Zebras

 Zebra respresents "Individuality"

"The zebra's distinctive stripes serves as a protective camouflage against predators, who are often unable to pick an individual out from the herd. For herd members, the stripe patterns, unique to each zebra, have the opposite effect of helping to identify individual zebras. This power animal thus helps us to both maintain our individuality in group settings and helps us to be supportive members of our communities. A third spiritual meaning for the stripes has to do with the integration of opposites, thus enabling us to see a deeper truth."

The age old question: Are they black stripes on white or white stripes on black? Look very carefully!

My interest in zebras developed in my late teens and is probably related to my love of horses. Seems logical as they are similar in species.

It all really started in my last year of High School when I was doing Art in Year 12. I could not decide what theme to use for my art work and for some reason, zebras stood out - well, they do have a pretty obvious pattern that cannot be mistaken for anything else. It was also a reflection of opposites in my life at that time and I found the concept of black and white quite symbolic. Once I started, my love for zebras has not dissipated. I spot the stripes a mile away when shopping and the pattern is in SOME of my shoes, clothing, jewellery and accessories.

I guess some would consider my passion for zebras obsessive. I don't see myself being obsessed with them, so let's clarify the definition. What is an obsession?

According to Answers.com, the definition for 'obsession' is:

1. Compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety.
2. A compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion.

That explains everything and now I feel a lot better knowing that my passion for this striped creature is not an obsession!

• Facts
  
  Interesting facts about zebras and the things they share in common with horses.
• Cards
  
  Since 1980, I inadvertently started collecting greeting cards and postcards with zebra designs and my collection now contains well over one hundred cards.
• Ornaments
  
  I possess a smallish number of zebra ornaments which have been collected over a number of years.