Symbolism

she-writes-love:

I thought I might not be the only writer out there who likes to put symbolism in their stories so I found some things and what they represent!!

Animals

• Alligator – stealth, survival
• Ant – diligence, industry, community, remarkable strength, hard working, success, patience
• Antelope – action
• Armadillo – boundaries, self protection
• Badger – aggressiveness, passion and drive
• Bat – rebirth, longevity, joy, good luck
• Bear – gentle strength, dreaming, introspection, power, protection
• Beaver – builder, accomplishing goals
• Bee – divine messenger, love, service, gathering, community
• Bird – enlightenment, perspective, swiftness, vision, prophetic knowledge
• Boar – nature-based wealth, prosperity, success, protection, courage
• Buffalo – prayer, abundance, survival needs met, good fortune, healing
• Bulls’ horns – a good symbol in meditation for motivation
• Butterfly – rebirth, the soul, transformation, the three phases of life
• Cat – feminine energy, mystical power, used to keep the wearer safe in travel, wholeness
• Chameleons – ever-changing future, inconsistency
• Cheetah – speed, focus
• Cougar – power, swiftness, balance
• Cows – red cows are a symbol of hope, inspiring symbol for nurturing efforts
• Coyote – trickster
• Crane – longevity. A pair of cranes symbolizes “Long Marriage”
• Cricket – good luck charm, singing, Spring, fertility
• Crow – sacred law, gateway to supernatural, shape shifting, illusion
• Deer – graceful gentleness, sensitivity, compassion, kindness
• Dog – companionship, health, service, loyalty, protection, future prosperity
• Dolphin – manna, joy, childlike play, helpfulness, breath of life, harmony, intelligence, self connection
• Donkey – fertility, easy childbirth, efficiency, health, well-being, and luck
• Dove – peace, innocence, fidelity, love, gentleness, kindnes
• Dragonfly – good fortune, magic, vision, dreams, luck, and ancient knowledge, illusion
• Dragon – wisdom due to long lives and potent magic, royalty, Emperor, eternity, courage, strength, rain, Spring
• Eagle – courage, spirit, bravery, strength
• Elephant – commitment, strength, astuteness
• Elk – stamina, pride, power, majesty
• Fish – miracles, providence, sea/water magic, good luck and prosperity, foresight, fortune, salmon in particular, are associated with knowledge
• Fox – camouflage, adaptability, integration, tricksters, shape shifters, and possessors of great magic
• Frog – healing, cleansing, messages, health, honesty, fluidity, purification
• Gazelle – awareness
• Giraffe – grounded vision
• Goat – tenacity, diligence, can help to achieve goals, endure criticism, and stay safe. Goat’s fur or foot – an anti-evil talisman.
• Goose – safe return, love of home
• Grasshopper – nobility, prosperity
• Hawk – nessenger, strength, foresight, truth
• Hippopotamus – emotional depths
• Horses – power, stamina, speed, transportation and communication – A black horse with a white marking on its forehead is lucky
• Hummingbird – joy, pure love, celebration of life
• Ladybug – delight, trust
• Lamb – filial piety (dutiful respect or regard for parents).
• Lion (baby) cubs – inspire mercy and gentleness.
• Lion (grown) – inspire strength, courage
• Lions – pride, nobility, cunning, courage, just laws, fairness, the sun, images can protect sacred ground.
• Lizard – dreaming, foresight, ancient secrets
• Lynx – secrets
• Monkey – benevolence, drives away evil
• Moose – self-esteem, assertiveness
• Mountain Lion – wisdom, leadership
• Mouse – frugality, rebirth, scrutiny
• Opossum – strategy, diversion
• Otter – medicine (woman), balanced feminine energy
• Owl – deception, wisdom, clairvoyance, magic
• Ox – evil spirits that disturb lakes, rivers, and seas
• Peacock – wholeness, dignity, beauty, recognition, self assurance, pride
• Pig – rebirth and rejuvenation
• Porcupine – innocence
• Rabbit – fear, fertility, moon magic, speed, swiftness, longevity, courage, strength
• Raccoon – dexterity, disguise
• Raven – magic
• Robin – growth, renewal
• Rooster – courageous, warlike disposition, warmth and life of the Universe
• Scorpion – the “fire within” that often needs careful tending
• Seal – inner voice
• Sheep – sacrifice
• Snake – cunning, evil, supernatural power
• Spider – destiny, fate, weaving
• Squirrel – gathering
• Swan – grace
• Tiger – courage, bravery, fierceness, strength, being in the now
• Turtle – mother earth
• Weasel – stealth
• Whale – record keeper
• Wolf – teacher, A Guide to the Sacred
• Zebra – Individuality

PLANTS

• Aloe- Healing, protection, affection
• Amaryllis– Pride
• Anemone– Forsaken
• Angelica– Inspiration
• Apple blossom– Preference
• Arborvitae– Unchanging friendship
• Aster– Symbol of Love, Daintiness
• Basil– Good wishes
• Bay– Glory
• Begonia- Beware
• Bittersweet- Truth
• Black-eyed Susan- Justice
• Bluebell- Humility, kindness
• Candytuft- Indifference
• Red carnation- My Heart Aches, admiration
• – White carnation- Innocence, pure love, women’s good luck gift
• – Pink carnation– I’ll never forget you
• – Yellow carnation– Disdain, disappointment, rejection
• Chamomile- Patience
• Chives– Usefulness
• Chrysanthemum– Cheerfulness
• Clover, white– Think of me
• Coreopsis– Always cheerful
• Coriander– Hidden worth
• Crocus– spring, Youthful gladness
• Cumin– Fidelity
• Cyclamen– Resignation and good-bye
• Daffodil– Regard
• Daisy– Innocence, hope
• Dill– Powerful against evil
• Edelweiss– Courage, devotion
• Fennel– Flattery
• Fern– Sincerity
• Forget-me-not- True love memories
• Gardenia– Secret love
• Geranium– oak-leavedTrue friendship
• Gladiolus– Remembrance
• Goldenrod– Encouragement, good fortune
• Heliotrope– Eternal love
• Holly- Hope
• Hollyhock– Ambition
• Honeysuckle– Bonds of love
• Horehound– Health
• Hyacinth– Games and sport, playfulness, rashness
• – Blue Hyacinth– Constancy of love
• – Purple Hyacinth– Sorrow, forgiveness, regret
• – Yellow Hyacinth– Jealousy
• – White Hyacinth– Loveliness, prayers for someone
• Hydrangea- Gratitude for being understood; frigidity and heartlessness
• Hyssop– Sacrifice, cleanliness
• Iris- A message
• Ivy– Friendship, continuity
• Jasmine– white- Sweet love
• Lady’s-mantle– Comforting
• Lavender- Devotion, virtue
• Lemon balm– Sympathy
• Lilac- Joy of youth
• Lily, calla– Beauty
• Lily, day– Chinese emblem for mother
• Lily-of-the-valley– Sweetness, purity
• Lotus Flower– Purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration, and rebirth
• Magnolia– Love of nature
• Marjoram- Joy and happiness
• Mint– Virtue
• Morning glory– Affection
• Myrtle– Good luck and love in a marriage
• Nasturtium– Patriotism
• Oak– Strength
• Oregano– Substance
• Pansy- Thoughts
• Parsley– Festivity
• Peony- Bashful, happy life
• Pine– Humility
• Poppy, red– Consolation
• Rhododendron– Danger, flee
• Rose, red– Love, I love you.
• Rose, dark crimson– Mourning
• Rose, pink– Happiness
• Rose, white– Purity, heavenly, I’m worthy of you
• Rose, yellow- Jealousy, decrease of love
• Rosemary- Remembrance
• Rue– Grace, clear vision
• Sage- Wisdom, immortality
• Salvia, blue– I think of you
• Salvia, red– Forever mine
• Savory Spice–  interest
• Sorrel– Affection
• Southernwood- Constancy, jest
• Sunflower– Adoration
• Sweet pea- Pleasures
• Sweet William- Gallantry
• Sweet woodruff– Humility
• Tansy– Hostile thoughts
• Tarragon– Lasting interest
• Thyme– Courage, strength
• Tulip, red- Passion, declaration of love
• Tulip, yellow- Sunshine in your smile
• Valerian– Readiness
• Violet- Loyalty, devotion, faithfulness, modesty
• Wallflower– Faithfulness in adversity
• Willow– Sadness
• Yarrow– Everlasting love
• Zinnia– Thoughts of absent friends

Color

• Red: Excitement, energy, passion, love, desire, speed, strength, power, heat, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence, all things intense and passionate, sincerity, happiness (Only in Japan)
• Pink: love and romance, caring, tenderness, acceptance and calm.
• Beige and ivory: symbolize unification. 
• Ivory: symbolizes quiet and pleasantness. 
• Beige: calm and simplicity.
• Yellow: signifies joy, happiness, betrayal, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, gold, philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard and friendship.
• Dark Blue: Symbolizes integrity, knowledge, power, and seriousness.
• Blue: Peace, tranquility, cold, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty, sky, water, technology, depression, appetite suppressant.
• Turquoise: calm. 
• Teal: sophistication. 
• Aquamarine: symbolizes water. 
• Lighter turquoise: a feminine appeal.
• Purple: Royalty, nobility, spirituality, ceremony, mysterious, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, honor, arrogance, mourning, temperance.
• Lavender: femininity, grace and elegance.
• Orange: Energy, balance, enthusiasm, warmth, vibrant, expansive, flamboyant, demanding of attention.
• Green: Nature, environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, service, inexperience, envy, misfortune, vigor.
• Brown: Earth, stability, hearth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, simplicity, and comfort.
• Gray: Security, reliability, intelligence, staid, modesty, dignity, maturity, solid, conservative, practical, old age, sadness, boring. Silver symbolizes calm.
• White: Reverence, purity, birth, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical.
• Black: Power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, evil, unhappiness, depth, style, sadness, remorse, anger, anonymity, underground, good technical color, mourning, death (Western cultures), austerity, detachment.