she-writes-love:

I thought I might not be the only writer out there who likes to put symbolism in their stories so I found some things and what they represent!!

Animals

• Alligator - stealth, survival
• Ant - diligence, industry, community, remarkable strength, hard working, success, patience
• Antelope - action
• Armadillo - boundaries, self protection
• Badger - aggressiveness, passion and drive
• Bat - rebirth, longevity, joy, good luck
• Bear - gentle strength, dreaming, introspection, power, protection
• Beaver - builder, accomplishing goals
• Bee - divine messenger, love, service, gathering, community
• Bird - enlightenment, perspective, swiftness, vision, prophetic knowledge
• Boar - nature-based wealth, prosperity, success, protection, courage
• Buffalo - prayer, abundance, survival needs met, good fortune, healing
• Bulls’ horns - a good symbol in meditation for motivation
• Butterfly - rebirth, the soul, transformation, the three phases of life
• Cat - feminine energy, mystical power, used to keep the wearer safe in travel, wholeness
• Chameleons - ever-changing future, inconsistency
• Cheetah - speed, focus
• Cougar - power, swiftness, balance
• Cows - red cows are a symbol of hope, inspiring symbol for nurturing efforts
• Coyote - trickster
• Crane - longevity. A pair of cranes symbolizes “Long Marriage”
• Cricket - good luck charm, singing, Spring, fertility
• Crow - sacred law, gateway to supernatural, shape shifting, illusion
• Deer - graceful gentleness, sensitivity, compassion, kindness
• Dog - companionship, health, service, loyalty, protection, future prosperity
• Dolphin - manna, joy, childlike play, helpfulness, breath of life, harmony, intelligence, self connection
• Donkey - fertility, easy childbirth, efficiency, health, well-being, and luck
• Dove - peace, innocence, fidelity, love, gentleness, kindnes
• Dragonfly - good fortune, magic, vision, dreams, luck, and ancient knowledge, illusion
  
• Dragon - wisdom due to long lives and potent magic, royalty, Emperor, eternity, courage, strength, rain, Spring
• Eagle - courage, spirit, bravery, strength
• Elephant - commitment, strength, astuteness
• Elk - stamina, pride, power, majesty
• Fish - miracles, providence, sea/water magic, good luck and prosperity, foresight, fortune, salmon in particular, are associated with knowledge
• Fox - camouflage, adaptability, integration, tricksters, shape shifters, and possessors of great magic
• Frog - healing, cleansing, messages, health, honesty, fluidity, purification
• Gazelle - awareness
• Giraffe - grounded vision
• Goat - tenacity, diligence, can help to achieve goals, endure criticism, and stay safe. Goat’s fur or foot - an anti-evil talisman.
• Goose - safe return, love of home
• Grasshopper - nobility, prosperity
• Hawk - nessenger, strength, foresight, truth
• Hippopotamus - emotional depths
• Horses - power, stamina, speed, transportation and communication - A black horse with a white marking on its forehead is lucky
• Hummingbird - joy, pure love, celebration of life
• Ladybug - delight, trust
• Lamb - filial piety (dutiful respect or regard for parents).
• Lion (baby) cubs - inspire mercy and gentleness.
• Lion (grown) - inspire strength, courage
• Lions - pride, nobility, cunning, courage, just laws, fairness, the sun, images can protect sacred ground.
• Lizard - dreaming, foresight, ancient secrets
• Lynx - secrets
• Monkey - benevolence, drives away evil
• Moose - self-esteem, assertiveness
• Mountain Lion - wisdom, leadership
• Mouse - frugality, rebirth, scrutiny
• Opossum - strategy, diversion
• Otter - medicine (woman), balanced feminine energy
• Owl - deception, wisdom, clairvoyance, magic
• Ox - evil spirits that disturb lakes, rivers, and seas
• Peacock - wholeness, dignity, beauty, recognition, self assurance, pride
• Pig - rebirth and rejuvenation
• Porcupine - innocence
• Rabbit - fear, fertility, moon magic, speed, swiftness, longevity, courage, strength
• Raccoon - dexterity, disguise
• Raven - magic
• Robin - growth, renewal
• Rooster - courageous, warlike disposition, warmth and life of the Universe
• Scorpion - the “fire within” that often needs careful tending
• Seal - inner voice
• Sheep - sacrifice
• Snake - cunning, evil, supernatural power
• Spider - destiny, fate, weaving
• Squirrel - gathering
• Swan - grace
• Tiger - courage, bravery, fierceness, strength, being in the now
• Turtle - mother earth
• Weasel - stealth
• Whale - record keeper
• Wolf - teacher, A Guide to the Sacred
• Zebra - Individuality

PLANTS

• Aloe- Healing, protection, affection
  
• Amaryllis- Pride
  
• Anemone- Forsaken
  
• Angelica- Inspiration
  
• Apple blossom- Preference
  
• Arborvitae- Unchanging friendship
  
• Aster- Symbol of Love, Daintiness
  
• Basil- Good wishes
  
• Bay- Glory
  
• Begonia- Beware
  
• Bittersweet- Truth
  
• Black-eyed Susan- Justice
  
• Bluebell- Humility, kindness
  
• Candytuft- Indifference
  
• Red carnation- My Heart Aches, admiration
  
• - White carnation- Innocence, pure love, women’s good luck gift
  
• - Pink carnation- I’ll never forget you
  
• - Yellow carnation- Disdain, disappointment, rejection
  
• Chamomile- Patience
  
• Chives- Usefulness
  
• Chrysanthemum- Cheerfulness
  
• Clover, white- Think of me
  
• Coreopsis- Always cheerful
  
• Coriander- Hidden worth
  
• Crocus- spring, Youthful gladness
  
• Cumin- Fidelity
  
• Cyclamen- Resignation and good-bye
  
• Daffodil- Regard
  
• Daisy- Innocence, hope
  
• Dill- Powerful against evil
  
• Edelweiss- Courage, devotion
  
• Fennel- Flattery
  
• Fern- Sincerity
  
• Forget-me-not- True love memories
  
• Gardenia- Secret love
  
• Geranium- oak-leavedTrue friendship
  
• Gladiolus- Remembrance
  
• Goldenrod- Encouragement, good fortune
  
• Heliotrope- Eternal love
  
• Holly- Hope
  
• Hollyhock- Ambition
  
• Honeysuckle- Bonds of love
  
• Horehound- Health
  
• Hyacinth- Games and sport, playfulness, rashness
  
• – Blue Hyacinth- Constancy of love
  
• – Purple Hyacinth- Sorrow, forgiveness, regret
  
• – Yellow Hyacinth- Jealousy
  
• – White Hyacinth- Loveliness, prayers for someone
  
• Hydrangea- Gratitude for being understood; frigidity and heartlessness
  
• Hyssop- Sacrifice, cleanliness
  
• Iris- A message
  
• Ivy- Friendship, continuity
  
• Jasmine- white- Sweet love
  
• Lady’s-mantle- Comforting
  
• Lavender- Devotion, virtue
  
• Lemon balm- Sympathy
  
• Lilac- Joy of youth
  
• Lily, calla- Beauty
  
• Lily, day- Chinese emblem for mother
  
• Lily-of-the-valley- Sweetness, purity
  
• Lotus Flower- Purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration, and rebirth
  
• Magnolia- Love of nature
  
• Marjoram- Joy and happiness
  
• Mint- Virtue
  
• Morning glory- Affection
  
• Myrtle- Good luck and love in a marriage
  
• Nasturtium- Patriotism
  
• Oak- Strength
  
• Oregano- Substance
  
• Pansy- Thoughts
  
• Parsley- Festivity
  
• Peony- Bashful, happy life
  
• Pine- Humility
  
• Poppy, red- Consolation
  
• Rhododendron- Danger, flee
  
• Rose, red- Love, I love you.
  
• Rose, dark crimson- Mourning
  
• Rose, pink- Happiness
  
• Rose, white- Purity, heavenly, I’m worthy of you
  
• Rose, yellow- Jealousy, decrease of love
  
• Rosemary- Remembrance
  
• Rue- Grace, clear vision
  
• Sage- Wisdom, immortality
  
• Salvia, blue- I think of you
  
• Salvia, red- Forever mine
  
• Savory Spice-  interest
  
• Sorrel- Affection
  
• Southernwood- Constancy, jest
  
• Sunflower- Adoration
  
• Sweet pea- Pleasures
  
• Sweet William- Gallantry
  
• Sweet woodruff- Humility
  
• Tansy- Hostile thoughts
  
• Tarragon- Lasting interest
  
• Thyme- Courage, strength
  
• Tulip, red- Passion, declaration of love
  
• Tulip, yellow- Sunshine in your smile
  
• Valerian- Readiness
  
• Violet- Loyalty, devotion, faithfulness, modesty
• Wallflower- Faithfulness in adversity
  
• Willow- Sadness
  
• Yarrow- Everlasting love
• Zinnia- Thoughts of absent friends

Color

• Red: Excitement, energy, passion, love, desire, speed, strength, power, heat, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence, all things intense and passionate, sincerity, happiness (Only in Japan)
  
• Pink: love and romance, caring, tenderness, acceptance and calm.
  
• Beige and ivory: symbolize unification. 
• Ivory: symbolizes quiet and pleasantness. 
• Beige: calm and simplicity.
  
• Yellow: signifies joy, happiness, betrayal, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, gold, philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard and friendship.
  
• Dark Blue: Symbolizes integrity, knowledge, power, and seriousness.
  
• Blue: Peace, tranquility, cold, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty, sky, water, technology, depression, appetite suppressant.
  
• Turquoise: calm. 
• Teal: sophistication. 
• Aquamarine: symbolizes water. 
• Lighter turquoise: a feminine appeal.
  
• Purple: Royalty, nobility, spirituality, ceremony, mysterious, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, honor, arrogance, mourning, temperance.
  
• Lavender: femininity, grace and elegance.
  
• Orange: Energy, balance, enthusiasm, warmth, vibrant, expansive, flamboyant, demanding of attention.
  
• Green: Nature, environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, service, inexperience, envy, misfortune, vigor.
  
• Brown: Earth, stability, hearth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, simplicity, and comfort.
  
• Gray: Security, reliability, intelligence, staid, modesty, dignity, maturity, solid, conservative, practical, old age, sadness, boring. Silver symbolizes calm.
  
• White: Reverence, purity, birth, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical.
  
• Black: Power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, evil, unhappiness, depth, style, sadness, remorse, anger, anonymity, underground, good technical color, mourning, death (Western cultures), austerity, detachment.