flowerchild

Stuck in time predicting the past.

[jkrikis]

berlin

© 2025 Yiannis Krikis

[kaalbela]

Erika Stearly

[random-brushstrokes]

Ernest Martin Hennings - Thistle Blossoms (1929)

[whoislovely]

somebody roll the windows down

[novlr]

The symbolism of flowers

Flowers have a long history of symbolism that you can incorporate into your writing to give subtext.

Symbolism varies between cultures and customs, and these particular examples come from Victorian Era Britain. You'll find examples of this symbolism in many well-known novels of the era!

Amaryllis: Pride

Black-eyed Susan: Justice

Bluebell: Humility

Calla Lily: Beauty

Pink Camellia: Longing

Carnations: Female love

Yellow Carnation: Rejection

Clematis: Mental beauty

Columbine: Foolishness

Cyclamen: Resignation

Daffodil: Unrivalled love

Daisy: Innocence, loyalty

Forget-me-not: True love

Gardenia: Secret love

Geranium: Folly, stupidity

Gladiolus: Integrity, strength

Hibiscus: Delicate beauty

Honeysuckle: Bonds of love

Blue Hyacinth: Constancy

Hydrangea: Frigid, heartless

Iris: Faith, trust, wisdom

White Jasmine: Amiability

Lavender: Distrust

Lilac: Joy of youth

White Lily: Purity

Orange Lily: Hatred

Tiger Lily: Wealth, pride

Lily-of-the-valley: Sweetness, humility

Lotus: Enlightenment, rebirth

Magnolia: Nobility

Marigold: Grief, jealousy

Morning Glory: Affection

Nasturtium: Patriotism, conquest

Pansy: Thoughtfulness

Peony: Bashfulness, shame

Poppy: Consolation

Red Rose: Love

Yellow Rose: Jealously, infidelity

Snapdragon: Deception, grace

Sunflower: Adoration

Sweet Willian: Gallantry

Red Tulip: Passion

Violet: Watchfulness, modesty

Yarrow: Everlasting love

Zinnia: Absent, affection

[your-average-bibliophile]

Always loved flower language

[luna-azzurra]

Good Traits Gone Bad

Exploring good traits gone bad in a novel can add depth and complexity to your characters. Here are a few examples of good traits that can take a negative turn:

1. Empathy turning into manipulation: A character with a strong sense of empathy may use it to manipulate others' emotions and gain an advantage.

2. Confidence becoming arrogance: Excessive confidence can lead to arrogance, where a character belittles others and dismisses their opinions.

3. Ambition turning into obsession: A character's ambition can transform into an unhealthy obsession, causing them to prioritize success at any cost, including sacrificing relationships and moral values.

4. Loyalty becoming blind devotion: Initially loyal, a character may become blindly devoted to a cause or person, disregarding their own well-being and critical thinking.

5. Courage turning into recklessness: A character's courage can morph into reckless behavior, endangering themselves and others due to an overestimation of their abilities.

6. Determination becoming stubbornness: Excessive determination can lead to stubbornness, where a character refuses to consider alternative perspectives or change their course of action, even when it's detrimental.

7. Optimism becoming naivety: Unwavering optimism can transform into naivety, causing a character to overlook dangers or be easily deceived.

8. Protectiveness turning into possessiveness: A character's protective nature can evolve into possessiveness, where they become overly controlling and jealous in relationships.

9. Altruism becoming self-neglect: A character's selflessness may lead to neglecting their own needs and well-being, to the point of self-sacrifice and burnout.

10. Honesty becoming brutal bluntness: A character's commitment to honesty can turn into brutal bluntness, hurting others with harsh and tactless remarks.

These examples demonstrate how even admirable traits can have negative consequences when taken to extremes or used improperly. By exploring the complexities of these traits, you can create compelling and multi-dimensional characters in your novel.

Happy writing!

[words-at-night]

[joytri]

[visual-poetry]

by juan arata

[archersandsunsets]

and from the outside, it looks like you're tryin' lives on

[emotionalwords]

[emotionalwords]

[emotionalwords]

[emotionalwords]

[flameontheotherside]

"Often people don't want to see, hear, or talk about the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed."

-Nietzsche

I believe the real truth is we know nothing. We stand at our soapboxes and spit "truth" all day but when we die, that's when the viel is finally lifted...or maybe not lol! The ego feeds on the need to be "right". People who are closed minded are closing themselves to the possibility that their reality is wrong or that they could be just wrong about everything they think they know. When you come to this realization it is scary. The ego will grasp at anything in search for validation for your truths.

When thier truth shatters they lash out, shutdown or hold on more tightly to their beliefs. It's taken me 3-5 years on this journey to be comfortable with the thought I could be wrong about everything. I don't need anyone or anything to validate my experience. All I need to do is live my life, the best I can and die in order to see the truth.

I don't deny that at least for the last 5 years Erik is my Twin Soul. However I'm open to the idea I can be wrong about what I know from COVID to Twin Souls to making a killer sauce or video games. All I know is what I know. I don't force people to follow my truth because it's not necessary. This isn't to give myself a pat on the back. This is to say that letting ego go as far as knowledge is concerned is hard to challenge, but anyone can do it. It might take a few years though depending how deep your need to be right or validated is. ESPECIALLY while on this kind of journey with a Twin Soul in spirit.

😘💕 Happy Friday y'all!

[wedarkacademia]

“What he knew, he knew from books, and books lied, they made things prettier.”

― Hanya Yanagihara, A Little Life

[lawrenceleemagnuson]

Léon Spilliaert (Belgian, 1881-1946) Seascape with white sails (1922) gouache, watercolour and pastel on paper 51 x 74 cm