breaking attitude that seeks spiritual power and self-deification.
In contrast, the RHP upholds moral codes and worship of divine forces rather than the self.
LHP practices tend to be regarded as dark occultism focused on manipulation and power over others versus the RHP’s illumination and service for the good of humanity. But just as the left and right columns on the Tree of Life form a whole, occult thinkers like Aleister Crowley argued that the LHP and RHP form a holistic approach together. The lines are not clearly defined as some left-hand occult orders consider enlightenment and divine worship as complementary to their self-focused practices.
Psychology: Left Brain vs Right Brain
Left Brain Functions and Traits
The left hemisphere of the brain is considered the logical, analytical, and verbal side. Left brain traits tend to include being detail-oriented, good at tasks involving logic like math or science, preferring facts over emotion, and communicating through language.
Some key functions governed by the left brain are: Language abilities including grammar, vocabulary, reading, speaking, and writing; Logical reasoning for problem solving and analysis; Controlling the right side of the body; Understanding sequences and linear thinking; and Specializing in math, logic, and analytics.
Right Brain Functions and Traits
The right brain hemisphere tends to be more creative, intuitive, and subjective. Right brain traits include being visual, innovative, artistic, perceptive of subtle cues, and synthesizing information into wholes rather than parts.
Key functions situated in the right brain are: Processing visual information; Interpreting facial expressions and social cues; Appreciating and producing art, music, and metaphor; Intuition and holistic thinking; Controlling the left side of the body; and Specializing in creativity, imagination, and emotional expression.
Bringing the Two Halves into Balance
While the left and right brain clearly have distinct functions, capabilities, and tendencies, it’s important we don’t take the split too rigidly. In reality, the two halves work closely together as a team. And we utilize both hemispheres for most tasks – it’s just a matter of degree.
However, research does suggest people tend to prefer one side. This affects how we perceive the world, process information, and even display our personality.
Ideally, we should aim to cultivate and harmonize both halves through activities like:***
- Learning new skills outside our natural strengths
- Engaging regularly in both logical and creative pursuits
- Making time for both structured analytic thought and unstructured mind-wandering
- Expressing ourselves through diverse mediums – words, images, movement, music, etc.
Bringing our two brain halves into balance unlocks our full potential. As Steve Jobs famously said: “It’s in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough. It’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the result that makes our hearts sing.”
Left and Right Symbolism in Culture and Religion
Left and Right in Christianity
In Christianity, the right hand of God represents strength, honor and authority. Jesus sits at the “right hand of the Father” in Heaven (Mark 16:19). The Bible also says that sheep, representing the righteous, will be set on Christ’s right side on Judgement Day while goats, symbolizing the unrighteous, will stand on his left (Matthew 25:33).
This illustrates the favorable status of the right side over the left in Christianity.
Left-Right Polarity in Hinduism and Buddhism
In Hinduism and Buddhism, the left side represents the lunar, feminine energy while the right embodies masculine, solar energy. The Hindu goddess Kali steps on her husband Shiva with her left foot, representing the triumph of time over all things.
In Buddhism, deities like Green Tara hold lotuses in their left hand, symbolizing compassion. The left also represents wisdom and intuition in Eastern traditions.
The polarities of left and right actually come together in harmony in Eastern traditions. As the website LotusSculpture.com explains: “The left hand supports what the right hand creates. The two hands are ultimate complements of one another in Eastern symbolism.”
Left vs Right Across Cultures
Across human cultures, associations with left and right have varied significantly:
- In ancient Egypt, the left side represented the fertile lands around the Nile and was seen as feminine, while the right symbolized the barren deserts and was linked to masculinity.
- In contrast, in ancient China the left was associated with the male principle (yang) while the right represented the feminine principle (yin).
| Culture | Left | Right |
|---|---|---|
| Christianity | Sinister, weaker | Righteous, stronger |
| Hinduism/Buddhism | Feminine, wisdom | Masculine, action |
| Ancient Egypt | Feminine, fertile | Masculine, barren |
As we can see, while some patterns emerge, concepts of left/right meaning vary greatly by culture and religion. The diverse symbolism reminds us these associations are largely social constructs, not innate human universals.
Conclusion
As we have seen, the dichotomy between left and right has profound symbolic meaning across the spiritual, psychological, cultural, and religious landscape. By exploring these connections, we gain insight into the deeper forces that shape human consciousness and the fundamental duality inherent in all things.
Understanding left-right polarity allows us to balance complementary opposites within ourselves, moving toward wholeness and integration. With this knowledge, we walk the spiritual path with greater awareness and intentionality.
