COAT OF ARMS – ADORMENT OF THE SHEILD

The shield upon which we will build the family’s Coat of Arms. The colors represents family virtues: Black – Faithful, Dependable; Gold – Generosity. The family should consider the development of this shield a milestone, the completion of the 1st critical step in the development of the Coat Of Arms.

SECTION 2

STEP # 4 – THE ADORNMENT OF THE SHIELD’S 4 QUADRANTS AND CENTER

In Section 1, Step #1 we asked that you Consider any/all Ponder Family members, living or dead, that you know or know of and give a one word, or one sentence statement that describes the strength, character, and values of these family members.

The family responded with the following list of attributes: Knowledgeable and Wise, Accepting, Confident, Decisive; Creative, Musical, Strong Willed, Dedicated. Courageous, Get the job done, protective, hardworking, and strong. The attributes can be used to determine the symbol for each quadrant. Also, look at the shield in the below example; it has 4 quadrants and a center. Note how each quadrant and the center has a symbol:

Animals depicted on family crest symbolize certain traits such as:

Bear	Fierce protector
Boar	Fierce fighter, fights until death
Boar’s Head	Hospitality
Bull	Magnanimity and valor
Deer	Politic, skillful or lover of harmony
Dog	Fidelity, courage or loyalty
Dolphin	Charity or affection
Dragon	Valiant defender
Fish	Of high nature or regal
Fox	wisdom or wise defense
Griffin	a mythical creature signifying vigilance or a valiant soldier
Horse	symbolizing readiness for duty
Leopard	enduring and valiant warrior
Lion	fierce courage; great warrior or chief
Rabbits	peace loving
Snake	wisdom; renewal and fertility
Tiger	valor and fierceness
Tortoise	invulnerability
Wolf	perseverance in effort or siege

Family crests include not only mammals, reptiles and mythical creatures; rather, birds formed part of the design with each species denoting a distinct quality like:

Dove	signifies peace and love
Eagle	representing a person of action, power, noble nature or strength; the protector
Peacock	for pride and beauty
Swallow (or Martlet)	indicative of a person who lost his land; symbolizes perpetual movement
Swan	poetry, musical, harmony; the swan was believed to carry the spirit of the dead to the next life

Request: Based on family’s attributes identify the symbols to be used in each quadrant and the center of the Shield.

Process: Simple, determine the best 4 attributes/virtues of the family such as Knowledge, strength, spiritual and prosperous. For the center, a symbol to show  where you are from, etc. We will select the best 5 symbols. Good luck fam!