THE CADENCY SET
So here we are in the middle of summer and progress on the family Coat of Arms is beyond the halfway point. The differences each of us has chosen make this project unique in Canadian Heraldry. With nine siblings sharing the honours, eight of which have cadencies of their own, my bet is this will be a page of images at Rideau Hall that will generate much comment in Heraldic circles.
The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada was founded in Ottawa and had their first meeting at the Beacon Arms Hotel. Who doesn’t remember that watering hole from days of old? I can imagine we might certainly raise an eyebrow or two of interest amongst the members.
Speaking of which, long after this journey culminates at year’s end, some of you might want to investigate the possibility of joining the Society as full members. The Society offers a Heraldry Proficiency Course after which you are granted the designation Licentiate. If your contributions continued over the years you might be granted the title Fellow. It’s a way to be involved in a deep and meaningful way in Canada’s history in the making, as new families are accorded Arms of their own, while at the same time appreciating the long traditions of Heraldry that has brought us to where we are today.
So if any of you will soon, or presently, have too much time on your hands, there you go…
With Matt having chosen his symbol, our cadency set is complete: Marita is the Phoenix; Duncan chose the Fist and Dove; Stephen will have Arms of his own to satisfy the demands of his office and will be referred to as the Double Falcon; Christopher will be represented by the Rooster; Catherine is a Hummingbird; Caroline embodies Heart; Barnaby’s symbol is the Single Falcon; Matt will now forever be the Bull and Cecily, wisely, the Owl.
We now await further refinements of the Arms and Differences later this summer. If everyone sends off their appropriate image in reasonable time, with some accompanying text as to the why and therefore of your choice, along with the personal information form sent out as an attachment on Stephen’s last message, the process will assuredly remain on time.
I can already imagine future gatherings where we might shoot the breeze and use each other’s symbols and names interchangeably on point of issues. The possibilities are endless: For example, if one had a very narrow view on a subject, they might be encouraged to rise up and get some Barnaby into their thinking (to see the world from a higher perspective as a Falcon would); a very strong need to expand one’s mind and embrace the very highest of values would mean to get some Stephen(the Double Falcon). Faced with overwhelming demands in life, one could say, well, you could just Catherine it (flit from one task to another at high speed taking in just enough energy in the process to sustain yourself). If you were at a crossroads and the way forward seemed unclear, it might be time to Marita things a bit (to rise up like the proverbial Phoenix and soldier on). If deemed a bit selfish, and let’s face it, it happens, one could be exhorted to have a Caroline (the Heart of our family and no further explanation is required). Should fear and trepidation enter your life, you may be called upon to face things with some Christopher (the Rooster, you just got to own that place!) If you are in need of further information, a more nuanced perspective that begs for the judgement of Solomon, you will be asked to Cecily things (to take your time and consider all avenues and variables before deciding or moving forward). And lastly, all of us at times need to dig deep and find the tenacity to get from where we are to where we want or need to be; indeed, in those times, the best counsel is to Matthew your life and see where you emerge on the other side (dogged determination and good luck).
This could be bigger than any of us foretold. Any imaginable subject might fall under one of the appropriate characters found on the Wallace Coat of Arms. This is especially true given the qualitative text that accompanies each cadency. With their wide parameters of influences and attributes, any subject becomes a matter or question of Phoenix, Fist or Dove, Double Falcon, Rooster, Hummingbird, Heart, Single Falcon, Bull or Owl. In my opinion, this could become something like the degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon. We could be witnessing the very birth of a new Zodiac paradigm, or a Chinese Astrology equivalent. The years of our births may become venerated beginning points in time to be celebrated by persons far and wide, perhaps even into the far off future.
There will be scholars studying our Arms and Cadencies long after we are gone. There will be a few people who existed while we were alive who will give interviews on the equivalent of a 22nd century Oprah, in what format is anyone’s guess. These folks, some of whom are not even born yet, will tell of what it was like to personally know the original Owl, Bull, Single Falcon, Heart, Hummingbird, Rooster, Double Falcon, Fist and Dove and Phoenix. Everything is changed for us all now; the responsibility alone is daunting.
There might be syndicated columns that appear in digital editions of newspapers in the year 2100 that appear all around the world to give people guidance regarding the influences they feel from each symbol. Books will be written, seminars given, retreats attended and societies formed.
Heck, we may be witnessing the birth of a new religion. If Joe Smith could create the Mormon religion just over a hundred years ago based on his supposedly finding 12 golden tablets conveniently buried in Upstate New York that told him the Natives were the original Israelites and to take as many wives as one could, why couldn’t the Wallace Cadency Set become the new tablets to future generations of seekers? Sikhism is only five hundred years old; time flies when you are having fun. There might eventually be enclaves of followers scattered around the world living off the might of the pen. This could make us god damned immortal in a way.
So I know every one of you will appreciate your role in these precious beginnings of something that promises to someday become bigger than us all. In addition to the important work of selecting your symbol will be the to the point references to why that selection was made. We’ll leave the rest of it develop as the legend ensues. Each of must know that we are now part of history; a history that will be public for all eternity.
The Wallace Cadency Set complete, I think this chapter of the process calls for some kind of celebration. I want to extend my gratitude and love to you at this time. I feel very lucky to have been born into such a wonderful family: Three cheers to the clan!!!
True and Free
Rooster
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