Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Tip #43: Symbolism


Believe it or not, symbolism is actually quite an important detail within the romantic language. Aside from hints, innuendos, and double-entendres, symbolism puts into play physical objects or imagery, rather than words or meanings, to convey a feeling and/or emotion.

Take for example the most universally known and wide-spread symbol for love: the heart. Now we all know that the actual emotion of love does not physically exist or comes from the organ that pumps blood throughout our bodies. No, no, no... In fact, the complex emotion of love stems from the brain and utilizes the services of many organs and glands (*giggle*) throughout the body! So, how did the (simplified) image of the heart become the widely-known symbol of love? Simply because when the target of one's affections or a loved one is near or mentally pictured, one's heart is felt pounding due to neurochemicals and hormones that would trigger the heart to pump faster, thus allowing more oxygen to feed the brain in order to focus on the instinctive rituals of mating. It also translate in a form of nervousness and even anxiety. Pretty biological stuff, huh? Yeah, well...it is what it is. However, I do applaud the first person that associated this feeling and translated it to a simple (and non-gory) image of a heart. Interestingly enough, the color red, which represented blood, still remains in the symbol of love...although somewhere down the line it was diluted to pink and even white for St. Valentine's Day.

Another symbol of love that has transcended time is one or many red roses. Roses, actually, symbolize quite a plethora of things within multi-cultural society, but as for love it stems (get it? stems?) from ancient Greek, Roman, and Christian mythology, again with the color red representing the blood of a loved one and/or martyr.

There are many other symbols associated with love and romance in the mainstream culture...more notably are: Cupid (why a chubby flying baby in diapers armed a bow and arrows came to represent love...I'll never understand!); the Apple, which represents ecstasy, fertility, and abundance; the Harp represents love in the form of lyrical art, poetry, and music; the Maple Leaf in China and Japan is an emblem of lovers; and a Shell, because of its protective casing, is a symbol of protecting life and love.

But outside of those, mainly obvious, symbols, you should try to create and employ some of your very own symbols within your relationship and/or seduction! There are may abound...you just have to look out for them and have the symbol represent and signify something special between the both of you. For example: what would an old fashioned key, tied with two different colored ribbons might represent? What might the Empire State building or even the Statue of Liberty symbolize to a couple? Or how about a model rocket ship, a (winged) bat, an eyeball, handcuffs, or even a skull (other that the obvious symbol of death)? They can mean thousands of things to thousands of people...what is important is to make it distinctive to you and the message you wish to convey. Moreover, it is subtle and private...and on some occasions it may also be used as a sort of riddle or part of a puzzle that one has to figure out. The key here, again, is to keep it mysterious and highly romantic while seemingly effortless.

Now, while this tip might seem a bit vague and ambiguous...it is supposed to be! That is what symbolism is all about...a vague reference to something specific. Learn to incorporate a few to many symbols within your romantic and love life, and let imagery, coupled with meaning, serve as your secondary voice of romance!



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