One of the questions that many of our patients ask is why we chose the Phoenix for our logo. While nobody can question that the image of a magnificent bird that bursts into flames periodically is beautiful, its link to pain relief and management is often questioned because it is vastly not understood in this context. It is essential to understand that pain management is associated with enduring, and the Phoenix is a symbol that has continued to endure for several hundred years. However, there are other reasons why the Phoenix is the perfect bird for our logo, something we’ll go into in this article.
To truly understand where the Phoenix comes in, we need to start with a bit of history. We promise this will not take long, but it will prepare you for truly understanding what the Phoenix stands for and what it has continued to stand for across the globe over the centuries.
Over the centuries, there have been many variations of the Phoenix symbol across the globe. There is the Simurgh which was used in ancient Persia and continues to be used today. Then there is also the Feng Huang of China. The birds were of significance to both cultures, just as the ancient Greeks revered the Phoenix.
The myth as we understand it today stems from the Ancient Greeks; it was mentioned by Herodotus Pliny, the Elder, and then later by Pope Clement I, amongst many others. However, many historians believe that the origins of this mythical bird or figure are actually rooted in Ancient Egypt. In Ancient Egypt, the heron bird was referred to as Bennu and was worshipped. The bird was also part of their creation myths.
The Ancient Egyptians held the Bennu as an avatar of Osiris, which for those who don’t know, was one of the most important gods of the Ancient Egyptians. In Ancient Greece, the first mention of Bennu is by a Greek historian Herodotus sometime in the 5th century. He clearly details how the Egyptians worshipped the bird, stating what was believed at that time:
- The bird dies and is reborn from the ashes every 500 years
- It is the size of an eagle
- It has a fiery color
Over the years, historians have speculated that Bennu may have probably been influenced by the Greek myth of the Phoenix, but this has yet to be substantiated.
However, everyone seems to agree that the Phoenix was a brilliantly colored bird that stood out from all the others.
As we alluded to at the beginning of the article, the life and death cycle of the Phoenix tends to make for an excellent metaphor, especially for the following concepts:
Death and Resurrection – The Phoenix symbol was adopted by many early Christians as primarily a metaphor for the death and resurrection of Jesus. Even today, many early Christian tombstones can be seen with phoenixes engraved or carved into them.
The Sun – The Phoenix is often associated with the sun. Similar to the sun, the mythical bird is born, then lives for a given period of time (500 years), and then dies, followed by repeating the process. In ancient times the depiction of the Phoenix would often be with a halo which shows its connection to the sun.
Healing – Many recent additions to the legend claim that the tears of the mythical bird have the ability to heal people. However, during ancient times the Simurgh was also believed by the Persians to have healing powers, which is why some historians claim it was originally adopted as a symbol for healing in Iran.
Strength – In recent years, the phrase “rise like a Phoenix” is often used to denote the ability to overcome adversity by emerging stronger and often more powerful from the so-called ashes or crisis. Motivational speakers and new age gurus alike often use this phrase to motivate people to take action.
Fresh Beginnings – The Phoenix is said to die and then be reborn, which means that it rejuvenates. However, it also represents the concept of death being the beginning of another beginning. The mythical bird is often used as a symbol for new beginnings, hope, and positivity.
Today, the Phoenix is an enduring metaphor that continues to be a major part of modern popular culture, which includes movies like Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Fahrenheit 451, and Star Trek, amongst many others.
Fashion and jewelry continue to feature the Phoenix, especially on lapel pins, earrings, charms, and pendants. It also happens to be a very popular motif on clothing and various brands of decorative art. Usually, the Phoenix is depicted with large, widespread wings and long tail feathers. However, there is no single accepted image of the Phoenix; that’s why there are so many versions of it, and many stylized designs of the bird. Our logo can be considered a stylized version of the bird as a symbol.
Today, we aren’t the only ones who are inspired by the myth of the Phoenix and certainly the only ones in history. The Phoenix has always been an enduring symbol of freedom, rebirth, resilience, and strength. However, personal significance may always be applied to the Phoenix, but that will vary from one person to the next. Over the centuries, much of this personal and artistic liberty has been demonstrated via many iterations of the so-called firebird myth and modern stories.
Many people choose to adorn their bodies with images of the Phoenix, wear the Phoenix in jewelry and clothing that’s inspired by the bird. Many are choosing to get it permanently inked to their skin, but having it on their skin is said to heal their soul, just as it did their body.
Now that we have given you the background of the Phoenix, it may be obvious why we chose that as our logo. To us, the Phoenix represents the ability to recover, rejuvenate and inspire patients to heal. People come to us complaining of chronic pain, and for some, they have exhausted many other treatments. Some have been living with pain for such a long time, they have forgotten how to live without pain, and for them, the Phoenix represents resilience and the ability to rise back from the ashes.
The decision to start healing is serious and often requires that they trust us with their bodies. A symbol of the Phoenix, a majestic bird that’s best known for rebirth, is a symbol that the pain they are feeling is not permanent. You don’t have to live a life of pain and anguish. That is what we represent: resilience and healing arising from the feelings of defeat and pain.
The Phoenix also represents life after pain. While for some patients, it would be unimaginable to live a life without pain, with our help, it is possible to live a pain-free life. The Phoenix represents this hope, hope that we give our patients, every one of whom enters through our doors.
Many of our patients feel that they are living a new life, often fulfilling their dreams after treatment. Successful pain management is a dream come true for many of our patients, especially after the hard work they have put into redefining their pain and engaging in their journey towards healing their mind, body, and soul.
The Phoenix is a beautiful mythical bird with bright fiery colors and a symbol of inspiration. One of the main goals of our logo is to inspire people, especially those suffering from chronic pain. We can’t imagine a more beautiful symbol of pain relief than a Phoenix.
The Phoenix inspires us, and we are sure it will inspire you too. Allow us to help you arise from your pain like the Phoenix, and live a better, pain-free life.
