I was always wondering how people viewed themselves and why. Not as a person but compared to something else in life.

I see myself as a red rose. The rose contains beauty within the exterior of thorns. It symbolizes sacrifice and immortal love which goes hand in hand and I embrace that whenever I can. A red rose can represent my life in every way.

I hope to hear how other people see themselves. It should be a fun experience

I try to be, and symbolize myself as, the Taijitu (aka: The Yin Yang).

Not only does it signify balance, but also change and transformation.

Swan. I related to Hans Christian Andersson's The Ugly Duckling as a little kid (was even the first Hallowe'en costume I made for myself, when I was seven), and swans are mythologically associated with Apollon, Aphrodite and Eros, and (from Gaelic mythology) Aonghus Og (god of love and music). All (or at least most) species of swan are also among the nearly eighty species of birds recorded to form male-male bonds (and cygnets raised by two males tend to have a higher survival rate -- which isn't *too* surprising, as males can be significantly bigger), and are fiercely defensive of their families. They also tend to be among a handful of bird species' that are monogamous and generally mate "for life" --or, if not literally for their entire life, then for many years, and several generations of young, at a time. In hetero swan pairings, males (unlike male ducks and geese) take part in constructing the nests, which we all know is just nature's interior design.

If I was more of a neat-freak and a better dancer, I'd be tempted to symbolise myself with this guy.

My symbols are modern-day runes which, when cast, reveal to me an alternate, often darkly beautiful identity of certain individuals.

-- Nephele

My symbol is the crow. I see them everywhere, and even occasionally call to them from my deck in the morning. They seem to be trying to tell me something, but I can't quite figure out what the message is. I have a great deal of respect for them.

My dad says that crows are the lost souls of the laid off factory workers. Everyday, about the same time, they would flock to the factories, then the restaurants, then disappear until the next day.

Am I allowed to laugh at that? Cuz I kinda did. >_>

I think my symbol is the butterfly.



A more celtic aligned analysis:



Also, the butterfly seems to represent this other-worldliness in many cultures, most commonly linked to the human soul and mind. In fact, the Greek word "psyche" which means "soul" was the word for "butterfly."

In reference to me, I do have a mind that's "out there": Always thinking, always imagining, always dreaming. By doing this, I'm always coming to some new revelation in the next step of my life, so I not only went through this seemingly physical rebirth in the last few years, but also a mental one. And a lot of people who I went to primary school with who I met up with later sometimes either comment on how I've physically changed (commenting on my goth style) or how I've emotionally changed.

And I don't like going by other people's time sets. :P

Mine would have to be the owl... a lone and solitary creature that often sits there talking to herself. Purported to be wise, yet unaware 99% of the time of her wisdom. Nocturnal, aloof, quiet yet with hidden dangers under the calm exterior.

I certainly feel a strong connection to whales and jellyfish. I imagine them as very independent. Their motions looks so beautiful and graceful.

So independent from reality, they don't even need a brain.

Yikes, I'll keep away from you then, I have a fear of Jellyfish
Damned floaty things here to steal our souls!

I don't know what animal would represent me best, perhaps some kind of cat-dog hybrid, all the loyalty of a dog, with all the ninja skills of a cat.

Ha! I know that stepping on one is never pleasant.

I don't have any symbol that fits. Maybe yin-yangs are somewhat appropriate, but they aren't me.

Well... I guess if I had to be something, I'd be a panther. I don't know why, but when I think of panthers I think of opportunity. I have a really tough time saying no to things, I like to say yes, so anything that involves taking opportunities when you can probably describes me best. It's also my downfall, especially if people know I have a tough time turning offers down.

My symbols are the clock and the wings.
I have a fascination with clocks and time: I'm very aware of the cycles of the earth and the passage of time.
Wings represent freedom, when I feel trapped and desperate I always have images of great wings bursting from my back, to shield me or take me away from whatever situation is causing me distress. Generally I see them as grey, though depending on the situation they can appear as white or black, even tinged with red.

Sounds like me. I evolve often immediately after falling Ill. during the process of recovery. More like hold on to the bucking bronco for me though. This gothification is one of those periods, I'll try to take it slow if I can so it can take root, the cool thing is it is uniting a multitude of facets of my person into a single physical and metaphysical manifestation. Go goth!

For symbolism I seem to always end up with something that demonstrates an intricate weave of pure light and pure darkness, never truly a solution composed of the two but an intricate and inseparable suspension of the two wherein they are remaining in their pure state. Figure that one out.