Kinda fitting for a couple that has survived being struck by a Suburban while walking across the street, having Mer killed by a car and home renovation. Hopefully the sun will soon come out and we'll discover a beautiful rainbow.

Why the sudden fascination with rainbows? Well, last weekend we captured a shot of this beautiful rainbow to the East of our house. I thought it was so cool that I'd post it on the blog. And, not wanting to post just a picture, I decided to do a little research to see what types of symbolism went along with rainbows. The following is what I have discovered.

Apparently, the rainbow is an ancient and universal symbol with many meanings and connections. Did you know that the rainbow...

• is often used to represent the connection between human beings and their gods.
• was associated with Iris, the goddess who brought messages from the gods on Mount Olympus, in Greek mythology.
• was a bridge between the gods and the earth in Scandinavian mythology.
• showed Noah that the Biblical flood was finally over, and that God had forgiven his people.
• is a common symbol for marriage in Chinese culture because the colors represent the union of yin and yang.
• is used by many popular movements for peace and the environment, representing the possibility of a better world in the future and promising sunshine after the rain.
• is thought by many people to be a ray of light falling to earth whenever Saint Peter opens the gates of heaven to let another soul in
  • If this is true, I'm worried that there aren't that many rainbows in the world. And, the absence of rainbows can be construed as a sign that the requirements one must satisfy for entry into heaven are pretty high. So, if this one is true, I'd better work on remaining on the ground floor.
• is seen as the path souls take on their way to heaven and has been called a bridge or ladder to higher or other worlds in some religions.
• is called the "Gate to Heaven" by Russians.
• is used by New Zealand chiefs when they die to travel up the rainbow to their new home.
• is considered by some myths to be a stream of water that souls in heaven drink from.
• is called the Queens Arch by the Zulu of South Africa because it is on eof the frames that form the house of the Queen of Heaven.
• is used by Swabia and Bavaria saints to travele from heaven to earth.
• is the actual path taken by the Polynesian Gods themselves.
• is guarded by a giant in Norweigan culture. The giant, named Heimdal, stands on a rainbow bridge, connecting heaven and earth. Heimdal's hearing is so keen that he is able to hear the sound grass makes as it grows. He guards Asgard, the home of the Norwegian Gods. The Valkyrie Maidens flying through the air on winged chariots carry dying Norse heroes over the bridge to Valhalla, a state of peace and bliss existing in Asgard. An old Norse story calls the rainbow Asbru, the bridge of the Gods.
• and it's seven colors are viewed by some Buddhists to relate to the seven planets and regions of the Earth. Budhists believe the rainbow is the highest state of samsara before the clear light of Nirvana or heaven.
• is a tapestry draped by the hands of the south wind (Arabia). It is also called the cloud's bow or Allah's bow.
• is made up of four colors (red, yellow, green and blue) in Islam and is related to the four elements.

There are even some myths about the secondary rainbow, the paler rainbow that is sometimes seen above the primary rainbow. Did you know that the secondary rainbow...

• is the work of Satan attempting to outdo God(Germany).