Thursday, June 5, 2008

The meaning of Paisley...

Since I was a teenager I have loved the paisley design. My devotional chair is a red and gold paisley. I have several clothes items in this design. In fact my husband thinks I need to let up on this wardrobe design. This morning I thought I would explored this design. Is there any significance to "paisley"?

I found that it is considered one of the most recognized patterns in the world. The twisted "tear-drop" pattern is Persian (Iranian) in origin, but its western name derives from the town of Paisley, in central Scotland, a place I hope to visit one day. In Indian culture, the paisley was originally an illiterate way for village people to communicate that it was harvest time. It is the 1009 name in popularity for use as a first name and it means "church" (loving it!)

The tear drop pattern does represent my life. But these tears have also brought rebirth and joy into my life, but only through the grace of God. It reminds me of how God can take something painful, whether of my own doing or the actions of someone else, and turn it into something beautiful. He is doing that in my life, satan is not real happy about this right now and the pressure is on...
For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling.
~Psalms 116:8

Paisley means church-is that not what we are called to be? We are to be the church of Christ, of the same mind as God, a servant used to draw others to Him, our bodies a temple of Christ. What are you filling your church with? What gives you the energy and strength to fulfill God's plan for your life? If we are called to be of the same mind as Christ, then what feeds your mind?
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
~1 Corinthians 6:19

For the Indian culture, paisley symbolized harvest time. Look around you. Is it not harvest time? Where is Christ in this world? How are you showing Him to all those around you that do not know Him? What is your field of harvest? Your family? Your work? Your faith community?
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few."
~Matthew 9:37
We all have our special calling in ministry. For some it is to teach, to lead, others to serve and edify, and even some to disciple, to provide mercy and intercession. Whatever your gift is, God is calling us now to be His church, His temple. The harvest is ready. Let's make Christ love the most recognized pattern of life in this world!!

33 comments:

About Nancy said...

Thank you for this information on the Paisley design. I love it too. It's warm, friendly, and cozy. I am glad I visited your blog. I don't believe I've been here before. See you again soon!
Nancy

Kelley said...

OH WOW! That is so cool! I am really glad that you researched that. And I feel blessed to know the story behind your blog design and how God revealed to you that it should be Paisley. I have goose bumps!!!

Thanks again for the book, I know it will be wonderful!!

Kelley

LynnSC said...

Wow!! That is awesome! Doesn't it just thrill you so when you love something and then God gives you the "why" behind it.

Thanks so much for sharing this with us. That makes me just want to go out and buy more paisley.

Lynn

Laura said...

How special is that? Your paisley preference does not stand alone! Something about the teardrops and graceful curves of the pattern speaks to me too. Now I know why!

God Chaser said...

Very nice post. I am thankful that God is taking me and turning me in to something beautiful for Him.. Thanks for reminding me I am the church and I need to pay attention to what is in it. I often thank about us being God's church which mean we are His heart, hands, feet, eyes and ears. He calls us to do His work on earth. We pray for the needs of people all the time forgetting we need to help fulfill those prayers.

I would really appreciate you checking out my new sabbath site.
http://holysabbath.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Came by to say "HI" and see ya at She Speaks!

Pen to Paper; Spirit to Soul said...

I will soon begin babysitting a newborn and her name is Paisley. My teen daughters have both mentioned how she will be so made fun of as she gets older because of her name. But now, I can show them this and I know with God's grace we can show this little one the way to grow into her very special name!!! She is a meth baby, so there will be some challenges....her aunt is adopting her into her Christian home!
After reading this, I am a bit more excited to bring her into our home! Thank you!!!
Pamela in TX

Lelia Chealey said...

This was so good I had emailed the link to a friend the day after we went shopping and she bought a paisly patterned dress.
Great informative, encouraging post my friend!

Pen to Paper; Spirit to Soul said...

I am about to begin babysitting a little girl named Paisley. We know God has already touched her life - she is two months old and a meth baby. A friend of ours is in the process of adopting her...the baby is her twin sister's. This was so neat to find, to begin even now growing this precious baby in the truth God has given her...even in her name!!!
Could you please send it to me in e-mail form so I can share it with my friend, the expectant Mom?
Thank you for allowing God to use you in a tremendous way!!!

Pamela In TX
bluegoose@verizon.net

Ginger said...

I enjoyed reading the meaning of Paisley. I'm expecting my first baby... it's a girl... I found the name Paisley in a baby book & love it. My husband loves it too. I loved in the book it said it meant church in Irish. My maiden name is Church & I just thought that was awesome!

Anya said...

Be careful please-the paisley design in Hinduism is known as Mankolam. mankolam: (Tamil) "Mango design." The paisley, a stylized image of the mango, symbol of auspiciousness, associated with Lord Ganesha.


Lord Ganesha is a Hindu god.

Source: http://ebooks.gutenberg.us/HimalayanAcademy/SacredHinduLiterature/dws/lexicon/m.html

Anonymous said...

My name is Paisley and I am 13 years old, this information is very interesting I am glad I visited your website!

Diane said...

Thank you for the thoughts about paisley. It's good to see that I am not the only one who wonders about symbols and patterns that attract me and what they mean. I love this design as well and I love the Fleur de Lis as well which I have found to stand for the Trinity. Wow! There's so much in daily life that God allows us to see to remind us of HIm!!

Unknown said...

Thank you for the inspiration. I am making a glass mosaic frame around a mirror. I always try to find God's reminder when creating my design. I tend to place more nature pieces in my work. However this time I want something that reflect the hard trails I am in right now with this sinful earth and i too love the paisley design. I never new it meant church. After reading you artical I now know the paisley design will be my focal piece. Peace, Love, Grade and Hope to you sister in Christ

Anonymous said...

Hi my name is Sandra and back in 1998 my mother passed away while I was deeply in despair a couple of months later I had a dream and I was able to remember this dream in the morning very clear. I was walking out of a house to see a group of people looking up to the sky and being curios I looked up as well and what I saw where white clouds forming a Throne a Hugh white sofa chair and then just like GOD was sitting on it, well everything was white except one thing which surrounded HIS Head call it what you want a Halo or Crown but it was made of liquid Gold I could see right thur it. And it was so close I could see every intricate detail and the part that I thought of the most is it had tiny tiny cutouts that were the shape of paisleys. So I plan to paint this Crown of Glory and in doing so I started to wonder if the paisley had a represention and it makes sense of the Church and Harvest and for me the shapes look like tear or blood drop shapes everything Christ Jesus talked about to His children US !

Anonymous said...

Your information is incorrect. Please see previous post of paisley being inspired by Hindu god - the inspiration is in witchcraft.. Your promotion of such is dangerous to the Body of Christ.

Lozza said...

http://hinduism.about.com/od/artculture/a/sacred_symbols_3.htm

YES PAISLEY PRINT IS DEMONIC!! from the words of Hindus themselves! Do not be deceived by lying spirits!

Pilgrim Mary said...

I have to say that up until 5 minutes ago I was in the camp of "the Paisley design is rooted in pagan evil" camp, and was getting frustrated by some of the cheery comments despite the fact that I really do like the aesthestics of some of the cleaner Paisley designs. (Others kinda give me the creeps.)

Then it occurred to me--Jesus is much more concerned about the intentions of our heart, and He is victorious over the evil influences. I just returned from the Holy Land (awesome, the graces keep flowing--thank You, Jesus!) and was just now reminded that the Cross was a symbol of the most terribly damned people, and gazing upon it was believed to confer a curse to the viewer....until He changed all of that, of course! (According to my tour guide, some non-Christians are still spooked by the symbol of the Cross because of the horrible deaths associated with it...pray for them, so that they may better understand that Christ defeated death, even when doled out in the most ignoble and humiliating way.)

The idea of meditating upon His precious Blood when seeing the drop-like shapes of the paisley design is an interior act of one's will, and a beautiful one at that. I'm still debating what to do about my own personal paisley preferences, but think I will adopt that practice of thinking of His Blood and His triumph over darkness when I see the design.

Anonymous said...

The Gospel according to John says
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. Jhn 1:1-3
I made a double sided paisley scarf and still wanted to know the symbolism behind it. I prayed and asked God. He has now began to reveal...thank you for this blog, in Christ alone do I put my trust sj

estwal said...

This is quite enlightening. Thanks for sharing!

estwal said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sally Davis said...

I think paisley design has Islamic roots.

Unknown said...

I just started reading about the root history of Paisley on my own as a born-again Christian and the first thing I read was alarming. I have a rug that has it on it and I'm throwing it out or selling it and getting out of my home cuz I believe it's totally demonic. Islam. God has been enlightening me on certain designs and patterns not only the mondala but now the Paisley pattern in these adult coloring books which are almost all demonic they have Hindu Roots(false religions) and we should have nothing to do with these things and we should rid our homes of any & everything in our possession

Unknown said...

Be careful is right!
People REALLY should do much better research & know their "Godly" source...
http://www.demonbuster.com/paisley.html

Anonymous said...

The paisley pattern was in my dream last night. It really stuck with me all day, and I prayed and meditated on what it might mean. And then I found your post! I am so thankful and so encouraged =)

Anonymous said...

I honestly didn’t think you should have called your child Paisley.

Everyone should know the Lord for themself and I honestly believe that the Paisley Pattern is demonic. I saw the pattern moving like a worm one night and so therefore I had thrown out every Paisley Print from my house.

Anonymous said...

Quit it with that legalism. Yashua died to set us free. Don't live in such fear!

Anonymous said...

Amen. It is demonic.

Anonymous said...

I've done a lot of spiritual housecleaning in our house led by the Holy Spirit and I do not regret any of it. If it's demonic, it's getting trashed. Regardless of sentimentality. There have been numerous shifts in our home atmosphere after getting rid of items that demons attach to. Following a few fasts, the Lord was faithful to show me items that were bringing in the spirit of death (clothes given to my husband by a family of a man who took his life ended up in my husband's closet). We threw them out, and our kids have quit saying they want to die, they hate life, etc. This stuff is real...seek the Lord and research spiritual housecleaning.

Anonymous said...

Fleur De Lis is "the devils lily"...we got rid of all such art in our home after this revelation from the Lord.

Anonymous said...

https://truthinreality.com/2012/10/27/the-occult-cursed-objects-cults/

Anonymous said...

Paisley is Pagan. It's in the image of the Pinecone. Pagans worship the Pinecone/Christmas tree because the tree stayed green year round. If your Chair has the paisley Design on it then you have a Large MAGNET for demons.

Anonymous said...

I had this pyjamas with paisley design. One evening the Holy Spirit revealed to me the spiritual meaning of the design as I was looking into the mirror. Threw it away immediately. Only found out later it signified tree of life. Our Tree of Life is Jesus, our Lord. There is no other tree of life.