Using guile, impulse, what they find and can carry, birds create homes suited perfectly to their needs. Their nests fulfill their intended purpose gracefully – usually with minimal extraneous accoutrement. (Notable exception: the Australian Bower bird! Man, that’s a guy, yeah it’s the guys, who’s deep into conceptual architecture. Architecture as performance piece, really Crazy! They’re the exceptions though. Okay, carry on…)
As a symbol, most nests represent home in its purest sense:
- safe
- separate
- secure
Some common human ‘nests’:
- houses
- offices
- automobile interiors
- individual rooms
- purses
- computer contents
- shrines
- closets
- medicine chests
- refrigerators
Think about nests you have seen and consider these elements:
- size
- decoration
- materials
- structure
- purpose
- form
Creative Consideration
Make a representation of a nest to remind you of the basic requirements you value in your own space(s).
Suggested Materials:
wire, string, yarn, beads, sticks, found objects, bits of paper with reminders and messages on them, ribbon, charms, etc.
- With the wire make a form that is pleasing to you (try wrapping loosely around a small bowl if you want a typical nest shape).
- Then attach slips of paper with personal values written on them.
- Add decorations until it’s pleasing to you. Note: these are strictly optional! After all, we’re going for a paired down version of a symbol that highlights the fundamentals for you.
Questions
- Are there changes you can make to some of your current personal ‘nests’?
- Can you identify other ‘nests’ in your life?
- Are there tendencies of ‘nests’ that help you feel more relaxed?
- Are there qualities among your current ‘nests’ that make you uneasy?
