Dear Heart,
I’m so glad you’re here. This is your space - a gentle pause in the daily grind, a place to explore the meaning, emotion, and quiet magic behind the symbols that connect us.
While our physical heart keeps us alive, I want to talk about a symbol that’s always been with you. One that beats quietly in your text messages, dangles from your jewellery, rests on greeting cards, and dances across shopfronts during holidays - ❤️.
Have you ever stopped to wonder where this little symbol came from? How did it become shorthand for everything we feel but can’t always say?
From ancient rituals to modern emojis, the heart has always had something to say without needing translation. It’s become one of the most instantly recognisable symbols in the world. And get this the Red Heart emoji was one of the top five most used emojis in 2024. I had no idea! - turns out, the 😂 Face with Tears of Joy is still holding strong at number one!.
How the Heart Symbol Came to Be
More than just cute, this little symbol has a mysterious past.
The Silphium Plant: Did you know the heart shape might date back to ancient Greece and a now-extinct plant once used for love and birth control? 😲 The seedpod of the silphium plant resembled the modern heart shape, linking it to themes of love, desire, and reproduction.
Medieval Anatomy: Medieval scholars like Galen and Aristotle illustrated human anatomy, including the heart. While not medically accurate by today’s standards, these drawings showed the heart in a symmetrical, rounded form much like the heart symbol we recognise now.
Coats of Arms and Art: By the Middle Ages, the heart shape appeared in religious art, poetry, and coats of arms. It became a symbol of chivalry, devotion, and romantic love.
Heart Jewellery: In medieval Europe, heart-shaped lockets and rings were popular tokens of romantic commitment and friendship, often engraved with meaningful inscriptions and initials. During the Renaissance and Victorian eras, intricate heart designs appeared in paintings, cameos, and mourning jewellery - symbolising not only love but also loss, and remembrance.
There’s so much to explore here - I’ll dedicate other blogs to this soon.
The Heart in Modern Culture
Fast-forward to today, and the heart symbol is more popular than ever. It has leapt from medieval manuscripts to digital emojis, becoming a universal language of emotion.
Digital Age: The heart emoji is one of the most used icons in digital communication, instantly conveying affection. Different coloured hearts mean different things - stay tuned, we’ll cover this soon.
Fashion and Design: From statement jewellery to minimalist logos, the heart adds warmth and humanity to modern design.
Marketing and Holidays: Brands use the heart to create emotional resonance, especially around Valentine’s Day. When travelling to Germany during the Christmas markets, all shops were covered with 'Lebkuchenherzen' (gingerbread hearts) hanging from ribbons, carrying cute love sayings.
Beauty & Wellness: Today, the heart symbol also represents self-care and nurturing our physical and emotional wellbeing in a busy world. For instance, heart shaped eye pillows.
Feeling the Hustle? Bring Your Heart Back into the Moment
I like to pause and step away from the daily grind by trying a few simple things to slow down and tune in. What about you - how do you find your moment of calm?
- Got a heart project? Now’s the time to let your creative spark shine.
- Cuddle your fur baby – if you have one, they’re always ready to help you slow down and feel loved (my Cavoodle Maverick sparks so much joy every day!)
Gentle reminders that your heart is always there, waiting to be heard. Each time you hit send on a ❤️, let it be a gentle nudge - to give love, receive love, and make space for your own.
To end on a heartfelt note, here’s a heart quote by Rumi that always inspires me:
THE HEART KNOWS A HUNDRED WAYS TO SPEAK
With love,
Danielle xo
P.S. Got a heart moment to share or ways you reconnect? Comment below or tag us with #Bespoke_Hearts. We’d love to hear what brings you back to your heartfelt moment.