Mary's Gold

The flower symbolism associated with marigolds is indicated in the name: Mary's Gold. Marigold flowers were "golden gifts" offered to the Virgin by the poor who could not afford to give actual gold. Marigolds were also planted in Mary Gardens, medieval gardens created to honor the Virgin Mary and give her devoted followers a place to contemplate her virtues. Marigolds are symbolic of passion and creativity.

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Mystery of the Sphinx

The mythological part-animal, part-human sphinx appeared first in ancient Egypt, Asia Minor, and Greece. With a human head and lion's body, the sphinx represented vigilance, ever gazing eastward from its most famous position at the base of the pyramids.

During the Renaissance, the sphinx was regarded in a more negative light. Mysterious, yes, but also ignorant, evil, senseless and monstrous. The sphinx was thought to devour those who could not answer her riddle: "What goes on four feet, on two feet and on three?" Would you survive? (See answer below.)

Answer: A human--a child crawls on four limbs, then walks on two feet, then supports itself with a cane in old age.

The Sovereign Elephant

The elephant has long been regarded as a symbol of divine wisdom in India. Sovereigns often assumed titles such as "lord of the elephants" or "the white elephant". The qualities of the elephant are recognized throughout the Orient: longevity, strength, patience, endurance and self-restraint. The ability of elephants to aid in battle led to their additional symbolic meaning of triumph, power and victory.

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The Gazelle: Swift Prophet

The keen eyesight of the antelope led to a belief in ancient Persia and Arabia that antelopes could see into the future. The fleetness of the antelope, also known as a gazelle, was also legendary. In the Rig-Veda, the antelope is the steed of the winds. The gazelle also appears in the Old Testament, representing man armed with two horns (abstinence and obedience) to defend himself from temptation.

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The Camel: Saint or Sinner?

In medieval art and sculpture, the camel was used to represent humility and the willingness to bear another's burden, largely because camels are trained to kneel down to receive heavy loads. Many artists employing this symbolism had no direct experience with camels.

In the east, however, camels are famous as being disagreeable and obstinate. An eastern proverb proclaims that the camel, "Curses it its ancestors on the way up a hill and its Maker on the way down." For Egyptians, camels are symbolic of complainers and those who are slow on their feet.

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The Power of Rocks

Rocks form the structure and backbone of the earth. Rocks symbolize the eternal. Rocks are a masculine force when compared with the femininity of flowers and plants. In many cultures, rocks are associated with the gods. In Persia, the god Mithras is said to have been born from a rock. In Japan and China, the shape of rocks are said to hold spiritual power. The most famous rock formation of all is Stonehenge, an ancient structure noted for exact placement of huge stones according to celestial cycles of the sun and moon.

Find Your Natural Element

In the Chinese five element theory, each person is primarily aligned with one of the five major elements of nature: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Your color preferences can indicate your strongest element. A preference for green is a wood personality. A preference for red indicates a fire personality. A preference for yellow is an earth personality. Those who love white have metal personalities and those who prefer blue or black are water personalities.

Learn more about the five elements and your personality.