Symbolism

The fleur-de-lis is a stylized lily (in French, fleur means flower, and lis means lily) or iris that is used as a decorative design or symbol. It may be “at one and the same time, religious, political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic, and symbolic”, especially in French heraldry. ( Wiki)

How can a symbol or emblem mean so many things and even different things to so many people?

What does this symbol mean to me? I thought it was a nice architectural element or a design I liked on fabrics, until my friend corrected me. She saw it as a symbol of the French King’s purity or pureness of heart to lead. Well, if you look at the information on this one symbol, it could mean a lot of things. I think Christianity uses a lily for purity and I think France uses the lily for nobility and I think I use the lily for pediments and fence posts!

My friend and I were talking about what a glass of gin and tonic with a twist of lime symbolizes to us? She said it took her back to her first mixed drink in an aiport waiting on a flight with a former poetry professor. So, she hears poetry and adventure when she sees one.  It takes me to boats and beaches. I feel a breeze and hear the clink of ice on a hot day.

What kinds of symbolism evoke unconscious reactions in your day to day life? A symbol is defined as “a person, place, action, word, or thing that (by association, resemblance, or convention) represents something other than itself.” Hmmm…..

Symbolic culture presupposes more than the ability to learn and transmit behavioural traditions from one generation to the next. It requires the invention of a whole new kind of things, things that have no existence in the ‘real’ world but exist entirely in the symbolic realm. Examples are concepts such as good and evil, mythical inventions such as gods and underworlds, and social constructs such as promises and football games.  Symbolic culture is a domain of objective facts whose existence depends, paradoxically, on collective belief. A currency system, for example, exists only for as long as people continue to have faith in it. When confidence in monetary facts collapses, the facts themselves suddenly disappear. Much the same applies to citizenship, government, marriage and many other things that people in our own culture consider to be ‘real’. (Wiki)

Well, everyday if fraught with symbolism. What is real? The meaning we attach to people, places and things. Symbolism is hard for me to assimilate in written form. Think about literature and poetry with metaphors and allegory rich with symbolism that give the writings a deeper and more subtle meaning. I was never good at “explaining what a literary work meant”. In fact, I distinctly recall NOT knowing what that song “Seventeen ” meant when I was 18 and should have as a college freshman!!!

Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage,And all the men and women merely players;they have their exits and their entrances;And one man in his time plays many parts,” symbolizing people are acting at different times in different ways in many different roles. I am familiar with symbolism of colors, like red for passion, purple for royalty, or black for death. Recently, I found a lot of symbolism in jewelry.

Look at this and see what you think it symbolizes?  “Water of the sea” or precious blue-green color-of-sea-water stone that is an untreated aquamarine? It is not surprising that we are drawn to items based on a larger symbolic sense of meaning. If a person loves the color of “sea green” and then discovers that the very stone that excites her fancy is known as “water of the sea”, who is surprised? It means healing and inspires courage and fortitude. OK. I accept that the meaning I have ascribed to “water” is now evidenced in this “stone symbol” of “sea water”.

This one was found in Brazil- 100% natural stone- ready to be set and worn by some one who finds them irresistable!!! 

Pay attention to the “symbols” you are drawn to and discover the deeper meanings and patterns. Everyone is unique in this way. Do you see how the fleur-de-lis can mean many things to many people?

So too, can the choices that you make. They are as individual as you are and made up of what you find real to you. Make the best decisions for yourself. You are in the position to know what something means, if it matters and why!