The Pneuma logo draws inspiration from two of the greatest known cultures: Greek and Egyptian. The word pneuma (pronounced new-muh) is generally translated as breath or spirit or soul. Different schools of thought have produced different interpretations of this concept. But without going into the details of the different philosophies and religions from which its connotations stem, it’s sufficient to note that pneuma was considered the force of life, the animating energy of matter that connected all living beings and the natural world. Combining the elements of air and fire, pneuma was seen as the divine organizing principle of the universe. In short, pneuma was the breath of life.
This concept is of course something that not only the Ancient Greeks contemplated. In Ancient Egypt, the life force or vital spark was represented by the Ka. The Egyptian concept of the soul is intricate and there have been many studies trying to elucidate the significance of its three main parts: the Ba, the Ka, and the Akh. These concepts have different interpretations and are still difficult to grasp, yet it suffices to say that the Ka was considered an eternal force that perpetuated through generations. The Ancient Egyptians believed that a person’s Ka continued to live after death and was nourished by the offerings prepared by those still alive. Statues of the deceased with the Ka symbol were placed in tombs to provide a physical place for the Ka to manifest. The Ka is depicted by the two arms pointing upwards and is often associated with the ideas of receiving the life force that transcends matter and of connecting with this perpetual energy.
At the center of the logo are the main tools used in making the incense blends: the mortar and pestle. The background consists of representations of some of the plants that provide the different ingredients. The inspiration of creating this logo was supported by two of my wonderful and gifted friends who put in their artistic talent to realize the drawing. Check out their works @onyxtattootemple and @ikhanhart!
And I’ll admit… the choice of name was also influenced by one of my favorite songs: Pneuma by Tool.