{Flowers Revisited}: Sunflowers

Please see the Introduction To Rabbit Hole Legend A-Z post for information about sources and purpose 

 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> }

Legend: Sun

 Please see the Introduction To Rabbit Hole Legend A-Z post for information about sources and purpose

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)  

Legend: Strawberry

Please see the Introduction To Rabbit Hole Legend A-Z post for information about sources and purpose

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>

Legend: Shoes

 Please see the Introduction To Rabbit Hole Legend A-Z post for information about sources and purpose

 (Please note that this video is not an actual Paul McCartney video, I believe it is from the Iamaphoney studios. However, below I have the origins of this song)

Shoes (or the lack thereof): Shoes are where it all began, to some degree. According to "basic mythology" around the Paul is Dead hypothesis, and how it came to be is that fans noticed it, was that on the Abbey Road album Paul was dressed nicely, but was not wearing shoes. All the others were. This struck up a fervor because supposedly people were buried without shoes and barefoot is a sign of death for the mafia. By then people notice Paul isn't wearing his shoes during I Am The Walrus, in Magical Mystery Tour- they are laid by the drums, and on the album booklet, they look bloody.

Paul also later recorded a very strange song called Shoes. Shoes are kind of a big part of the PID story, and we'll examine the story behind the Abbey Road shoes more in a later post. 

I'll also note here the line in George Harrison's song, Beware of Darkness, "beware the soft shoe shuffler". There is also the line from John Lennon's Serve Yourself, "You're lucky to have a damned pair of shoes!" and the line from his song Crippled inside, "you can shine you're shoes/and wear a suit/you can comb your hair/and look/quite cute/you can hide your face/behind a smile/one thing you can't hide/is when you're crippled inside". John does a cover of Blue Suede Shoes, George does a cover of Old Brown Shoe.

I was unable to find any link between mafia meanings of barefoot, and I determined that people in Europe were sometimes buried without shoes, but this wasn't always the case, and you can find examples of antique burial slippers. 

 {I'd like to note here that the Abbey Road album cover used to make me think of a pilgrimage when I'd idly see the image somewhere, not knowing any of the mythology around it.}

"Never wear anything new to a funeral, especially shoes." <Source: Victorian funeral customs, fears and superstitions>

"At their most basic level, shoes represent human frailty.[...] In the western world, shoes were often associated with good luck and safe travel. The tradition of throwing old shoes at ships insured a sailor’s safe return and continues in the form of tying shoes to the Newlywed getaway car." <Source>

"Shoes in symbolism have a contradictory significance. They represent authority and power, but they can also represent humility, servitude. It all depends on the context we find them in. [...] In older times, not all people could afford buying shoes (slaves often didn't wear shoes), that is why they are associated with wealth, freedom and comfort, but also with the other side of the coin: vanity and arrogance.[...] Shoes keep our feet warm and protected,so obviously, for some individuals shoes symbolize protection or an environment where one can feel safe.[...] 

In gravestone symbolism, empty shoes symbolize the loss of a child. Usually one shoe is overturned. Thus shoes represent human frailty." <Source>

"In the Holy Bible's Old Testament, the shoe is used to symbolize something that is worthless or of little value. In the New Testament, the act of removing one's shoes symbolizes servitude. The Semites regarded the act of removing their shoes as a mark of reverence when approaching a sacred person or place. In the Book of Exodus, Moses was instructed to remove his shoes before approaching the burning bush:

“ Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest [is] holy ground (Exodus 3:5). ”

The removal of the shoe also symbolizes the act of giving up a legal right. In Hebrew custom, the widow removed the shoe of her late husband's brother to symbolize that he had abandoned his duty. In Arab custom, the removal of one's shoe also symbolized the dissolution of marriage.[...]

Empty shoes may also symbolize death. In Greek culture, empty shoes are the equivalent of the American funeral wreath. For example, empty shoes placed outside of a Greek home would tell others that the family's son has died in battle." <Source>

Barefoot: "[From Masonic Knowledge site, see source] From In the first three degrees, the candidate is asked to become barefoot. Why is this?

Barefoot have several meanings. For example, nakedness of feet is a sign of mourning. God says to Ezekiel, the priest (Ezekiel 24:17) “Make no mourning for the dead......and put on thy shoes upon thy feet.” David is said to have gone from Jerusalem barefoot, when he fled from Absalom. It is also a mark of respect. In the Koran we find the passage “Surely I am your Lord, therefore put off your shoes......." (Ta Ha 20:12). Muslims do indeed leave their shoes at the door of a mosque before entering. In Christianity we find that Moses took off his shoes to approach the burning bush where the angel of the Lord called to Moses (Exodus 3:5); priests serving in the Tabernacle (a tent sanctuary used by the Israelites during the Exodus) did so with their feet naked, as they did afterwards in the Temple. This is likely what is referred to in our rituals.

The foot is said to represent the soul, as it serves to support the entire body and keep it upright. Demonic beings, for this reason, were often depicted with feet that differed to those of man, or were turned the wrong way. [...]

One direction Pythagoras gave to his disciples was "Offer sacrifice and worship with thy shoes off." Maimonides, the great expounder of the Jewish Law, asserts that "it was not lawful for a man to come into the mountain of God's house with his shoes on his feet, or with his staff, or in his working garments, or with dust on his feet." The Druids also practiced this by performing their rites barefooted, as did the Peruvians before they entered the temple to worship the Sun." <Source>
 

" There are times in Jewish life when the wearing of shoes is forbidden.[...] There is also a custom amongst certain chassidic groups to remove their (leather) shoes before approaching the gravesite of a holy person. This tradition goes back to the command to Moses when he approached the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:5), "Remove your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground. On the historic day of mourning, Tisha b'Av, Jews are prohibited from wearing leather shoes. The same prohibition applies on Yom Kippur to show remorse and penance.

In the Book of Isaiah (20:2), Isaiah is commanded to remove his sandals as a sign of mourning. Shoes also play a part in the mourning period after a death. During the period of shiva, the seven days of mourning, leather shoes may not be worn. In Talmudic times, both the pall bearers and the mourners went barefoot." <Source>

"To go barefoot was a sign of great distress (Isa. 20:2, 3, 4), or of some great calamity having fallen on a person (2 Sam. 15:30). [...] 

The word [barefoot] is found in the following passages: English Versions of the Bible, "He went barefoot" (2 Sam 15:30); "(Isaiah) did so, walking .... barefoot" (Isa 20:2); and like the Egyptians, "naked and barefoot" (Isa 20:3,4). It seems that David in his flight before Absalom "went barefoot," not to facilitate his flight, but to show his grief (2 Sam 15:30), and that Micah (1:8) makes "going barefoot" a sign of mourning [...]. The nakedness and bare feet of the prophet Isaiah (20:2) may have been intended to symbolize and express sympathy for the forlorn condition of captives [...].

Jastrow [...] presents a view worth considering of going barefoot as a sign of mourning and then of grief in general [...]. All these passages seem to imply the discomfort or going barefoot on long journeys, over stony roads or hot sands; but then, as now, in the Orient sandals seem to have been little worn ordinarily in and around the house." <Source>

"Many people in ancient times, such as the Egyptians, Hindus and Greeks, saw little need for footwear and, most of the time, preferred being barefoot. [...] The ancient Greeks largely viewed footwear as self-indulgent, unaesthetic and unnecessary. Shoes were primarily worn in the theater as a means of increasing stature, and many preferred to go barefoot.[...]

 Bare feet have also come to symbolize innocence or childhood, and this may be one reason why hippies often went barefoot during the counterculture movement of the 1960s.[...]

  It is also customary in Judaism and some Christian denominations to go barefoot while mourning. Some Christian churches practice barefoot pilgrimage traditions.[...]

It was an integral part of most slave laws ("slave codes") to mandate that slaves have to go barefoot as a matter of course. For example, the Cape Town slave code states that, "Slaves must go barefoot and must carry passes." This was also seen in states that abolished slavery later in history, such as Brazil, as most images from the slavery period suggest that slaves were barefoot. In Zimbabwe, prisoners must be barefoot as well. Shoes have been considered as badges of freedom since biblical time." <Source>

Legend: Rabbit/Hare

  Please see the Introduction To Rabbit Hole Legend A-Z post for information about sources and purpose

The Rabbit and the Hare are almost interchangeable for many, So they are listed here together. One of the animals on the Magical Mystery Tour was a Hare, the White Rabbit is core for my Wonderland angle, and then we have the line from Paul McCartney's Band on the Run, "Well, the undertaker drew a heavy sigh seeing no one else had come, And a bell was ringing in the village square for the rabbits on the run." 

Rabbit:"Incredibly fecund, the rabbit is a symbol not only of fertility, but also of sexuality and lust, personified by the "Bunny Girl." "Bun" is an old English word and refers to the distinctive circular shape of the animal's tail. Although the rabbit didn't make it's appearance in the British Isles until the twelfth  century, its prolific breeding habits meant that it was soon prevalent everywhere and it adopted some of the same symbolic meaning as the hare, minus the mystery accorded to the hare as the more elusive nocturnal creature.

Because of its fecundity and gregarious nature, the rabbit is a symbol for peace and love by some Native Americans. There is a courtship ritual called the Rabbit Dance." (ISS)

 Hare: "Because the Hare is a nocturnal creature, she carries all of the symbolism of the moon; light in the darkness, concealed wisdom, arcane information, intuition, and the Goddess. The moon is symbolic of rebirth and resurrection, because of its visible phases, and the hare shares these qualities, too. Significantly, in some parts of the world, the shape of the hare is visible in the face of the moon, further reinforcing the connection between the two.

The hare is renowned for its fertility, and it is in this guise that it is simplified as the Easter Bunny. The springtime goddess Eostre governed over the cycles of fertility, and so her symbol was the egg; hence the chocolate eggs given to children at Easter. [...]

The fact that the animal is not eaten is generally s sign that it has sacred status. [..] Pre-Christian Celtic people similarly regarded the hare as something too sacred to consider eating; they were kept as pets. [...]" (ISS)

" Rabbit, Hare- Guile, Quick-Thinking, Humility, Strengthening Intuition, Releasing Fear, Overcoming the Past, Resolution to Change, Fertility, New Life, Alertness, Nurturing, Rebirth, Balance." <Source>

P.S. I realize I'm getting a little out of order now and again, but I think I'm going to start being ok with a less than Virgo-perfect organization, as I'm coming to realize that this is going to be a set of living documents, and I will find more to add as time moves on, anyways, so, Please visit often! :)

Legend: Rain

 Please see the Introduction To Rabbit Hole Legend A-Z post for information about sources and purpose

Rain: Most famously, the Beatles' song, Rain, but also Fixing a Hole (where the rain gets in!), Penny Lane (in the pouring rain), Hey Bulldog (Sheepdog standing in the rain), I'll Follow the Sun (for tomorrow may rain), Across the Universe (words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup), I Am the Walrus (if the sun don't come, you get a tan from standing in the English rain), The Long and Winding Road (that the rain washed away), Two of Us (wearing raincoats). As well, we also have Paul McCartney's song, Driving Rain, Too Much Rain, Rainclouds and a number of songs by John and George that use the lyric, "Rain". 

"Depending upon its level of intensity, rain may either serve as life-giving or life-destroying. It is revitalizing, fertilizing, and heavenly, and often marks acts of purification." <Source>

"Vital symbol of fecundity linked to divine blessings or punishments. Emblem of purity." (CESS)
"Rain is nourishment for the earth and is known as the water of life. Rain takes many forms and can be anything from a gentle sprinkling and light watering of the earth, up to a torrid downpour and possible flooding; life giving on one hand and potentially death dealing on the other. Rain is a very serious affair, especially wherever water is scarce and/or crops are growing. A wonderful, (surviving) example of this seriousness is the world famous Native American rain dances, created to induce rain. To many city dwellers (or non-farmers) rain is seen as more of an annoyance than anything else. As you can guess, the meaning of the symbol (overall) changes depending on the scarcity and/or need of water/rainfall.

Rain drops can symbolize heaven's tears and the accompanying lightening can be seen as heaven's anger (for example, thunderbolts were the favored weapon of Zeus, etc.). Rain is a symbol for tears, sorrow, anger, cleansing, renewal, forgiveness and more -- usually on a heavenly, worldly or very large sort of personal scale. This is not a visual symbol for small sorrows or everyday events." <Source> 

"Large drops of rain warn that there has just been a death. If rain falls on a funeral procession, the deceased will go to heaven. " <Source>


See "Moondog" for a approaching storm symbolism.

 

Legend: Pepper

 Please see the Introduction To Rabbit Hole Legend A-Z post for information about sources and purpose

Pepper: Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, also George Harrison's Thanks for the Pepperoni.


"The word "pepper" is ultimately derived from the Sanskrit word for long pepper, pippali. Ancient Greek and Latin turned pippali into the Latin piper which was used by the Romans to refer both to black pepper and long pepper, as the Romans erroneously believed that both of these spices were derived from the same plant. The English word for pepper is derived from the Old English pipor. The Latin word is also the source of Romanian piper, Italian pepe, Dutch peper, German Pfeffer, French poivre, and other similar forms. In the 16th century, pepper started referring to the unrelated New World chili pepper as well. "Pepper" was used in a figurative sense to mean "spirit" or "energy" at least as far back as the 1840s; in the early 20th century, this was shortened to pep.[...]

Peppercorns were a much-prized trade good, often referred to as "black gold" and used as a form of commodity money. On the other hand, because of a peppercorn's individual size, the term "peppercorn rent" refers to a token payment made for something that is in fact being given.[...]

Black peppercorns were found stuffed in the nostrils of Ramesses II, placed there as part of the mummification rituals shortly after his death in 1213 BCE.[...]

As pepper supplies into Europe increased, the price of pepper declined (though the total value of the import trade generally did not). Pepper, which in the early Middle Ages had been an item exclusively for the rich, started to become more of an everyday seasoning among those of more average means."<Source>

Just in case they were referring to the chili pepper, though I imagine they meant just pepper, since pepper has a longer European history, and was said by John Lennon to be the source of the song (pepper shakers in a mess tent):  "Chili pepper: Fidelity, Hex Breaking, Love [...] Pepper: Protection, Exorcism." <Source>

From a paper on Irish Serpent Symbolism, Appendix, symbolism in other cultures (Egyptian, here), "APEP / APOPHIS (The Egyptian serpent of darkness. This is the origin of terms such as Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Sergeant Pepper, and Pepsid, etc.)." <Source>  I haven't been able to find more on this statement, yet, but will continue to look and update as I triangulate this bit of information. Though, I thought this was interesting, "In the tomb of Ramesses VI in the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank at Thebes (modern Luxor), Apophis is shown with twelve heads above its back representing those he has swallowed who are freed, if only briefly, when he is vanquished." <Source>

More on Apep: "Apep (Aapep, Apepi or Apophis) was the ancient Egyptian spirit of evil, darkness and destruction who threatened to destroy the sun god Ra as he travelled though the underworld (or sky) at night. Originally Set and Mehen (the serpent headed man) were given the job of defending Ra and his solar barge. They would cut a hole in the belly of the snake to allow Ra to escape his clutches. If they failed, the world would be plunged into darkness. However, in later periods Apep was sometimes equated with Set who was after all a god of chaos. In this case a variety of major and minor gods and goddesses (including Isis, Neith, Serqet (Selket), Geb, Aker and the followers of Horus) protected Ra from this all consuming evil. The dead themselves (in the form of the god Shu) could also fight Apep to help maintain Ma´at (order).

Like Set, Apep was also associated with various frightening natural events such as unexplained darkness such as solar eclipse, storms and earthquakes. They were both linked to the northern sky (a place that the Egyptians considered to be cold, dark and dangerous) and they were both at times associated with Taweret, the demon-goddess. However, unlike Set he was always a force for evil and could not be reasoned with." <Source>

Legend: Moondog

Please see the Introduction To Rabbit Hole Legend A-Z post for information about sources and purpose.

Moondog: Moondog has an old association with the Beatles, being one of their earliest names (Johnny and the Moondogs). Also, the lyric in, I Dig a Pony, "I pick a moon dog/Well you can radiate everything you are/Yes you can radiate everything you are/ Oh now".

 At 2:45 in this video, during The Kennedy Awards televised program, Alec Baldwin is giving a speech about Paul and says, "Paul, we honor you tonight for your career as a Beatle, the leader of Wings, and incredible solo performer, creator of our favorite songs, and, yes...as a Moon dog, too." Paul is wearing a Rainbow-coloured ribbon lanyard around his black suit lapel, looking like a moondog'd moon.



 "A moon dog, moondog, or mock moon,is a relatively rare bright circular spot on a lunar halo caused by the refraction of moonlight by hexagonal-plate-shaped ice crystals in cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. Moondogs appear 22° to the left and right of the moon. They are exactly analogous to sun dogs, but are rarer because to be produced the moon must be bright and therefore full or nearly full. Moondogs show little color to the unaided eye because their light is not bright enough to activate the cone cells of humans' eyes." <Source>

"Moon Ring Weather Folklore: Folklore has it that a ring around the moon signifies bad weather is coming, and in many cases this may be true. So how can rings around the moon be a predictor of weather to come? The ice crystals that cover the halo signify high altitude, thin cirrus clouds that normally precede a warm front by one or two days. Typically, a warm front will be associated with a low pressure system which is commonly referred to as a storm." <Source>

"In folklore, moon rings are said to warn of approaching storms. Like other ice halos, 22° halos appear when the sky is covered by thin cirrus clouds that often come a few days before a large storm front.

The similar phenomenon called coronas are produced by water droplets and they are much smaller and more colorful than 22° halos." <Source>

From, Heth and Moab; Explorations in Syria in 1881 and 1882 By Claude Reignier Conder, "Near Banias lies buried a saint who is said to himself have been a dog, but I have not been able to gather any details. Perhaps he may be considered to be a relation of the famous moon dog, Anubis, or of the Vedic prototypes of Hermes." <Source>

From, Symbolic mythology and translation of a lost and forgotten language By John Martin Woolsey, "Sirius was called the dog star because it watched the rise of the Nile, and Anubis, the moon dog, was the watchman of the night, and so the star became the star of Anubus".  (quick Reader on wiki basic of Anubis, the Egyptian jackal-headed guide, protector and embalmer to the dead)

<Interesting history of the etymology of the term Rock and Roll here> but the excerpt pertaining to the musician and conflict regarding the name Moondog, "In 1951, Cleveland, Ohio disc jockey Alan Freed would begin playing this type of music for his white audience, and it is Freed who is credited with coining the phrase "rock and roll" to describe the rollicking R&B music that he brought to the airwaves. The term, with its simultaneous allusions to dancing, sex, and the sound of the music itself, stuck even with those who didn't absorb all the meanings.

Originally Freed used the name Moondog for himself and any concerts or promotions he put on. This arose from the fact he used a piece of music called "Moondog Symphony" by the street musician Moondog as his repeated opening music for his radio show. Moondog subsequently sued Freed on grounds that he was stealing his name. Since Freed was no longer allowed to use the term Moondog he needed a new catch phrase." [see source above]  Please do go check out this link to read about one of the Albums by Moondog, called Moondog. I'd be interested in hearing track 7. 

Legend: Hippo

Whoops! I got a little out-of-alphabetical-order! Permit me to take one small step back...we need to cover the Hippo!

 Please see the Introduction To Rabbit Hole Legend A-Z post for information about sources and purpose

Hippo: Mainly seen on the Cover of the Magical Mystery Tour, and in the movie, itself. It's a source of great mystery as to who was in the walrus costume, and who was in the other costumes, as covered by another blogger at Wizards, Buses and the Physiodelic Church. There is a ton of speculation around what the Walrus symbolizes, and that leads to wondering what the other animals symbolize, as well (See by post on Birds to learn more about the Parrot, and the up-coming posts about the Hare and Walrus). 

""The Hippo has had a very bad press when it comes to its symbolic significance.

It was generally believed that the creature generally preferred to mate with its own mother, while the Egyptians gave one of their evil deities, Typhon, the head of a hippopotamus. Generally, the animal is felt to be a cowardly and irreligious character." (ISS)

""The hippopotamus symbolizes brute animal strength in the Book of Job,  where it appears under the name of Behemoth, a land creature corresponding to the Leviathan of the deeps. Both appear as awesome symbols of forces that illustrate the puny strength of humankind and its need for divine help.

In reverse symbolism, the Egyptian hippopotamus goddess Tawaret is depicted as an emblem of protective strength." (1,001S)

"A red hippo represented the Ancient Egyptian god Set; the thigh is the 'phallic leg of set' symbolic of virility. Set's consort Tawaret was also seen as part hippo and was a goddess of protection in pregnancy and childbirth, because ancient Egyptians recognized the protective nature of a female hippopotamus toward her young. The Ijo people wore masks of aquatic animals like the hippo when practicing their water spirit cults." <Source>

"The Hippos wisdom includes power, emotional depth, creation, imagination, healing, proper use of aggression, ability to move gracefully through emotions, protection of family, mother-fury when needed, birth of new ideas, lucid dreaming, spirit contact.

The hippopotamus is sacred in both Egyptian and African traditions. Its name means ‘Water Horse’, and it spends nearly all day in the water, and when not in water obviously on land. This is the ancient realm of birth, power, creation, imagination, and healing." <Source>

"The Hippopotamus symbolizes both fertility and destruction.[...] Pregnant Egyptian women depended on the hybrid, but largely hippopotamus goddess Taweret for protection and Amenti, "the bringer forth of waters" was one of the several Egyptian aspects of The Great Goddess. The male hippo, by contrast, because it frequently did damage to crops was a manifestation of inimical forces in the world and was linked to the evil Seth." <Source>

Legend: Horse

Please see the Introduction To Rabbit Hole Legend A-Z post for information about sources and purpose

Horse (Dark Horse / Pony): (Also see entry for Night) Images relating to horses come from the Beatles song, I Dig a Pony, George Harrison's song and Album, Dark Horse, and the scene in "Penny Lane" where the Beatles ride horses around Liverpool.

 "[...] The horse belongs to the Sun and the element of fire. Horses proudly draw the chariot of the Sun God. At the same time the horse also belongs to the moon and the element of water, since it carried on its back the God of Oceans, too. [...] In Greece there is a sacred well, called Hippocrene (the Horse's Well), which is shaped like a horseshoe and is dedicated to the muses. Pegasus, the Winged horse, was said to have created this particular sacred well.

The horse symbolizes life and death, darkness and light, good and evil, depending on the context in which it is seen. As well as being a bringer of life, it is also a psychopomp, a creature that guides dead souls on the journey to the next life. As well as having spiritual significance, like the dog with which it shares many characteristics, the horse is valuable in purely practical terms, too. It represents power and wealth, since having a horse- or many horses- confers superiority on the owner, not only in terms of monetary value but in the distances he is able to cover and the speeds at which he can travel. This leads to another aspect of the horse- it is a symbol of freedom. Despite the fact that it can be trained the horse is not inferior to man bit is his equal.

The color of a horse, too carries great significance. Where a white horse appears, it is a symbol of virginal, the spiritual, and the godly. The Buddha, for example, chose to ride a white horse. The Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I, is depicted on a white palfrey. The black horse, conversely often symbolizes death and the dark forces. A golden horse is emblematic of the sun and solar deities.

[...] A mare generally leads herds of horses, and the Horse Goddesses include Epona, the mother-Goddess of the ancient Britons, and Rhiannon. The sacred status of horses meant that the sacrifice of such creatures was a rare and profound event, and even today, there is repugnance among many people at the thought of eating horseflesh; not eating an animal is a sure sign that it is regarded as sacred." (ISS)

"All of these heady aspects of valor were associated with the Horse in Celt animal symbolism. In fact, so much so, the Celts hailed the Horse as the beast belonging to the sun god, and assigned it a place with the goddess Epona (see Celtic Gods & Goddesses for more information on Epona).[...]

In Hindu Brihadaranyaka, the Horse is linked to Varuna and as such, is equated to the cosmos. Additionally, a white horse is believed to be the last incarnation of Vishnu.
                                                                                                            Buddha is said to have left this physical plane riding a white horse. Also in Buddhism a winged horse is often depicted carrying the Book of Law.[...]

Black Horse: Mystery, death, night, secret, messenger of esoteric knowledge
White Horse: Light, sun, day, vitality, illumination, resurrection, messenger of birth" <Source>

"A dark horse is a little-known person or thing that emerges to prominence, especially in a competition of some sort or a contestant that seems unlikely to succeed." <Source>

                             "I Dig a Pony" (I Dig Epona?) from the rooftop concert starts at 3:47

Legend: Honey

Please see the Introduction To Rabbit Hole Legend A-Z post for information about sources and purpose

Honey: Songs include A Taste of Honey, Honey Don't, Honey Pie, Wild Honey Pie ALSO- Paul McCartney's Honey Hush, John Lennon's Album Milk and Honey, lyrics from his song, One Day (At a Time) {Cause you're the honey and I'm the bee}, Clean Up Time {Making bread and honey}, George Harrison's song, She's My Baby {She pours herself a drink. Says, "honey, honey, honey ain't no time to think"}, and Ringo Starr's song You Belong to Me {"oh, i will, honey"}- which I think is a hilarious rejoinder to, "Honey Don't. 


"Legislation requires that all packaged food carry a "best before" date,  but this seems to be particularly unnecessary in the case of honey, since jars of the stuff found in the tombs of Egyptian kings from several thousand years ago have proved to e perfectly edible even now. It could well be because honey is so long lasting, and because it is used as a preservative, that it is a symbol of immortality and used in funeral rites. [...]

The sweetness of honey is believed to confer gifts of learning and poetry. We'll never know if the story that Pythagoras existed on honey alone is true, but the fact that the rumor exists is in accord with his God-like status. [...]

Honey is said to be an aphrodisiac and to encourage fertility and virility, wealth and abundance, and is a symbol of the Sun, partly because of the flowers from which its made but also because of its color." (ISS)

" A basic foodstuff, but which can also be a drink - like milk with which it is often associated -, honey is a symbol of richness and sweetness in all traditions. In the sacred texts of East and West, milk and honey flow like a stream through the promised land. The Celtic traditions celebrate mead as an immortal beverage. In Greek mythology, in which honey is the drink of the gods of Olympus, it is the symbol of knowledge, learning and wisdom , it is a food reserved for the elect, the initiated, and to exceptional people in this world and the next. Greek tradition claims that Pythagoras ate nothing but honey throughout his entire life.


All the great prophets refer to honey in the Scriptures. Speech is honey, it represents softness, justice, virtue and divine goodness. The Koran uses holy terms to talk of bees and honey :"Honey is the first blessing that God gave the earth". Virgil calls honey the celestial gift of the dew, dew itself being a symbol of initiation. Honey even designates supreme bliss and the state of Nirvana. Symbol of all sweetness, the honey of knowledge creates the happiness of mankind.

The perfection of honey makes it a major element in many religions rituals. For the Egyptians, honey was the tears of the god Râ and was a part of all the religious offerings in pharaonic Egypt. In Islam, according to the Prophet, it restores sight, preserves health and resuscitates the dead. For the American Indians, it plays a great part in ceremonies and the rites of initiation and purification. A source of inspiration, honey gave Pindar the gift of poetry and Pythagoras the gift of science.

In modern psychoanalytical thinking, honey symbolizes the "higher self" , the ultimate consequence of work on one's inner self. As the result of the transmutation of ephemeral pollen into a delicious food of immortality, honey symbolizes the transformation by initiation, the conversion of the soul, and the complete integration of the person." <Source>

"Bees were called by the Greeks and Romans the Birds of the Muses. The golden bees were supposed to have gathered honey for the poets on thyme-covered Mount Hymettus to sweeten their verses.[...]

Hindu poetry is literally drenched in honey. Madhukara (honeyborn) had three meanings: bee, lover and moon. There are many romantic Hindu tales associated with honey. [...]

In Hindu mythology all delightful endowments were symbolized by honey. When mem-sahib (woman) was forged by Twasktrie, the Hindu Vulcan, he mixed a little honey in the raw material.[...] According to the Greek and Roman literature, honey possessed the magic power to confer the genius of poetry and eloquence; in Hindu mythology, even wisdom." <Source>

Legend- Ginkgo (See Acacia)

 Please see the Introduction To Rabbit Hole Legend A-Z post for information about sources and purpose

Ginkgo Biloba: The ginkgo leaves are shown above the heads of the Beatles in a photo-collage in the "Beatles Illustrated Lyrics", along with Strawberries, Roses and  Acacia Leaves 

"The ginkgo, native to China, figures prominently in Asian art as well as the Art Nouveau movement of the late nineteenth century, two fields of interest for the Smithsonian’s Sackler and Freer galleries. Ancient Chinese artists often depicted the Buddha’s Dragon Tree as a ginkgo. Chinese monks brought the ginkgo to Japan, where it was widely planted in temple gardens. In Japanese decorative art, the ginkgo’s distinctive fan-shaped leaf has carried symbolism along with its singular beauty: the ginkgo has been a symbol of longevity (the tree can live for a thousand years) and of a more profound endurance (four ginkgos survived the blast at Hiroshima and are still growing today)."  <Source>

"Immortality is also symbolized in China by the Ginkgo, believed to be the oldest of all tree species to have survived unchanged. It was also grown around temples for this reason." (1,001S)

"The ginkgo biloba, or Maidenhair tree, has been known to live for 2,000 years. In the East, it is considered a symbol of longevity, hope, resilience and peace. The tree's delicate fan-shaped leaves have been prized for their beauty, copied by artists and heralded in literature." <Source>

"Ginkgo is believed to have nootropic properties, and is mainly used as memory and concentration enhancer, and antivertigo agent." <Source>

Legend: Flowers (Carnation, Lily, Lotus, Marigold, Rose, Sunflower)

Please see the Introduction To Rabbit Hole Legend A-Z post for information about sources and purpose

Flowers: Flowers are another common theme for the Beatles, from Paul McCartney's albums, "Flowers in the Dirt" and "Red Rose Speedway" and his enigmatic "L.I.L.Y", to the sunflower image in Blue Jay Way and in Free as a Bird. The most intriguing flower image, though has to the the odd presence of (and ridiculous explanations for the presence of..) the black carnation on Paul's lapel in Your Mother Should Know.

{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>


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>}

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>


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)

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)

Sun Flower: Referred to in "Free as a Bird", was worn by John in "Blue Jay Way", the Wizards caps in MMT have Sunflowers on them, and Peter Brown stated that George put one on Brian'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> }