Category: symbolism
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Colours At The Threshold: Black, White, & Red
Princess Diana’s famous “Revenge Dress” is heading to auction again on December 9, 2026 courtesy of Sotheby’s New York (first auction was back in June 1997 via Christie’s New York to raise money for cancer and AIDS charities), which got me thinking, not about the auction, and not even about the dress itself, but about…
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Pearls At The Threshold: Love & New Beginnings
Every culture has its bridal treasures. Some brides drape themselves in gold. Others choose diamonds, sapphires, emeralds or rubies. Veils are embroidered with pearls, crowns are adorned with precious stones, and family heirlooms are passed from one generation to the next. Beneath the beauty and tradition lies a fascinating question: what qualities are these treasures…
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Pearls At The Threshold: Mourning & Protection
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by
There is a grain of sand at the heart of every pearl. A tiny irritation. An unwelcome intruder. A rough edge that does not belong. The oyster cannot remove it, nor can it pretend it isn’t there. Instead, it performs a remarkable act of transformation. Layer by layer, it surrounds the irritation with nacre until…
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Falling into Place During Autumn
For someone who has relocated seventeen times throughout her life, I know exactly how challenging new beginnings can be toward the end of summer. While children prepare to return to school and university students anticipate a new academic year, countless adults are navigating transitions of their own. New jobs begin, businesses launch fresh projects, families…
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Same Superstition, Different Country
One of the unexpected joys of living in Portugal as a Filipina is discovering that many of the things my grandmother warned me about are alive and well on the other side of the world. Don’t open an umbrella indoors. Don’t put your handbag on the floor. Don’t walk under a ladder. Growing up, these…
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The Oak Tree Conversations: The Curious Case of Lucky Charms
The owl was enjoying a quiet doze upon his favourite branch when something small, brown and thoroughly panicked burst through the undergrowth below. It darted left, then right, before charging towards the old oak tree and frantically digging at its roots. The owl opened one eye. “My dear Rabbit… I feel obliged to point out…
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The Well-Travelled Frog
As I prepare for another journey, I find myself engaging in a ritual familiar to travellers throughout history. No, not packing. Worrying that I’ve forgotten something important. For thousands of years, human beings have sought ways to make travel safer, luckier, smoother, and less likely to result in being stranded somewhere with mismatched socks and…
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Cinnamon and the Curious Ritual of Blowing Spice Through Your Front Door
It is no secret that orange rules on four legs in my house, ushering in comedy and harmony in equal measure. The resident orange cat approaches life with boundless enthusiasm, questionable judgment, and an unwavering belief that every event somehow revolves around him. Most of the time, orange is the color of laughter in my…
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Black Cats: The Most Successful Feline Smear Campaign
Black cats have one of the worst public relations problems in history. For centuries they have been accused of everything from assisting witches to causing bad luck, failed journeys, mysterious illnesses, and general misfortune. Entire generations have crossed streets to avoid them. Some people still become uneasy when a black cat crosses their path. Having…
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Why You Should Never Put Your Handbag on the Floor
My mother never let me put my handbag on the floor. Neither did my aunts or her friends. In fact, an entire generation of Filipino women seemed united on this one point. The moment my bag touched the ground, someone would inevitably swoop in with a gentle but firm reprimand: “Don’t put your bag there—you’ll…
