The blue wave pattern is to represent the namesake of the state, the Mississippi River. It is on the left because, on a map the river is to the left (or west) of the state. The seal represents the state of Mississippi today. The six stars around the seal represent the six nations/territories Mississippi belonged to (Native American, France, Spain, Great Britain, the confederacy, and now the U.S.). Not forgetting history (the stars), but not afraid to move forward (new design). -Kenyan Crawford