BS: What's Your Symbol?

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Mr Red
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 08:23 AM

Leadfingers as Spiderman?

Middle East, would that make you an Iraqnophobe?

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Donuel
Date: 28 Sep 08 - 08:26 PM

Mayan symbols are fascinating, here is an on line catalog to find your own favorites
http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/med/docs/img_catalog/

Click 'heads' for even more interesting symbols

Did you know a 16 year old American kid made the greatest breakthrough in history by deciphering the way these symbols actually work?

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Sep 08 - 03:50 PM

Richard Bridge, every time I see your orifice couchant I read it as orifice rampant, a rather more active image.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: GUEST,Slag
Date: 27 Sep 08 - 04:51 PM

Peace! You jumped all over my Mobius Infinity symbol! Maybe I'll take it and encircle both arms of the Latin cross. Hence: the reconciliation of opposites entwined with an object that has only one side and one edge but three diminsions at any given point!

PS Got (another) new machine. My former "new" machine is back at Cyberpower for another try at fixing the original problems. Anyhow, it's good to be back. Sorry for the personal aside, folks!

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Don Firth
Date: 26 Sep 08 - 07:43 PM

My symbol. . . .   I dunno, really. Gotta think about that.

Maybe like Another Roadside Attraction?

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 26 Sep 08 - 06:51 PM

Strange to tell, it sort of looks a bit duck shaped...
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 03:00 PM

Joe F.: "Back in the '60s, when I worked in an editorial office, everybody who worked there had to have a recognizable squiggle for initialing the coversheets of manuscripts..."

I started out in the typesetting business in the early 70s as a proofreader. We'd initial each page as we completed proofreading, and I gradually developed a fairly consistent way to write "TH" in script without lifting pen from paper.

It started out as three separate marks: one simple downstroke as the upright part of the "T," then a second stroke representing the top of the "T" connected to the left-hand upright of the "H," and finally a flourish making the right side of the H and then a quick back-and-forth crossing the middle of the "H" horizontally. But as I did it more and more often, ever more quickly and semi-consciously, it morphed into a complicated but recognizable single-line scribble.

So, I don't need to select any existing design like a leaf or pentangle or Celtic cross, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 02:41 PM

Or orifice couchant?

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 02:40 PM

What, no field Jules?

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 05:28 AM

I used to have each of my instruments labelled with a little holographic glittery sticker of a pig. But they don't last indefinitely and I haven't seen any on sale for a few years, so I don't have a symbol at the moment.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 04:16 AM

A screwdriver with condoms rampant.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 04:14 AM

Like Sorcha, I wear a pentagram necklet (silver, of course) point up ; and a pentagram ring which I bought in Salem on our last trip across the Pond.

My 'totem animal' is the hare - for Andrasta, the Brythonic hare Goddess.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: JennieG
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 11:59 PM

My symbol would have to be a wombat - I have a collection of wombats (unfortunately not real ones) and with the weight I have put on over the past 5 years I can see the resemblance......

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Bert
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 11:44 PM

That's what's wrong with our society Donuel. Don't EVER play dumb.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Donuel
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 11:37 PM

Bert everything is fleeting, if I am, it only only lasts a couple weeks and poof its gone for another 2 weeks.

But now that you mention it, I have noticed I spend more time playing dumb than seeming smart.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Joe_F
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 10:16 PM

Back in the '60s, when I worked in an editorial office, everybody who worked there had to have a recognizable squiggle for initialing the coversheets of manuscripts, so that one could see at a glance who had handled them & in what order. I chose a script F, the initial of my last name. I also used it to mark books that I kept at work, and as a signature on notes. When I joined a commune in 1972, I used that script F for my written name, but "Joe" for my spoken name. There was another Joseph there, but he had changed his name to Aidan, so there was no ambiguity. Aidan, however, was told by a guru in Tennessee that changing one's name was disrespectful of one's parents, so he changed his name back to Joseph, supposing that that was different enough from Joe. I was annoyed, and wrote on the announcement "But what will people call *me* when they are annoyed at me?", to which a friend replied "Joey". I thereupon announced that my spoken as well as written name should be F. When I left in 1981, I went back to introducing myself as Joe (to avoid this lecture), but then I moved into a house with several other ex-communards, and I was still F to them, and there are still a few people who call me that.

That explains the F in Joe_F.

Sorry you asked?

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Bert
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 10:04 PM

Donuel, sometimes I think that you are too smart for your own good.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 09:23 PM

Often, I tend to use my name.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 08:08 PM

"My real symbol is the infinity sign with a half-twist in it much like a figure of eight Mobius strip/band... "

Peace, last year I designed a bumper sticker with this symbol, only done as a loop of ribbon. Looks a lot like all the magnetic ribbon appliques that were so popular a couple of years back. The motto, though was "is there no end to this shit?"

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 07:56 PM

Jeri, a dragonfly lit on my cheekbone once and stayed there until I gently moved it off. Several other times one has alighted on my shoulder. I figure they're telling me something. I think they are gorgeous- not only for their colors and their pattern of flight but for their shape. I can almost see the tiny people riding inside. :)

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: maeve
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 06:17 PM

"Sometimes I feel like a feather in the air..."

There. Now it's a music thread.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: gnu
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 05:37 PM

rumanci... owl... how appropriate for one of the most wise persons I have ever had the pleasure to meet.

Me... you know.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 02:19 PM

Those are awesome, Donuel! I esp. love the treble clef one, the script!

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Donuel
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 02:10 PM

One for Alice http://usera.imagecave.com/donuel/celtic.jpg

My normal script symbol http://usera.imagecave.com/donuel/symol-script.jpg



And here are a couple more I just made inspired by this thread

http://usera.imagecave.com/donuel/symbols.jpg

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 02:08 PM

The Moebius thingie sounds interesting. I just tried to make that out of a scarf, and it reminded me of something else. Of course lots of things remind people of something else--that's why they're symbols.

Seriously, I think it's a great symbol.
Ebbie, I'm with you on the dragonfly--I LOVE them.
Becca, I love the tattoo. I remember it because when I saw it, I was wearing earrings that had a similar triangular-shaped Celtic knot.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: open mike
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 01:23 PM

i am a member os the Dung Beetle clan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dung_beetle
we camp together at music festivals and
have the scarab as our mascot.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarab

i also am very into labyrinths.
http://pvs.k12.nm.us/OutdoorPages/labyrinth/labyrinth-design-6.jpg
http://labyrinthsociety.org/

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Mooh
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 01:03 PM

Mooh.

I prefer the Kingfisher (I called it the funnybird when I was a child), and have one as inlay on my 12 string guitar. There is also a family symbol which I rubber stamp on things like books, but the whole family uses it, so it's not solely mine.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Bert
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 12:41 PM

I haven't given it any thought. probably a hammer.

...My real symbol is the infinity sign with a half-twist in it much like a figure of eight Mobius strip/band... That sounds like a pretzel to me.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 11:45 AM

A black cat, always, since I was a baby (my family had a black mama cat when I was born, so I figure she had something to do with it!) Other various cats, but always a black one. I use a small drawing of one sitting in a window with a full moon and tree branches visible in the background, on the back of my book and on my business cards. You can see a kind of blurry image of it HERE.

Also, a watercolour I did called Tree of Hearts, and a new tattoo I am going to get of a shield with feathers hanging from it, divided into quarters with a stylized cross of "Js" separating them. Each quarter is a different colour to symbolize the Earth, Green Growing Things, Sky, and Light. I also have another tattoo, a spiritual symbol which "came" to a friend, but was intended, originally, for me. It is too sacred to share in writing, online.

Jeri, seems to me a fiddle or two would be good ones for you, too.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 10:35 AM

PS Jeri, for you I would suggest a strong bird, throat open in song, flying like a straight arrow.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 10:34 AM

Our wedding invites had a heart made from our two intitials entwined; where the letters met, because Hardi's first name stars with a "G", part of the "G" formed a cross.

I also use, when I need to intitial something, an "S" encircled by an oval "O" (from my maiden name) that comes out looking very much like the yin/yang thingie.

Like many of his colleagues, Hardi's initial or signature contain a cross. This is because the custom for a priest is to sign/initial themselves like this: Hardi+. It has a many-layered meaning.... I figure any words I could use to try to explain it would just invite someone to jump up my butt. :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: ragdall
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 09:47 AM

Symbols I have used to represent who I am are a teddy bear, which relates to my ethnic nickname, and a cygnet.

My totem animal is a cougar.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: GUEST,mack/misophist
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 09:45 AM

For 40 years I've used (when I use anything at all) the Chinese character 'tai' with a horizontaly elongated M underneath.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Alice
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 09:43 AM

A heart, in all different kinds of media, but I would never get a tattoo.
I also created a celtic knot heart that is on my web site.
music page, heart knot at top

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: rumanci
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 08:57 AM

I'd go with the Celtic knot too but mine would have an owl alongside. The owl's always been my symbol for too many reasons for seconds worth of computer time now. I've also always been drawn (no pun intended for once) to many of the Celtic patterns and imageries anyway but the knot of friendship was given to me by a special child I'd supported through schooling for years and that's the one I wear now all the time instead of an owl. Sentimental swine huh ?

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Becca72
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 08:38 AM

Boy, it's early. That should be "sorta" and "currently"

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Becca72
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 08:37 AM

I have a tattoo of a celtic knot sort like this (obviously without the gems) with ivy coming off either side that I'm rather fond of.
I've also related very well most of my life with black cats (and currnetly have 2)

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 07:18 AM

Forty odd years ago I was 'lumbered' with a Half Hour Live Radio programme called 'Cobweb Corner' in the Middle East . I then started signing things like Farewell cards with a Cobweb with a spider suspended from it in the corner . This is the nearest i have ever been to having a 'Symbol' . Bit Silly really as I am Arachnophobic !

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 07:17 AM

Mine would have to be a butterfly - in blues and purples.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Mr Red
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 06:06 AM

Darowyn's link corrected

red sartor

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Mr Red
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 06:02 AM

RED .........

anything.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Darowyn
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 05:05 AM

I have a symbol which I have used for many years on the front of my motorcycle helmet, and it is a seven pointed star in a circle, split down the centre, with one half white on black, and the other half black on white.
You can see it Here
I use it on a lot of internet forums that have avatars too.
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 04:59 AM

I use a stamp of a teddy bear wearing a waistcoat on things I make.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: kendall
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 04:49 AM

I've always liked Gordon Bok's symbol. It's a gaff rigged sail.
I don't have one.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 04:26 AM

Here's mine: Logo. This one is a colourised scan of a lino-cut, albeit modified to make it wholly symmetrical.

It came to me in a dream twenty years ago with respect to a story in the John Sampson collection (XXI Gypsy Folk Tales, Gregynog, 1933) called The Squirrel and the Fox. In my telling the squirrel & the fox shifted shape to become two hares, thereafter named as Lamachree & Megrum after a snatch of an old bothy ballad that's been echoing in my brain since I was ten. So - two hares, discussing the wonders of the world by the tree which, quite literally, stopped Jack in his tracks...

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Bee
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 12:36 AM

A bee, admirable critter, relevant to my real name, is communal, makes good stuff, spends all summer flyin' around amongst the flowers, all winter sleeping, only stings if it has to. I've used it as a casual symbol for more than thirty years. My dad showed me how to let a bumblebee climb onto my finger from a flower. If you're calm and gentle and move slowly, they will often climb around a bit, then settle and even 'taste' your skin.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 12:11 AM

Mine has to be a dragonfly. It chose me.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: maeve
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 10:52 PM

I don't know, Jeri. Maybe a wild rose, or a shovel.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Peace
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 10:50 PM

HA!

And again I say HA!

My real symbol is the infinity sign with a half-twist in it much like a figure of eight Mobius strip/band.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Jeri
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 10:38 PM

Sorcha, yeah, that's the idea.

Bruce, that's nice. I figured with the hunting and all, a snare would be more your style.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Peace
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 10:33 PM

I'd have to say this.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 10:14 PM

Something sorta like THIS.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Sorcha
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 09:50 PM

I use a pentangle, point UP please, and my addy labels have a fiddle on them. I have also been known to use a raven. Is that the kind of stuff you mean?

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 09:48 PM

An outhouse. With a catalog prominently displayed.

Subject: RE: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 08:42 PM

Hmmmm. I've had people ask me what's my sign, but not what's my symbol. Is this some newfangled thing?

Make my symbol a lighthouse, willya?

-Joe-

Subject: BS: What's Your Symbol?
From: Jeri
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 08:37 PM

People often have a symbol they feel represents who they are. Some people have an ethnic design, a horseshoe, a flower, an animal, etc. they feel stands for them.

I'm curious about what other people see as their symbols. Generally, it should be something you could have embroidered on your lapel or put on a 1" x 1" stamp. Small. (Like Pete Seeger's itty bitty banjo.)

I've never been able to come up with one thing for myself, which is probably why I've never gotten a tattoo. I might go with ivy, but it would have to be a really small vine.

So what symbol represents you?