Here are the cultural and religious meanings of some of the most basic signs and symbols. Knowing this, you can be aware of the subtle and obvious meanings of the images you choose to put in your global or even your domestic concepts.

	Dice -While used in gaming, dice represent the fickleness of fate. This means they also represent the Three Graces. They were important in Christ's passion, as they were cast beneath the crucifix by Roman soldiers betting on Christ's robe. They are a symbol of fortune personified, representing her random gifts. In deciding if dice are negative or positive, they are neutral because they represent chance.
	Dragon -The dragon has very different reasons in the west and in Asia. In Asia, it is the 5th sign of the zodiac, and is seen as a very positive symbol, with meanings of joy, health and fertility. It protects man from evil spirits. However, western Christians consider the dragon a very negative and satanic symbol. It shares the same connotations of the snake, representing destructive powers. It defiles the innocent and guards hidden treasures. Sometimes it is winged, often scaly, with lion's claws and breathing fire, it can sometimes be seen as a primordial unifying force. Carl Jung considered images of the dragon to represent the mother.
	Tragedy/Comedy Masks -Together, they embody the essential and opposing components of existence. They are to remind the audience of fate and mans' ultimate destiny in the drama of life. They are based on the two muses of comedy and tragedy Melpomene and Thalia. Sometimes Cupid was seen wearing the mask of tragedy in Roman funerary art. Today, they are a symbol of the theatre arts.
	Elephant -In 1874, Harper's Weekly published a cartoon by Thomas Nast of an elephant trampling on inflation and chaos, since then the elephant has been the symbol of the Republican party in the US.
	Donkey -The emblem of the Democratic Party of the US. It's use dates from 1828, when it was adopted by Andrew Jackson (President 1829-1837) as a humorous allusion to his derogatory nickname "jackass." It's mascot role was further consolidated by Thomas Nast's cartoons, published in Harper's Weekly during the 1880s.
	Heraldic Lion -The Lion Rampant, is a popular image in British heraldry. It signifies bravery, strength and ferocity. It also means valor, royalty and protection and is part of the English royal coat of arms.
	Eye of Horus -This all-seeing eye had many complex meaning in ancient Egypt. It denoted strength and power as was regarded as a protection against evil, and is still viewed this way to this day.
	Fleur-de-lys -Means "flower of the lily" in French. An often used heraldic symbol, it is based on a lily or lotus, signifying perfection, light and life and traditionally represents the kings of France. English kings used the emblem on their coats of arms to signify their claims to the French throne. It is also the symbol of Florence, Italy, which is know as the "City of the Lilies.".
	Four-Leaf Clover -This symbol of luck gets its start with the story of Adam and Eve. Although Eve was banished from paradise, she took with her a reminder of the garden of Eden—the four-leafed clover. Clovers normally have three leaves and finding one with four leaves is difficult although not impossible. If the plant has more than 4 leaves, it's thought to be unlucky and bring misfortune.
	Foxglove -The leaves are more important than the flowers. In many cultures, including Christianity, the leaves can signify the desire for forgiveness. To the Chinese, it represents peace, tranquility and humility. In Japan the flower is sacred to the Mano-Zinsya shrine in Kyoto. The Celts believed it to be the flower of the fairies.
	Dove with Olive branch -In Christian and Judaic cultures, it symbolizes peace. To Christians it also means the Holy Spirit. However, today it has become a general symbol and need no association with a religion.
	Piracy -The skull and crossbones, of the ""jolly Roger", the pirate flag, is an age-old symbol and death and therefore danger. The skull stands for the impermanence of human life, and the crossed thigh-bones, signify the vital force of the loins. Aside from pirates, the Nazi's used this symbol as a regimental military emblem. Today it is a common warning on poisons.
	Halo -Signifies divine radiance, but can also mean sainthood, sovereignty, wisdom and vital energy. Sometimes a golden disk or rayed disk, triangle or diamond shaped. Christ is often shown with a cruciform halo, as here. Live people such as the Pope will be shown with a square shaped halo. It is also seen in other religions, was used before christianity, and was originally a symbol of the sun or of majesty and power. Buddha has a red halo, the Hindu god Shiva has a fire-fringed halos signifying the cosmos, Roman emperors had halos, and in Christian Byzantium, even Satan was shown with a halo of power.
	Shinto Torii -In Shintoism, Japans national religion, this wooden gateway leads to the shrine where the gods live. It symbolizes the right entrance to the sacred way, the way of the gods
	Star and Crescent -The premier symbol of Islam and signifies concentration, openness and victory, as well as sovereignty and divinity. Traditionally, a bright waxing moon saved Byzantium from attackers and so the icon was adopted. When the City became Christian, the crescent symbolized the Virgin Mary. It then became the symbol of the Ottoman dynasty, and then of both Islam and the Turkish empire. The star was added later. Together they appear on national flags of Islamic countries and as the Islamic counterpart of the Red Cross, the Red Crescent Society.
	Star of David -The symbol of the state of Israel, and of Judaism in general. It symbolizes the shield held by David against Goliath. Kabbalist believe it has protective power and magical properties. In magic and alchemy, it represents the unity of the the elements. The up-pointing triangle, representing fire, the down-pointing water.
	Thistle -The national emblem of Scotland. In Christian mythology, it is equated to the crown of thorns and the fall of man, thus representing sorrow and pain.
	Khanda -This emblem of Sikhism is shown on the Flag of Respect. It combines the double-edged sword (which represents the Sikh concept of the martial saint), circled by the chakkar, or steel quoit (a symbol of the unity of god and man. One either side are two kirpans, symbolizing spiritual and temporal power.
	Confederate Flag -The "Southern Cross' or "flag of the South", the blue cross of St Andrew dotted with white stars on a red field. This became the Confederacy battle flag after it was flown at the battle of Manassas in 1861 and until the Confederacy's demise in 1865. Extremely controversial, as to African-Americans, it represents American's history of slavery. While to the south, it is their attempt to promote their identity and differentness as opposed to the rest of the country. Many view it as a flag of heresy and treason as it is the flag of a failed insurrection.
	Wheel -The wheel is a powerful and old symbol for the circle of life and is important in many religions. When it has 12 segments, it symbolizes the months of the year, or the twelve Adityas. It also signifies the sun with rays radiating out from the center, and is the sign of the sun god in some religions. Because the wheel moves, it can mean the cosmos, time and the progression of fate. It is particularly important to Buddhism as it means the wheel of life or the wheel of law
	Yin-Yang -Based on the teachings of Lao Tse, Taoists believe that everything in the universe is made of and controlled by two conflicting forces, the yin, or negative, passive and feminine (black), and the yang, or positive, active and masculine (white). Yin represents the soul, wetness, cold, night, the moon, darkness, the earth and sustenance, as is associated with the broken line. The Yang represents, the spirit, light, heat. dryness, day, the sun, heaven, creation and dominance and is associated with unbroken line. Yin always comes before Yang because it represents primeval darkness before creation. harmony can only be achieved when the two are in balance. the yin-yang circle symbolizes this concept as it's equal areas are contained within a circle of revolution and unity. The small circle of the opposite color contained in each, signifies the see of the other and thus their interdependence.
	Laurel -The laurel, often turned into a wreath is the symbol of victory. The evergreen laurel was regarded as a purifying plant with powers of immortality. This wreath came to be regarded both as a prize and a sign of divine blessing, which is why many portraits, particularly Napoleon, are shown wearing a laurel wreath. Today, those who have achieved much in their fields, still receive this sign of distinction.
	Palm Tree -The palm was the Tree of Life in many early Middle Eastern civilizations. It if often associated with victory. In early Christian times the palm leaves were used as funerary emblems, signifying both martyrdom and victory over death. In the middle ages, a palm leaf was a badge of pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Today, it is made into little crosses to commemorate Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered Jerusalem.
	Olive Tree -This tree is also a universal sign of peace, but it also symbolizes knowledge, purification, fertility, longevity, abundance and victory. It can live for centuries, therefore it can symbolize long life. To the Jews, it means strength and beauty and was the emblem of the tribe of asher. In China it represents quiet persistence and grace and is the tree of the fall. Sometimes the Virgin Mary is shown with an olive branch rather than a lily.