Some are metaphysical and exciting to doomsayers

  • Sunday, September 08, 2013
  • 0

And the sign said "Long-haired freaky people need not apply"
So I tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why
He said "You look like a fine upstanding young man, I think you'll do"
So I took off my hat, I said "Imagine that. Huh! Me workin' for you!"
Whoa-oh-oh

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?
(The 5 Man Electrical Band) 

Apart from being woodland vandals, who were Tom and Abbi? How long ago did they carve their names
on this tree? What were they doing in the woods? Are they still together?
It wasn't a recent carving judging by the weathering and height on the tree so maybe they've got grandchildren now!
Signs are all around us, almost a form of language that helps us interpret life and the physical world. Some are practical and necessary, say a stop sign on a busy road. Others are almost unnoticed but still important, like a full stop at the end of a sentence. Some are metaphysical and exciting to doomsayers and wild prophets, the gathering of black crows on a dead tree or two headed toadstools. My favourite signs tell a story or hint at one such as the Tom+ Abbi one above. They all convey something and either demand a reaction or pass on information.
I started to wonder about them a few months ago whilst running when I spotted the arrow on the tree (below) Since then I've kept a lookout for further signs while running and I've included my favourites in this post.























Another letter on a tree. Intriguing, why just the single letter. This one was clearly old, the tree amongst many other old yet "J" free tree's.









                                                                                                       






This is a sad one. Three teenagers died on this spot when their car left the road and crashed into the woods. Their friends held a candle light vigil on the spot and erected this sign.














This one has me stumped, ha ha ha.
It's in an area of woodland that I'm not familiar with. I've only run there once. It looks like more than yahoo graffiti though? What is it indicating?














Strange scratchings in the dry ground. They just took my fancy. 
They could have been caused by the gathering of black crows or a demented prophet.
















Arrow in the sand. It looks like it's been drawn by finger. Definitely wild prophet related activity.




















Beats me. A random number 2 on a stump in a wood I know well. I've never seen any others. 



















Crude chalk arrow on a tree. Be gone the next time it rains.
A metaphor on life.
















Self explanatory! Near Seaford in Sussex, UK. 
This type of sign is only effective when placed in correct context.















I love this one. Also near Seaford. 



















This sign is near Eynsford in Kent. I actually took this some years ago on a run. 





















 

Yet another tree sign, deep in the trees, Alford, Lincolnshire. Did the author forget to cross the "T" on the final letter? Or were they eaten by wolves before they finished carving?














Finally. Not a sign but a time when one, or a metaphysical rune reader could be helpful, the fork in the road...