I’ve been sitting here listening to tributes pour in from world leaders for Nelson Mandela and the word I hear used over and over is symbol – a symbol of peace, freedom, humility, unity, transformation and hope. As a tribute to an extraordinary man and a life well lived, let’s give the week over to all things symbolic.
One of my favourite symbols, the flute-playing Kokopelli, is depicted in petroglyphs all over the southwest and on pottery dating as far back as 850AD. He bestows fertility and rainfall, overseeing childbirth and agriculture. This piece was created by an artist I met in Canyon de Chelly last summer.
Ancestral Puebloans left their mark on the walls of their cliff dwellings at Spruce Tree House in Mesa Verde.
Sitting on a New York rooftop by candlelight watching the city dim during Earth Hour. Turning off the lights for an hour won’t solve the environmental issues we face; rather it is meant as a symbolic gesture to be more aware year round. I was pleasantly surprised to see quite a number of lights turn off in the Big Apple, including the Empire State Building.
If you would like to make your mark with your own interpretation of this week’s theme (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:
- Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Symbol
- Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
- Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
- Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS
xxx Ailsa
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela RIP
Where's my backpack? 
That’s a great theme! I was just watching a documentary on Mayas and their symbols! I’ll come back later with my entry! Thanks Ailsa!
Well, here it is! http://travelicius.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/travel-theme-symbol/
Oh this is a great post, I love Hachico and remember him from my time in Japan, but the fox is a new one for me. Wonderful stuff. xxx
Cool! I just followed your blog and it’s time for one of these challenges! I saw the one on Skies before 🙂
I’ll try to come up with something…sounds like fun!
Hurrah, looking forward to you joining in the challenge! xxx
Yes, Nelson Mandela symbolised so much of what is right in the magnificent country of my birth! He was indeed a great man among men so we should remember the good and not forget that he was also human with failings just like every other South African and for that matter, everyone else on the planet!
Let his symbol of HOPE for a better future live long! 😉
Absolutely, AJ, beautifully expressed. xxx Ailsa
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Cool photos, Ailsa! Here’s my zodiac symbol 🙂 http://momentsinyourlife.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/travel-theme-symbol/
Ooh, that’s lovely, Angie, I love the boat in the shape of a bird. 🙂
Thanks! 🙂
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I am really drawn to the Kokopelli but the darkness and lights of the Big Apple are magical!
Here’s my interpretation: http://esengasvoice.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/travel-theme-symbol/
Beautiful post, Ese, and wonderful quotes, those horses are magnificent. I adore the Kokopelli, there’s something about the simplicity of the curves that is quite magical. The artist I met in Canyon de Chelly gave me a gift of a Kokopelli – I have him with me now. 🙂
Yes Nelson Mandela was such a great example to us all… As I published my post last night (in europe) I wrote a little poem dedicated to him… http://memymagnificentself.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/i-feel-and-see-magic-everywhere
Thankyou for your thoughtful post and great idea…
Lovely tribute, Barbara – and here’s to finding the magic in each and every new day. xxx Ailsa
Very cool theme, Ailsa! These are great selections for symbols.
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Our travel on the water, no less than on land, is governed by symbols… http://windagainstcurrent.com/2013/12/06/travel-theme-symbol/
Aha, I was wondering who might be the first to post a photo of a lighthouse! Wonderful post, Vlad, that first photograph is positively sumptuous, those great splashes of red against the blue are spectacular. Every time I see the tip of your canoe in a photo now I think about that post you did about assembling it in your living room. 🙂
It’s still as red, although no longer as shiny and new… 😉
Excellent symbols, Ailsa 🙂
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Such a pretty photo of the flute player, Ailsa, I love this week’s theme.
Here are my symbols: http://drieskewrites.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/travel-theme-symbol/
PS this was the tribute I wrote for Nelson Mandela late last night, when I heard the news: http://drieskewrites.wordpress.com/2013/12/05/rest-in-peace-mr-nelson-mandela/
Beautiful tribute, Marion. xxx
Wow, Marion, that is amazing, I went straight to a map of Utah to find out exactly where this is – I drove straight past it twice and never knew it was there. So, another reason to return to Utah!
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I once spoke to a rock art expert at UCLA about a comparitve study of symbols around the world, because when I first saw the banner photo I thought Australia, even though I’ve seen so many petroglyphs in the Southwest. ;o)
There are extraordinary similarities between ancient cultures on opposite sides of the world, aren’t there? It just goes to show, we’re really not all that different wherever we come from! 🙂
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Joining in the fun.
http://withoutstringstied.com/2013/12/06/travel-theme-symbol/
Thanks for doing this!
Perfect, Jane, such an appropriate symbol for this week’s theme. xxx Ailsa
Wonderful symbols Ailsa! Here are mine. http://josephelonlillie.com/2013/12/06/weekly-travel-theme-symbol/
Lovely, Joseph (I’m quite partial to Don Quixote myself, I must admit!)
Sorry about that. I had to read it in the original Spanish. It’s not my heart language. So painfully slow.
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Each of these symbols are extremely powerful, Ailsa. In Mesa Verda – the natural solar elements of the cliff dwellings are amazing. And I do want to visit Canyon de Chelly, a sacred place. Seeing the lights turned of in the earth hour, is the most powerful symbol to me – we can live with less.
Symbol is important to humanity – like peace and love.
“The kings and leaders don’t make history – it is the masses.” Mandela!!
PS – looking forward to creating this post. Thanks for the inspiration.
Looking forward to your post, Bruce – oh and you must visit Canyon de Chelly, it is quite, quite magical. xxx Ailsa
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I love your first choice Ailsa. Mine is a very simple symbol in tribute to a man who showed a lot of both: http://smallbluegreenfotos.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/travel-theme-symbol/
Jude xx
Beautiful, Jude, here’s to lots more love and compassion in this world. xxx
I love the symbols of Mesa Verde!
That’s what I have chosen: http://geriatrixfotogallerie.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/the-camino-de-santiago/
Very cool, I didn’t realise there were so many variations on the shell – I’ve always wanted to do the Camino de Santiago. Did you walk the whole route?
I didn’t walk it at all. But by travelling through German, France and Spain we always came across the shell sign.
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A beautiful idea, Ailsa. Love the Spruce Tree House.
http://quotidianhudsonriver.com/2013/12/06/12-6-13-travel-theme-symbol/
Loved it, Robert, that caption ‘here little doggie’ had me in stitches. 🙂
This is a good one Ailsa ! Your photos are remarkably tactile!
Thanks Kathryn. xxx
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Hey Ailsa, here is mine for this week http://publictransituser.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/travel-theme-symbol/. Great photos !
Very cool. I’ve seen the pyramids in Tikal but never Chichen Itza, they’re so majestic! xxx
Yes they are. Tikal is remarkable as well.
Thanks
xx
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Lovely shot, Rosemarie.
Thank you so much. The iconic shot of the Arch.
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Love the photos as always, Ailsa, especially the one with the lantern. Here’s my contribution, all with photos I took today: http://jaspasjourney.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1795&action=edit&message=6&postpost=v2
Oh how beautiful, I especially love that shot with the stars! Looks like you had a wonderful day, isn’t Hawaii amazing? xxx Ailsa
Hawaii really is beautiful. And what people say about each island being totally different is completely true.
I’ve only been to Oahu, but would love to explore the other islands sometime soon. Aloha!
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The symbolism of the unity of three worlds that a human faces: http://wp.me/p16tta-u6
Ciao 🙂
Lovely post, Stefano. love the symbolism of the trident. xxx
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Great theme this week! Here’s mine: http://mysardinianlife.com/2013/12/07/travel-theme-symbol-from-sardinia/
Fab post, Jennifer, such a mysterious stone, love the poster of it too. xxx
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Time is of the essence, and I’m running out of essence, but here’s mine, combined with WordPress Photo Challenge: http://suejudd.com/2013/12/07/weekly-photo-challenge-grand-travel-theme-symbol/
It’s good to be busy, but nice to have down time too. Love that Trabant, definitely symbolic, Sue. Hope things slow down a bit for you soon. xxx
Thanks, Ailsa, much appreciated Sue xx
I’m weighing in with this post – http://lynneayersbeyondthebrush.wordpress.com/2013/12/07/universal-language-of-pictographs/
Wonderful collection, Lynne, the dog one made me laugh. xxx Ailsa
🙂
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Hello Ailsa, here are some English symbols for you , http://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2013/12/07/travel-theme-symbol/
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Here’s my take on this…
http://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/2013/12/07/travel-theme-symbol/