SUN CIRCLES

by Mel Ohlinger

Continuing my search for true schools of thought, and influenced by the academic work of Arthur Pontynen, I began exploring the meaning of life through geometry—specifically, the idea of the circle and its perfection.



A perfect circle doesn’t exist in nature. We’ve never seen one, never touched one, and yet we universally agree that a circle is perfect. The circle has an infinite number of symmetries—lines you can draw through it that divide it evenly. The ancient Greeks recognized this quality and considered the circle, and its three-dimensional form, the sphere, to be the most perfect of all geometric shapes.

Across cultures and centuries, the circle has carried powerful symbolism. It stands for wholeness, totality, eternity, infinity, and God. Monotheistic religions describe God as a circle whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere. In Buddhism, enlightenment is expressed through the Enso circle, representing ultimate perfection. In Sanskrit, the word mandala means circle; mandalas are used in meditation and prayer across China, Japan, and Tibet to represent different aspects of the universe. Byzantine churches crown their architecture with domes as symbols of striving toward divine perfection. Even Masonic temples embrace the “Circle of Perfection,” a guide to the path of wisdom.

Science and philosophy echo the same idea. The “circle of life” reminds us of the endless cycle of death and renewal. The sun, the moon, and the earth are celestial circles anchoring our existence. On a human level, circles appear in the communities we build—our circles of friends, family, and belonging. From Galileo to Ptolemy, from ancient philosophy to modern science, the circle is seen as both a material truth and a spiritual symbol of perfection.

At its heart, the circle is a reminder of our belief in ideals—that morality, wisdom, and goodness all begin with the recognition of perfection.

I found the theory of the circle to be true.

Side note: This piece is my personal favorite in the collection.