See my previous blog – ‘Mediation Quadrant Boxes.’

At Dawn, when I woke up, the following ‘Symbol’ appeared in my mind – A ‘Circle’ inside a ‘Square’ comprised of ‘4 Quadrant Boxes.’

I knew that in Ancient Art and philosophy, a ‘Circle’ inside a ‘Square’ symbolizes the ‘reconciliation of opposites’, the unity of the spiritual and material realms, or the integration of the divine and earthly principles. The ‘circular form’ represents the infinite, perfection, and heaven, while the ‘square’ embodies the finite, stability, and the earthly realm, with their combination signifying spiritual transcendence, balance, and the completion of the Great Work. This symbol is found in alchemical traditions, spiritual quests, and even in representations of cosmic unity, such as mandorlas in Christian art or the architecture of sacred sites like the Kaaba, to express the fusion of ‘opposing’ yet ‘complementary’ forces. For readers who are interested, this is discussed in more depth under the heading –‘Sacred Symbols in Ancient Art’ at www.artandcivilization.tv.

Resting my head on a pillow, I experimented with the Symbol that had suddenly appeared in my mind.

I imagined the following – which you can draw on a piece of paper.

Start by drawing a ‘Square’ divided into ‘4 Quadrants’ with a ‘Circle’ around the inside of the ‘Square’ i.e. enclosing a substantial area of each Quadrant.

Then add:

·       ‘A’ at the top of the vertical line in the centre of the 4 Quadrants, which sub-divides the Circle into 2.
·       ‘B’ at the bottom of that line.
·       ‘C’ at the left hand side of the horizontal line separating the 4 Quadrants, which sub-divides the Circle into 2.
·       ‘D’ at the right hand side of that line.
·       ‘E’ in the centre of the Circle, i.e. where the Vertical Line intersects with the Horizontal line.

In an Estate dispute ‘E’ = the Assets in dispute – represented by a value which can either increase or decrease as the ‘capital value’ of the ‘Estate Pie’ is either shrunk by legal costs, or expanded by ‘synergistic gains’, e.g. using retrospective post-death tax-efficient estate planning techniques.  See Para 7.5 onwards of my book 2nd Edition ‘Contentious Probate Handbook’ (2025) – ‘Hidden Value’: 2+2 = 6.

·       ‘A’ = Value of Ownership/Possession/Control of ‘E’/elements of ‘E’.
·       ‘B’ = Opportunities to expand ‘E’ i.e. the Estate Pie through creative problem-solving resulting in Mutually Beneficial Gains – however measured by each party.
·       ‘C’ = the intangible Time Value of Money.
·       ‘D’ = Cost i.e. legal costs v. the Price of Doing a Deal – potential Gains minus potential Losses.

Let me illustrate:

The slice of ‘E‘ cut out by D/C magnifies joint-loss.

Whereas, the larger ‘B‘ becomes, the larger ‘E‘ is.

Therefore, it is self-evident that a deal should be done about how ‘A‘ is to be re-structured, instead of enlarging D/C by litigating, thereby saving time and money.

Anecdotally, the combination of the Circle and Square in ancient and Renaissance Art symbolized the reconciliation of opposites and the bridging of the spiritual (circle) with the material (square), which aligns with the broader concept of mediation and finding a middle ground between dualities. Therefore, the imagery likely embodied an underlying philosophical principle of integration and synthesis, which could be understood as a conceptual tool for mediation, even if not a literal one for specific practitioners. 

I will further illustrate how a Circle inside a Square can be used as a Tool of Mediation at my next live Zoom webinar to members of the Standing Conference of Mediation Advocates worldwide in November – ‘Mediation of International Cultural Heritage Disputes – Part 1: Introduction & Overview.’ After the Talk this will be broadcast on YouTube.