Out of The Woods (32 page)
Authors: Patricia Bowmer
Appendix
Symbols and Archetypes in Akilina
Carp:
there is a legendary saying that if the carp can swim up the fast-flowing Hwang Ho River in China, it can become a dragon. Thus, the carp is symbolic of strength. When Trance kills the carp by the river, it is a direct threat to Halley’s strength and regenerative powers.
Cicada:
an ancient Chinese symbol for perseverance, immortality and life-after-death. It is an appropriate creature to intrigue Halley, who, through most of the novel, is living in the nether-world between life and death.
Crow and Crow’s feather
: while a negative symbol in many Western cultures, the crow is intended to be a positive harbinger here. In China and Japan, the crow shows love and filial gratitude, while in ancient Greece, the crow was worshipped for its oracular powers. In this novel, the crow brings Halley the message “You will be all right”, which is indeed prophetic. When the crow’s feather disappears, it is a potent symbol of danger.
Eagle:
Halley’s true nature or totemic animal is the eagle. The eagle is renowned for its courage, ferocity and strength. In some cultures the eagle symbolizes resurrection and rebirth.
Horse (Athena):
the horse is often an emblem of speed and perseverance. Here, it is also symbolic of Halley’s lost intuitive powers. Athena was named by Halley’s father after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and war. The name means “protector of heroes”.
Lion-monkeys
: based upon the Golden Lion Tamarin, one of the most endangered species in the world, and native to Brazil. They are symbolic of the help of wild things in the forest.
Red:
the color red symbolizes happiness, and is a lucky color.
Shadow:
a Jungian concept, the shadow has been defined as an unconscious complex that is the exact opposite of the conscious self. It is what we don’t want to acknowledge about ourselves and everything that we are not. It is often uncivilized, and conceals those things we are ashamed of and don’t want to know about ourselves. Trance is Halley’s shadow, brought to life. His most enduring characteristic is his desire to kill Halley, because he cannot bear her light. She must integrate her shadow within her psyche to have the full power of which she is capable.
Silver bracelet:
the wave pattern on the bracelet is symbolic of the life-death-life nature of the world (e.g., spring vs. autumn, light vs. dark, day vs. night, waves vs. troughs). It was thrown away by Nick in “the time before” when Halley was innocent. She discovers it on her journey, and it stirs her first memory of that time.
Snakes:
snakes, while often feared, can represent transformation, knowledge and wisdom. They are also thought to be indicative of self-renewal and positive changes. Here, though Halley is frightened by the snakes she encounters, they are a sign of her awakening, and, indeed, becoming awake is often terrifying at first.
Sparrow:
the nickname for Halley during a powerless phase of her life. She has to let go of the emotional connection to this creature and just let it be what it is, a small miracle of perfection.
Unicorn horn:
it is said that a unicorn can restore purity to a poisoned stream by simply dipping in its horn. The unicorn horn here is used to help neutralize Gail’s fury. It represents purity and innocence.
Characters in
Akilina
Elements of Halley:
- Halley: the heroine. Age 35
- Hope: Halley at age 22. Part of Halley became stuck at this point in her development because of a suppressed memory of abuse. Only by recovering this memory can she recover her powers of intuition and decisiveness.
- Eden: Halley at age 10. Eden possesses all of Halley’s knowledge, with the exception of the things Halley herself has suppressed. Her giggle is symbolic of the joy of youth.
- Little One: Halley at age 5. Halley is stuck at this point because she never let go of guilt over her mother’s death (cancer), and fear of her father’s fury.
- Trance: Halley’s Shadow or dark side, as well as her power. Ageless.
- Gail: Halley’s fury. Garnered across an entire life of abuse, but her appearance here centers around Halley’s leaving Fernando. Ageless.
- Monster in basement: Halley’s intuition warning her of severe danger.
- Jordan: Halley’s higher self, closest to God and infinitely wise and kind.
Other characters:
- Sean: Halley’s husband of two years, her passenger in the car crash.
- Fernando: Halley’s lover before Sean, when she was 29. Her journey into the nether-world begins when he leaves her, and she chooses not to follow because she has heard a baby cry, and feels compelled to find it. He is the last in a series of abusive lovers.
- Nick: Halley’s lover when she was 22. Psychotic and source of suppressed memory of abuse.
- Jake: Sean and Halley’s son, and the baby from the woods.
- Dad: Halley’s real father and also the archetype of the ideal father in Halley, after her real father has died. In the nether-world, he is a guide and authority figure.
- Annie: proprietor of Annie’s, the local grocery store.
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