Symbolism
2025
I have a writing nook in my kitchen with a view out of the window to the garden. I’ve watched seven seasons come and go since I moved in eighteen moths ago and because there is a fair amount of evergreen it’s the changing light and the shortening of the days I notice most as the year advances. The late spring and early summer mornings send me an ephemeral kiss around 7am on the building directly opposite. I cherish this time, writing in my journal, reading and sipping coffee before the school run and work day begins.
This last week, however, I’ve noticed the same Robin Red Breast visiting around 11am and sitting on the washing line at the 11 o’clock position to my line of vision. It got me thinking about symbolism and also how we form habits, look for patterns and create meaning around things that are seemingly random. I looked up the symbolism for Robin Red Breasts. There were loads of offerings, such as Robins being a symbol of renewal, kindness and hope but the one I liked the most was the Celtic tradition of them being an intermediary between the earthly and spirit realms, carrying messages from deceased loved ones. 2025 has been an intense year for everyone in my orbit. serious health challenges, relationship breakdown, sudden and unexpected death of loved ones. From the darkness there is light but as a friend text me this morning. “2025 can get in the bin”. either way, we are on the cusp of a fresh New Year and my little garden Robin definitely had a message for me as it stopped for a moment on my washing line this morning.
The Robin Red Breast
perched in my garden
fugacious and trite
looked left, looked right
quietly defecated
then took flight.
A Prompt for you
Sit at your favourite writing spot that has a view out of the window. What do you see? describe the view. Does it change as the seasons pass? Are there trees currently in a state of renewal, dead leaves dropped and at their strongest in preparation for the year ahead. Is there wildlife that visits, birds, foxes, squirrels. Are they gallus and confident or do they scurry from view on sight of a human or a bin lorry. Is it quiet and rural, noisy and urban? Does it feel like home or do you dream of leaving?
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