There is something magical about rain. From the misty autumnal rain that soaks you to your bones to the incredible downpours that crack open the sky after a hot day, rain has always been a source of pleasure and pain for humans.
Have you ever wondered about rain symbolism? You probably have noticed rain being a key plot device in literature and film, but did you know that there are so many different spiritual and symbolic meanings for rain?
In this article, I want to look at the different ways society, cultures, and individuals have connected with rain.
What Does Rain Symbolize?
Rain is such a complex and complicated phenomenon. It can be refreshing and kind, but it can also be destructive and threatening. Because of this, there are so many ways we can understand rain symbolism.
Let’s look at some key rain symbolism and what we can learn from them.
Fertility and Rebirth
If you enjoy gardening and the natural world, you probably have huge respect for rain.
During the summer months when long, hot days wilt flowers and dry out the soil, an oncoming downpour provides relief and nourishment to your garden.
Because many cultures and societies go through desperate droughts during the summer, rain symbolizes fertility and rebirth.
Water is the source of life. Both animals and plants need water to survive, with rainwater encouraging and supporting life on earth.
Rain symbolizes growth and life, falling from the sky when we need it. It reminds us that, when we are feeling stuck and unhappy, the rain will come, and we will find a source of life once more.
Cleansing
There is something magical about being out in the rain. I love to go out running in the rain around the countryside where I live.
It feels refreshing and helps me draw a line under my struggles and worries that are bringing me down.
Because of the refreshing nature of rain, it is often seen to symbolize cleansing and renewal.
I totally connect with this interpretation of rain. Being out in the rain feels incredible, as if the rain itself is washing away my worries and woe.
Rain cleanses the air, refreshing the environment where it falls. It allows us to begin again, our souls cleansed and renewed.
The Power of Nature
When I am out in the rain, I always feel small. Not in a negative way, but in a pretty refreshing way!
Rain reminds us of the power of nature, and how we are small in comparison. This is not to diminish who we are and the fantastic things we do. Rather, the rain reminds us of the bigger picture and the world as a whole.
Rain allows us to put things in perspective. We are connected with nature in an incredible way, and its power can teach us a lot.
Sadness
Rain symbolizes sadness and despair for many people. When it rains, the sun goes away and the clouds fill the sky. The world becomes dark, and everything feels kind of heavy.
When it rains, you may have the urge to cancel plans and stay inside. The outside world may seem unwelcoming under a rain cloud.
Interestingly, there are studies that have linked feelings of sadness to rain. In a 2020 study, researchers found that people reported more feelings of sadness and depression on rainy and overcast days.
Change
When it rains, the natural world feels different. Because of this, rain symbolizes change.
We may have negative connections with rain, such as sadness and depression. However, the rain reminds us that things change.
After the rain comes the rainbow, reminding us that there is always hope even during the darkest of days.
Everything changes and transforms, and rain serves as a symbol of this.
What Does Rain Symbolize in Literature and Film?
Have you ever heard of the term pathetic fallacy? This is a literary device where the feelings and emotions of someone are linked to the weather.
Rain is a common type of pathetic fallacy in films and books.
The rain symbolism discussed earlier are used as plot devices, allowing the person reading the book or watching the film to really understand the characters’ emotions.
Let’s look at some famous rain symbolism in literature and film.
Summer Shower by Emily Dickinson
This beautiful poem by Emily Dickinson describes drops of rain on a hot summer’s day. The rain comes slowly, with one drop after the other. The rain ‘helps’ the brook and the sea, providing the water they need.
Summer Shower symbolizes the cleansing nature of rain. Rain is necessary for the earth’s ecosystem, and it is refreshing the warm day.
It also is linked to fertility and rebirth as it tells of how water helps the planet. Everything is renewed when the rain comes, and we can start afresh.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Wuthering Heights is probably the most iconic pathetic fallacy novel. This Gothic novel…
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