MEANING: in this variation, the 2 types of nine-pointed stars are overlaid one another, creating a beautifully lacy symbol of Baha'i. There is no particular design of the nine-pointed star that is used more often than others. The most commonly used symbol connected to the number 9 used by the Baha'i is the nine-pointed star & is generally used as a symbol of their Faith. Nine, as the highest single-digit number, symbolizes completeness. Since the Baha'i Faith claims to be the fulfillment of the expectations of all prior religions, this symbol is used in many variations in the (nine-sided) Baha'i temples. ADD-ON GREETING CARD OPTION: Greeting Cards created from photos of wood carvings by Signs of Spirit. A picture of the wood-burned Double Nine Point symbol of Baha'i wood carving was taken & manipulated in Photoshop. It was then layered on a background of a photo taken at the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette, Illinois during our annual visit. The back of the card has the meaning of the knot, leaving the inside blank for you to use. WHAT IS BAHA'I: The Baha'i Faith is a monotheistic religion that emerged in the nineteenth century. It puts forward that many major religions in the world today are part of a progressive revelation from God, & it considers such diverse figures as Krishna, Zoroaster, Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, & Mohammad to be divine messengers sent by God to guide the world's spiritual development. Bah'u'llh, the latest of these Messengers, brought new spiritual & social teachings for our time. His essential message is of unity. He taught the oneness of God, the oneness of the human family, & the oneness of religion. Baha'is emphasize unity among all of mankind & strive for a united world society. in working toward this goal, the Baha'is vigorously engage in social programs & education that promote racial & gender equality, religious tolerance, environmental responsibility, & improved economies for those in need. Within the Christian faith, the nine-pointed star symbolizes the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit listed in the Epistle to the Galatians. Related Bible Verse But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, & self-control. Against such things, there is no law. (Gal. 5:22, NIV) INSPIRATION: Every year, Coop returns to Chicago for a time to visit with his family that still lives there. Normally, all we do is eat hot dogs, Chinese food, & deep-dish pizza, but in 2011 we tore ourselves away from the kitchen table & Coop took me to the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette, IL. It was, amazing. We just sat there & breathed for a long time, inhaling the tranquility of the place & looking at the wonderful designs throughout the space. Coop had already been doing the 2 single versions but once he saw the double version he just had to try it! & it was Good! THE CARVING: Our carvings are single pieces of western red cedar, designed & carved to be wall hangings. Each carving begins as a 1 X