"One who has control over the mind is tranquil in heat and cold, in pleasure and pain,
and in honor and dishonor." - Bhagavad Gita

The Anchor is a Symbol of both Hope and Steadfastness.

When we look at an Anchor we see that it is a cross resting upon, and securely balanced within, a crescent moon or bowl.

The cross has four points, and the number four represents matter. Furthermore, the crossed lines of the cross represent spirit (the vertical line) united with matter (the horizontal line). Hence, the cross represents an individuals personal incarnation. The cross is a masculine Symbol which includes a person's thoughts, actions  and consciousness.

The crescent moon, or bowl, is a feminine Symbol which represents the womb. The feminine also includes intuition, emotions and the subconscious.

Therefore the Anchor is a Symbol for an individuals personal Incarnation which is supported by, and rests within, their emotions, intuition, and Subconscious.

With these Thoughts in mind, let us now explore the meaning of the Anchor as a Symbol of Hope and steadfastness.

As a Symbol of Hope:

The rising Anchor is a Symbol for Hope. This is alluded to, metaphorically, whenever we say that "our hopes are rising".

When a ship weighs, or raises, its Anchor it tells everyone that it is leaving its current port-of-call and is on its way to a new voyage, a new adventure.

This is a metaphor for how each one of us feel when we finally Decide to leave a stagnant portion of our life behind us in order to begin a new journey, voyage, or adventure.

We raise our Anchor and venture forth into a new era of our life. We feel eager and alive and we are laden with Hope, excitement, dreams, expectations, imaginings and aspirations. Our Spirit feels light and free as we face the cleansing breezes which take us to our next port-of-call.

The Hope we carry with us on our new voyage encourages us to follow the course we have plotted out and carry out the plans we have made. We are steadfast in our vision of the pursuit of our new Dream.

Our new Hope prevents us from drifting in confusion as our Thought processes are now focused on new Dreams, creations and ideas.

Our new Hope keeps us focused on our vision, the horizon, where our new life, and new Adventure, awaits us. The time of planning is over and the Time of Action, and new experiences, is now upon us.

As a Symbol for steadfastness:

The moment we drop our mental Anchor is the moment when we become steadfast in a Decision-making process. It is the moment when we finally say to ourselves "here is where I stand" and "these are the rules I will govern myself by".

This is expressed, metaphorically, when a ship drops its Anchor. At that moment the ship becomes moored to a particular location from which it will not move until the Time once again arrives for it too sail at a moment of its own choosing.

When a ship drops Anchor it grounds itself, and secures itself, to a certain spot from which it will not move. It stabilizes itself from the waves, tides, currents and various other movements which the sea may throw at it.

Just as a ship that is not firmly Anchored is at the mercy of all of the elements of the sea, so too is a person who is not firmly anchored at the mercy of all of the elements of chaos, hysteria and uncertainty which surround him, or her.

Nearly every one of us has had at least one moment in our life when we were absolutely, positively sure of a decision  we had to make even though everyone around us doubted us and screamed at us that we were wrong.

In this moment our certainty proved to be correct even thoughwe may not have been able to put our certainty into words.

These kinds of Decisions can only be made by a person who
is firmly Anchored.

When we are properly Anchored we are able to trust confidently in the skills and knowledge which lie latently concealed deep within us. Skills and knowledge which lie in the subconscious realm of our inner-self; our God-within; our Atman.

This confidence, self-assuredness, and trust in oneself is the result of solid, secure and verifiable conclusions, clarity of awareness, and lessons learned from past experiences experiences.

When we act with such steadfastness we are not being simply stubborn; we are securely Anchored and are acting with positive arrogance and true knowing.

When we are properly Anchored we are able to remain steadfast, sure and steady; we are able to "hold fast" during emotional, unstable and confusing Times; we are able to steady ourselves during our weakest moments and most trying experiences; we
are able to confidently maintain stability, firmness and tranquility within and amidst all of the chaotic emotions which are tossing themselves all around us.

On the other hand, when we are not sure of ourselves, or when we are in a situation which is foreign and strange to us, we find ourselves adrift and at the mercy of the tides and currents which toss us to and fro and we say to ourselves "let's try this" or "let's
try that", unsure of what will work and what will not work; simply relying on guesses and empty prayers and not on steadfast facts, skills, knowledge and experience.

Author: Joe Panek

Source: http://www.aseekersthoughts.com/2012/02/anchor-as-symbol.html