#usually meant to symbolise some kind of purity

[ghostdrinkssoup]

if I had a nickel for every time a Dark and Mysterious and probably Morally Ambiguous character was soft for a young girl from his past (probably blonde and probably dead) then I would have a handful of nickels, which isn’t a lot technically speaking but why does it keep happening ??

[nymphylights]

Ornithological Divination

-The counting or divining of birds in real life or dreams to predict future outcomes for oneself or others

☼ Magpies

Possibly one of the more well known birds to count and divine from especially in the British Isles. Saluting magpies or acknowledging them is a sure way to make sure they do not pass on bad luck to you as they are proud and temperamental creatures.

A popular rhyme to determine how your fate or that of those around you by counting how many magpies you see in a day is as follows: One for sorrow, Two for joy, Three for a girl, Four for a boy, Five for silver, Six for gold, Seven for a secret, Never to be told. Eight for a wish, Nine for a kiss, Ten a surprise you should be careful not to miss, Eleven for health, Twelve for wealth, Thirteen beware it’s the devil himself.

Magpies may also represent these attributes or signs both in dreams and in real life: cunning, resolution, good luck, love, deception, pride, thievery and gossip.

☼ Crows

Likely the most well known bird to divine from, crows have been used in literature, poetry and plays to signify a great many things (though not many of them pleasant). However, seeing a crow or hearing its call may not always be a bad omen- as you will see below.

Crows typically symbolise the following (keep in mind that different cultures view crows in different ways): magick, mystery, death, bad luck, rebirth, change, intelligence, overlooking something, lingering sadness and solitude.

Hearing a crow’s call in the morning may indicate trouble ahead in the day, in the early afternoon indicates a fortuitous day, in the late afternoon it may mean that there is something crucial in the day you have forgotten, in the evening it may mean they are bringing you messages from the spirits and at night it may mean that bad luck is headed your way.

☼Pigeons and Doves

Perhaps the most endearing birds on the list (and personal favourites of mine), pigeons and doves are often overlooked because there are just so many of them around- especially if you live in a city. However, their presence and behaviour is notable when you see them where you might not expect or if they seem particularly keen on being close to you.

Pigeons and doves typically represent the following characteristics, however they are seen as a pest in many cultures so these have been derived from more ancient ideas: adaptation, resilience, meekness, modesty, purity, peace, love, devotion, kindness, embarrassment, sacrifice and discomfort.

If a pigeon or dove is near to you or if one appears seemingly from nowhere, it is typically a good omen and likely means that people have thought positively of you that day. If you see two pigeons or doves fighting however it can indicate that whilst good intentions were meant, a situation has become sour due to misunderstanding and a sacrifice must be made on both sides.

☼Hawks/Birds of Prey

Hawks and BoP are a really common bird in the countryside and wooded areas, although they can sometimes be seen in cities that are close to these areas too. These birds have been used in literature and in divination for a long time and in many cultures represent messengers from the spirit world.

Hawks and Birds of Prey are often thought to represent the following in divination: spirituality, connection to the earth, focus, clear vision, intuition, precision, unseen knowledge, danger, wiseness and elders.

Typically if you see a hawk or BoP it might signify that you are close to gaining knowledge and intellect that was previously unknown to you- that you will likely gain this knowledge through your own intuitive means. However, this knowledge may be dangerous and could lead to unwanted scenarios and situations so caution is advised.

☼ Owls

Owls are sure signposts in divination as they are usually quite rarely seen due to their behaviour. For this reason, seeing an owl can often give you a very straightforward glimpse into future events and emotions. Despite this however, owls are incredibly spiritual birds so making sure to understand their message fully is vital to proper divination and respect for owls.

Owls in tradition and literature have typically been viewed as showing the following things: wisdom, clarity, knowledge, retribution, deceit, a battle in one’s mind, change, death, illusion and transformation.

It is likely that if you see an owl you have been given a special insight through the spirit world to hidden information and wisdom that will guide you for the rest of your life. Omens such as death and deceit should, however, also be noted as key factors in whether your future with this new knowledge will be pleasant or a battle yet to be won.

☼Robins

Robins are beautiful and often shy birds that are found across the world. They often have a beautiful red coloration on their chest and have deep spiritual meanings and connections.

Seeing a robin may indicate the following: good luck, passion, bravery, fleeting love, an accident, a secret admirer, good news, new beginnings, honour, joy, patience and renewal.

If you see a robin it is likely that there is positivity to look forward to in the future, especially in love and in your own self. Expect good news soon that will transform your life, even in the smallest ways, and make it a whole lot better. Although, it is possible that with this positivity comes loss of something dear such as a lover leaving or movement from a path you were sure you would take.

☼ Swans

Swans are another example of birds that are frequently used to divine from, simply because of their clear connotations and meanings. Although they can be temperamental, these birds are very much intertwined with fate and divination as a whole.

When you see a swan it is likely that it may mean one of these things: motherhood, love, devotion, partnership, loyalty, youth, children, pride, dreams, strong emotions, creativity, purity, transformation, jealousy, arrogance and stubbornness.

Swans in dreams and in real life usually mean that a relationship with someone is strengthening or changing in some way, whether it be for better or for worse. Whilst swans do show the positive side to relationships with traits such as loyalty and devotion, they can also show the negative side where jealousy and stubbornness can halt the progress of a blooming connection as doubt becomes the main thing on someone’s mind. Therefore, it should be noted that caution should be taken in divining from swans as all may not be as it seems.

☼Storks

One of the few birds that everyone knows has one meaning in particular. Birth, children, fertility etc show a clear pattern in the meaning behind a stork. Storks however, have some other surprising meanings that may show how ungeneric a stork can be.

Aside from the aforementioned meanings, storks can also represent: regality, longevity, fidelity, purity, prosperity, protection, good luck, renewal, moving on, femininity, war, greed, theft, sin and cleansing of sin.

Many of a stork’s meanings have to do with key traits we typically want to see in ourselves. Storks may represent what we long for in life and that eventually, we will achieve it. Its negative meanings may show what we have to go through in order to get to where we want to be with ourselves as we learn how to overcome adversity and challenge ourselves to be better. Tossing aside negativity, prejudice, hate and fear seem to be the goals that storks typically entail.

These are just a few birds you can divine from but there are so many more with lots of different meanings like hummingbirds, kingfishers, cuckoos etc.

I hope this brief list has helped and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Blessed be and good luck upon you all ☼

[cactusnotes]

To His Coy Mistress Analysis

Buckle up boys. This is long. First, the title. Implies that, though they are not married, she is a possession to whom he is dedicated to. “Coy” implies she’s either shy, or plays hard to get. In that time, coy meant to ‘stroke’ or ‘caress’, so the poem is there, in the title, essentially. The poem is laid out with a thesis (the ‘ideal’ state), antithesis (reality) and synthesis (conclusion).

He immediately starts with “Had we”, posing an idealistic situation from the start, the plural pronoun trying to show that he feels that this is something they both want--male dominance? He says shyness is “no crime” then, implying that now, it is a crime! Once more, demonises women. The sexism is real. Another theme he introduces is time and space (“world”, highlighting the metaphysical. Then comes alliteration and assonance: “long love's day”, which extends the words, mimicking the time they could have had together, and how long he would love her, if it was possible...but also makes it boring.

Next, the theme of colonialism and conquest, as if she was a place he could invade, something exotic, unknown, new. She’s by the “Indian Ganges”, which then was seen as pure and sacred, while he’s by the Humber, where his dad died. But linked through the river (water symbolising purity, baptism and the soul). Then, it’s time for time and hyperboles (perhaps in mockery of actual love poems, by including it in his idealised, unrealistic view?) as he’d love her from before the “Flood”, 4000 years ago, until the “Conversion of the Jews” at the end of time. 

It’s good old “vegetable love” next. This could be due to Aristotle’s theory of vegetative soul, which is the divine, special part of love, which is natural, but not sensible, like sexual love. With time, the speaker would cultivate it. It also, very crudely, could refer to an erection. It also has the idea that vegetables need care, but fruits practically throw themselves at him (as expressed in his poem The Garden) and that they have no time for vegetables, which she could be a peach. Then, it’s back to the theme of time. “hundred years”, “thirty thousand”, and “the last age should show your heart”. Which could either be that the climax of their love is in the purest soul (like the vegetable love), or until death then (you have to be dead to see a heart then), or, what would you expect! Another sexual innuendo, as the most raw, physical, internal love. He sees inside her. Literally.  

Ooh, an indentation and a “But”. Time for reality, a volta, after that long adoration, reflecting the truth behind the words...but now for the more exciting reality. Lines get shorter, you can hear the excitement. Except he hears “Time's winged chariot”, a personification portraying time as a god, stressing its power, and their powerlessness. So if they’re powerless, why hold back? 

After death there is apparently “Deserts of vast eternity”, controversially expressing either a boring afterlife, or even no afterlife. Deserts are barren, nothing can grow (no vegetable love or children), leading to a dull relationship. Then comes the metaphor “Nor in thy marble vault, shall sound My echoing song” which suggests that in her tomb, and he won't mourn/sing...or in her belly and womb (or even vagina) she shall be no baby, or his semen, his legacy. It gets worse. He explains how, at this rate, worms shall take her virginity and “your quaint honour turn to dust, And into ashes all my lust”. “Quaint” is a pun, meaning charming, but also slang for vagina, bringing that image to life, along with the semantic field of death used--“dust”, “ashes”. The rhyming couplet of “dust” and “lust” is a summary of the two choices, reflected later on, of death or sex. 

Finally we get to the “Now Therefore”, and this image of perspiration and water, due to “morning dew”, a “willing soul transpires” and “open pores” highlights that she’s alive, with water, not dried up like a dead body is. Water also has sexual connotations. Alternatively, the line ends with “instant fires”, and also linked to breathing, as if he’s going through the elements. He wants the water, air and fire of sexual activity before death. A basic, philosophical image. 

He wants “sport”, so it looks like we’re back to objectifying women. They’re “amorous birds of prey”, so animalistic language, though admittedly, it applies to himself. Love birds. Hunting. Being hunted. Enjoy what they can before they “languish in his slow-chapp'd power”, as if they’re playing with time, both in the air, flying and fighting: may as well enjoy it. Ironically, the image presented indicates he is more in awe of time (takes up the whole poem) than her, in the first stanza then, filled with crude, satirical imagery and sexual innuendos. 

Following a series of “we”s and “our”s, we get the sense of him wanting to make it sound like together, they can beat time, when it’s more of his own will than hers. He’s forcing her into this. Ironically, the plural pronouns are meant to be inclusive, but he’s excluding her individuality, her own opinion, not seen anywhere in the poem. He then talks about them becoming “one ball”, either a reflection of a close, intimate sexual position, or a cannonball, which shall “tear” through the “iron gates of life” as if it was a battle against death, or the restrictions of life, grand imagery, reflecting the colonialism of the time. He finishes by saying that they can’t stop the “sun”, who was believed to control time, but rather, they “will make him run”, his use of personification and “will” showing his absolute determination in this, and presents sex as some godly, divine state. These last two couplets also have a message for all: make the most of time. Carpe Diem. 

This is a dramatic monologue of an unknown speaker and listener, and it almost feels like we are eavesdropping. The iambic tetrameter and set of rhyming couplets (10, 6 and then 7, so seven stands out: the last lines are memorable, the odd number) give it a playful sense, which really contrasts with the deep themes covered within the poem. The monologue form could show the usual stuff: male dominance and control of narrative, to restrict women, an eternal message to all women out there, that kind of stuff.

[miaswetnambcu]

Interviews

For my final piece, I want to create illustrations based on the colour perceptions of people with varying ages and backgrounds. I interviewed six people with ages ranging from 12 to 75 years old. 

The interview was conducted using two sections. I chose eight colours, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black and white. In the first section of the interview, I told the person that I was going to say a colour and that they could say up to five things that popped into their head. I did this in order to get their instincts about the colour and so that they would not have a chance to think and distort their answers. The section section was an elaboration of the first section. I asked the specific shade they pictured of the colour, and then asked them to explain the words they said in the first section. 

BLUE - First section

The most consistent word for blue in the first section of the interview was the word ‘sad’. The second were either ‘sky’ or ‘ocean’/’sea’. Other words mentioned were ‘happy’, ‘powerful’, ‘rain’, ‘favourite’ and ‘calm’.

BLUE - Second section

When asked to elaborate on why people felt the colour blue was associated with being ‘sad’, every person answered that when you are sad you are known to be ‘feeling blue’. Another answer was that it reminded someone of Blue Monday in January, which is thought of to be the saddest day of the year. 

When questioned about the sea, there was more variety in answers. For example, one person said that the ocean made them feel powerful, not sad, as it can create big powerful waves and can do a lot of damage. In contrast, another person said that it reminded them of when they used to draw the ocean as a child and they would colour the whole section in blue. 

‘Calm’ and ‘happy’ were two other words mentioned. When asked to elaborate, one person said that the sounds of the ocean makes them feel calm and content, whilst another person said that the sea makes them think of the beach, which makes them feel happy. 

When asked why one person said the word ‘favourite’ their response was that it was their favourite colour. They used a light blue for their bridesmaids dresses at their wedding, so it makes them think of happy and positive memories. 

The most consistent shade of blue mentioned was a simple ‘light blue’, with only one person saying that they pictured ‘navy blue’ when they think of the colour. 

RED - First section 

The word ‘anger’ was the most consistent for the colour red. Other words mentioned were ‘confident’, ‘devil’, ‘volcanoes’, ‘love’ and ‘passion’.

RED - Second section

I asked each person who said the word ‘anger’ to elaborate on why they said it. Consistently, each person said that its the stereotypical ‘going red with anger’. One person said that when they are angry, all they see is red. Another said that they picture red cartoon characters from when they were a child with steam blowing out of their ears. 

Although only one person said the word ‘volcanoes’, when asking to elaborate on ‘anger’, some people said words that related to it. For example, one person said they picture red and chaotic, fiery and explosive, which link in with the theme of a volcano. Another person said that they feel like the colour red it hot, again linking with the volcano with the heat from the lava. 

The word ‘devil’ was mentioned a few times. This came from the stereotypical look of the devil being bright red, as well as hell, the place the devil lives, being red and filled with fire. 

‘Confident’ was another prominent word in the interviews. Multiple people said that it makes a person stand out from a crowd and that when they are wearing the colour, they feel confident and sexy in themselves. 

Most people said the shade of red they pictured was a bright crimson red, linking to the anger they associated with it. Another shade two people mentioned were a dark red, like burgundy, which was more to do with the devil and confidence.

YELLOW - First section

The most prominent words with the colour yellow were ‘happy’ and ‘sun’. Other words mentioned were ‘flowers’, ‘Coldplay’, ‘spring’ and ‘daffodils’. 

YELLOW - Second section 

When asked to elaborate on why most people said ‘happy’ when thinking of yellow, they said that it reminded them of good times with friends in the summer. Also, that it was a light and easy-going colour and made them think of graphic smiley faces, which tend to be yellow in colour. 

One person said that the colour yellow makes them think of an old film montage of summer parties and festivals with friends. Two others said that when they thought of the sun, it made them think of the baby in the sun from the TV show the Teletubbies. 

I asked how yellow made one person think of spring, to which they replied that they thought of the daffodils they purchased every Easter, as well as Easter eggs and the small fake chicks that are used for decorations.

When asked why the colour yellow made them think of the band Coldplay, the person said that they immediately thought of their song which is named after the colour. They said that they had good memories of it, even though it seems to be more of a sad and slow-paced song.

Every person said that they pictured a bright yellow, which would replicate the colour of the sun and the colour of the smiley face graphics.

ORANGE - First section

Words used to describe the colour orange were ‘bright’, ‘young’ and ‘fruit’. Two people said that they could not think of any words to describe orange. 

ORANGE - Second section

All of the interviewees said that the colour orange does not make them think or feel anything. There seemed to be no reasoning behind the words that they had said in the first section, if they said any at all. 

When asked to elaborate on what they thought about the colour orange, no person had an explanation as to why they thought it was ‘young’ or ‘bright’, other than the colour simply being those things. 

The interviewees could describe why they said the word ‘fruit’, as orange is the name of a fruit as well as a colour. 

No person could name a specific shade of orange, and simply said just a standard shade of orange. 

GREEN - First section

The most prominent words used to describe the colour green were ‘nature’ and ‘grass’. Other words mentioned were ‘camping’, ‘positive’, ‘happy’ and ‘football pitch’. 

GREEN - Second section

Every person said the word ‘nature’ when asked to describe the colour green. They each said that they either pictured a forest or fields filled with grass, both of which would be predominantly green in colour. 

When asked why it was a ‘positive’ colour, one person answered that it is usually used to symbolise ‘go’. For example, on traffic lights, or when a question is answered right it tends to go green. 

I asked one person why they thought it was a happy colour. They responded that the colour just made them feel happy and that it was a different kind of happiness than yellow, more like a content happiness. 

‘Football pitch’ was another phrase mentioned in the first section. The person said that the colour green reminded them of football pitches and those reminded them of going to watch football games when they were younger. 

PURPLE - First section

Many contrasting words were used to describe the colour purple, ranging from ‘luxurious’ to ‘illness’. Some of the other words used to describe it were ‘fancy’, ‘nervous’, ‘sleep’, ‘calm’, ‘Barney’, ‘magic’ and ‘mysterious’. 

PURPLE - Second section

As shown in the first section, every person seemed to have an entirely different perception of the colour purple. Starting with the words ‘luxurious’ and ‘fancy’, the person said that they felt as though purple signified elegance. They thought of people wearing fancy purple dresses at important events such as the Oscars. 

In contrast, another person thought the colour represented ‘illness’. This person has been brought up in the Catholic faith. In the Catholic church, purple is worn during Advent and Lent and is meant to reflect sorrow and suffering. During the season of Lent, Jesus is sacrificed and nailed to the cross. This may be why the person thought of purple as illness and sadness, as it is associated in this way in the Catholic church. 

Another person said that the colour purple makes them feel quite nervous. This person wears purple as their school uniform, so they said this may be why they felt nervous thinking of the colour. Also, they said it reminded them of the character ‘Fear’ from the film Inside Out, as it is a purple character who represents fear and nervousness throughout the film. 

The next person said that the colour made them feel ‘calm’. They associated it with their bed and going to sleep. They reasoned that this may be because they use a lavender sleep spray to help them sleep, and as the colour of the lavender plant is a blue-purple colour, that may be the reason as to why. 

One person said that the colour reminded them of things from their childhood. Their examples were the medicine Calpol, which came in a purple bottle, and Barney The Dinosaur, which was a purple-coloured character on a children’s TV show. 

The last person said that it reminded them of ‘magic’. They said that they associated it with witches, who stereotypically dress in purple. They also said that they thought of the Harry Potter films, in which a character named Dumbledore has a cloak with purple running through it. 

WHITE - First section

When asked about the colour white, many people said the words ‘innocent’ and ‘weddings’. Other words stated were ‘angels’, ‘clouds’, ‘clean’ and ‘pure’.

WHITE - Second section

I asked the interviewees to elaborate on why they thought the colour white was ‘innocent’. Most said that it white shows purity, such as in Christianity, as well as a white dress used for a bride to show their purity. One person said that white is innocent as it makes them think of angels with pure white wings. 

Leading on from the angels, one person said that they thought of the angel Cupid, who is said to use a bow and arrows to strike people to fall in love. 

One person said that they thought about clouds. They stated that when they were younger, they wanted to touch the clouds to see how they felt, whether they would be soft or if their hand would go right through it. 

Two people stated that it was a fragile colour. They both said that it was very easy to get dirty or to even destroy the colour, as it is so pure. 

BLACK - First section 

The colour black was described as a ‘confident’ colour. Other things mentioned were ‘night’, ‘soul’, ‘oblivion’, ‘sad’ and ‘funeral’. 

BLACK - Second section

The most prominent thing associated with black was funerals, whether that be due to the grey of the gravestones or people wearing black to mourn the dead at funerals. Sadness was associated with black as well, which may be due to the funerals and the sadness surrounding these occasions. 

‘Confidence’ was another prominent word in the interviews. According to the interviewees, when they are wearing black, it makes them feels confident but comfortable at the same time. It is a different type of confidence to red, as red was associated with standing out confidence. Black was seen as them feeling confident in themselves rather than confident towards other people. 

One person said that it reminded them of looking up at the pitch black sky with tiny stars littering it al around. Another said it reminds them of the nighttime walks that they take to calm themselves down. 

‘Oblivion’ was mentioned by one person. They said that oblivion is a big black hole and is simply a hole of nothingness, therefore, it made them feel quite empty and hollow. 

NEXT STEPS

By conducting these interviews, I have found the many different and similar perceptions that people have surrounding colours. The main points said within each colour is what I will use to create my illustrations which will capture the diverse opinions within these interviews. 

Through my interviews, I decided that I would cut out the colour orange from my final piece. Most of the interviewees did not have any perception on the colour orange and seemed to be trying to think of anything random in order to give an answer. Therefore, I did not want to include a colour that did not have many things to base it on, also that may be inaccurate.