In class there has been mentioned this plant called the tendrill, this plant grows and grows until it reaches an object and starts growing around the object and holds on strongly. This made me think of a characteristic people could have, searching and searching for something, then once they find it they hold on to it really tight.
That's when I came up with the concept 'Comparing plants with people'
I could compare certain qualities/ characteristics.
This would allow me to 'connect' a certain 'type' of person to a 'type' of plant.
Certain characteristics to compare of human / plant;
- Behavior (growth), for example the tendril that clings to an object.
- Food / nutrition
- Energy
- Reaction to situations (e.g. closed / open flower)
- 'Flowering' period (for people, period of growth)
- Color (mood)
- Power
- How they 'relate' to others (environment or towards others people e.g. relationship)
- Appearance
For the 'type' of people, I use the Enneagram, which describes nine types of people.
Nine types of people;
- The Achiever
- The Helper
- The Performer
- The Romantic
- The Observer
- The Guardian
- The Optimist
- The Leader
- The Peacemaker
Description of nine types of people;
1. Achiever: wants to do good things and improve
"You can also call me a control freak. I want things to be perfect and I'm very critical. Also to myself. I always have a voice in my head that says it can be better, needs to be better! I'm bad at handling things that are not perfect, then I get angry. Luckily I can control myself well, because the loss of control, is not accepted. I'm terribly annoyed by people that don't care about or put effort into things."
My strong points: I have a lot of discipline, I'm reliable, orderly, and idealistic.
My weaknesses: I tend to be overly critical and demanding. Moreover, I can be formal and impatient.
I should learn:
• to handle my irritation and anger,
• dare to make mistakes,
• to have more contact with my emotions,
• that there are more ways than only the correct one.
2. Helper: wants to be loved or will be
"I'm always ready for everyone. This is what I'm good at, because feeling what people need is my second nature. I sometimes tend to efface myself. It's hard for me to say no when someones asks me for help. I enjoy helping out someone and mean something to the person! The attention and appreciation that I get in return for that, make me happy. I cannot stand suffering and strife and fights, because others will be hurt. Asking myself for something is difficult, I often poorly know what I need and also don't like to ask for help. I prefer to give."
My strong points: I am helpful, sensitive, good at establishing and maintaining relationships, enthusiastic and tactful.
My weaknesses: I can also be invasive and possessive. If you don't appreciate me, I will start to complain, get needy and jealous.
I should learn:
• that also I have own needs and feelings,
• to accept myself, so I am less dependent on the approval of others,
• do something for myself without caring about another.
3. Performer or successful worker: wants to be successful
"I am the type that really goes for it. Life for me is a race that I want to win by being the best and achieving things. I work hard for my goals. I put ideas immediately into action. Speed and efficiency are my strength. I know how to present myself, and I'm confident in my performance. Sometimes people think of me as arrogant. I can not stand when other people get in-between me and my goals. The idea of not succeeding and that I fail, is my greatest fear. I make sure I do everything to prevent these kind of things."
My strong points: I am passionate, efficient, practical, focused, optimistic and decisive.
My weaknesses: I can be selfish, ignore the feelings of others and be very impatient.
I should learn:
• To cooperate,
• to trust others.
4. Romantic or individualist: wants to understand and express themselves
"I'm an real emotional person, feelings are important to me. Life for me is a series of ebbs and flows. Others often find me overly dramatic. Ideally I do things my own way, often this makes me an outsider. I do not like the ordinary , or everyday: I'm just an artist. I love depth and style. I would if everything would be authentic. In relationships I look for someone who really wants to know who I am."
My strong points: I am original, creative, authentic, sensitive - romantic even - and involved.
My weaknesses: I can be emotionally out of balance, hypersensitive and exaggerate.
I should learn:
• stick to the facts,
• to see matters in perspective and in the right proportions,
• making goals.
5. Observer or perceiver: wants to understand the world around them and feel competent
"I am analytical and sober, I argue everything in a logical way. I like to keep an emotional distance: it's all about the facts. I collect lots of information and knowledge and think a lot. I organize things, until I understand them and when they fit, I put them in my frame of reference. Because I'm so focused on understanding things, I'm often a real specialist. Ostentation and comfort are not as important to me."
My strong points: I'm astute and independent, good in considering things and stay calm almost all the time.
My weaknesses: I can be chill, greedy and emotionless. Sometimes I can close myself from the outside world and look down from my ivory tower.
I should learn:
• to be proactive,
• to stand for the things I believe in,
• listen to my body, intuition and feelings,
• put limits if the amount of information gets too much for me.
6. Guardian or loyalist: wants security and safety
"I do my duty. I like to stick to the rules, they're not made for nothing. I see everything that can possibly go wrong. The world is full of dangers and nobody can be trusted for one hundred percent. That sometimes makes me anxious and it makes it difficult for me to take decisions. I doubt a lot, especially to myself. I am very seriously and have a tendency to take things too literally. "
My strong points: I am trustworthy, loyal, a real go-getter and have a great feel of responsibility.
My weaknesses: I am suspicious, can be dogmatic and start to doom-mongering (doemdenken). I also do not like change that much.
I should learn:
• think into perspective and to be less gloomy,
• to believe in my own capabilities,
• dare to go with the flow.
7. Optimist or enjoyer of life: want happy, happy and satisfied
"Life is a party! I like to enjoy the beautiful things of life. I prefer to avoid pain, by looking on the bright side. If someone is sad, I'm the one who cheers him up. I happen to be really optimistic, why make things so heavy and seriously? The world is full of opportunities: I'm always looking for something new, something nicer, something more exciting. Planning for the future is my passion and lust of life, that's why I often don't get to doing deeds."
My strong points: I am spontaneous and charming, optimistic, lively and playful.
My weaknesses: I can be superficial, impulsive, irresponsible, narcissistic and lose myself in unrealistic dreams.
I should learn:
• to temper my enthusiasm now and then,
• to be more involved with others,
• to also execute my plans
• to be more down to earth to be.
8. Leader or boss: wants to protect oneself by being strong and full of confidence
"I am not afraid for anyone or anything. I like going into battle, especially for power. Actually, I prefer being the boss. I don't take it so closely with rules and laws, that I will decide myself. Therefore it's hard for me to accept when another person is stronger than me. Sometimes I see things a little bit black and white : something is either right or wrong. This way I go straight towards my goals. I react instinctively : I can suddenly become very angry and will express the same also. Fortunately I can lose this feeling quickly. In my way of speaking my whole body goes with it. Others will find me overwhelming and sometimes feel that they get no space from me."
My strong points: I am powerful, righteous, protective, generous and independent.
My weaknesses: I can be intimidating, egocentric and blunt. Sometimes I'm downright vindictive.
I should learn:
• to be more social, warmer and more human,
• to be more open to others,
• to be more caring.
9. Peacemaker or mediator: wants to live in unity and harmony with others
"I like to look at things from all sides. Let everyone have their way. I don't like conflicts, I'd rather avoid them. I prefer to keep the peace. Because I see pros and cons with everything, it's difficult for me to take decisions. What I'm good at is negotiating, because I also keep others interests in mind. I don't like being in a rush or busy. So it takes me a while to get started. But once I'm on steam, I am a go-getter. I hate fakeness and inflated egos. I tend to be somewhat cynical."
My strong points: I am diplomatic, able to negotiate, am humble, I can adjust and am harmonious.
My weaknesses: sometimes I'm boring, easily distracted, forgetful or indecisive.
I should learn:
• to take my own position and to act accordingly,
• to set priorities and make choices.
Source: http://www.carrieretijger.nl/functioneren/ontwikkelen/persoonlijkheidsmodellen/enneagram
Characteristics human / plant comparison;
FIRST EXAMPLE
1. Perfectionist: wants to do good things and improve
human characteristics
- Perfection (when something goes wrong, they 'shut down/ close' to re-start)
- Red
- Serenity
- Fighting (for self preservation)
(translated to) plant characteristics
- Plant/ flower that blooms in several seasons and is attractive to the eye
- Red (hue)
- Pure and radiates calmness
- 'Fights' for lasting flowering (is resistant to different weather conditions). Also, red plants get red by iron.
Name: Geranium cinereum var. subcaulescens
Dutch name: ooievaarsbek
Exuberant flowers, flowering from June to September
Purple-red, dark red to bloodred flowers with distinctive black eye.
This above example would take a lot of time, but also it was to simple and shallow for what I wanted. So I changed the research. Now I was connecting plants to human types in a more symbolic way. By looking up the symbolism of certain plants/trees/flowers and see how they would relate to the characteristics to the human types.
This was also a compromise since there were only 6 weeks. The full research that I want(ed) to do is look up symbolism of plants, but also look at there mythological meaning etc. and then relate them to human types. So the base for the relation between the plant-human would be deeper, more serious and more logical. Also more based on 'facts' instead of my interpretation of the symbolics.