Positive Image Example Negative Image Example
Animals (strong, gentle) steed of steadfastness Animals (harmful, unintelligent) aping of the past
Army of light (victorious) army of justice Forces of darkness (losers) forces of ignorance
Attire (grace) robe of healing Nakedness, Rags, Guise (exposed, unworthy) the nakedness of non-existence
Birds (joyous, peaceful, strong, free) dove of certitude Bat, Talons, Moth (misguided and under attack) a myriad beaks of rancor
Book (knowledge) book of creation Idols (superstition) idols of vain imitation

Breath and Breeze (stirring of the Holy Spirit) breath of the breeze of the All-Merciful Storm and Quake (confronted, uprooted) tempestuous winds of tests
Circle (encompass) pivot of the circle of life Surrounded (hemmed in) compassed with tribultaions
Clean (purity) cleansing of every longing heart Dust (sullied) dross of earthly defilements
Concourse (good) hosts of revelation Satan (evil) satan of self
Connection (on-line, flowing) cord of consultation Chain (bound, restrained) fetters of the material world

Fashioner (creation) shaper of the nations Destroyer (destruction) war is a destroyer of the human foundation
Cultivation (growth) soil of human capacity Hard Ground hearts which are even as solid rock
Door (opening to hidden mysteries) doors of love and unity Barrier (shut out) wall of discord
Eyes and Ears (understanding) eye of truth Blindness, Deafness, Tears (misunderstanding) blind imitaion
Face and Body (close to reality) Hand of Divine Bounty Left Hand (far from reality) left hand of idle fancy

Positive Image Example Negative Image Example
Feasting (joy, fulfillment) wine of certitude Thirst, Hunger (unfulfilled) thirsted for this wondrous Day
Fire (love, warmth) flame of search Smoke, Melt (consumed, burnt) melted in my separation from Thee
Foundation (strength) consultation... bedrock of this unique order Swamp, Bog, Quagmire (weakness) quagmires of slothfulness and bigotry
Fragrance (enjoyment) sweet savors of true knowledge Odor (repulsed) stench of perfidy
Garden (beauty) blossoms of the invisible realities Weeds, Thorns (interference) replace these useless weeds with roses

Health (blessed) remedy of true salvation Disease (cursed) death of unbelief
Heaven (paradise) heaven of Thy grace Hell (pain) hell of suffering
Heights (high station, faith) throne of Thy majesty Depths (hopelessness) bottomless pit of error
Kingdoms (godliness) court of unfading splendor Territory (ungodliness) city of self
Leader (majesty, guidance) prince of virtues Mischief-maker (fools, ill-intentioned) instigators of corruption

Light (love, knowledge) stars of divine wisdom Darkness (hate, ignorance) dark night of absence
Luminous (splendor, confidence) brightness of certitude Gloom (discouraged) gloom of remoteness
Maiden (nurturing) bosom of His providence Tyrant (rejection, oppression) tyranny of the watchman
Meadow, Vineyard (comfort) planes of pure contentment Desert (toil, distress) desert of ignorance
Melody (bliss) anthems of divine unity Noise (affliction) blast of Thy wrath

Positive Image Example Negative Image Example
Mirror (reflection of the divine) mirror of the beauty of truth Fantasy, Illusion, Mirage (misconceptions) illusion of your imagination
Path, Journey (progress) bridges to reality Wilderness (lost, uncertain) wilderness of doubt
Renewal, Awake (revived) new throb of energy Sleep, Old, Worn-out (exhausted, used-up) bed of heedlessness
Servant (service) Maid-servant in the threshold of the love of the realm of Might Player (selfish) playing fast and loose with some project and soon giving it up
Shelter (home, freedom) sanctuary of Thy favor Trap (captive) prison of infidelity

Sign (manifestation) ensign of wisdom Veil, Clouds (unreality) veil of vain imaginings
Stronghold (protection) impregnable fort of the Cause of God Sword (assault) spear of enmity
Time (dependable) Day of ressurection Moment (unreliable) moments of heedlessness
Tongue (eloquence) Tongue of truth and glory Mute, Dumb, Whisperings (unwisdom) whisperings of the foolish
Treasure (elegance, pricelessness) pearls of mysteries Rubbish, Dung hill (useless, yucky) worthless and passing pleasures of the world

Tree, Flower (growth, beauty) Tree of Life Fruitlessness (failure) fruitless strifes
Turning to God (good choice) turn your faces towards My Face Turning away from God (oblivion) whose heart turned away form the Merciful One
Twin (similar importance or station) Twin Holy Trees Related but opposite our unkind brother
Waters, Ocean (life, abundance) seas of eagerness and enthusiam Flood, Pool, Dregs (overwhelmed, deception) foul dregs of impurity
Wealth (Bounty) wealth of color and variety Poverty, Deprivation (loss) we are utter poverty

Other Baha'i Inspired Artistic Links

Disclaimer: The personal views on this web site are a sincere attempt by this author to accurately present the Baha'i teachings poetically and artistically. For an official Baha'i web site, click on special links above, and then on the Baha'i Community of Canada.