I had an interesting dream a couple nights ago, and I'm going to share it. I don't dream vividly very often, so when I wake up with a strong visual memory, I like to take note.
I dreamt that I was in a Mine Tunnel with John Lennon, and unspecified "others". The mine tunnel was like the one's you see in movies- dirt walls and ceilings with wooden beams. It had a train track running through it, and there was a set of platform train cars. They weren't boxcars, just multiple old-fashioned looking platform cars with creosoted wooden beams across the chassis. I was with John, and we were walking along the train, tucking little white pieces of paper into little nooks and crannies about the train. They were little messages. At the end of the dream, John and I decided to place one in the beam of the tunnel. This was seen by us as being extra special- only for those who looked really hard.
I don't think dreams are usually anything more then the amalgamation of various thought processes throughout one's day, conscious or unconscious, so I'm not saying anything here about dream interpretations or whatnot. This is clearly a result of my distraction with hunting down clues and following the Beatles down the mystery holes, but it did help me remember where to go next (ah, after I finish my next couple projects in front of me). It's the messages hidden inside the vehicle (music) that was sent out into the world that I need to show you, next. That's where to go. I've been on this for a long time already, and have been cuing for this, but I just found out my Audacity program is broken, so it's inspiration for me to start figuring out a fix for that, and then figure out how to post sound-clips into a blog. Any suggestions are welcome.
I do have to say though, my dream also made me think of two things:
and the song remixed by Iamaphoney, but I'll post the original here, "Brian Epstein Blues"
Come to think of it, trains feature prominently with the early Beatles...I think I will add that to my Legend, soon.
Also, please see "Flowers" for more symbolism of flowers related to the Beatles, the ultimate flower children. Sun Flower: Referred to in "Free as a Bird", was worn by John in "Blue Jay Way", the Wizards caps in Magical Mystery Tour have Sunflowers on them, and Peter Brown stated that George put one on Brian Epstein's coffin when he was buried.
"As its name signifies, the sunflower has close solar
associations, not only because of its appearance, but because of its
habit of turning its head to follow the sun during its journey across
the sky. The sunflower has magical powers, too, and adorned the crowns
of Roman Emperors, thereby conferring the ruler with the potent power of
the Sun that the flower held within it. The sunflower was later adopted
by the Christian Church to denote the saints, prophets, and apostles; as
the flower follows the Sun, so the true believer follows God.
Greek
legend had it that a nymph Clytie and the Sun God, Helios, were in
love. but Helios cast aside poor Clytie for another lover. Clytie died
of grief and was transformed into a sunflower, destined to live alone
and having to follow the course of her former love. Therefore the
sunflower, as a symbol has adopted an aspect of Clytie's personality:
the inability to get over some the emotions or to "let go."
The
Seed head of the sunflower contains a magical symbol. It shows a
perfect example of the golden spiral that has been created naturally.
The shape is one of the cornerstones of sacred geometry." (ISS)
"
Sunflowers are symbolic of adoration. Sunflowers turn their heads to
the sun, which is the origin of their common name. Sunflowers belong to
the genus helianthus,
a reference to Helios, the sun god. [...] Sunflowers are native to the
Americas and are the state flower of Kansas and the national flower of
Russia. Sunflowers bloom from July through September. Sunflowers are
traditionally bright yellow with a central disk or reddish brown." <Source>
"Ovid tells the tale of a nymph, Clytie,
who pined away for the love of Helios,the Sun, until she was
transformed into a flower whose face always turns to follow her love
through the sky. This heliotrope was probably not what we call the
sunflower, which is named for its appearance rather than its behavior,
but the sunflower has long been linked to the unrequited devotion of a
lover, or to the longing of the earthbound soul for its heavenly home. A
sonnet attributed to Dante laments the disdain of his mistress: ‘‘Nor
did she who turns to see the sun / and changed, preserves her unchanged
love, /ever have as bitter fate as I’. Blake’s evocative little poem
‘‘Ah! Sun-flower’’ takes the flower, ‘‘weary of time, / Who countes
the steps of the Sun,’’ as an emblem of ‘‘the Youth pined away with
desire’’and ‘‘the pale Virgin shrouded with snow,’’ who arise from their
graves. Blake may have been prompted by an account of the neo-Platonic philosopher Proclus,
who cites the heliotrope as a symbol of souls who long for spiritual
illumination. The same source seems to have led Bronson Alcott to choose
the name The Dial (i.e., sundial) for the journal of the
Transcendentalists." <Source> <Interesting stuff here about Sunflowers and Michael Jackson> }
Also, please see "Flowers" for more symbolism of flowers related to the Beatles, the ultimate flower children.
Lotus: The Lotus comes up in various Beatles images, especially associated with the Maharashi. Also- Tara Brown's car was a Lotus Elan.
"Both
the otherworldly appearance of the [lotus] flower and its growing
circumstances make it obvious that the flower is somehow very special
indeed. It's therefore no surprise that the flower is one of eight
auspicious symbols in both Chinese and Tibetan Buddhist iconography.
This
sensuous and extraordinary flower, with its perfect petals, rises
imperiously from muddy swamps, its head above the dirty water. The
symbolism applied by generations of Egyptian, Indian and Chinese sages
is obvious. First, the flower arises in complete perfection from the
murky primal waters of creation. Next, the flower comes from the
darkness into the light, woken by the sun; third, the lotus symbolizes
the triumph of spirit over matter and is a metaphor for the journey to
enlightenment.
Because the lotus retreats back into
the water during the hours of darkness only to rise again above the
surface of the water at dawn, the Egyptians saw it as a symbol of death
and rebirth.
[...]
Lotus has 8 petals, symbolizing the four cardinal directions and the
four inter-cardinal directions, as well as the rulers of the eight
directions of the universe, or Ashtadikpalas. [...]
In Hindu iconography, the lotus is seen as the base of the earth from which the holy mountains (such as Kailash and Meru) rise. The stalk of the flower is associated with the world axis which rises up through this sacred mountain." (ISS)
Also, please see "Flowers" for more symbolism of flowers related to the Beatles, the ultimate flower children. Rose:Most notably referred to by Paul McCartney's "Red
Rose Speedway" album..where he is laying with his head on a motorcycle,
with a rose "crammed" into his mouth, like a gag-ball or something, or
so it seems from his wide, alarmed-looking eyes. "[...] The rose is a natural mandala or wheel, the layers of
petals describing a perfectly symmetrical circle around its yellow
center, itself reminiscent of the Sun.
The rose is also
a symbol for secrecy, perhaps because of the way the petals hide its
center, perhaps for some more obscure reason. To speak of something as
being sub rosa- 'under the rose'- means that any information must
be kept confidential. Some Masonic lodges and alchemy guilds still
conduct meetings with a red rose hanging from the ceiling as a reminder
of the private nature of the discussions taking place. There are three
roses on the ceremonial apron of the Master Mason, acting as reminders
of faith, silence, and secrecy." (ISS)
"Roses
were scattered on Roman graves as funerary emblems of mourning to
symbolize not only the painful brevity of human life but also the hope
of life continuing in a world beyond this" (1,001S)
Also, please see "Flowers" for more symbolism of flowers related to the Beatles, the ultimate flower children.
Marigold: "The King of Marigold was in the kitchen /
Cooking breakfast for the Queen / The Queen was in the parlor / Playing
piano for the children of the King."
" The marigold -- genus Tagetes
-- is a popular traditional Indian wedding flower, with its bright
orange-gold color and ability to stay fresh once cut. Celebrants make
them into garlands and use them to decorate religious sites. Marigolds
also appear at funerals. First discovered in Central America by the
Portuguese in the 16th century, marigolds quickly became popular in
India because the flower's color represented honorable people." <Source>
"Marigolds are known as the "Herb of the Sun" and are symbolic of passion and creativity. The Welsh believed that if marigolds were not open early in the morning, then a storm was on the way. Marigolds have been used as love charms and incorporated into wedding garlands. Water made from marigolds was thought to induce psychic visions of fairies if rubbed on the eyelids. In some cultures, marigold flowers have been added to pillows to encourage prophetic or psychic dreams.
The marigold is also associated with
the lion and the astrological sign Leo. Early Christians named the
flower "Mary's Gold" and offered the blossoms in place of money at the
foot of her statues. The Portuguese introduced marigolds into India.
Eventually the flower was offered to the Hindu gods Vishnu and Lakshmi.
The marigold is also considered to be sacred among the Aztec Indians,
who decorate their temples with the flower.
The marigold was once
thought to protect against the plague and to be effective in stopping
gossip. Interestingly, the marigold can symbolize cruelty and jealousy.
When used in combination with spells, however, the marigold is an
anti-dote for the sharp-tongued and promotes cheery conversations." <Source>
Also, please see "Flowers" for more symbolism of flowers related to the Beatles, the ultimate flower children. Lily: Paul has alluded to "L.I.L.Y." on his Ram album (which means Linda I Love You),
by placing a "lily" sign next to him during an interview, and insisting
on having Lily plants in his dressing room. Stella McCartney just
released a perfume called L.I.L.Y.. I'm also positive I remember seeing a
lily by a head stone in either "Free as a Bird" or "Yellow Submarine", ...but I can't find the image at the moment.
"along with the rose and the lotus, the lily comprises a sacred trinity of the most important flower symbols in the world.
[...]The
Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary carrying a lily, and he flower has
always been associated with the Virgin. However, the shape of the lily's
petals ad its phallic-looking pistils, standing erect from the center
of the flower, means that the flower is a symbol of sexuality and
reproduction.[...]
The lily is a symbol of the Goddess,
in whatever form she may take, and the Babylonian Goddess Lilith-
reputedly the first wife of Adam- who was later demonized by the
Christian church, takes her name from the name of the lily or the Lilu
(Lotus). The flower is also sacred to Astarte, whose name in parts of
Europe is Eostre, which gives us the word, "Easter"; hence the lilies
which have become a symbol of a much older association. [...]
The
lily- particularly the calla lily- is also a symbol of resurrection,
which is why it is used at funeral and sometimes appears on
gravestones." (ISS)
"The flower most commonly associated with funeral services in the popular
mind is the lily. Lilies are often interpreted as a symbol of the
innocence that has been restored to the soul of the departed. A white
stargazer lily symbolizes sympathy and any type of white lily expresses
majesty and purity." <Source>}
Also, please see "Flowers" for more symbolism of flowers related to the Beatles, the ultimate flower children.
Carnation: In the movie, Magical Mystery Tour, the end
segment involves a song-and-dance number called, Your Mother Should
Know. In this, the Beatles are seen wearing white tuxedos and all but
Paul wear a red carnation in the lapel. Paul has a black
carnation...have you ever seen a black carnation? The explanation for
this generally given has been that they ran out of red carnations, and
only had black ones lying around, so he used that. This is despite the
fact that red carnations can clearly be seen in the bouquet in his hand.
He is the only one carrying flowers. Again...why did they just have
black carnations lying around? You have to go through a lot of expense
and effort to acquire black carnations.... "(Red) My heart aches for you, admiration." (CESS)
"For
the most part, carnations express love, fascination, and distinction,
though there are many variations dependent on colour. [...] Purple
carnations indicate capriciousness. In France, it is a traditional
funeral flower, given in condolence for the death of a loved one. In
France and Francophone cultures, carnations symbolize misfortune and bad
luck. Pink carnations have the most symbolic and historical
significance. According to a Christian legend, carnations first appeared
on Earth as Jesus carried the Cross. The Virgin Mary shed tears at
Jesus' plight, and carnations sprang up from where her tears fell. Thus
the pink carnation became the symbol of a mother's undying love. [...]
Some scholars believe that the name "carnation" comes from "coronation"
or "corone" (flower garlands), as it was one of the flowers used in
Greek ceremonial crowns. Others think the name stems from the Latin
"caro" (genitive "carnis") (flesh), which refers to the original colour
of the flower, or incarnatio (incarnation), which refers to the
incarnation of God made flesh." <Follow link to Source>
"[Red
Carnations] Their color means love, pure gratifying love. Light red
carnations stand for respect and admiration while deep red, scarlet
carnations have a deeper meaning, a meaning of desire and passionate
love. They are used in fraternities as a symbol of loyalty and survival
and they became, in 1904, the official state flower of Ohio.
Red
inspires beauty, heat, strength – red is the color of the heart, and
mixed up in the blooms of the carnations, it can only express one
feeling – love.<Follow Link to Source>
"
If you are invited to a German's house, bring a gift such as chocolates
or flowers. [...] Do not give carnations as they symbolize mourning. Do
not give lilies or chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals.
Some older French retail old-style prohibitions against receiving
certain flowers: White Lilies or Chrysanthemums as they are used at
funerals; Red Carnations as they symbolize bad will; any white flowers
as they are used at weddings." <Source>
"Black carnations are filled with mystery. They are often associated with
negative things, but even
though they seem dark
and scary, black carnations can be quite elegant and fancy.
Black carnations are
not naturally obtained flowers, they do not exist in nature as such.
They are
dyed or genetically
modified, just like blue flowers.[...]
Black carnations are obtained by using genetic engineering and
hybridization
techniques. The
Australian company Florigene obtained black carnations by taking the
blue pigment
from the genes of a
petunia and insert it in the DNA of a deep red carnation.[...]
Black carnations are quite rare and avoided mostly because they
symbolize mourning and, therefore, death.
Also, there are a few
stories in the folklore in which giving a black carnation to someone
means that you
want the death of
that person." <Follow Link to Source>
The references to birds in Beatles music and imagery is a common
theme. Please see the full, original post, "Birds" for more on the
meanings of birds of the Beatles.
{Swan: The song "This One" by Paul McCartney features swans, Krishna and hand mudras. "The
appearance of a swan, an ethereal, otherworldly creature, floating
gracefully upon the calm waters that resemble the spirit world and the
ethereal feminine, packs a powerful symbolic punch even without any
prior knowledge of the myths and legends surrounding the bird that have
aided and abetted its significance. Its pure white color, its strength,
and its beauty make it a symbol of light, both of the direct light of
the sun, and the reflected light of the moon.
Despite
plenty of evidence to the contrary, the swan is believed to be silent
until its moment of death, when its song is said to be the first and
last sound it utters. Therefore, ":Swansong" has come to mean the final
expression of an artists work, for example, or the late resurgence
before a final demise. Curiously, though, the name "swan" comes from an
Anglo-Saxon word sounder, which has the same root as "sound" or "sonnet".
Swans are said to mate for life and so are emblematic of fidelity and longevity.
Leda and The Swan - Leonardo da Vinci
In the UK, the swan is under the
protection of the Crown. This legislation is believed to date back to
the twelfth century, even today only the household of the ruling monarch
is allowed to eat the meat of the swan. In Germany, oaths were taken
upon the swan.
The swan is a symbol of the poet; Druidic bards wore cloaks made of swans feathers as a shamanic totem to
enable them to contact the spirit of the muse. It was because of this
that Ben Johnson refers to Shakespeare as the "sweet swan of Avon". In
ancient Greece, the swan was the attribute of the muses and the symbol
for Apollo, the god to whom poetry and song belong. Apollo could
shape-shift into the form of a swan, and when he was born, seven swans
flew around the island of his birth, seven times.
Two
swans are frequently depicted as being joined by a chain. This imagery
appears all over the world, and although there is likely some conjecture
about what this symbol means, it is likely to signify the spiritual and
material worlds that the bird symbolizes, because it moves in the
elements of water, earth and air. Sometimes one of the birds appears
with the solar wheel, signifying the fourth element, fire. Swans pulled
the chariot of the Sun. Eros, too, the God of Love, traveled in a
chariot drawn by swans in their guise as symbols of fidelity and love.
The
otherworldly appearance of the swan has led to its being regarded as
one of the shape-shifting birds, and stories from all over the world
have the swan transform into a beautiful human girl who will live among
humankind until circumstances conspire to return her to her own world
once again.
Hindu
belief supports this idea supports this idea of the swan as symbolic of
a creature that resides between two worlds. Because it moves in the
elements of water and air, the swan represents both the spiritual and
material world. Some myths have the goose as the bird that laid the egg
from which the Universe hatched, but in India, the swan is given this
honor: the Hamsa is a mythical water bird that symbolizes the union of
spirit and matter and is symbolized with two swans. The Parama Hamsa
represents the Supreme Self, and its name means Supreme Swan." (ISS) See
also: The Cygnus Mystery Swan-goose
The references to birds in Beatles music and imagery is a common
theme. Please see the full, original post, "Birds" for more on the
meanings of birds of the Beatles.
Raven:Though
not mentioned specifically by the Beatles in lyrics, I would argue the
imagery of "Blackbird", for many people leads to the visualization of a
Raven or Crow, especially with the "dead of night" setting; therefore I will include some Raven symbolism. Since
Edgar Allen Poe is prominently on the Sgt. Pepper's album cover, and he
is most notably known for his poem "The Raven", I feel the raven is
rightly tied in.
"The raven belongs to the most
intelligent of all the birds. To give some idea of its intelligence, if
the average IQ for a human being is measures at the 100 mark, then the
average IQ of a raven is 138. Its linguistic skills are legendary, and
it is possible that the raven can understand as well as imitate human
words. It is this intelligence, and the playful nature of the raven.
that makes it the ultimate symbol of the trickster. [...]
Even
if the raven has never been taught to speak in human languages, its
voice carries a surprisingly human inflection and tone. This led to a
belief that the bird knew everything, as personified by the ravens that
belonged to the Norse god Odin. Called Hugin and Munin, from the words
for thought and memory, the birds flew back to the gods at the end of
every day where they whispered into his ears all the doings of mankind.
Odin- also known as the Raven God- had daughters, Valkyries, who appeared
as ravens, and similarly, witches are said to be able to shape-shift
into the form of ravens, which is how they travel, anonymously, to their
meetings.
More sinisterly, the raven is seen as a
harbinger of death, as personified in the Morrigan, the great Battle
Goddess of Celtic myth who takes the form of a raven. The raven is a
carrion bird and was often to be seen at the site of battles, making a
grim meal of the bloody remains of the defeated army. In addition, the
spooky black appearance of the bird certainly lends itself to the dark
imagery posited by horror stories. In the Mahabharata, the bird is a
messenger of death, but paradoxically to those of a Western sensibility,
this does not mean that the bird is a symbol of ill omen. [...]
The
ravens at the Tower of London are a symbol of protection par
excellence. Birds have been kept in this spot for a thousand years, due
to the ancient legend that the country would be safe from invaders while
the Ravens remained there. Indeed this idea is so firmly entrenched in
the national psyche that when the raven population dwindled during the
Second World War, Winston Churchill arranged that ravens be "imported"
from Wales to keep the country safe.
Despite its color,
the Ancient Greeks had the raven as a solar symbol, and it is dedicated
to the Goddess Athena and the God Apollo." (ISS)
"[...]The
raven's intelligence is possibly its most winning feature. Indeed,
these birds can be trained to speak. This speaking ability leads into
the legend of ravens being the ultimate oracle. In fact, the raven is
often heard to cackle utterances that sound like "cras, cras." The
actual word cras is tomorrow in Latin. This lends more fuel to the
legendary fires that distinguish the raven as a bird who can foretell
the future, and reveal omens and signs.
Countless
cultures point to the raven as a harbinger of powerful secrets.
Moreover, the raven is a messenger too, so its business is in both
keeping and communicating deep mysteries.
Raven
symbolism of wisdom and knowledge-keeping is connected with the Welsh
hero Bran, the Blessed whose name means raven. Bran was the holder of
ancestral memories, and his wisdom was legendary. So much so, that he
had his head (the vessel of his powerful wisdom) removed and interred in
the sacred White Mount in London. Ravens are still roosting there (in
the Tower of London), and they're thought to keep Bran's wisdom
protected and alive by their presence." <Follow link to source site>; Also- It's very worthwhile to learn more about Bran as a Celtic oracle here:More about Bran and Celtic Skulls Symbolism}
See also Blackbird for more on Blackbird symbolism
The references to birds in Beatles music and imagery is a common theme. Please see the full, original post, "Birds" for more on the meanings of birds of the Beatles.
Blackbird:Obviously, "Black Bird singing in the dead of
night, take the broken wings and learn to fly...take these sunken eyes
to see....". "Birds
robed in black do not give up their secrets easily. They love to watch
us marvel over their messages. Black birds demand our commitment to
learning their wisdom, and do not reveal their meanings unless they are
convinced we've devoted ourselves completely to the path of
understanding (both dark and light sides of) energy.
This
concept correlates to lunar themes too. The symbolic meaning of
blackbirds is eternally linked to the "dark vs light" phases of the
moon. I'm talking nocturnal awareness. Illumined lunar understanding
which requires a different use of the senses. Sense which can only be
utilized when transformative devotion is made. A commitment to higher
knowing (flight) and an acceptance of the void (infinite vastness that
eludes the ego and rational mind).
This is a
fundamental concept of alchemy which is: Transition and Transformation.
The bird is symbolic of life in the heavens (higher ideals, higher path
of knowing) and the color black is symbolic of pure potential. Between
the two, there is no limit to human transformation - all we have to do
is close the shutters of the rational mind, and start sojourning with
our darkly feathered friends.
Black
birds (in general) are archetypes of living life in higher realms, and
are symbolic of: Higher Intelligence, Higher Thought, Higher Ideals.
This
is because birds are (metaphorically and mythologically speaking),
situated in proximity to the higher energies of the Universe. This also
positions them as heavenly or divine oracles and messengers in cultural
myths across the globe.
Blackbirds and birds of black
or dark colors are special among their airy clan as they are the
symbolic of:: Mystery, Magic, Secrets, The Unknown Pure
Potential, Non-obvious Perception"<follow link to internet source>
Zebra: zebra Crossing, zebra on George Martin's Coat of Arms.
"The zebra’s gifts include seeing in black and
white, clarity without filters, balance, agility, uniqueness, power,
sureness of path, keeping up individuality within the herd.
The zebra's black and white stripes camouflage it against predators, who
often cant identify individuals in the herd. However to the herd
members the patterns are unique from zebra to zebra, helping to identify
one another - they are as unique as our fingerprints. Blending into a
crowd without losing your individuality is one powerful aspect of Zebra.
Zebras also help us to be supportive members within our communities.
These abilities protect them from danger, as well as their agility and
speedy.
The stripes also represent the blending and balancing of opposites, yin yang, harmony - enabling us to see a deeper truth.[...]
Questioning reality and illusion is common
amongst people with zebra medicine, though an over analytic intellect
can be a hindrance for some with this totem. In others the imagination
must be awakened.
The zebras pattern of black on white, or white on black implies that
what you see is not always what you get. Occult knowledge seen and
unseen, dimensional shifts, new journeys and worldly endeavours are all
aspects of this.
Zebras are master magicians, who utilise the energy of light and dark to
shift realities and expand our consciousness, helping us see past our
preconceived beliefs as they lead us into the mystery and magic of the
unseen. Zebras seek balance in what they do, and they are sure of
themselves, standing confidently in the middle of opposing forces." <Source> "Aside from the western joke linking zebras to newspapers, the zebra plays no role in western symbolism. [...] surprisingly, even in Africa where the animals live, zebras play only minor symbolic roles. The exception is the Songye people of Central Africa who make distinctive masks called kifwebe. Up to the 1970's these masks served as agents of social control, exorcizing negative forces and enforcing allegiance to rulers." <Source>
Although, we might ask ourselves of the Abbey Road album- is it a zebra-crossing or is it a checkerboard?
Walrus: "I am the Walrus" ("No You're Not!" said little Nicola). The Walrus was Paul. If it's not Paul in the walrus costume in George Harrison's "When we was Fab", then who is it? What's up with all the smoke and mirrors around the walrus??
I would like to note here that I spent a great deal of time trying to verify the "Paul is Dead" rumor regarding "Walrus means corpse in Greek" or "Walrus means death in Scandinavian countries". I searched for hours and hours, and through multiple books. I have Failed to find any evidence of Walrus being related to Greek anything, and the Greek name for walrus translates into "Tooth-walker". The Scandinavian rumor was harder, I couldn't find a direct relationship between Walrus and any terms meaning death; BUT! Read on....
"Both in Chukotka and Alaska, the aurora borealis is believed to be a special world inhabited by those who died by violence, the changing rays representing deceased souls playing ball with a walrus head.
Because of its distinctive appearance, great bulk, and immediately recognizable whiskers and tusks, the walrus also appears in the popular cultures of peoples with little direct experience with the animal, particularly in English children's literature. Perhaps its best-known appearance is in Lewis Carroll's whimsical poem "The Walrus and the Carpenter" that appears in his 1871 book Through the Looking-Glass. In the poem, the eponymous antiheroes use trickery to consume a great number of oysters.[...]
Another appearance of the walrus in literature is in the story "The White Seal" in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, where it is the "old Sea Vitch—the big, ugly, bloated, pimpled, fat-necked, long-tusked walrus of the North Pacific, who has no manners except when he is asleep". <Source>
"Walruses have their part in Inuit mythology. In one of the stories explaining
the northern lights, the flickering patterns in the sky are thought to represent
people who have died and travelled to the other world, where they engage in
a game of soccer or football. As they dance across the sky, the sky-players
use a walrus head as a ball, kicking it back and forth. If they kick it just
right, the tusks get stuck in the snow and the head stands still.
Another legend, the story of Arnakpaktuq or Arnaqtatuuq, tells
how a shaman decided to be reborn as many different species of animals, in order
to find out how they lived. At one point he lived as a walrus. He said that
the walruses were friendly and pleasant to live with, except that they kissed
a lot and their kiss (perhaps used to suck molluscs off the bottom of the ocean)
was very powerful.
A third myth, widespread across the whole Arctic, tells of
how walruses were created from the third finger joints of Sedna,
when her father cut them off." <Source>
Other notable Walrus associations: "Barry White, who was popularly known as 'The Walrus of Love'. Supermarine Walrus- a British amphibious aircraft of World War II, Westland Walrus- a British reconnaissance aircraft of the 1920s, HNLMS Walrus- two submarines of the Royal Netherlands Navy, HMS Walrus- the name of two ships and one submarine of the Royal Navy, SS Walrus- a 19th century vessel that operated in Australia as a floating, illegal, moonshine still, before being replaced by the legal, Beenleigh Rum Distillery, USS Walrus- three submarines of the United States Navy, Walrus class submarine- a type of submarine currently operated by the Royal Netherlands Navy." As well, "The Walrus is a Canada general interest magazine; Walrus (comics) is a minor Marvel Comics supervillain of Spider-Man." <Source>
AND...then there is this: [From: The Lion, the Witch and the Walrus Images of the Sorcerous North in the 16th and 17th centuries, Stefan Donecker (European University Institute, Florence)]
"In the 15th century legendary Saga of Hjálmþér and Ölver (Hjálmþés saga ok Ölvers), the two heroes and their companion, Hörðr, flee the wrath of evil King Hundingr. In a feat of amazing saga shapeshifting, the king transforms himself into a walrus and pursues the heroes' ship:
A little while after, they saw a great walrus making for them, angry and frightful to behold. “There”, said Hörðr, “is a creature very ill-disposed towards me, that I may not look upon. [...] You must not name my name while he is here, for if you do I shall die.” And he lay down in the hold, and they covered him with clothes.
[...] Despite his untimely demise, Hunding the walrus is a worthy representative of the many strange beasts and creatures that were believed to dwell in the north.[...]
Both in the Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus as well as in his famous map of the north, Carta Marina (1539), Olaus describes and visualizes a vast array of fearsome animals that dwell in the north, on land and in the sea, many of which are said to prey on hapless human beings. Again, the mighty walrus is not missing, and it is described as a particularly dangerous creature:
The Norway Coast, toward the more Northern parts, hath huge great Fish as big as Elephants, which are called Morsi, or Rosmari, may be they are so from their sharp biting; for if they see any man on the Sea-shore, and can catch him, they come suddenly upon hum, and rend him with their Teeth, that they will kill him in a trice. Therefore, these Fish called Rosmari, or Morsi, have heads fashioned like to an Oxes, and a hairy Skin, and hair growing as thick as straw or corn-reeds, that lye loose very largely. They will raise themselves with their Teeth as by Ladders to the very tops of Rocks, that they may feed on the Dewie Grasse, or fresh Water, and role themselves in it, and then go to the Sea again.
Vicki Ellen Szabo has pointed out that Olaus' impressive accounts of walruses, whales and similar sea monsters were deeply rooted in medieval traditions that perceived such creatures not only as symbols of evil and paganism, but even as factual agents and associates of the devil. The archetype of all such infernal maritime monsters was the biblical Leviathan, which was commonly equated with the great fish that had swallowed Jonah, and whose gaping mouth came to signify the entrance to hell." <Source>
Sun: Beatles song titles include Here Comes the Sun, Sun King, Good Day Sunshine, I'll Follow the Sun and from the Love album "Nus Gnik". There is also Paul McCartney's Good Times Coming/Feel The Sun, Sun is Shining, and Ou Est la Soleil. Also there is the association with Cirque Du Soleil with the Love Album Show. See also Dawn and Sunflower for more relationships
"Although the Sun is generally masculine element that balances
the feminine Moon, there are nevertheless several Sun Goddesses as well
as Sun Gods. For many, though, the glory of the Sun makes it the
absolute physical manifestation of the Godhead- or the Supreme Being- and
therefore beyond mere sex. The sun also equates to the Eye of God, as
depicted, for example, in the sun-like rays of the All Seeing Eye of the
Masonic tradition. Some tribal peoples see the sun as the "good," right
eye of this Divine Being, whereas the moon is the "bad," left eye.
To
our ancestors, when the sun tipped over the edge of the sky on the
western horizon it disappeared into the Land of the Dead. They believed,
therefore, that as well as being the bringer of life, the Sun could also
take life away- Godlike powers indeed. [...] As such, the Sun becomes a
malevolent force. Generally, however, the heat and light of the Sun are
seen worldwide to be celestial gifts conferred to our planet and all
the life to which it plays host.
The Sun is
personified, symbolically, in many differing ways, including the petals
of flowers (particularly the Sunflower), [...] For the Druids, the Stag
represents the Sun. In alchemy, gold is the metal of the sun." (ISS)
"As the celestial body that outshone all others, the sun became an inevitable symbol of royalty. In the long Egyptian history of Sun worship, Pharaohs were so identified with the sun itself that even priests of the great reforming Pharaoh Akhenaten described him as being formed from soar rays. The symbolic links between royalty and the sun were transferred to the metal and hue Gold. At their accession , rulers of the Inca empire in Peru were once covered in resin sprayed with gold dust, hence the Amazonian legends of E Dorado (the gilded ones). At their death they were embalmed as 'children of the sun' and seated in temples on golden thrones.
Sixteenth-century English courtiers made play with the idea of Henry VIII as the sun around which they revolved, and in the following century the architecture and statuary of Versailles were designed to symbolize the absolute monarchy of Louis XIV as the Sun King.
(under Divinity) The sun was seen everywhere as the center of the universe and has been worshiped as an actual divinity in innumerable cultures and traditions, if not always as the supreme deity. The Emperors of Rome abandoned the cult of Sol, their sun deity, only when Constantine converted to Christianity in 324ce. So popular with the Roman army was the male solar cult of Mithraism based on the Indo-Iranian sun god) in the 3rd century, that the Emperor Aurelian names 25 December as the birthday of Mithras, the 'Unconquerable Sun'- a choice of date which was soon taken over by Christianity as the emblematic birthday of Jesus, the new God of Light.
In Peru and Egypt, where sun cults reached their highest form of development, the supposed kinship between the monarchy and the 'father' god, allowed kings to claim divine status for themselves.
Purely as a symbol of divinity, the sun is often seen as the principle agent of a supreme being. In Christian, Islamic and Hindu tradition, it represents the Eye of God, an embodiment of his all-knowing, all-seeing power and a guiding force radiating love and life-force. Dante declared that no other visible thing was more suitable a symbol of God himself."" (1,001S)
Strawberry: Strawberry Fields Forever, also in the photo-collage from "The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics 2" by Allen Aldridge referenced in the Acacia and Ginkgo posts.
"The sacred strawberry is one of the fruits that grew in
the Elysian Fields, the resting place of blessed souls. There is also
strong Christian symbolism associated with the strawberry plant.
The
3 parts of the leaf are emblematic of the Holy Trinity, and the white
flowers stand for the purity of the Virgin Mary and the innocence of
Christ. The fruit of the strawberry has neither thorns nor pips and is
eaten whole, thereby representing good deeds; the red color symbolizes
the blood of Christ. Where strawberries grow at the feet of the Virgin
in religious paintings, the plant carries all these different meanings.
The
strawberry, in its fruiting stage, is symbolic of fecundity ans
sensuality, both being aspects of any seeded fruit that are often
overlooked by the Christian church. In the interplay of the sacred and
the profane that is an intrinsic part of the allegorical perception of
nature, strawberries are symbolic of spiritual development as well as
physical sensuality.
There is a legend that mothers
whose children have died should not pick strawberries before Midsummer
Day, because this is the day the spirits of the dead children are taken
strawberry picking. The mothers should leave the fruit for their
children.[...]" (ISS)
"The luscious strawberry, with its glorious red flesh and soft, swelling heart-like shape, appears as a dominant emblem of carnal love in the Gothic art of Hieronymus Bosch. His extraordinary triptych, The Garden of Earthly Delights, shows couples biting greedily into the fruit, oblivious to the retributive horrors depicted on the following panel, Hell." (1,001S)
"The strawberry is a berry that is attached to many positive thing through symbolism and folklore. The flowers and berries together symbolize righteousness and spiritual merit in Christian art. The structure of the leaves, being trifoliate, represents the trinity. Pagan tradition echoes this in that the three leaves are thought to represent the three-fold Earth or Mother Goddess.In Victorian flower language, the berry symbolizes perfection and “sweetness in life and character.” It also represents modesty because the berries are often found under the leaves.[...]
In mythology, Strawberries are connected to the Norse goddess of love, Freyja. Also, a Norse legend exists where the spirits of children enter the afterlife by hiding in strawberries that are taken to heaven by Frigga, Oden’s wife." <Source>
Star: I'm including star because of the choice made for Richard Starkey to take on the stage-name of Ringo Starr. It's notable that he is the only one who uses a stage name. Ringo Starr...Ringed Star. They also got a good bit of their start at The Star-Club in Hamburg. Songs with the lyric "star" include, Drive My Car, "I wanna be famous, a star on the screen," Act Naturally, "They're gonna make a big star out of me," and the alluded-to stars in Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. As well there is John Lennon's Instant Karma "Well we all shine on Like the moon and the stars and the sun."
"The star is universally accepted as a symbol, and as a part of our everyday language. To call someone a "star" is a great compliment. Our ancestors believed that each star had its own spirit, maybe that of a deity, an unborn soul, or the soul of a dead person that had a particularly notable life, an idea that is completely in accord with our use of the word to denote fame; however, there are always positive connotations surrounding the word. The light of a star is only visible in juxtaposition to the darkness surrounding it.[...] there are hundreds, if not thousands of different star symbols. The number of points in the star is an important part of the design. [...]" (ISS)
[Under Pentacle]: "Sometimes there is confusion between the pentacle and the pentagram. For the record, the pentagram is the five-pointed star symbol, whereas the pentacle is a more generic term for a mystical or magical symbol. [...]
The pentacle can be made of any material, although Trithemius (a fifteen-century abbot with a great knowledge of the occult) recommended 'virgin parchment' or a square plate of silver. Various symbols and signs that are appropriate for its intended use are then drawn or engraved on the pentacle[...]." (ISS)
[Under Pentagram]: It is possible that the pentagram was discovered by very early astronomical research, in the Tigris-Euphrates area, some 6000 years ago. [...] but it was Pythagoras who really brought the five-pointed star to the prominent position it holds today.
If an apple is cut across it's 'equator' then the pattern of the seeds is revealed, a perfect five-pointed star or pentagram. The repercussions of this hidden magical symbol are far-reaching. Five, comprised of the feminine number 2 and the masculine number 3, is the number of harmony, of the union of opposites, and of marriage. It is also the number of humankind because of the five points of extremity of the human body. When Eve gave Adam the Apple of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden, therefore, it was not just a piece of fruit she was offering him, but a potent symbol of wisdom. {More about Apples in my post, here}
Eating the fruit that contains the pentagram resulted in a profound awakening for Adam and Eve. They became not only aware of their own sexual nature, but they realized that they could make their own choices.
Not only is the pentagram a symbol of power, but it is imbued with actual power and is used in spell casting and the revelation of secrets. [...]
The ubiquity of this sign can't be stressed enough. It [sic] has associated not only with pagan practice but also with Christian mysticism, druidry, magic, sacred geometry, alchemy, the Kabbalah; it appears in the Tarot where it can represent the suit of coins, and its important in Freemasonry, where it is called the "Blazing Star".
One instance of its use was as a secret symbol whereby followers of Pythagoras could recognize one another, since, as Adam had discovered, it was the key to higher knowledge. [...]
In the Kabbalah, the pentagram represents the upper five Sephiroth of the Tree of Life, whose qualities are justice, mercy, wisdom, understanding, and transcendent splendor.
Freemasonry draws upon much of the Pythagorean symbolism of the Pentagram, although it is also seen as a reminder that Christ was spirit descended into matter, and as such represents the Star of Bethlehem.
The inverted pentagram has been accorded a more sinister interpretation that was ever intended; up until relatively recently, it didn't seem to matter which way up the star landed, after all this symbol is like the circle in that it has no beginning and no end. however, the symbol of Baphomet makes use of the upside down pentagram.
The Pentagram is the sign of Venus, both the planet known as the morning star, and the Goddess. Over the course of four years and one day,, the planet describes the shape of a pentagram in the sky. Uniquely, Venus is the only planet whose movements trace such a graphically recognizable symbol, a secret sign written in the sky." (ISS)
"The divinities representing planets [Zeus, Hermes, Ares etc.] in art are often shown with a star, another symbol of divinity. [...]
The five-pointed [sic- Eight-pointed] star, an ancient emblem of the Assyrian warrior Goddess Ishtar (a divine personification of the planet Venus), became a more widespread symbol of both military and spiritual transcendence [...]." (1,001S)
"BLAZING STAR: Symbol of light; of Divine direction in the journey through life; symbolizes a true Freemason who, by perfecting himself in the way of truth (knowledge), becomes like a blazing star. In English lodges, symbolizes sun which enlightens the earth, dispensing its blessings to all mankind and giving light and life to all things." <Source>
