What Our Logo Means...

The "Sun" represents life. It keeps us warm, and lights our days. Because of the Sun, plants grow and feed all of Mother Earth's creatures. Without it humans and everything on this planet would cease to exist. 
 

Hidden in the sun symbol is a “compass”. Look closely at the rays and you will see the ones pointing to North, South East and West stretch farther. By knowing where we have been, and by knowing where we are now, helps us to figure out what direction we are going. This gives us the power to change the course of our lives whenever we find ourselves wandering away from our own paths and purposes in life.

Inside the sun is a “circle”. This is a reminder that we are all equal, no matter our race, gender, or spiritual beliefs. The circle is open on one side, as an invitation to all of those who would like to explore their spirituality to join us in our InSpirit Centre Circle.

The symbol commonly referred to as an “Inukshuk”, is actually not a true Inukshuk. Inukshuk (singular) or Inukshuit (plural) are important markers for the Inuit and other northern Indigenous communities as they identify important hunting and fishing spots, as well as assist in travel direction. The landscape easily changes with wind, snow and ice, so these markers are essential for survival.

However on our logo, it isn’t actually an inukshuk at all. This symbol is actually identified as an “Inunnguaq” (singular) or “Inunnguat” (plural). A key difference is that Inukshuit do not take on the shape of a human, whereas the Inunnguat do. Another key difference is that the Inunnguat have only been around the last 100 years or so, and are created by people of all walks of life. These are not exclusively Indigenous symbols, but we understand why people may mix that up from time to time.

To learn more, check out this video by Peter Irniq, Inuit cultural activist. 

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(Fun Fact: The most famous Inunnguaq is named “Ilanaaq” and is a multi-coloured 5 piece design created by Elana Rivera MacGregor for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics)

When we see an Inunnguaq, it lets us know someone has been here before. It is a symbol of welcoming.  In the world of spirituality, this brings a comfort and reassurance when we are going through hard times to know that others have experienced the exact same thing and survived. Similar to the compass, on a spiritual level, the Inunnguaq can help you find your way back to yourself, even when the landscape of your life has changed and nothing seems familiar.
 

Inunnguat are recognized all over the world as a Canadian symbol representing our collective warmth, welcoming attitudes, and kindness to others. These are traits that Barbara, Mark and the InSpirit Centre Team highly value.   

Putting these symbols together reminds us of our mission and vision to provide quality ethical therapies and services so that everyone who wants to explore their inner worlds is welcome at InSpirit Centre, and we will always strive to provide a safe and respectful environment.