Symbolism Thesaurus Entry: Peace/Harmony

Every day we interact with objects, places and sensations that affect the way we think and feel. This can be used to the writer's advantage by planting symbols in the reader's path to reinforce a specific message, feeling or idea.

Look at the setting and the character's state of mind, and then think about what you want the reader to see. Is there a descriptive symbol or two that works naturally within the scene to help foreshadow an event or theme, or create insight into the character's emotional plight?

In Nature:

Doves
Animals intermingling as they graze
Bird calls, trilling
Flowers
Schools of fish
Rainbows
Cranes
White Poppy

Olive branch
Olive tree
White Pine
American bald eagle
Phoenix (fantasy)
A quiet glade
An animal dozing in the sun
A private lagoon
Apple blossoms
Doves cooing
The sound of running water

In Society:

The color blue
Victory sign
Peace symbol
Children playing/learning
People working in harmony
Peaceful group marches and celebrations
Peace Pipe

Olive wreath
Hands clasped together
White flag
Soft music
Baby's breath
A sleeping child
Joined hands
Images of the planet
A smile, hug or other sign of goodwill
Happy face symbol
Open palms
John Lennon
The Beatles
Meditation
Prayer
Strumming a guitar and singing
Dali lama

These are just a few examples of things one might associate with Peace. Some are more powerful than others. An olive branch is a powerful symbol, and likely will not require reinforcement. However, the soft of soft music playing may not foreshadow peacefulness on its own. Let the story's tone decide if one strong symbol or several smaller ones work the best.