Introduction

The Golden Spiral is used all across the universe as we will be exploring through out this series and especially in the workshops. In this section we are going to be looking at the spiral within reach of the human experience. From flowers to shells it is easily recognisable.

The golden spiral is the optimum way for an energy system to move with limited losses. A way for information to flow in a most efficient way. It's no accident that nature has chosen this particular shape.

An Obvious Spiral

An oft used example is the nautilis shell. Like the spiral we created in the last exercise it is a Fibonacci spiral, it is an approximation a perfect golden spiral.

Just zooming in a little we can clearly see that the spiral stops at a certain point, it does not continue on forever so it is not a true Phi spiral but an attempt to get close to it. Since Phi is a number that goes on forever so too should this nautilis shell, if it were a true Phi spiral.

The Golden Spiral at the Beginning of Life

Below is an image of a chicken egg. The egg holds the beginnings of the life of a chicken. This is a critical stage in the chickens life and as much energy much be kept within the egg as possible in order to allow the chick to grow. This is achieved by using the golden spiral which almost perfectly matches the profile of the egg.

Mike has often commented at workshops about his own chicken's eggs, by picking up a freshly-laid egg and touching your tongue on the tip of the egg you get a very small electric shock!

A number of the house plans on our site make specific use of this amazing effect. In rooms based on this geometry there is an experiential difference to other shaped spaces.

The Spiral in Water

Water is such a key component to life and it is no coincidence that water, when it becomes a vortex, takes on a shape close to the golden spiral.

Consider what this means to us. The average male body is 60% water and the female body is 55%. A baby can be up to 78% water! Imagine this like the little chick in the egg, in a golden spiral shaped environment. A human baby has up to 78% water in it, a substance that has integrated the golden spiral. The spiral is integral to life, so why is it that we live in buildings and structures that have nothing at all to do with it? A bit odd, no?

Much more about the spiral in later sections so check them out! Next in this series is a look at the Platonic Solids, the building blocks of the universe. Keep an eye out for its release.