Is it a sign? This picture has won a top photography prize — but it owes its effect as much to its symbolism as it does to a good eye and technical expertise.
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The mystical power of a white bear dreaming
Is it a sign? This picture has won a top photography prize - but it owes its effect as much to its symbolism as it does to a good eye and technical expertise.
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Polar energies
Bright blue jellyfish in Norway, illuminated by the Northern LightsA natural light display of bright colours in the sky seen in areas close to the North Pole. ; a murmurationA flock of starlings. of starlings making the shape of a bird over Rome; a pair of lions in Kenya licking their cub; a Balkan pond turtle appearing to smile as a dragonfly lands on its nose. These are four of the stunning photos from the 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
But there could be no doubt about the winner in the People's Choice category: Nima Sarikhani's picture of a young polar bear sleeping on a small iceberg off the Svalbarg archipelagoa cluster of islands..
"Sarikhani's breathtaking and poignant image allows us to see the beauty and fragility of our planet," said the head of the Natural History Museum, Dr Douglas Gurr.
But there is more to it than that. The photo has a mysterious power which compels you to keep looking at it. Here are five theories why a picture of a white bear might strike so deep into our souls.
Animal symbol The white "spirit bear" is a genetic variant of the black bear: the same gene that gives some humans red hair and white skin makes it possible for two black bears to have a white cub. It is a sacred symbol for the Tsimshian people of British ColumbiaA province on the west coast of Canada. More than half of it is covered by forests., who believe that it is a link between our own world and places of peace and love.1
Spiritual rituals ShamansPeople who are said to have special powers to interact with good and evil spirits. see polar bears as personal guardians in animal form which appear when we are feeling insecure. They are held to be warm-hearted and protective symbols of energy, strength and endurance.2
Inuits' intuition For Eskimo and InuitGroups of indigenous peoples living in the Arctic and subarctic regions. people, the polar bear embodies ancient wisdom. Its white fur symbolises purity of spirit, and its fearlessness allows an unimpeded flow of energy.3
Paw positivity According to Yvette Miller, writing on Dreamapp, dreaming of a white or polar bear brings spiritual insight: "The white bear is a positive symbol, indicating you have a clear vision of a situation or challenge in your waking life."
Recurring creature In 1863 the great Russian novelist Fyodor DostoevskyA 19th Century Russian novelist who explored human psychology in his works. wrote: "Try to set yourself this task: not to think of a polar bear. And you will see that the cursed thing will come to mind every minute." In the 1980s a professor of psychology, Daniel Wegner, carried out an experiment at Harvard UniversityOne of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the USA. which proved this to be true.4
Is it a sign?
Yes: Of course it is. The white bear, exhausted with the struggle for survival, is dreaming a better world into existence. This is a manifestationAn event or object that clearly shows an idea. of hope and the beginning of a new age.
No: It is just a photo. It is a human characteristic to look for meaning in things, and we often think we have found it when there is nothing there. That is why fortune tellers get away with peddling nonsense.
Or... The photo of the turtle and the dragonfly is an equally potentHaving great power, influence or effect. image. It pairs an animal that lives for decades with one that lives for a few weeks, summing up the fragility of existence.
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Keywords
Northern Lights - A natural light display of bright colours in the sky seen in areas close to the North Pole.
Murmuration - A flock of starlings.
Archipelago - a cluster of islands.
British Columbia - A province on the west coast of Canada. More than half of it is covered by forests.
Shamans - People who are said to have special powers to interact with good and evil spirits.
Inuit - Groups of indigenous peoples living in the Arctic and subarctic regions.
Fyodor Dostoevsky - A 19th Century Russian novelist who explored human psychology in his works.
Harvard University - One of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the USA.
Manifestation - An event or object that clearly shows an idea.
Potent - Having great power, influence or effect.
The mystical power of a white bear dreaming
Rare bear: Nima Sarikhani spent three days searching in fog for a bear to photograph. Glossary
Northern Lights - A natural light display of bright colours in the sky seen in areas close to the North Pole.
Murmuration - A flock of starlings.
Archipelago - a cluster of islands.
British Columbia - A province on the west coast of Canada. More than half of it is covered by forests.
Shamans - People who are said to have special powers to interact with good and evil spirits.
Inuit - Groups of indigenous peoples living in the Arctic and subarctic regions.
Fyodor Dostoevsky - A 19th Century Russian novelist who explored human psychology in his works.
Harvard University - One of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the USA.
Manifestation - An event or object that clearly shows an idea.
Potent - Having great power, influence or effect.