Amusements and games

This class of symbols arise from human leisure activities. It includes the symbolic imagery of playing and fortune-telling, cards, chess-pieces, the chequer-board, the roulette wheel, dice, ball games of all sorts, water sports, winter sports, hunting and fishing, races of various kinds, contests physical and mental (such as tug-of-war and quizzes), cross-word puzzles, anagrams, palindromes, carnival, masques, mardi-gras, folk rites of numerous sorts (dancing, mummery, masquerades, bonfires), pastimes such as collecting things (butterflies, bugs stuck on pins, string, buttons, postcards, stamps, antiques, coins, art, jewels, miniature cars, sports cars, books, photographs, music, bottles, beer cans, etc). Other leisure activities appearing in symbolism are travelling and exploring, theatre going, reading, television viewing, protesting, and attending courses, meditation sessions and workshops for greater self-development.

Some of the leisure time activities (contests, sports) symbolize struggle, others (carnival, masquerades) represent liberation from struggle. Collections are symbolically significant by what is collected, the objects representing unfulfilled wishes. Symbolism of travelling, exploring, or going out to museums, theatres or exhibitions reflects extroversion. Symbolism of self-improvement efforts reflects introversion. Symbolism of social activism may represent inner personal conflicts.