What’s with the logo?
I can imagine what you’re thinking, it’s probably something along the lines of, “girl, what is going on with this logo??”
Fair question, and one that I previously shared in!
If you haven’t already read my earlier post, titled “Why I started The Spiritual MFT,” I highly recommend going back to get the full story on how and why God led me here. You can also find the article by clicking here .
This logo can be (understandably) controversial, so I thought it deserved a little more attention and explanation. Let me first start out with the fact that I 1000% did not want to make this my logo. I felt peace in my personal understanding of its symbolism and meaning, but struggled with God’s calling to use this publicly in my therapy practice. So much so that I fought Him tooth and nail, wrestling with Him in prayer and through fasting for weeks.
Even after I finally submitted to the Lord and went with this logo, I still struggled to see His plan and accept that this is what He wanted. I was fearful of the backlash, the misunderstandings, and the general judgement I would receive from both people within and outside of the faith community.
After intentional fasting to be given a different logo for months, I finally understood and accepted my fate, needing to move forward with this controversial imagery. If you’ll allow me, I would love to walk you through what I believe God is doing and why He decisively directed me to accept and use this symbol.
To start off first with our early church history, the Eye of Providence, also known as the All-Seeing Eye, is traditionally a catholic symbol that represents God being all-knowing (omniscient) and ever watchful over His creation. It symbolizes His Divine Providence, meaning God’s care and guidance for all that He has created. When depicted in a triangle or with rays surrounding it, it represents the Holy Trinity, Divine Glory, or God’s enlightenment.
The Holy Bible in both the Old Testament and New Testament references God’s watchful Eye countless times. Just to name a few:
Proverbs 15:3
"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good."
2 Chronicles 16:9
"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him."
Psalm 33:18
"Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love."
Job 34:21
"For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps."
Deuteronomy 11:12
"A land that the Lord your God cares for. The eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year."
Psalm 34:15
"The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry."
Proverbs 5:21
"For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths."
Psalm 32:8
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you."
Hebrews 4:13
"And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
Ephesians 1:18
"Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you."
Matthew 6:22
"The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light."
These are just a few of the many direct passages referencing God the Father’s watchful eye over all of humanity. So much of what I do as a Catholic-based Marriage and Family Therapist is to help my clients see how and what God is doing in their personal journey. In almost every session, I intentionally bring it back to Christ to help them understand His love, protective hand, and presence over whatever is happening in their circumstances. The most important takeaway is that God is always watching, and that He, with His unfailing love is with us through it all. Something so many of those who have fallen away from the faith need to be reminded of.
So, the Eye of Providence, or the All-Seeing Eye makes sense, right? It was a tried-and-true symbol of God the Father and the Holy Trinity for centuries, right up until the 18th-century when the Freemasons adopted it as their own and turned it into something that it’s not. Following them, the New Age and Occult practitioners similarly made it their own and into something that it’s not.
As we know, the enemy is the ultimate counterfeit, deceiver, and imitator of God, so his twisting of what is holy for evil purposes is nothing new. Understanding this, it makes sense to me why God would want to restore and renew His images and symbolism, taking back what had been wrongfully distorted or stolen from Him in the first place.
Moving onto the history and color combination appearing to be what’s now known as the “evil eye,” this image is an ancient symbol found in Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, Egypt, India, and the Middle East. Its varying design is present in Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Christian traditions (usually at the folk level, not doctrinal). The point of this amulet is to protect you from someone looking at you with envy or malice, thus, causing bad luck, illness, or misfortune.
The “eye” in this context is not literal, but instead symbolic of watching with harmful intent. Throughout history, people have worn these amulets, like the blue “Nazar” bead or the Jewish Hamsa symbol that is globally known to ward off or protect against this evil eye.
Within the Jewish faith, people will frequently avoid boasting or arrogance so as not to provoke an “ayin hara” meaning “evil eye” in Hebrew. Beyond this, it is common within the Jewish faith and culture to say in Hebrew, “Bli ayin hara,” kein ayin hara, or kein ayin hara aleichem” meaning “without the evil eye” or “protection from the evil eye” after someone shares a compliment or good news.
If we were to make a list of every culture and religion’s interpretation of the various configurations of “the eye,” going back to its earliest history, a theme of protection, power, healing, divine oversight, wisdom, judgement, enlightenment, divine omniscience, inner vision, foresight, spiritual sight and awareness emerges. Sounds a lot like God, right?
Looking deeper into what our faith reveals to us in the spiritual significance and symbolism of this specific color combo, we can see our Trinitarian God, (as expected) here, too.
Biblically, light blue symbolizes peace, purity of spirit, hope, revelation and spiritual clarity. It also represents the Blessed Mother Mary’s gentleness and spiritual serenity. We sometimes see this color during Advent or Marian feasts in both Catholic and Orthodox traditions.
White symbolizes purity, holiness, innocence, resurrection, glory, and victory. We frequently see this color used during Christmas, Easter, Feasts of Christ, Marian feasts, weddings, baptisms, and funerals.
And finally, dark blue symbolizes heaven, divine, wisdom, faithfulness and truth, and again, our Blessed Mother, Depicting her royalty, heavenly grace, and depth of faith, as well as a symbol of the eternal.
So, clearly, these colors are not evil.
As a Marriage and Family Therapist, whose purpose and mission in this life is to help restore individuals, marriages, and families as Christ intended, I find so much clarity and understanding in why this specific color combination is appropriate to the work God has called me to do. Even so, I understand the hesitation, judgement, or criticism of my logo choice upon first glance.
As expected, both Catholic and Protestant theology rightfully rejects belief in the “evil eye” as a superstition, and again, I share in those beliefs. Nothing apart from God can protect you from the evil in this world. So, if you are seeking or receiving protection, God is the only source. This is also a theme I routinely emphasize in my therapy work. At the same time, this is a globally recognized symbol of power and protection, and I can’t think of a better bridge for those outside of, or adjacent to living in the fullness of Christ through His church to find their way back to Him through a familiar icon or imagery that is entirely useless without Him.
Can you imagine if everyone suddenly saw God and thought of His presence, power, authority, and protection every time they came across this very popular symbol? What an incredible example of His restorative power and authority, which again, is so prevalent in my line of therapy work. There is truly nothing on God’s green earth that He can’t resurrect and restore to its former glory, (just like us!).
That said, if you still have concerns about my logo, I invite and encourage you to pray on my behalf, either that God would lead me to change it, or that He would reveal to you why He chose this symbol and give you His peace.
Short of a word from the Lord Himself, the logo isn't going anywhere.
