Heroes Not Zombies

I came across this group of photos today. Each is a unicorn picture taken in and around Stirling Castle several years ago, one January.

It got me wondering again about the place of myth, and particularly, mythical creatures, in culture and society. A quick browse online reveals that only a tiny handful of countries have mythical creatures as emblematic. The vast majority of countries have adopted real animals in this role. The other thing that struck me was that Wales also has a mythical creature – the dragon. But England goes for a lion. Two Celtic nations, two mythical creatures.

There are two series of unicorn tapestries that I’ve seen. One in Stirling Castle, and the other in the Cluny in Paris. I love them both. They are immense works of art and overflowing with symbolic creatures and plants.

If you ask French people what they think of when they think of Scotland the commonest answer, I find, is “castles and ghosts”. Oh, and “mists and mountains”. All four of these, it seems to me, spark the imagination.

Is this why I love stories so much?

Is this why I have such a strong belief in not just the power, but the importance, of imagination in life?

Symbols, myths, legends, stories, art, poetry, music and dance…..such essentially human characteristics and activities. Sometimes I think we need to reclaim that place for imagination, expression and creativity in our societies.