When Will Jin Actually Find the Map of the Soul?
If you happen to wonder when Jin ends up finding the map of the soul, you might be able to get your answer from the information given to us from the highlight reels and the epiphany MV.
Towards the end of the highlight reel was when we saw Jin attempt to deliver a bouquet of Smeraldo flowers to the girl he was planning to meet up with. However, he failed to deliver the flowers because soon after, the girl got hit by a vehicle.
Soon after this scene, we see a short montage of scenes from different MVs, seemingly recapping on all the events related to BU that happened previously (hinting at the fact that these series of events are included in Jin's time loop).
Then right after this short montage, we see Jin suddenly catch a vase filled with lilies that was about to fall. Here we can assume that possibly he has found the map of the soul, as right after this scene, he takes a look at himself in the mirror, then leaves, then continues to narrate the following words:
"Though many seasons pass, there are places that cannot be reached. Yet another storm to be faced and to be weathered head on. Loving without fear, Hesitating and parting, Merely living as the person I am."
Then in the Epiphany MV, we see the same vase of Lillies that we saw earlier in the highlight reel sitting on the table in front of where Jin is sitting.
Now this is where we introduce the flower card (AKA the Ashbless cards) that’s previously been mentioned in the fifth story that was posted by the Smeraldo blog.
The flower card, depending on how it's turned (upright or upside down), can represent different meanings. When turned upright, the card symbolizes 'bearing fruit', 'blooming' (like beauty). However, when shown in the opposite direction, it signifies 'the fall', 'the end', 'a new start'. We can also see the flower card being presented through the album covers of the LY Her and LY Tear albums combined:
Now, at the end of Epiphany MV, we received this message:
"To come to the end of the process of finding one's self means to return to the starting point what must be discovered in the end is the beginning of everything, the milestone, the map of the soul. Although a part of everyone, it is not discovered by anyone. I will try to find it, starting now.."
The first time we were introduced to the Smeraldo flowers was sometime before the LY: Her comeback in 2017. LY Her just so happens to also be the first album in the entire LY series. The last time we saw the Smeraldo flowers make an appearance in BTS MVs were in videos such as RUN MV and the highlight reels. We’ve also seen the Smeraldo flowers make an appearance in some concept photos, such as WINGS concept photos.
We know that Smeraldo flowers means “the truth that cannot be told”. And from the stories we’ve been told that has involved anyone attempting to deliver Smeraldo flowers to the person they loved, the Smeraldo flowers always failed to be delivered to its intended recipient.
Now, we know that white lilies symbolizes purity, divinity and innocence, but most importantly, lilies also stand for youth and rebirth. The flower is also most often associated with funeral and symbolize that the soul of the departed has received restored innocence after death.
Death in our case, can be symbolic of Jin’s many time traveling time looping cycle sequences. Each time he travels back in time again, it’s as if he’s been reborn. Since Smeraldo flowers, when held upside down symbolizes 'the fall', 'the end', and 'a new start'. We also know the reason why Jin keeps failing to break out of this cycle of time looping, is most likely because he hasn’t been able to be true to himself and others, hence the Smeraldo flowers and “the truth that cannot be told”.
So when we see him catch the vase of lilies that was about to fall in the highlight reels, as well as the reappearance of the same vase of lilies in the Epiphany, we can assume that the white lilies symbolizes the flower card being flipped around towards the right direction. From these hints, we can guess that Jin’s flower card, or destiny, began to turn around when he realized he has to find the map of the soul in Epiphany. Then at the end of the highlight reels, Jin finally breaks out of the cycle of time looping, as he the highlight reels ends with him narrating the following words:
"Though many seasons pass, there are places that cannot be reached. Yet another storm to be faced and to be weathered head on. Loving without fear, Hesitating and parting, Merely living as the person I am."
We can theorize that the ending of highlight reels occurs after Epiphany, where Jin finally comes to the realization after finding his map of the soul, that even though there will be many obstacles to face in the future, these obstacles should be faced head on, and that he should learn to love (perhaps himself) without fear, and learn to embrace himself for who he is.
How did he find the map of the soul? Well, that’s up for us to figure out, hopefully, from the information that will soon be given to us in the near future :)
