Shapes, Symbols & the Season: How Ancient Marks Spark Our Holiday Creativity

The holidays are full of rituals, memories, and sensory moments that live deep in our bodies.
But most people don’t realize that what we think of as “holiday spirit” is actually rooted in shapes and symbols, the oldest creative language humans have ever known.

Long before we wrapped gifts, decorated trees, or lit candles in December darkness, our ancestors carved circles into rock, traced spirals on bone, arranged triangles into sacred altars, and painted lines that told stories of life, death, and renewal.

In other words:
this season has always been shaped by shapes.

And these ancient symbols still influence how we feel, remember, and create today.

Shapes bypass words. They go straight to the limbic system, the emotional center of the brain.
So when we see a circle, a star, a spiral, or even a simple line, our bodies respond before we consciously understand why.

During the holidays . . . when nostalgia, tenderness, overwhelm, longing, and joy all swirl together, symbols become anchors. They become tiny portals into memory, imagination, and meaning.

Think about it:

These aren’t accidents.
These are ancient human patterns resurfacing at a time when we naturally seek meaning, comfort, and connection.

Every family has shapes that hold memory.

The way your grandmother drew her stars.
The pattern on your childhood ornaments.
The spiral of a ribbon.
The hand-print circle wreaths we made in school.
The lines of a cookie tray arranged just-so before baking.

Shapes aren’t just visual design . . . they’re emotional imprints.

This is why, during the holidays, even the smallest creative act can spark a feeling:

These simple motions remind us of the stories we’ve lived and the stories we’re still writing.

This time of year brings tenderness. Our nervous systems feel both stretched and softened.
And in expressive arts therapy, shape-based creation is one of the gentlest ways to soothe and open the imagination.

Why?

Because shapes are simple.
Non-intimidating.
Pre-verbal.

They allow us to create without pressure.

When you doodle circles, draw a tree, explore spirals, trace the edges of a leaf, or color in a star, you’re actually:

Holiday creativity doesn’t need to be elaborate.
It just needs to feel true.

And often the truest expression begins with a single shape.

🟣 Circles: Wholeness, protection, cycles

Wreaths, ornaments, warm mugs, the sun returning after the winter solstice.
Circles remind us that we are held in something continuous.

🌲Triangles: Aspiration, growth, harmony

Trees, mountains, candle groupings.
Triangles move the eye upward . . . toward hope, renewal, and the year ahead.

🌟 Stars: Guidance, mystery, wonder

Used across cultures for thousands of years.
Stars invite curiosity and remind us of what is bigger than us.

🌀 Spirals: Magic, evolution, movement

Peppermints, swirling lights, curling ribbons.
The spiral is one of the oldest symbols of transformation.

🕯️ Lines: Presence, intention, direction

Candles, garlands, the path of twinkle lights.
Lines help orient us and they tell our nervous system, “Here is the way.”

Each symbol is a bridge between past and present.
Each one stirs something ancient inside of us.

If you’re craving a gentle moment of creativity during the holidays, try this simple practice:

1. Choose a shape that speaks to you right now.

A circle, a star, a spiral, a tree, a line (whatever feels like a whisper).

2. Draw it . . . again and again.

Big, small, imperfect, playful.

3. Notice what memories and emotions appear.

Does it feel comforting? Nostalgic? Energizing? Quiet?

4. Let your imagination follow the shape.

Maybe it becomes a card.
Maybe a doodle.
Maybe a wrapping-paper pattern.
Maybe just a moment of breath-filled ease.

Creativity during the holidays doesn’t need to be polished or shareable.
It just needs to feel like you connecting to something meaningful.

They’re the oldest creative language we have.
They’re the stories that built human imagination.
They’re the silent companions of every holiday season.

And when we create with them—whether doodling, decorating, baking, crafting, or simply noticing—we connect with something ancient, soothing, and deeply human.

We remember that creativity isn’t a performance.
It’s a way of being.
A way of honoring what matters.
A way of grounding into the season with intention and wonder.

For a limited time (until Christmas) you can join Creative Glimmers and gift a second enrollment for free.

Perfect for a friend, sister, or someone who needs a little light this season.

Creative Glimmers is a gentle, joyful mini-course designed to help you:

• make space for creativity

• reconnect with your senses

• explore color, shape, texture, music, nature, and freestyle expression

• and spark inspiration in just 10 minutes a day

If you’ve been wanting a playful entry point into creative flow . . . or if you’d love to share that spark with someone you care about . . . this is the moment.

Buy One, Gift One Free until December 25th

(After that, the offer dissolves like glitter into the New Year.)