Explore the Mosaic and learn more
The lotus flower is an auspicious symbol in Buddhism. Its growth signifies the progress of the soul from the primeval mud of materialism, through the waters of experience, into the sunshine of enlightenment.
The 9-Pointed Star in the Baha’i tradition honors nine great world religions. Nine is also associated with perfection, as the highest single-digit number.
The rainbow is often used as an expression of welcome and inclusive community.
The yin-yang, or Taijitu is drawn from Taoism, an ancient Chinese philosophy. The symbol lifts up two halves that together. complete wholeness.
The heart points to a value central to every spiritual tradition: love.
The tree of life is found in many spiritual traditions, including Native American and earth-centered faiths. It lifts up the connection between earth, sky, and humanity.
The prayer rug is a reminder of one of the five pillars of Islam: the call to pray five times a day.
The dove, in Christianity, is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. It is also a symbol that in many traditions evokes our desire for peace.
“Chai” is a Hebrew word that means “life” or “alive,” composed of two Hebrew letters. It is an expression of the high value placed on life in Jewish tradition.
Outstretched hands remind us of the importance of giving in every spiritual tradition.
“Aum” is considered a sacred or cosmic sound in Hindu tradition and is often used for chanting. It refers to the Atman (soul or self within) and Brahman (ultimate reality), which are one.
The peace symbol is a reminder of our shared human desire to live in peace, and of our commitment to work for peace.
On our campus outside of Edwards Hall hangs a beautiful tile mosaic representing symbols from various faith Traditions.
The idea for our mosaic emerged as we dreamed of ways to convey a multi-faith welcome. we were drawn to mosaic, in which broken pieces are put together to create something whole.
Soon thereafter, as we celebrated the life of our dear friend Florence Sachs, a beloved member of the Open Spirit Community, we realized this mosaic would be a perfect memorial. We are grateful for the generous gifts of her family and friends, and also for the Framingham Cultural Council's grant, which made this project possible.
Framingham artist Samela St. Pierre created the design, in consultation with our Advisory committee. mosaic artist Cheryl Cohen gathered a team of volunteers - OpenSpirit participants, Edwards Church members, and friends of Florence. the team met weekly for months, smashing tiles and putting tiny shards into place.
Thank you to the dreamers, the contributors and artists who helped bring the mosaic to fruition. The mosaic is currently installed, a permanent expression of the beauty of multi-faith collaboration.
