Paulo Coelho

The Sword goes back to the Bronze Age, when the technology in metallurgy enabled it to appear. Before its practical use, the sword was first used for ritual practices – hence the fact that most of the ancient swords were ornate with many symbols.

In German culture, swords were dedicated to great heroes and had a magical value. In India, the sword is the symbol of the inner fight against ignorance and craving for the light of consciousness. This is the meaning of the sword of Vishnu, whilst the sword of the Indra is the lightning that illuminates the world.

In the West, the archangel Saint Michael is portrayed with a sword, fighting against the darkness. In the book of the Apocalypse, Christ is represented with a sword coming from his mouth, symbolizing the invincible strength of divine truth that descend to our world like a flash of lightning.

Now you take the floor: what do you associate with the sword?