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Devil Places
There are countless places in the world named after the Devil (and variations of an evil one in other words and languages). If variations are added such as “Satan,” “Lucifer,” and “Diablo,” for example, the list is massive. Devil places sometimes owe their names to the geology. The features of these places may create a spooky and foreboding feeling that reinforces the local legends of the places being cursed, evil or enchanted.
These places have historically or very recently been associated with spirits, magic, strange phenomenon and/or death. In the U.S., many sacred places of indigenous peoples were renamed by the more puritanical sort as “devil” places in order to demonize the past (and previous spiritual beliefs). Devil places are particularly ubiquitous in New England, where the Puritans started their renaming. The rocky landscape gave them plenty of impetus. They truly believed Satan was about, ready to steal their souls. They considered Indian deities to be demons or devils. Spots where shamans would gather or practice might have been a place of geological uniqueness and were given a bad name by the newcomers.
Connecticut might be nicknamed the devil’s playground with some 34 place names including five Devil’s Dens, four Backbones, two Kitchens and a Dripping Pan, as well as a Hell Hole and two Satan’s Kingdoms. Massachusetts is the most devilish state, with 43 place names. Arizona is chock full of “devil” and “hell” names due to the hellishly hot weather suitable for demons.
Satan’s Kingdom
Legends say that Satan himself claimed the area now called Satan’s Kingdom in New Hartford, Connecticut as his own until the angel Gabriel decided the area was too idyllic and cleared out the dark lord and his band of demons. In Vermont, Satans Kingdom got its name supposedly because the settlers who expected fertile land got difficult rocks and hills instead. In Massachusetts, settlers came into the area in the 1670’s during King Philip’s War, where native villagers defended their land. The rough terrain and dangerous wildlife made it difficult for the settler-colonialists to conquer.
The Northern Cascades National park in Washington is very much a hellscape. The Backpacker.com site says of a hiking trail there: “The devil looms large on this rugged loop—you’ll pass Devils Creek, Pass, Park, Junction, and Dome—and you may curse like Satan during the initial 3,300-foot, 4-mile climb to McMillan Park”.
As you will see in this collection of Devilish places, they commonly are places of remarkable features, desolation, or treacherous traversing.
In 2013, Jonathan Hull did a map of US places with Devil-related names. Though many locations received their names from attributes other than geologically related ones, he noted that Devil-named areas often indicated a dangerous, extreme, or remote place. Sadly, I can’t find the full-scale map online anymore.
This is the best version I could find of Hull’s map.While my collection is woefully incomplete, I did pick some notable Devil-named locations with geological connections. Several of these warrant their own pages on the site. Click on the titles to head to these pages:
Devil’s Tower
An iconic volcanic feature in the Black Hills of Wyoming was known as being the location in the culminating scene in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It has become a draw for not only sci-fi enthusiasts but also UFO chasers and New Age believers.Devil’s Den
To gain this place name, the location usually has stark, huge rock boulders or outcrops, often with caves and crevasses. Several famous locations exist in the U.S. where not only supposedly spirits but also people used as hiding places.Devil’s Hole
A depression or cave often containing water that has gained a reputation of being deadly, a path to the underworld, or bottomless. (Or all three together). The most famous being the Devil’s Hole of Death Valley, a bizarre oasis in the desert.Devil’s Kitchen
Scenic locations characterized by their impressive geological features that suggest something evil is cooking.Devil’s Gate
A cleft or gorge that is considered a dangerous area for natural or supernatural reasons.Devil’s Punchbowl
Bowl-shaped depressions of various sizes that stand out from the landscape and may look as if they have been deliberately created for or from a nefarious action.Some lesser known locations with ‘Devil’ names are just as curious. Their oddness prompted locals to bestow upon them an accursed name.
Devils Head Rock, North CarolinaThree locations in Pennsylvania have the name Devil’s Potato Patch to designate boulder fields. One is between Danielsville and Little Gap in Northampton County, just west of the Blue Mtn ski area off the Appalachian Trail. This is an otherwise featureless field of sandstone blocks resulting from frost action that broke up the ridge-forming rock. It is on State Game Lands and, like other boulder fields, is treacherous to traverse and home to sunning snakes. Another Patch is located on the border of Lebanon and Lancaster County near Brickerville. This “river” of diabase boulders is a wooded and graffiti-strewn, neglected and full of various hazards like trash, bottles, and poison ivy. The third is in Salford Township, Montgomery County, where the boulders of diabase will ring when hammered.
Another “Tater Patch” is a windy ridge with spooky twisted trees in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of Tennessee/ N. Carolina.
Similar to these rocky landscapes is the Devil’s Marbleyard of the James River Face Wilderness, in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Natural Bridge Station, Virginia. The Virginia Trail Guide describes it thusly:
“…looks like an immense stone mountain exploded and collapsed into thousands of boulders of every shape and size.”
Australia also has the Devil’s Marbles, a scattered array of large granite boulders in a 4500-acre area of the Northern Territory which was the traditional land of the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Alyawarra and Warlpiri people. They call it “Karlu Karlu”. The rocks are set precariously and have been chemically and physically weathered into rounded shapes. One legend says the natives thought these were the eggs of the rainbow serpent. But the official management plan for the reserve explains the traditional origin:
The whole area of the reserve is known as Ayleparrarntenhe, which is also the name of the place of origin and final resting place of Arrange, the Devil Man—a twin-peaked hill to the east of the reserve. Traditional Owners tell the story of how the Marbles came into being:
Arrange, the Devil Man, came from Ayleparrarntenhe and travelled through the area. During his journey, he was making a hair belt (as worn by initiated men). Twirling the hair into strings, Arrange dropped clusters of hair on the ground. These turned into the Karlu Karlu boulders that can be seen today. On his way back, Arrange spat on the ground. His spit also turned into the granite boulders which dot the central part of the reserve. Arrange finally returned to his place of origin, Ayleparrarntenhe.
Removal or desecration (even climbing) of the rocks and smaller rocks of nearby Devil’s Pebbles (Kunjarra) is said to bring bad luck to the tribes.
Several rocky areas are also called Devil’s Garden with unique vegetation or none at all. The Devil’s Garden portion of Arches National Park in Moab, Utah features “arches, spires, and a large concentration of narrow rock walls called “fins”. The fins are the result of erosion along parallel fractures.
Devil’s Garden, UtahA section of the High Lava Plains of central Oregon is a kipuka (an area isolated by surrounding lava flows) also known by this name. It was formed from fissure eruptions of basalt.
The Devil’s Playground is not your typical place of joy and laughter, but a grouping of granitic rock features weathered into fantastic forms and eerie shapes. A Tertiary-age (approximately 38 million years old) granitic intrusion overlying Paleozoic (400 to 300 million years old) sedimentary rocks is known as the Emigrant Pass pluton.
Devils Playground, UtahThe deadly Devil’s Playground in the Mohave Desert of California was the nickname pinned on a 17-mile stretch of drifting sand that had neither a track to follow nor water to drink.
In Tennessee, near vertical bedding produces huge rock formations that look like fins (or teeth) protrude from the Southwest flank of Cumberland Mountain known as the Devil’s Racetrack. Hikers and climbers must watch for falls from these rocks.
The Devil’s Race Course is a boulder field in Dauphin County, PA. Rock outcrops along the ridges provided the now rounded boulders. Stream flow from Rattling Run has washed away all the finer sediment. Sometimes the stream can be heard under river of rock. Legend has it that the area’s early settlers believed the sound of the water was the devil running through the depths of hell.
Devil’s Racecourse, PAThe term Devil’s Elbow often refers to an obvious and problematic bend in a river or a road. Most notably, in Pulaski County, Missouri, a sharp turn in the river has this unlucky name. Switchback bends along a hillside are constructed to navigate a steep slope. One such tight curve along a road bordering a rock cliff in New York has an associated legend of the vanishing hitchhiker. The road was eventually straightened to avoid mishaps.
The Devil’s Windpipe is a natural chute in the rocks in Arizona. When the wind blows across the hot landscape, it’s said it feels like the breathing of the devil himself. The Devil’s Throat is a remarkable cave in Bulgaria that swallows the Trigrad River where it funnels through the Hall of Thunder. This cave in the Rhodope Mountains is associated with the legend of Orpheus descending into the underworld to look for Eurydice. There is also a large sinkhole called the Devil’s Throat near Lake Mead in Nevada.
Multiple features exist with the name Devil’s Backbone which typically indicates a prominent ridge of rock that looks like a spine or teeth. Iowa has a state park characterized by a narrow and steep ridge of bedrock carved by a loop of the Maquoketa River. The towers, columns and rocky cliffs make for precipitous climbing. Maryland also has a park where a rock ridge 512 feet above sea level was formed by erosion at the confluence of the Antietam and Beaver Creek and is a noted scenic area. A narrow jutting of rock from a ridge forms a distinct “backbone” across the landscape west of Loveland, Colorado. A particularly striking vertical wall of dark andesite about 1,000 feet long exists within the volcanic crater of Crater Lake, Oregon. The dike was formed when molten lava filled cracks as it forced its way upwards and then solidified. Erosion of the surrounding material has left the resistant material standing. The Illinois “Backbone” is a rocky landmark on a ridge in the Grand Tower area. The rapids near here were supposedly very dangerous and native legends evil spirits were responsible. Nearby is the Devil’s Bake Oven – a nearly 100’ rock on the edge of the river where folklorists have documented ghostly visions and sounds.
Devil’s Backbone, Loveland CO.About 80,000 to 100,000 years ago in eastern California, basaltic lava gushed from fissures and formed a lake within a glacial-formed valley some 400 feet deep. The lava cooled slowly, forming the hexagonal columnar structure that is so striking (also present in Devil’s Tower and Giant’s Causeway), resembling a pile of posts. Thus, it’s called the Devils Postpile. Glaciers smoothed and scarred the top of the formation. Devils Postpile (no apostrophe – which is the case with most official U.S. “devil” monuments) is now a national monument. A Little Devils Postpile exists in Yosemite.
Devils Postpile National MonumentDevils Lake in Wisconsin, part of a state park, is situated in a deep chasm formed by glacial action. It has no visible inlet or outlet. The lake was originally called “Sacred Lake” or “Spirit Lake” by the natives who considered it sacred where voices of the spirits could be heard. Glacial striations mark the rock surfaces around the lake and there are Native effigy mounds nearby. The lake has spooky legends of a phantom canoer, and lake monster, and some stories say the natives considered it a “place of many dead”.
A similar lake exists in North Dakota, also in a closed basin and also renamed from the Natives’ interpretation of “Spirit Lake”. This lake has been plagued with flooding problems.
Seven Devils Lake is a small reservoir in South Arkansas, located about 14 miles (23 km) out of Monticello. The Lake is formed by Seven Devils Dam. The area got its name from a man who was trapped in the area for days and finally made it out. A reporter asked if he found the rumored seven lakes of the area, but the man stated that there were not seven lakes, but seven devils. This area is the most northern point west of the Mississippi River where American alligators can be found.
Many bare mountain summits are named for their stark barrenness. Several rocky scenic outlooks called Devil’s Knobs are recognized around the world. There are many places called Devil’s Peak often referring to an imposing, rocky mount. Such peaks are in Cape Town in South Africa, Hong Kong, Flanders Range in Australia, Soda Springs, California, Santa Barbara, California, and in Nevada. A location in Baja, California has the Spanish name Picacho del Diablo and is also known as the Cerro de la Encantada or “Hill of the Enchanted”. It is a ragged granite summit that makes for a popular but challenging climb.
Mount Diablo in Contra Costa, California is awash with legends and has a reputation as a strange place. Now a state park, it was historically an important landmark for mapping and navigation because of its visibility and location. It is a geological anomaly, part of a thrust fault complex, growing higher every year due to compression of tectonic plates. Native tribes have various legends about it included the mountain as a point of creation. A notable legend of how the mountain got its name was from a misinterpretation of “Monte del Diablo” meaning “thicket of the devil” after several Natives escaped from the Spanish in 1805 into a nearby thicket. Not long after, the name was interpreted to mean a place of evil spirits. It’s not clear if this name was derived from a genuine tradition of spooky happenings in the area and there have been several attempts to rename the mountain to shake off the diabolical reputation. Author Loren Coleman writes that many unusual incidents have occurred in the Mount Diablo area, appropriate for its reputation, including sightings of black panthers (a difficult-to-explain animal that is reported all too regularly), mysterious lights, apparitions and even a claim of a live frog found in a stony concretion.
West Face of Mount Diablo and Highway 24. By Trurl66 – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5526277So-called Devil’s bathtubs are deep spots in a creek popular with visitors looking to cool off. In Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio, water falls from rock ledges into the stream where the water swirls into a bowl-shaped gorge. People told stories of this being as deep as hell. The pockets and tunnels were formed from scouring glacial meltwaters thousands of years ago.
In Scott County, Virginia, the Bathtub is a scour pool in the Devil’s Fork of Stony Creek. It’s not the easiest spot to get to and the water is far from hot. Many photos of the location have circulated on social media but these seem to be from the Ohio location, or from some other feature entirely, leading many to be disappointed when they reach this particular tub. The overabundance of visitors prompted by social media has caused local problems and threaten the natural area. The South Dakota version of the devil’s tub is much more secluded. With high rocky cliffs nearby, the water cascades in a chute called “the slide” and swirls into the tub.
According to Wikipedia, there are no less than 105 different locations of the Devil’s Canyon in the United States alone including Utah, Oklahoma, and California. Areas with this designation are typically steep, remote, and have plentiful snakes as residents. In Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico, Devil’s Canyon, so far as anyone knows, is so named because of the pinnacles – needles and balanced rocks that form the canyon walls and resemble distorted human forms. A 2017 TV show called “Devil’s Canyon” is based in British Columbia. It is the story of three gold prospectors seeking treasure in the canyon where they believe large deposits have escaped exploitation by big mining companies. But the rough, isolated terrain, bad weather, and wild animals make it an unforgiving location to explore.
A rock formation where the lower strata is more eroded and weathered leaving a larger slab perched precipitously on top are called “tea tables”. Such formations are a variety of hoodoo. Notable examples of Devil’s Tea Tables exist in Athens County, Ohio and in Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest. These features appear to lean in every direction, so whatever side you view it from, it looks like it will fall on you. A tea table feature in McConnelsville, Ohio collapsed in 1906. Explorers who came across the gravity-defying features often attributed their origin to supernatural forces.
Devils Tea Table, McConnelsvilleNot necessarily natural are the standing stones in North Yorkshire, England, called Devils Arrows. Legend has it that the Devil himself threw the stones into the ground as arrows to attack Christians in Aldborough but they fell short. The prehistoric monuments likely were constructed as part of a ritual landscape. Similarly, the Devil’s Quoits in Stanton Harcourt are also part of a Neolithic-age stone circle. The legend here is “the Devil once played quoits (a game) with a beggar for his soul or, alternatively, that it was a Sunday and God rebuked him whereby he flung the stones in anger. Many stone circles and henges in the UK remain imbued with New Age and mystical significance.
The most famous Devil’s Gulch, in Garretson, South Dakota, is rife with legends. This 18-20 foot chasm across blocks of quartzite is said to have obtained its name from strange noises made by the winds as they blow through. Split Rock Creek below is associated with a “bottomless pit” in the stream bed. (If it’s bottomless, how does the stream flow over it?) A Native tale tells a different origin story. They called it “Spirit Canyon” and that it was formed when two warriors fought. When the spirit warrior’s tomahawk hit the ground, it split the land forming the gulch. But the most famous legend, now marked on the spot, is that outlaw Jesse James made a getaway by leaping the gap on his horse. The location is now a park and also has Devil’s Falls and the Devil’s Stairway nearby.
When Satan needs a rest, he chooses Devils Throne, a summit in Idaho County, Idaho. It forms part of the Seven Devils Mountains. Or the Devil’s Chair in San Gabriel Mountains is part of the Devil’s Punchbowl.
What is really haunting the Devil’s Swamp in Scotlandville, Louisiana are nasty chemicals that have been poured into it, destroying the ecosystem over the years leaving ghosts of those animals (and people) dead from pollution. Beware when visiting this toxic stew. The Seven Devils Swamp natural area in Arkansas, however, is a healthy and diverse ecosystem.
Part of the Craters of the Moon National monument, Idaho, Devil’s Orchard has trees and vegetation growing from the flood basalt lava flows of the Snake River Plain volcanic province. The Orchard is a group of lava-transported cinder cone fragments that were once part of the North Crater cinder cone but broke off and were carried away by a new lava flow. The place is described as “otherworldly” with the black rocks providing no shade. Shoshone legend speaks of a serpent on a mountain who, angered by lightning, coiled around and squeezed the mountain until liquid rock flowed, fire shot from cracks, and the mountain exploded. Craters of the Moon National Monument was proclaimed on May 2, 1924 by U.S. President Calvin Coolidge to “preserve the unusual and weird volcanic formations”
Devil’s Orchard, IdahoIn the Big South Fork National River and Recreation area in Kentucky/Tennessee, legend has it that a band of brothers looking for salt drilled a well so deep that it hit oil. They became concerned that the well was so deep, it might reach Hell. Finally, they did strike something, but instead of salt brine coming out of the ground a black, smelly, sticky liquid came oozing out of the pipe. These explorers did not know what oil was, and since they were of a religious nature, they were disturbed about the new-found product. When they saw how this black substance burned, they called it Devil’s Tar. One of the crew was sent downstream with a sample but his raft overturned at the rapids. Later, he told the story that the devil himself, angry at the invasion of his domain, leaped from one of the rocks onto the raft sinking it. The rapids were named the Devils Jump.
Two other Devil’s Jumps occur in England. Three little hills near Frensham are said to have been thrown up by the Devil taking three enormous leaps. The Devil’s Jumps in Churt, county of Surrey, (also known as Devil’s Three Jumps) are a series of three small hills made of “ironstone” making them resistant to erosion. The devil made his mark all around this area, according to legend, as several local landmarks play into the story of his visit. For example, the tale goes that Devil made off with the cauldron of the witch, Mother Ludlam. As she chased him, the Devil’s leaps kicked up hills now known as the Devil’s Jumps. He left the cauldron on Kettlebury Hill and also left a valley known as the Devil’s Punch Bowl.
Another tale tells that the Devil amused himself by leaping from the top of each hill to the next. This annoyed the god Thor who picked up a boulder and threw it at the Devil, causing him to flee. The boulder remains at Devil’s Jumps. The same story is told of the Devil’s Jumps near Treyford on the South Downs in West Sussex though these are barrows upon which the Devil jumped. Other round barrows in Stoughton are also called the Devil’s humps.
Similar to the Jumps are the Devils Footprints – grassy meadows that top some peaks in the Appalachian mountains, particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains. These peaks, also called “balds” are where trees won’t grow, legendarily because the devil himself stepped there. More realistic theories are that the treeless patches are the result of past clearing, animal grazing or burning. Or that the soil, climate, or biota prevents trees from growing. It’s not clear why some summits are bald where others are not.
Apparent “footprints” in rock appear at Devils Foot Rock. Many colorful tales are told of the Devil himself leaving the prints as he pursued maidens or stomped in frustration.
Devil’s Promenade in extreme southwestern Missouri is the site of a regionally noted “spook light”. The locals named the four-mile-long gravel road on the border between southwestern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma west of the small town of Hornet, Missouri. Hornet is famous for the Hornet Spooklight (also called the Joplin spooklight) – a seemingly unexplained light that appears in the distance. Some have explained it as normal lights from cars or trains and others insist it is paranormal in nature. The bridge along the Devil’s Promenade was originally a rickety wooden bridge. Legend had it that “anyone who walked back and forth across the bridge five times (or seven or three depending on who you ask) very slowly and asking for the Devil to appear, he would either answer three questions, grant three wishes or of course, kill you. Again this depends on the version you hear.” A concrete bridge was constructed and the story seems to have diminished. One story of the light’s origin was that it is the Devil swinging his Jack-o-lantern. Other stories, according to the Prarie Ghosts website, says the light represents the spirit of two young Quapaw Indians who died in the area. Another claimed the light was the spirit of an Osage Indian chief who had been beheaded on the Devil’s Promenade. As with many spook light stories, the light represents a torch carried by the ghost as he searches for his missing head. The torch motif also shows up in the version of the legend that a miner is searching in vain for his missing children by lantern light. Tellers of these tales claim that the lights and legends existed in Native lore prior to the construction of this road.
Many impressive masonry structures are named the Devil’s Bridge and have associated lore to go with them. The bridge in Sedona, Arizona, in the Coconino National Forest, is a large natural sandstone arch. In Massachusetts, the Devil’s Bridge is a shallow reef running northwest off the northwest corner of Martha’s Vineyard. This hazard to ships was supposedly created by the mighty giant Moshup. The local Wampanoag tribal history tells the tale:
Moshup was building a bridge to Cuttyhunk with heavy boulders when a giant crab latched onto his foot. In his pain and anger, he gave up leaving a treacherous shoal instead. The area has been the site of several shipwrecks.
In North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest is the Devil’s Courthouse. According to Andrea Lankford:
By bradploeger – originally posted to Flickr as Devil’s Courthouse, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4237496“Cherokees believed an evil spirit [or giant} named Judaculla held court on top of this bare rock summit with a 360 degree view of three states”.
Whiteside Mountain in Jackson County, North Carolina also has a feature of this name. The bare overhanging rock is windy and dangerous.
The Devil’s Apronful cairn consists of a heap of rocks and boulders near Pendle Hill in Lancashire, England. Several natural boulders were used to construct the mound which provides an impressive view both now and back in Bronze Age times. The thousands of rocks of gritstone and sandstone are scattered in a roughly circular area. The area however is mostly limestone. It’s been suggested that the stones were glacial erratics and the stones were gathered by farmers to get them out of the fields. But there are more fantastic origin stories. The Devil was annoyed with people at Clitheroe Castle in the west. To do away with it, he filled an “apron” (quite the visual) with rocks to pitch at them. Most missed and in his rage he dropped the rest on this south side of Pendle Hill, creating Apronful Hill. For the similar Apronful in Yorkshire, the tale is that the Devil was collecting stones in his apron in order to build a bridge or fill in the ravine when his apron string broke (or he tripped) and the stones fell out. The Devil’s Apronful sites were disturbed by curious visitors and looters but are now protected.
The Devil has two “Hopyards”. One is a State Park and public recreation area in East Haddam, Connecticut. There are several ideas about how the place got its curious name. One is that it refers to supernatural origins for the naturally occurring potholes in the area. These potholes were formed by the grinding actions of stones moved downstream by the current when trapped in an eddy, wearing a depression in the rock. To the early settlers the potholes were a great mystery, and as with many “devilish” features, they explained them with references to the supernatural. They thought that the Devil has passed by the falls, accidentally getting his tail wet. This made him so mad he burned holes in the stones with his hooves as he bounded away. A sign in the park tells of the legends regarding the name. Another site with this name is in New Hampshire. This is a boulder-filled ravine where you can sometimes hear water running.
Devil’s Dyke (or ditch) near Bleaklow, in Sussex, England is a deep gully supposedly cut by Satan’s claws when he became enraged at the loss of a prospective soul. Other tales say it is his unfinished ditch as he bet St. Cuthberth he could dig it in one night and flood the town. The tourist-attracting feature is really the result of mass wasting and river erosion into a dip-slope valley. The V-shaped dry valley, the deepest in England, was born from the cold climate of 14,000 years ago when this area of chalk bedrock was covered in snow. During warm seasons, the upper layers of soil and weathered rock slid away with the thaw. Finally, an ancient river carried the material away at the end of the Ice Age. That river is now gone but its valley remains. The high hill showed the surrounding terrain and was used as a defensive position as well as being an impressive location to hold special events. Remains of an Iron Age fort have been found here. The location is managed by the National Trust and is a recreational area. A trail supposedly leads to the alleged burial site of the Devil and his wife. In 1900, a sound called The Howling Terror was heard echoing in the valley. It wasn’t demons but the testing of a new invention called the megaphone being used at the amusement park on the top of the Dyke.
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The information provided here is based on a cursory search of these sites and the entries will be expanded as I discover new source material (or visit them!). Please contact me with your corrections, information (preferably with solid references), and photographs and I will gladly add them to the page. Or, leave your contribution in the comments. Thanks!Book References
Coleman, L. (2001). Mysterious America (Revised edition). Paraview Press.
Lankford, A. (2006). Haunted Hikes. Santa Monica Press.
#devil #devilPlaces #devilsBackbone #devilsElbow #devilsGarden #devilsPlayground #devilsPostpile #devilsRacecourse #devilsWindpipe #devilsLake #mountDiablo #satan
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Devil Places
There are countless places in the world named after the Devil (and variations of an evil one in other words and languages). If variations are added such as “Satan,” “Lucifer,” and “Diablo,” for example, the list is massive. Devil places sometimes owe their names to the geology. The features of these places may create a spooky and foreboding feeling that reinforces the local legends of the places being cursed, evil or enchanted.
These places have historically or very recently been associated with spirits, magic, strange phenomenon and/or death. In the U.S., many sacred places of indigenous peoples were renamed by the more puritanical sort as “devil” places in order to demonize the past (and previous spiritual beliefs). Devil places are particularly ubiquitous in New England, where the Puritans started their renaming. The rocky landscape gave them plenty of impetus. They truly believed Satan was about, ready to steal their souls. They considered Indian deities to be demons or devils. Spots where shamans would gather or practice might have been a place of geological uniqueness and were given a bad name by the newcomers.
Connecticut might be nicknamed the devil’s playground with some 34 place names including five Devil’s Dens, four Backbones, two Kitchens and a Dripping Pan, as well as a Hell Hole and two Satan’s Kingdoms. Massachusetts is the most devilish state, with 43 place names. Arizona is chock full of “devil” and “hell” names due to the hellishly hot weather suitable for demons.
Satan’s Kingdom
Legends say that Satan himself claimed the area now called Satan’s Kingdom in New Hartford, Connecticut as his own until the angel Gabriel decided the area was too idyllic and cleared out the dark lord and his band of demons. In Vermont, Satans Kingdom got its name supposedly because the settlers who expected fertile land got difficult rocks and hills instead. In Massachusetts, settlers came into the area in the 1670’s during King Philip’s War, where native villagers defended their land. The rough terrain and dangerous wildlife made it difficult for the settler-colonialists to conquer.
The Northern Cascades National park in Washington is very much a hellscape. The Backpacker.com site says of a hiking trail there: “The devil looms large on this rugged loop—you’ll pass Devils Creek, Pass, Park, Junction, and Dome—and you may curse like Satan during the initial 3,300-foot, 4-mile climb to McMillan Park”.
As you will see in this collection of Devilish places, they commonly are places of remarkable features, desolation, or treacherous traversing.
In 2013, Jonathan Hull did a map of US places with Devil-related names. Though many locations received their names from attributes other than geologically related ones, he noted that Devil-named areas often indicated a dangerous, extreme, or remote place. Sadly, I can’t find the full-scale map online anymore.
This is the best version I could find of Hull’s map.While my collection is woefully incomplete, I did pick some notable Devil-named locations with geological connections. Several of these warrant their own pages on the site. Click on the titles to head to these pages:
Devil’s Tower
An iconic volcanic feature in the Black Hills of Wyoming was known as being the location in the culminating scene in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It has become a draw for not only sci-fi enthusiasts but also UFO chasers and New Age believers.Devil’s Den
To gain this place name, the location usually has stark, huge rock boulders or outcrops, often with caves and crevasses. Several famous locations exist in the U.S. where not only supposedly spirits but also people used as hiding places.Devil’s Hole
A depression or cave often containing water that has gained a reputation of being deadly, a path to the underworld, or bottomless. (Or all three together). The most famous being the Devil’s Hole of Death Valley, a bizarre oasis in the desert.Devil’s Kitchen
Scenic locations characterized by their impressive geological features that suggest something evil is cooking.Devil’s Gate
A cleft or gorge that is considered a dangerous area for natural or supernatural reasons.Devil’s Punchbowl
Bowl-shaped depressions of various sizes that stand out from the landscape and may look as if they have been deliberately created for or from a nefarious action.Some lesser known locations with ‘Devil’ names are just as curious. Their oddness prompted locals to bestow upon them an accursed name.
Devils Head Rock, North CarolinaThree locations in Pennsylvania have the name Devil’s Potato Patch to designate boulder fields. One is between Danielsville and Little Gap in Northampton County, just west of the Blue Mtn ski area off the Appalachian Trail. This is an otherwise featureless field of sandstone blocks resulting from frost action that broke up the ridge-forming rock. It is on State Game Lands and, like other boulder fields, is treacherous to traverse and home to sunning snakes. Another Patch is located on the border of Lebanon and Lancaster County near Brickerville. This “river” of diabase boulders is a wooded and graffiti-strewn, neglected and full of various hazards like trash, bottles, and poison ivy. The third is in Salford Township, Montgomery County, where the boulders of diabase will ring when hammered.
Another “Tater Patch” is a windy ridge with spooky twisted trees in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of Tennessee/ N. Carolina.
Similar to these rocky landscapes is the Devil’s Marbleyard of the James River Face Wilderness, in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Natural Bridge Station, Virginia. The Virginia Trail Guide describes it thusly:
“…looks like an immense stone mountain exploded and collapsed into thousands of boulders of every shape and size.”
Australia also has the Devil’s Marbles, a scattered array of large granite boulders in a 4500-acre area of the Northern Territory which was the traditional land of the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Alyawarra and Warlpiri people. They call it “Karlu Karlu”. The rocks are set precariously and have been chemically and physically weathered into rounded shapes. One legend says the natives thought these were the eggs of the rainbow serpent. But the official management plan for the reserve explains the traditional origin:
The whole area of the reserve is known as Ayleparrarntenhe, which is also the name of the place of origin and final resting place of Arrange, the Devil Man—a twin-peaked hill to the east of the reserve. Traditional Owners tell the story of how the Marbles came into being:
Arrange, the Devil Man, came from Ayleparrarntenhe and travelled through the area. During his journey, he was making a hair belt (as worn by initiated men). Twirling the hair into strings, Arrange dropped clusters of hair on the ground. These turned into the Karlu Karlu boulders that can be seen today. On his way back, Arrange spat on the ground. His spit also turned into the granite boulders which dot the central part of the reserve. Arrange finally returned to his place of origin, Ayleparrarntenhe.
Removal or desecration (even climbing) of the rocks and smaller rocks of nearby Devil’s Pebbles (Kunjarra) is said to bring bad luck to the tribes.
Several rocky areas are also called Devil’s Garden with unique vegetation or none at all. The Devil’s Garden portion of Arches National Park in Moab, Utah features “arches, spires, and a large concentration of narrow rock walls called “fins”. The fins are the result of erosion along parallel fractures.
Devil’s Garden, UtahA section of the High Lava Plains of central Oregon is a kipuka (an area isolated by surrounding lava flows) also known by this name. It was formed from fissure eruptions of basalt.
The Devil’s Playground is not your typical place of joy and laughter, but a grouping of granitic rock features weathered into fantastic forms and eerie shapes. A Tertiary-age (approximately 38 million years old) granitic intrusion overlying Paleozoic (400 to 300 million years old) sedimentary rocks is known as the Emigrant Pass pluton.
Devils Playground, UtahThe deadly Devil’s Playground in the Mohave Desert of California was the nickname pinned on a 17-mile stretch of drifting sand that had neither a track to follow nor water to drink.
In Tennessee, near vertical bedding produces huge rock formations that look like fins (or teeth) protrude from the Southwest flank of Cumberland Mountain known as the Devil’s Racetrack. Hikers and climbers must watch for falls from these rocks.
The Devil’s Race Course is a boulder field in Dauphin County, PA. Rock outcrops along the ridges provided the now rounded boulders. Stream flow from Rattling Run has washed away all the finer sediment. Sometimes the stream can be heard under river of rock. Legend has it that the area’s early settlers believed the sound of the water was the devil running through the depths of hell.
Devil’s Racecourse, PAThe term Devil’s Elbow often refers to an obvious and problematic bend in a river or a road. Most notably, in Pulaski County, Missouri, a sharp turn in the river has this unlucky name. Switchback bends along a hillside are constructed to navigate a steep slope. One such tight curve along a road bordering a rock cliff in New York has an associated legend of the vanishing hitchhiker. The road was eventually straightened to avoid mishaps.
The Devil’s Windpipe is a natural chute in the rocks in Arizona. When the wind blows across the hot landscape, it’s said it feels like the breathing of the devil himself. The Devil’s Throat is a remarkable cave in Bulgaria that swallows the Trigrad River where it funnels through the Hall of Thunder. This cave in the Rhodope Mountains is associated with the legend of Orpheus descending into the underworld to look for Eurydice. There is also a large sinkhole called the Devil’s Throat near Lake Mead in Nevada.
Multiple features exist with the name Devil’s Backbone which typically indicates a prominent ridge of rock that looks like a spine or teeth. Iowa has a state park characterized by a narrow and steep ridge of bedrock carved by a loop of the Maquoketa River. The towers, columns and rocky cliffs make for precipitous climbing. Maryland also has a park where a rock ridge 512 feet above sea level was formed by erosion at the confluence of the Antietam and Beaver Creek and is a noted scenic area. A narrow jutting of rock from a ridge forms a distinct “backbone” across the landscape west of Loveland, Colorado. A particularly striking vertical wall of dark andesite about 1,000 feet long exists within the volcanic crater of Crater Lake, Oregon. The dike was formed when molten lava filled cracks as it forced its way upwards and then solidified. Erosion of the surrounding material has left the resistant material standing. The Illinois “Backbone” is a rocky landmark on a ridge in the Grand Tower area. The rapids near here were supposedly very dangerous and native legends evil spirits were responsible. Nearby is the Devil’s Bake Oven – a nearly 100’ rock on the edge of the river where folklorists have documented ghostly visions and sounds.
Devil’s Backbone, Loveland CO.About 80,000 to 100,000 years ago in eastern California, basaltic lava gushed from fissures and formed a lake within a glacial-formed valley some 400 feet deep. The lava cooled slowly, forming the hexagonal columnar structure that is so striking (also present in Devil’s Tower and Giant’s Causeway), resembling a pile of posts. Thus, it’s called the Devils Postpile. Glaciers smoothed and scarred the top of the formation. Devils Postpile (no apostrophe – which is the case with most official U.S. “devil” monuments) is now a national monument. A Little Devils Postpile exists in Yosemite.
Devils Postpile National MonumentDevils Lake in Wisconsin, part of a state park, is situated in a deep chasm formed by glacial action. It has no visible inlet or outlet. The lake was originally called “Sacred Lake” or “Spirit Lake” by the natives who considered it sacred where voices of the spirits could be heard. Glacial striations mark the rock surfaces around the lake and there are Native effigy mounds nearby. The lake has spooky legends of a phantom canoer, and lake monster, and some stories say the natives considered it a “place of many dead”.
A similar lake exists in North Dakota, also in a closed basin and also renamed from the Natives’ interpretation of “Spirit Lake”. This lake has been plagued with flooding problems.
Seven Devils Lake is a small reservoir in South Arkansas, located about 14 miles (23 km) out of Monticello. The Lake is formed by Seven Devils Dam. The area got its name from a man who was trapped in the area for days and finally made it out. A reporter asked if he found the rumored seven lakes of the area, but the man stated that there were not seven lakes, but seven devils. This area is the most northern point west of the Mississippi River where American alligators can be found.
Many bare mountain summits are named for their stark barrenness. Several rocky scenic outlooks called Devil’s Knobs are recognized around the world. There are many places called Devil’s Peak often referring to an imposing, rocky mount. Such peaks are in Cape Town in South Africa, Hong Kong, Flanders Range in Australia, Soda Springs, California, Santa Barbara, California, and in Nevada. A location in Baja, California has the Spanish name Picacho del Diablo and is also known as the Cerro de la Encantada or “Hill of the Enchanted”. It is a ragged granite summit that makes for a popular but challenging climb.
Mount Diablo in Contra Costa, California is awash with legends and has a reputation as a strange place. Now a state park, it was historically an important landmark for mapping and navigation because of its visibility and location. It is a geological anomaly, part of a thrust fault complex, growing higher every year due to compression of tectonic plates. Native tribes have various legends about it included the mountain as a point of creation. A notable legend of how the mountain got its name was from a misinterpretation of “Monte del Diablo” meaning “thicket of the devil” after several Natives escaped from the Spanish in 1805 into a nearby thicket. Not long after, the name was interpreted to mean a place of evil spirits. It’s not clear if this name was derived from a genuine tradition of spooky happenings in the area and there have been several attempts to rename the mountain to shake off the diabolical reputation. Author Loren Coleman writes that many unusual incidents have occurred in the Mount Diablo area, appropriate for its reputation, including sightings of black panthers (a difficult-to-explain animal that is reported all too regularly), mysterious lights, apparitions and even a claim of a live frog found in a stony concretion.
West Face of Mount Diablo and Highway 24. By Trurl66 – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5526277So-called Devil’s bathtubs are deep spots in a creek popular with visitors looking to cool off. In Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio, water falls from rock ledges into the stream where the water swirls into a bowl-shaped gorge. People told stories of this being as deep as hell. The pockets and tunnels were formed from scouring glacial meltwaters thousands of years ago.
In Scott County, Virginia, the Bathtub is a scour pool in the Devil’s Fork of Stony Creek. It’s not the easiest spot to get to and the water is far from hot. Many photos of the location have circulated on social media but these seem to be from the Ohio location, or from some other feature entirely, leading many to be disappointed when they reach this particular tub. The overabundance of visitors prompted by social media has caused local problems and threaten the natural area. The South Dakota version of the devil’s tub is much more secluded. With high rocky cliffs nearby, the water cascades in a chute called “the slide” and swirls into the tub.
According to Wikipedia, there are no less than 105 different locations of the Devil’s Canyon in the United States alone including Utah, Oklahoma, and California. Areas with this designation are typically steep, remote, and have plentiful snakes as residents. In Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico, Devil’s Canyon, so far as anyone knows, is so named because of the pinnacles – needles and balanced rocks that form the canyon walls and resemble distorted human forms. A 2017 TV show called “Devil’s Canyon” is based in British Columbia. It is the story of three gold prospectors seeking treasure in the canyon where they believe large deposits have escaped exploitation by big mining companies. But the rough, isolated terrain, bad weather, and wild animals make it an unforgiving location to explore.
A rock formation where the lower strata is more eroded and weathered leaving a larger slab perched precipitously on top are called “tea tables”. Such formations are a variety of hoodoo. Notable examples of Devil’s Tea Tables exist in Athens County, Ohio and in Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest. These features appear to lean in every direction, so whatever side you view it from, it looks like it will fall on you. A tea table feature in McConnelsville, Ohio collapsed in 1906. Explorers who came across the gravity-defying features often attributed their origin to supernatural forces.
Devils Tea Table, McConnelsvilleNot necessarily natural are the standing stones in North Yorkshire, England, called Devils Arrows. Legend has it that the Devil himself threw the stones into the ground as arrows to attack Christians in Aldborough but they fell short. The prehistoric monuments likely were constructed as part of a ritual landscape. Similarly, the Devil’s Quoits in Stanton Harcourt are also part of a Neolithic-age stone circle. The legend here is “the Devil once played quoits (a game) with a beggar for his soul or, alternatively, that it was a Sunday and God rebuked him whereby he flung the stones in anger. Many stone circles and henges in the UK remain imbued with New Age and mystical significance.
The most famous Devil’s Gulch, in Garretson, South Dakota, is rife with legends. This 18-20 foot chasm across blocks of quartzite is said to have obtained its name from strange noises made by the winds as they blow through. Split Rock Creek below is associated with a “bottomless pit” in the stream bed. (If it’s bottomless, how does the stream flow over it?) A Native tale tells a different origin story. They called it “Spirit Canyon” and that it was formed when two warriors fought. When the spirit warrior’s tomahawk hit the ground, it split the land forming the gulch. But the most famous legend, now marked on the spot, is that outlaw Jesse James made a getaway by leaping the gap on his horse. The location is now a park and also has Devil’s Falls and the Devil’s Stairway nearby.
When Satan needs a rest, he chooses Devils Throne, a summit in Idaho County, Idaho. It forms part of the Seven Devils Mountains. Or the Devil’s Chair in San Gabriel Mountains is part of the Devil’s Punchbowl.
What is really haunting the Devil’s Swamp in Scotlandville, Louisiana are nasty chemicals that have been poured into it, destroying the ecosystem over the years leaving ghosts of those animals (and people) dead from pollution. Beware when visiting this toxic stew. The Seven Devils Swamp natural area in Arkansas, however, is a healthy and diverse ecosystem.
Part of the Craters of the Moon National monument, Idaho, Devil’s Orchard has trees and vegetation growing from the flood basalt lava flows of the Snake River Plain volcanic province. The Orchard is a group of lava-transported cinder cone fragments that were once part of the North Crater cinder cone but broke off and were carried away by a new lava flow. The place is described as “otherworldly” with the black rocks providing no shade. Shoshone legend speaks of a serpent on a mountain who, angered by lightning, coiled around and squeezed the mountain until liquid rock flowed, fire shot from cracks, and the mountain exploded. Craters of the Moon National Monument was proclaimed on May 2, 1924 by U.S. President Calvin Coolidge to “preserve the unusual and weird volcanic formations”
Devil’s Orchard, IdahoIn the Big South Fork National River and Recreation area in Kentucky/Tennessee, legend has it that a band of brothers looking for salt drilled a well so deep that it hit oil. They became concerned that the well was so deep, it might reach Hell. Finally, they did strike something, but instead of salt brine coming out of the ground a black, smelly, sticky liquid came oozing out of the pipe. These explorers did not know what oil was, and since they were of a religious nature, they were disturbed about the new-found product. When they saw how this black substance burned, they called it Devil’s Tar. One of the crew was sent downstream with a sample but his raft overturned at the rapids. Later, he told the story that the devil himself, angry at the invasion of his domain, leaped from one of the rocks onto the raft sinking it. The rapids were named the Devils Jump.
Two other Devil’s Jumps occur in England. Three little hills near Frensham are said to have been thrown up by the Devil taking three enormous leaps. The Devil’s Jumps in Churt, county of Surrey, (also known as Devil’s Three Jumps) are a series of three small hills made of “ironstone” making them resistant to erosion. The devil made his mark all around this area, according to legend, as several local landmarks play into the story of his visit. For example, the tale goes that Devil made off with the cauldron of the witch, Mother Ludlam. As she chased him, the Devil’s leaps kicked up hills now known as the Devil’s Jumps. He left the cauldron on Kettlebury Hill and also left a valley known as the Devil’s Punch Bowl.
Another tale tells that the Devil amused himself by leaping from the top of each hill to the next. This annoyed the god Thor who picked up a boulder and threw it at the Devil, causing him to flee. The boulder remains at Devil’s Jumps. The same story is told of the Devil’s Jumps near Treyford on the South Downs in West Sussex though these are barrows upon which the Devil jumped. Other round barrows in Stoughton are also called the Devil’s humps.
Similar to the Jumps are the Devils Footprints – grassy meadows that top some peaks in the Appalachian mountains, particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains. These peaks, also called “balds” are where trees won’t grow, legendarily because the devil himself stepped there. More realistic theories are that the treeless patches are the result of past clearing, animal grazing or burning. Or that the soil, climate, or biota prevents trees from growing. It’s not clear why some summits are bald where others are not.
Apparent “footprints” in rock appear at Devils Foot Rock. Many colorful tales are told of the Devil himself leaving the prints as he pursued maidens or stomped in frustration.
Devil’s Promenade in extreme southwestern Missouri is the site of a regionally noted “spook light”. The locals named the four-mile-long gravel road on the border between southwestern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma west of the small town of Hornet, Missouri. Hornet is famous for the Hornet Spooklight (also called the Joplin spooklight) – a seemingly unexplained light that appears in the distance. Some have explained it as normal lights from cars or trains and others insist it is paranormal in nature. The bridge along the Devil’s Promenade was originally a rickety wooden bridge. Legend had it that “anyone who walked back and forth across the bridge five times (or seven or three depending on who you ask) very slowly and asking for the Devil to appear, he would either answer three questions, grant three wishes or of course, kill you. Again this depends on the version you hear.” A concrete bridge was constructed and the story seems to have diminished. One story of the light’s origin was that it is the Devil swinging his Jack-o-lantern. Other stories, according to the Prarie Ghosts website, says the light represents the spirit of two young Quapaw Indians who died in the area. Another claimed the light was the spirit of an Osage Indian chief who had been beheaded on the Devil’s Promenade. As with many spook light stories, the light represents a torch carried by the ghost as he searches for his missing head. The torch motif also shows up in the version of the legend that a miner is searching in vain for his missing children by lantern light. Tellers of these tales claim that the lights and legends existed in Native lore prior to the construction of this road.
Many impressive masonry structures are named the Devil’s Bridge and have associated lore to go with them. The bridge in Sedona, Arizona, in the Coconino National Forest, is a large natural sandstone arch. In Massachusetts, the Devil’s Bridge is a shallow reef running northwest off the northwest corner of Martha’s Vineyard. This hazard to ships was supposedly created by the mighty giant Moshup. The local Wampanoag tribal history tells the tale:
Moshup was building a bridge to Cuttyhunk with heavy boulders when a giant crab latched onto his foot. In his pain and anger, he gave up leaving a treacherous shoal instead. The area has been the site of several shipwrecks.
In North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest is the Devil’s Courthouse. According to Andrea Lankford:
By bradploeger – originally posted to Flickr as Devil’s Courthouse, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4237496“Cherokees believed an evil spirit [or giant} named Judaculla held court on top of this bare rock summit with a 360 degree view of three states”.
Whiteside Mountain in Jackson County, North Carolina also has a feature of this name. The bare overhanging rock is windy and dangerous.
The Devil’s Apronful cairn consists of a heap of rocks and boulders near Pendle Hill in Lancashire, England. Several natural boulders were used to construct the mound which provides an impressive view both now and back in Bronze Age times. The thousands of rocks of gritstone and sandstone are scattered in a roughly circular area. The area however is mostly limestone. It’s been suggested that the stones were glacial erratics and the stones were gathered by farmers to get them out of the fields. But there are more fantastic origin stories. The Devil was annoyed with people at Clitheroe Castle in the west. To do away with it, he filled an “apron” (quite the visual) with rocks to pitch at them. Most missed and in his rage he dropped the rest on this south side of Pendle Hill, creating Apronful Hill. For the similar Apronful in Yorkshire, the tale is that the Devil was collecting stones in his apron in order to build a bridge or fill in the ravine when his apron string broke (or he tripped) and the stones fell out. The Devil’s Apronful sites were disturbed by curious visitors and looters but are now protected.
The Devil has two “Hopyards”. One is a State Park and public recreation area in East Haddam, Connecticut. There are several ideas about how the place got its curious name. One is that it refers to supernatural origins for the naturally occurring potholes in the area. These potholes were formed by the grinding actions of stones moved downstream by the current when trapped in an eddy, wearing a depression in the rock. To the early settlers the potholes were a great mystery, and as with many “devilish” features, they explained them with references to the supernatural. They thought that the Devil has passed by the falls, accidentally getting his tail wet. This made him so mad he burned holes in the stones with his hooves as he bounded away. A sign in the park tells of the legends regarding the name. Another site with this name is in New Hampshire. This is a boulder-filled ravine where you can sometimes hear water running.
Devil’s Dyke (or ditch) near Bleaklow, in Sussex, England is a deep gully supposedly cut by Satan’s claws when he became enraged at the loss of a prospective soul. Other tales say it is his unfinished ditch as he bet St. Cuthberth he could dig it in one night and flood the town. The tourist-attracting feature is really the result of mass wasting and river erosion into a dip-slope valley. The V-shaped dry valley, the deepest in England, was born from the cold climate of 14,000 years ago when this area of chalk bedrock was covered in snow. During warm seasons, the upper layers of soil and weathered rock slid away with the thaw. Finally, an ancient river carried the material away at the end of the Ice Age. That river is now gone but its valley remains. The high hill showed the surrounding terrain and was used as a defensive position as well as being an impressive location to hold special events. Remains of an Iron Age fort have been found here. The location is managed by the National Trust and is a recreational area. A trail supposedly leads to the alleged burial site of the Devil and his wife. In 1900, a sound called The Howling Terror was heard echoing in the valley. It wasn’t demons but the testing of a new invention called the megaphone being used at the amusement park on the top of the Dyke.
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The information provided here is based on a cursory search of these sites and the entries will be expanded as I discover new source material (or visit them!). Please contact me with your corrections, information (preferably with solid references), and photographs and I will gladly add them to the page. Or, leave your contribution in the comments. Thanks!Book References
Coleman, L. (2001). Mysterious America (Revised edition). Paraview Press.
Lankford, A. (2006). Haunted Hikes. Santa Monica Press.
MORE Devil-related content: Devil’s corkscrew, Going to Hell, Legends of Bottomless pits, Moodus: Place of Bad Noises
#devil #DevilPlaces #DevilSBackbone #DevilSElbow #DevilSGarden #DevilSPlayground #DevilSPostpile #DevilSRacecourse #DevilSWindpipe #DevilsLake #MountDiablo #Satan
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Devil Places
There are countless places in the world named after the Devil (and variations of an evil one in other words and languages). If variations are added such as “Satan,” “Lucifer,” and “Diablo,” for example, the list is massive. Devil places sometimes owe their names to the geology. The features of these places may create a spooky and foreboding feeling that reinforces the local legends of the places being cursed, evil or enchanted.
These places have historically or very recently been associated with spirits, magic, strange phenomenon and/or death. In the U.S., many sacred places of indigenous peoples were renamed by the more puritanical sort as “devil” places in order to demonize the past (and previous spiritual beliefs). Devil places are particularly ubiquitous in New England, where the Puritans started their renaming. The rocky landscape gave them plenty of impetus. They truly believed Satan was about, ready to steal their souls. They considered Indian deities to be demons or devils. Spots where shamans would gather or practice might have been a place of geological uniqueness and were given a bad name by the newcomers.
Connecticut might be nicknamed the devil’s playground with some 34 place names including five Devil’s Dens, four Backbones, two Kitchens and a Dripping Pan, as well as a Hell Hole and two Satan’s Kingdoms. Massachusetts is the most devilish state, with 43 place names. Arizona is chock full of “devil” and “hell” names due to the hellishly hot weather suitable for demons.
Satan’s Kingdom
Legends say that Satan himself claimed the area now called Satan’s Kingdom in New Hartford, Connecticut as his own until the angel Gabriel decided the area was too idyllic and cleared out the dark lord and his band of demons. In Vermont, Satans Kingdom got its name supposedly because the settlers who expected fertile land got difficult rocks and hills instead. In Massachusetts, settlers came into the area in the 1670’s during King Philip’s War, where native villagers defended their land. The rough terrain and dangerous wildlife made it difficult for the settler-colonialists to conquer.
The Northern Cascades National park in Washington is very much a hellscape. The Backpacker.com site says of a hiking trail there: “The devil looms large on this rugged loop—you’ll pass Devils Creek, Pass, Park, Junction, and Dome—and you may curse like Satan during the initial 3,300-foot, 4-mile climb to McMillan Park”.
As you will see in this collection of Devilish places, they commonly are places of remarkable features, desolation, or treacherous traversing.
In 2013, Jonathan Hull did a map of US places with Devil-related names. Though many locations received their names from attributes other than geologically related ones, he noted that Devil-named areas often indicated a dangerous, extreme, or remote place. Sadly, I can’t find the full-scale map online anymore.
This is the best version I could find of Hull’s map.While my collection is woefully incomplete, I did pick some notable Devil-named locations with geological connections. Several of these warrant their own pages on the site. Click on the titles to head to these pages:
Devil’s Tower
An iconic volcanic feature in the Black Hills of Wyoming was known as being the location in the culminating scene in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It has become a draw for not only sci-fi enthusiasts but also UFO chasers and New Age believers.Devil’s Den
To gain this place name, the location usually has stark, huge rock boulders or outcrops, often with caves and crevasses. Several famous locations exist in the U.S. where not only supposedly spirits but also people used as hiding places.Devil’s Hole
A depression or cave often containing water that has gained a reputation of being deadly, a path to the underworld, or bottomless. (Or all three together). The most famous being the Devil’s Hole of Death Valley, a bizarre oasis in the desert.Devil’s Kitchen
Scenic locations characterized by their impressive geological features that suggest something evil is cooking.Devil’s Gate
A cleft or gorge that is considered a dangerous area for natural or supernatural reasons.Devil’s Punchbowl
Bowl-shaped depressions of various sizes that stand out from the landscape and may look as if they have been deliberately created for or from a nefarious action.Some lesser known locations with ‘Devil’ names are just as curious. Their oddness prompted locals to bestow upon them an accursed name.
Devils Head Rock, North CarolinaThree locations in Pennsylvania have the name Devil’s Potato Patch to designate boulder fields. One is between Danielsville and Little Gap in Northampton County, just west of the Blue Mtn ski area off the Appalachian Trail. This is an otherwise featureless field of sandstone blocks resulting from frost action that broke up the ridge-forming rock. It is on State Game Lands and, like other boulder fields, is treacherous to traverse and home to sunning snakes. Another Patch is located on the border of Lebanon and Lancaster County near Brickerville. This “river” of diabase boulders is a wooded and graffiti-strewn, neglected and full of various hazards like trash, bottles, and poison ivy. The third is in Salford Township, Montgomery County, where the boulders of diabase will ring when hammered.
Another “Tater Patch” is a windy ridge with spooky twisted trees in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of Tennessee/ N. Carolina.
Similar to these rocky landscapes is the Devil’s Marbleyard of the James River Face Wilderness, in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Natural Bridge Station, Virginia. The Virginia Trail Guide describes it thusly:
“…looks like an immense stone mountain exploded and collapsed into thousands of boulders of every shape and size.”
Australia also has the Devil’s Marbles, a scattered array of large granite boulders in a 4500-acre area of the Northern Territory which was the traditional land of the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Alyawarra and Warlpiri people. They call it “Karlu Karlu”. The rocks are set precariously and have been chemically and physically weathered into rounded shapes. One legend says the natives thought these were the eggs of the rainbow serpent. But the official management plan for the reserve explains the traditional origin:
The whole area of the reserve is known as Ayleparrarntenhe, which is also the name of the place of origin and final resting place of Arrange, the Devil Man—a twin-peaked hill to the east of the reserve. Traditional Owners tell the story of how the Marbles came into being:
Arrange, the Devil Man, came from Ayleparrarntenhe and travelled through the area. During his journey, he was making a hair belt (as worn by initiated men). Twirling the hair into strings, Arrange dropped clusters of hair on the ground. These turned into the Karlu Karlu boulders that can be seen today. On his way back, Arrange spat on the ground. His spit also turned into the granite boulders which dot the central part of the reserve. Arrange finally returned to his place of origin, Ayleparrarntenhe.
Removal or desecration (even climbing) of the rocks and smaller rocks of nearby Devil’s Pebbles (Kunjarra) is said to bring bad luck to the tribes.
Several rocky areas are also called Devil’s Garden with unique vegetation or none at all. The Devil’s Garden portion of Arches National Park in Moab, Utah features “arches, spires, and a large concentration of narrow rock walls called “fins”. The fins are the result of erosion along parallel fractures.
Devil’s Garden, UtahA section of the High Lava Plains of central Oregon is a kipuka (an area isolated by surrounding lava flows) also known by this name. It was formed from fissure eruptions of basalt.
The Devil’s Playground is not your typical place of joy and laughter, but a grouping of granitic rock features weathered into fantastic forms and eerie shapes. A Tertiary-age (approximately 38 million years old) granitic intrusion overlying Paleozoic (400 to 300 million years old) sedimentary rocks is known as the Emigrant Pass pluton.
Devils Playground, UtahThe deadly Devil’s Playground in the Mohave Desert of California was the nickname pinned on a 17-mile stretch of drifting sand that had neither a track to follow nor water to drink.
In Tennessee, near vertical bedding produces huge rock formations that look like fins (or teeth) protrude from the Southwest flank of Cumberland Mountain known as the Devil’s Racetrack. Hikers and climbers must watch for falls from these rocks.
The Devil’s Race Course is a boulder field in Dauphin County, PA. Rock outcrops along the ridges provided the now rounded boulders. Stream flow from Rattling Run has washed away all the finer sediment. Sometimes the stream can be heard under river of rock. Legend has it that the area’s early settlers believed the sound of the water was the devil running through the depths of hell.
Devil’s Racecourse, PAThe term Devil’s Elbow often refers to an obvious and problematic bend in a river or a road. Most notably, in Pulaski County, Missouri, a sharp turn in the river has this unlucky name. Switchback bends along a hillside are constructed to navigate a steep slope. One such tight curve along a road bordering a rock cliff in New York has an associated legend of the vanishing hitchhiker. The road was eventually straightened to avoid mishaps.
The Devil’s Windpipe is a natural chute in the rocks in Arizona. When the wind blows across the hot landscape, it’s said it feels like the breathing of the devil himself. The Devil’s Throat is a remarkable cave in Bulgaria that swallows the Trigrad River where it funnels through the Hall of Thunder. This cave in the Rhodope Mountains is associated with the legend of Orpheus descending into the underworld to look for Eurydice. There is also a large sinkhole called the Devil’s Throat near Lake Mead in Nevada.
Multiple features exist with the name Devil’s Backbone which typically indicates a prominent ridge of rock that looks like a spine or teeth. Iowa has a state park characterized by a narrow and steep ridge of bedrock carved by a loop of the Maquoketa River. The towers, columns and rocky cliffs make for precipitous climbing. Maryland also has a park where a rock ridge 512 feet above sea level was formed by erosion at the confluence of the Antietam and Beaver Creek and is a noted scenic area. A narrow jutting of rock from a ridge forms a distinct “backbone” across the landscape west of Loveland, Colorado. A particularly striking vertical wall of dark andesite about 1,000 feet long exists within the volcanic crater of Crater Lake, Oregon. The dike was formed when molten lava filled cracks as it forced its way upwards and then solidified. Erosion of the surrounding material has left the resistant material standing. The Illinois “Backbone” is a rocky landmark on a ridge in the Grand Tower area. The rapids near here were supposedly very dangerous and native legends evil spirits were responsible. Nearby is the Devil’s Bake Oven – a nearly 100’ rock on the edge of the river where folklorists have documented ghostly visions and sounds.
Devil’s Backbone, Loveland CO.About 80,000 to 100,000 years ago in eastern California, basaltic lava gushed from fissures and formed a lake within a glacial-formed valley some 400 feet deep. The lava cooled slowly, forming the hexagonal columnar structure that is so striking (also present in Devil’s Tower and Giant’s Causeway), resembling a pile of posts. Thus, it’s called the Devils Postpile. Glaciers smoothed and scarred the top of the formation. Devils Postpile (no apostrophe – which is the case with most official U.S. “devil” monuments) is now a national monument. A Little Devils Postpile exists in Yosemite.
Devils Postpile National MonumentDevils Lake in Wisconsin, part of a state park, is situated in a deep chasm formed by glacial action. It has no visible inlet or outlet. The lake was originally called “Sacred Lake” or “Spirit Lake” by the natives who considered it sacred where voices of the spirits could be heard. Glacial striations mark the rock surfaces around the lake and there are Native effigy mounds nearby. The lake has spooky legends of a phantom canoer, and lake monster, and some stories say the natives considered it a “place of many dead”.
A similar lake exists in North Dakota, also in a closed basin and also renamed from the Natives’ interpretation of “Spirit Lake”. This lake has been plagued with flooding problems.
Seven Devils Lake is a small reservoir in South Arkansas, located about 14 miles (23 km) out of Monticello. The Lake is formed by Seven Devils Dam. The area got its name from a man who was trapped in the area for days and finally made it out. A reporter asked if he found the rumored seven lakes of the area, but the man stated that there were not seven lakes, but seven devils. This area is the most northern point west of the Mississippi River where American alligators can be found.
Many bare mountain summits are named for their stark barrenness. Several rocky scenic outlooks called Devil’s Knobs are recognized around the world. There are many places called Devil’s Peak often referring to an imposing, rocky mount. Such peaks are in Cape Town in South Africa, Hong Kong, Flanders Range in Australia, Soda Springs, California, Santa Barbara, California, and in Nevada. A location in Baja, California has the Spanish name Picacho del Diablo and is also known as the Cerro de la Encantada or “Hill of the Enchanted”. It is a ragged granite summit that makes for a popular but challenging climb.
Mount Diablo in Contra Costa, California is awash with legends and has a reputation as a strange place. Now a state park, it was historically an important landmark for mapping and navigation because of its visibility and location. It is a geological anomaly, part of a thrust fault complex, growing higher every year due to compression of tectonic plates. Native tribes have various legends about it included the mountain as a point of creation. A notable legend of how the mountain got its name was from a misinterpretation of “Monte del Diablo” meaning “thicket of the devil” after several Natives escaped from the Spanish in 1805 into a nearby thicket. Not long after, the name was interpreted to mean a place of evil spirits. It’s not clear if this name was derived from a genuine tradition of spooky happenings in the area and there have been several attempts to rename the mountain to shake off the diabolical reputation. Author Loren Coleman writes that many unusual incidents have occurred in the Mount Diablo area, appropriate for its reputation, including sightings of black panthers (a difficult-to-explain animal that is reported all too regularly), mysterious lights, apparitions and even a claim of a live frog found in a stony concretion.
West Face of Mount Diablo and Highway 24. By Trurl66 – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5526277So-called Devil’s bathtubs are deep spots in a creek popular with visitors looking to cool off. In Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio, water falls from rock ledges into the stream where the water swirls into a bowl-shaped gorge. People told stories of this being as deep as hell. The pockets and tunnels were formed from scouring glacial meltwaters thousands of years ago.
In Scott County, Virginia, the Bathtub is a scour pool in the Devil’s Fork of Stony Creek. It’s not the easiest spot to get to and the water is far from hot. Many photos of the location have circulated on social media but these seem to be from the Ohio location, or from some other feature entirely, leading many to be disappointed when they reach this particular tub. The overabundance of visitors prompted by social media has caused local problems and threaten the natural area. The South Dakota version of the devil’s tub is much more secluded. With high rocky cliffs nearby, the water cascades in a chute called “the slide” and swirls into the tub.
According to Wikipedia, there are no less than 105 different locations of the Devil’s Canyon in the United States alone including Utah, Oklahoma, and California. Areas with this designation are typically steep, remote, and have plentiful snakes as residents. In Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico, Devil’s Canyon, so far as anyone knows, is so named because of the pinnacles – needles and balanced rocks that form the canyon walls and resemble distorted human forms. A 2017 TV show called “Devil’s Canyon” is based in British Columbia. It is the story of three gold prospectors seeking treasure in the canyon where they believe large deposits have escaped exploitation by big mining companies. But the rough, isolated terrain, bad weather, and wild animals make it an unforgiving location to explore.
A rock formation where the lower strata is more eroded and weathered leaving a larger slab perched precipitously on top are called “tea tables”. Such formations are a variety of hoodoo. Notable examples of Devil’s Tea Tables exist in Athens County, Ohio and in Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest. These features appear to lean in every direction, so whatever side you view it from, it looks like it will fall on you. A tea table feature in McConnelsville, Ohio collapsed in 1906. Explorers who came across the gravity-defying features often attributed their origin to supernatural forces.
Devils Tea Table, McConnelsvilleNot necessarily natural are the standing stones in North Yorkshire, England, called Devils Arrows. Legend has it that the Devil himself threw the stones into the ground as arrows to attack Christians in Aldborough but they fell short. The prehistoric monuments likely were constructed as part of a ritual landscape. Similarly, the Devil’s Quoits in Stanton Harcourt are also part of a Neolithic-age stone circle. The legend here is “the Devil once played quoits (a game) with a beggar for his soul or, alternatively, that it was a Sunday and God rebuked him whereby he flung the stones in anger. Many stone circles and henges in the UK remain imbued with New Age and mystical significance.
The most famous Devil’s Gulch, in Garretson, South Dakota, is rife with legends. This 18-20 foot chasm across blocks of quartzite is said to have obtained its name from strange noises made by the winds as they blow through. Split Rock Creek below is associated with a “bottomless pit” in the stream bed. (If it’s bottomless, how does the stream flow over it?) A Native tale tells a different origin story. They called it “Spirit Canyon” and that it was formed when two warriors fought. When the spirit warrior’s tomahawk hit the ground, it split the land forming the gulch. But the most famous legend, now marked on the spot, is that outlaw Jesse James made a getaway by leaping the gap on his horse. The location is now a park and also has Devil’s Falls and the Devil’s Stairway nearby.
When Satan needs a rest, he chooses Devils Throne, a summit in Idaho County, Idaho. It forms part of the Seven Devils Mountains. Or the Devil’s Chair in San Gabriel Mountains is part of the Devil’s Punchbowl.
What is really haunting the Devil’s Swamp in Scotlandville, Louisiana are nasty chemicals that have been poured into it, destroying the ecosystem over the years leaving ghosts of those animals (and people) dead from pollution. Beware when visiting this toxic stew. The Seven Devils Swamp natural area in Arkansas, however, is a healthy and diverse ecosystem.
Part of the Craters of the Moon National monument, Idaho, Devil’s Orchard has trees and vegetation growing from the flood basalt lava flows of the Snake River Plain volcanic province. The Orchard is a group of lava-transported cinder cone fragments that were once part of the North Crater cinder cone but broke off and were carried away by a new lava flow. The place is described as “otherworldly” with the black rocks providing no shade. Shoshone legend speaks of a serpent on a mountain who, angered by lightning, coiled around and squeezed the mountain until liquid rock flowed, fire shot from cracks, and the mountain exploded. Craters of the Moon National Monument was proclaimed on May 2, 1924 by U.S. President Calvin Coolidge to “preserve the unusual and weird volcanic formations”
Devil’s Orchard, IdahoIn the Big South Fork National River and Recreation area in Kentucky/Tennessee, legend has it that a band of brothers looking for salt drilled a well so deep that it hit oil. They became concerned that the well was so deep, it might reach Hell. Finally, they did strike something, but instead of salt brine coming out of the ground a black, smelly, sticky liquid came oozing out of the pipe. These explorers did not know what oil was, and since they were of a religious nature, they were disturbed about the new-found product. When they saw how this black substance burned, they called it Devil’s Tar. One of the crew was sent downstream with a sample but his raft overturned at the rapids. Later, he told the story that the devil himself, angry at the invasion of his domain, leaped from one of the rocks onto the raft sinking it. The rapids were named the Devils Jump.
Two other Devil’s Jumps occur in England. Three little hills near Frensham are said to have been thrown up by the Devil taking three enormous leaps. The Devil’s Jumps in Churt, county of Surrey, (also known as Devil’s Three Jumps) are a series of three small hills made of “ironstone” making them resistant to erosion. The devil made his mark all around this area, according to legend, as several local landmarks play into the story of his visit. For example, the tale goes that Devil made off with the cauldron of the witch, Mother Ludlam. As she chased him, the Devil’s leaps kicked up hills now known as the Devil’s Jumps. He left the cauldron on Kettlebury Hill and also left a valley known as the Devil’s Punch Bowl.
Another tale tells that the Devil amused himself by leaping from the top of each hill to the next. This annoyed the god Thor who picked up a boulder and threw it at the Devil, causing him to flee. The boulder remains at Devil’s Jumps. The same story is told of the Devil’s Jumps near Treyford on the South Downs in West Sussex though these are barrows upon which the Devil jumped. Other round barrows in Stoughton are also called the Devil’s humps.
Similar to the Jumps are the Devils Footprints – grassy meadows that top some peaks in the Appalachian mountains, particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains. These peaks, also called “balds” are where trees won’t grow, legendarily because the devil himself stepped there. More realistic theories are that the treeless patches are the result of past clearing, animal grazing or burning. Or that the soil, climate, or biota prevents trees from growing. It’s not clear why some summits are bald where others are not.
Apparent “footprints” in rock appear at Devils Foot Rock. Many colorful tales are told of the Devil himself leaving the prints as he pursued maidens or stomped in frustration.
Devil’s Promenade in extreme southwestern Missouri is the site of a regionally noted “spook light”. The locals named the four-mile-long gravel road on the border between southwestern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma west of the small town of Hornet, Missouri. Hornet is famous for the Hornet Spooklight (also called the Joplin spooklight) – a seemingly unexplained light that appears in the distance. Some have explained it as normal lights from cars or trains and others insist it is paranormal in nature. The bridge along the Devil’s Promenade was originally a rickety wooden bridge. Legend had it that “anyone who walked back and forth across the bridge five times (or seven or three depending on who you ask) very slowly and asking for the Devil to appear, he would either answer three questions, grant three wishes or of course, kill you. Again this depends on the version you hear.” A concrete bridge was constructed and the story seems to have diminished. One story of the light’s origin was that it is the Devil swinging his Jack-o-lantern. Other stories, according to the Prarie Ghosts website, says the light represents the spirit of two young Quapaw Indians who died in the area. Another claimed the light was the spirit of an Osage Indian chief who had been beheaded on the Devil’s Promenade. As with many spook light stories, the light represents a torch carried by the ghost as he searches for his missing head. The torch motif also shows up in the version of the legend that a miner is searching in vain for his missing children by lantern light. Tellers of these tales claim that the lights and legends existed in Native lore prior to the construction of this road.
Many impressive masonry structures are named the Devil’s Bridge and have associated lore to go with them. The bridge in Sedona, Arizona, in the Coconino National Forest, is a large natural sandstone arch. In Massachusetts, the Devil’s Bridge is a shallow reef running northwest off the northwest corner of Martha’s Vineyard. This hazard to ships was supposedly created by the mighty giant Moshup. The local Wampanoag tribal history tells the tale:
Moshup was building a bridge to Cuttyhunk with heavy boulders when a giant crab latched onto his foot. In his pain and anger, he gave up leaving a treacherous shoal instead. The area has been the site of several shipwrecks.
In North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest is the Devil’s Courthouse. According to Andrea Lankford:
By bradploeger – originally posted to Flickr as Devil’s Courthouse, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4237496“Cherokees believed an evil spirit [or giant} named Judaculla held court on top of this bare rock summit with a 360 degree view of three states”.
Whiteside Mountain in Jackson County, North Carolina also has a feature of this name. The bare overhanging rock is windy and dangerous.
The Devil’s Apronful cairn consists of a heap of rocks and boulders near Pendle Hill in Lancashire, England. Several natural boulders were used to construct the mound which provides an impressive view both now and back in Bronze Age times. The thousands of rocks of gritstone and sandstone are scattered in a roughly circular area. The area however is mostly limestone. It’s been suggested that the stones were glacial erratics and the stones were gathered by farmers to get them out of the fields. But there are more fantastic origin stories. The Devil was annoyed with people at Clitheroe Castle in the west. To do away with it, he filled an “apron” (quite the visual) with rocks to pitch at them. Most missed and in his rage he dropped the rest on this south side of Pendle Hill, creating Apronful Hill. For the similar Apronful in Yorkshire, the tale is that the Devil was collecting stones in his apron in order to build a bridge or fill in the ravine when his apron string broke (or he tripped) and the stones fell out. The Devil’s Apronful sites were disturbed by curious visitors and looters but are now protected.
The Devil has two “Hopyards”. One is a State Park and public recreation area in East Haddam, Connecticut. There are several ideas about how the place got its curious name. One is that it refers to supernatural origins for the naturally occurring potholes in the area. These potholes were formed by the grinding actions of stones moved downstream by the current when trapped in an eddy, wearing a depression in the rock. To the early settlers the potholes were a great mystery, and as with many “devilish” features, they explained them with references to the supernatural. They thought that the Devil has passed by the falls, accidentally getting his tail wet. This made him so mad he burned holes in the stones with his hooves as he bounded away. A sign in the park tells of the legends regarding the name. Another site with this name is in New Hampshire. This is a boulder-filled ravine where you can sometimes hear water running.
Devil’s Dyke (or ditch) near Bleaklow, in Sussex, England is a deep gully supposedly cut by Satan’s claws when he became enraged at the loss of a prospective soul. Other tales say it is his unfinished ditch as he bet St. Cuthberth he could dig it in one night and flood the town. The tourist-attracting feature is really the result of mass wasting and river erosion into a dip-slope valley. The V-shaped dry valley, the deepest in England, was born from the cold climate of 14,000 years ago when this area of chalk bedrock was covered in snow. During warm seasons, the upper layers of soil and weathered rock slid away with the thaw. Finally, an ancient river carried the material away at the end of the Ice Age. That river is now gone but its valley remains. The high hill showed the surrounding terrain and was used as a defensive position as well as being an impressive location to hold special events. Remains of an Iron Age fort have been found here. The location is managed by the National Trust and is a recreational area. A trail supposedly leads to the alleged burial site of the Devil and his wife. In 1900, a sound called The Howling Terror was heard echoing in the valley. It wasn’t demons but the testing of a new invention called the megaphone being used at the amusement park on the top of the Dyke.
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The information provided here is based on a cursory search of these sites and the entries will be expanded as I discover new source material (or visit them!). Please contact me with your corrections, information (preferably with solid references), and photographs and I will gladly add them to the page. Or, leave your contribution in the comments. Thanks!Book References
Coleman, L. (2001). Mysterious America (Revised edition). Paraview Press.
Lankford, A. (2006). Haunted Hikes. Santa Monica Press.
#devil #devilPlaces #devilsBackbone #devilsElbow #devilsGarden #devilsPlayground #devilsPostpile #devilsRacecourse #devilsWindpipe #devilsLake #mountDiablo #satan
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Devil Places
There are countless places in the world named after the Devil (and variations of an evil one in other words and languages). If variations are added such as “Satan,” “Lucifer,” and “Diablo,” for example, the list is massive. Devil places sometimes owe their names to the geology. The features of these places may create a spooky and foreboding feeling that reinforces the local legends of the places being cursed, evil or enchanted.
These places have historically or very recently been associated with spirits, magic, strange phenomenon and/or death. In the U.S., many sacred places of indigenous peoples were renamed by the more puritanical sort as “devil” places in order to demonize the past (and previous spiritual beliefs). Devil places are particularly ubiquitous in New England, where the Puritans started their renaming. The rocky landscape gave them plenty of impetus. They truly believed Satan was about, ready to steal their souls. They considered Indian deities to be demons or devils. Spots where shamans would gather or practice might have been a place of geological uniqueness and were given a bad name by the newcomers.
Connecticut might be nicknamed the devil’s playground with some 34 place names including five Devil’s Dens, four Backbones, two Kitchens and a Dripping Pan, as well as a Hell Hole and two Satan’s Kingdoms. Massachusetts is the most devilish state, with 43 place names. Arizona is chock full of “devil” and “hell” names due to the hellishly hot weather suitable for demons.
Satan’s Kingdom
Legends say that Satan himself claimed the area now called Satan’s Kingdom in New Hartford, Connecticut as his own until the angel Gabriel decided the area was too idyllic and cleared out the dark lord and his band of demons. In Vermont, Satans Kingdom got its name supposedly because the settlers who expected fertile land got difficult rocks and hills instead. In Massachusetts, settlers came into the area in the 1670’s during King Philip’s War, where native villagers defended their land. The rough terrain and dangerous wildlife made it difficult for the settler-colonialists to conquer.
The Northern Cascades National park in Washington is very much a hellscape. The Backpacker.com site says of a hiking trail there: “The devil looms large on this rugged loop—you’ll pass Devils Creek, Pass, Park, Junction, and Dome—and you may curse like Satan during the initial 3,300-foot, 4-mile climb to McMillan Park”.
As you will see in this collection of Devilish places, they commonly are places of remarkable features, desolation, or treacherous traversing.
In 2013, Jonathan Hull did a map of US places with Devil-related names. Though many locations received their names from attributes other than geologically related ones, he noted that Devil-named areas often indicated a dangerous, extreme, or remote place. Sadly, I can’t find the full-scale map online anymore.
This is the best version I could find of Hull’s map.While my collection is woefully incomplete, I did pick some notable Devil-named locations with geological connections. Several of these warrant their own pages on the site. Click on the titles to head to these pages:
Devil’s Tower
An iconic volcanic feature in the Black Hills of Wyoming was known as being the location in the culminating scene in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It has become a draw for not only sci-fi enthusiasts but also UFO chasers and New Age believers.Devil’s Den
To gain this place name, the location usually has stark, huge rock boulders or outcrops, often with caves and crevasses. Several famous locations exist in the U.S. where not only supposedly spirits but also people used as hiding places.Devil’s Hole
A depression or cave often containing water that has gained a reputation of being deadly, a path to the underworld, or bottomless. (Or all three together). The most famous being the Devil’s Hole of Death Valley, a bizarre oasis in the desert.Devil’s Kitchen
Scenic locations characterized by their impressive geological features that suggest something evil is cooking.Devil’s Gate
A cleft or gorge that is considered a dangerous area for natural or supernatural reasons.Devil’s Punchbowl
Bowl-shaped depressions of various sizes that stand out from the landscape and may look as if they have been deliberately created for or from a nefarious action.Some lesser known locations with ‘Devil’ names are just as curious. Their oddness prompted locals to bestow upon them an accursed name.
Devils Head Rock, North CarolinaThree locations in Pennsylvania have the name Devil’s Potato Patch to designate boulder fields. One is between Danielsville and Little Gap in Northampton County, just west of the Blue Mtn ski area off the Appalachian Trail. This is an otherwise featureless field of sandstone blocks resulting from frost action that broke up the ridge-forming rock. It is on State Game Lands and, like other boulder fields, is treacherous to traverse and home to sunning snakes. Another Patch is located on the border of Lebanon and Lancaster County near Brickerville. This “river” of diabase boulders is a wooded and graffiti-strewn, neglected and full of various hazards like trash, bottles, and poison ivy. The third is in Salford Township, Montgomery County, where the boulders of diabase will ring when hammered.
Another “Tater Patch” is a windy ridge with spooky twisted trees in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of Tennessee/ N. Carolina.
Similar to these rocky landscapes is the Devil’s Marbleyard of the James River Face Wilderness, in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Natural Bridge Station, Virginia. The Virginia Trail Guide describes it thusly:
“…looks like an immense stone mountain exploded and collapsed into thousands of boulders of every shape and size.”
Australia also has the Devil’s Marbles, a scattered array of large granite boulders in a 4500-acre area of the Northern Territory which was the traditional land of the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Alyawarra and Warlpiri people. They call it “Karlu Karlu”. The rocks are set precariously and have been chemically and physically weathered into rounded shapes. One legend says the natives thought these were the eggs of the rainbow serpent. But the official management plan for the reserve explains the traditional origin:
The whole area of the reserve is known as Ayleparrarntenhe, which is also the name of the place of origin and final resting place of Arrange, the Devil Man—a twin-peaked hill to the east of the reserve. Traditional Owners tell the story of how the Marbles came into being:
Arrange, the Devil Man, came from Ayleparrarntenhe and travelled through the area. During his journey, he was making a hair belt (as worn by initiated men). Twirling the hair into strings, Arrange dropped clusters of hair on the ground. These turned into the Karlu Karlu boulders that can be seen today. On his way back, Arrange spat on the ground. His spit also turned into the granite boulders which dot the central part of the reserve. Arrange finally returned to his place of origin, Ayleparrarntenhe.
Removal or desecration (even climbing) of the rocks and smaller rocks of nearby Devil’s Pebbles (Kunjarra) is said to bring bad luck to the tribes.
Several rocky areas are also called Devil’s Garden with unique vegetation or none at all. The Devil’s Garden portion of Arches National Park in Moab, Utah features “arches, spires, and a large concentration of narrow rock walls called “fins”. The fins are the result of erosion along parallel fractures.
Devil’s Garden, UtahA section of the High Lava Plains of central Oregon is a kipuka (an area isolated by surrounding lava flows) also known by this name. It was formed from fissure eruptions of basalt.
The Devil’s Playground is not your typical place of joy and laughter, but a grouping of granitic rock features weathered into fantastic forms and eerie shapes. A Tertiary-age (approximately 38 million years old) granitic intrusion overlying Paleozoic (400 to 300 million years old) sedimentary rocks is known as the Emigrant Pass pluton.
Devils Playground, UtahThe deadly Devil’s Playground in the Mohave Desert of California was the nickname pinned on a 17-mile stretch of drifting sand that had neither a track to follow nor water to drink.
In Tennessee, near vertical bedding produces huge rock formations that look like fins (or teeth) protrude from the Southwest flank of Cumberland Mountain known as the Devil’s Racetrack. Hikers and climbers must watch for falls from these rocks.
The Devil’s Race Course is a boulder field in Dauphin County, PA. Rock outcrops along the ridges provided the now rounded boulders. Stream flow from Rattling Run has washed away all the finer sediment. Sometimes the stream can be heard under river of rock. Legend has it that the area’s early settlers believed the sound of the water was the devil running through the depths of hell.
Devil’s Racecourse, PAThe term Devil’s Elbow often refers to an obvious and problematic bend in a river or a road. Most notably, in Pulaski County, Missouri, a sharp turn in the river has this unlucky name. Switchback bends along a hillside are constructed to navigate a steep slope. One such tight curve along a road bordering a rock cliff in New York has an associated legend of the vanishing hitchhiker. The road was eventually straightened to avoid mishaps.
The Devil’s Windpipe is a natural chute in the rocks in Arizona. When the wind blows across the hot landscape, it’s said it feels like the breathing of the devil himself. The Devil’s Throat is a remarkable cave in Bulgaria that swallows the Trigrad River where it funnels through the Hall of Thunder. This cave in the Rhodope Mountains is associated with the legend of Orpheus descending into the underworld to look for Eurydice. There is also a large sinkhole called the Devil’s Throat near Lake Mead in Nevada.
Multiple features exist with the name Devil’s Backbone which typically indicates a prominent ridge of rock that looks like a spine or teeth. Iowa has a state park characterized by a narrow and steep ridge of bedrock carved by a loop of the Maquoketa River. The towers, columns and rocky cliffs make for precipitous climbing. Maryland also has a park where a rock ridge 512 feet above sea level was formed by erosion at the confluence of the Antietam and Beaver Creek and is a noted scenic area. A narrow jutting of rock from a ridge forms a distinct “backbone” across the landscape west of Loveland, Colorado. A particularly striking vertical wall of dark andesite about 1,000 feet long exists within the volcanic crater of Crater Lake, Oregon. The dike was formed when molten lava filled cracks as it forced its way upwards and then solidified. Erosion of the surrounding material has left the resistant material standing. The Illinois “Backbone” is a rocky landmark on a ridge in the Grand Tower area. The rapids near here were supposedly very dangerous and native legends evil spirits were responsible. Nearby is the Devil’s Bake Oven – a nearly 100’ rock on the edge of the river where folklorists have documented ghostly visions and sounds.
Devil’s Backbone, Loveland CO.About 80,000 to 100,000 years ago in eastern California, basaltic lava gushed from fissures and formed a lake within a glacial-formed valley some 400 feet deep. The lava cooled slowly, forming the hexagonal columnar structure that is so striking (also present in Devil’s Tower and Giant’s Causeway), resembling a pile of posts. Thus, it’s called the Devils Postpile. Glaciers smoothed and scarred the top of the formation. Devils Postpile (no apostrophe – which is the case with most official U.S. “devil” monuments) is now a national monument. A Little Devils Postpile exists in Yosemite.
Devils Postpile National MonumentDevils Lake in Wisconsin, part of a state park, is situated in a deep chasm formed by glacial action. It has no visible inlet or outlet. The lake was originally called “Sacred Lake” or “Spirit Lake” by the natives who considered it sacred where voices of the spirits could be heard. Glacial striations mark the rock surfaces around the lake and there are Native effigy mounds nearby. The lake has spooky legends of a phantom canoer, and lake monster, and some stories say the natives considered it a “place of many dead”.
A similar lake exists in North Dakota, also in a closed basin and also renamed from the Natives’ interpretation of “Spirit Lake”. This lake has been plagued with flooding problems.
Seven Devils Lake is a small reservoir in South Arkansas, located about 14 miles (23 km) out of Monticello. The Lake is formed by Seven Devils Dam. The area got its name from a man who was trapped in the area for days and finally made it out. A reporter asked if he found the rumored seven lakes of the area, but the man stated that there were not seven lakes, but seven devils. This area is the most northern point west of the Mississippi River where American alligators can be found.
Many bare mountain summits are named for their stark barrenness. Several rocky scenic outlooks called Devil’s Knobs are recognized around the world. There are many places called Devil’s Peak often referring to an imposing, rocky mount. Such peaks are in Cape Town in South Africa, Hong Kong, Flanders Range in Australia, Soda Springs, California, Santa Barbara, California, and in Nevada. A location in Baja, California has the Spanish name Picacho del Diablo and is also known as the Cerro de la Encantada or “Hill of the Enchanted”. It is a ragged granite summit that makes for a popular but challenging climb.
Mount Diablo in Contra Costa, California is awash with legends and has a reputation as a strange place. Now a state park, it was historically an important landmark for mapping and navigation because of its visibility and location. It is a geological anomaly, part of a thrust fault complex, growing higher every year due to compression of tectonic plates. Native tribes have various legends about it included the mountain as a point of creation. A notable legend of how the mountain got its name was from a misinterpretation of “Monte del Diablo” meaning “thicket of the devil” after several Natives escaped from the Spanish in 1805 into a nearby thicket. Not long after, the name was interpreted to mean a place of evil spirits. It’s not clear if this name was derived from a genuine tradition of spooky happenings in the area and there have been several attempts to rename the mountain to shake off the diabolical reputation. Author Loren Coleman writes that many unusual incidents have occurred in the Mount Diablo area, appropriate for its reputation, including sightings of black panthers (a difficult-to-explain animal that is reported all too regularly), mysterious lights, apparitions and even a claim of a live frog found in a stony concretion.
West Face of Mount Diablo and Highway 24. By Trurl66 – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5526277So-called Devil’s bathtubs are deep spots in a creek popular with visitors looking to cool off. In Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio, water falls from rock ledges into the stream where the water swirls into a bowl-shaped gorge. People told stories of this being as deep as hell. The pockets and tunnels were formed from scouring glacial meltwaters thousands of years ago.
In Scott County, Virginia, the Bathtub is a scour pool in the Devil’s Fork of Stony Creek. It’s not the easiest spot to get to and the water is far from hot. Many photos of the location have circulated on social media but these seem to be from the Ohio location, or from some other feature entirely, leading many to be disappointed when they reach this particular tub. The overabundance of visitors prompted by social media has caused local problems and threaten the natural area. The South Dakota version of the devil’s tub is much more secluded. With high rocky cliffs nearby, the water cascades in a chute called “the slide” and swirls into the tub.
According to Wikipedia, there are no less than 105 different locations of the Devil’s Canyon in the United States alone including Utah, Oklahoma, and California. Areas with this designation are typically steep, remote, and have plentiful snakes as residents. In Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico, Devil’s Canyon, so far as anyone knows, is so named because of the pinnacles – needles and balanced rocks that form the canyon walls and resemble distorted human forms. A 2017 TV show called “Devil’s Canyon” is based in British Columbia. It is the story of three gold prospectors seeking treasure in the canyon where they believe large deposits have escaped exploitation by big mining companies. But the rough, isolated terrain, bad weather, and wild animals make it an unforgiving location to explore.
A rock formation where the lower strata is more eroded and weathered leaving a larger slab perched precipitously on top are called “tea tables”. Such formations are a variety of hoodoo. Notable examples of Devil’s Tea Tables exist in Athens County, Ohio and in Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest. These features appear to lean in every direction, so whatever side you view it from, it looks like it will fall on you. A tea table feature in McConnelsville, Ohio collapsed in 1906. Explorers who came across the gravity-defying features often attributed their origin to supernatural forces.
Devils Tea Table, McConnelsvilleNot necessarily natural are the standing stones in North Yorkshire, England, called Devils Arrows. Legend has it that the Devil himself threw the stones into the ground as arrows to attack Christians in Aldborough but they fell short. The prehistoric monuments likely were constructed as part of a ritual landscape. Similarly, the Devil’s Quoits in Stanton Harcourt are also part of a Neolithic-age stone circle. The legend here is “the Devil once played quoits (a game) with a beggar for his soul or, alternatively, that it was a Sunday and God rebuked him whereby he flung the stones in anger. Many stone circles and henges in the UK remain imbued with New Age and mystical significance.
The most famous Devil’s Gulch, in Garretson, South Dakota, is rife with legends. This 18-20 foot chasm across blocks of quartzite is said to have obtained its name from strange noises made by the winds as they blow through. Split Rock Creek below is associated with a “bottomless pit” in the stream bed. (If it’s bottomless, how does the stream flow over it?) A Native tale tells a different origin story. They called it “Spirit Canyon” and that it was formed when two warriors fought. When the spirit warrior’s tomahawk hit the ground, it split the land forming the gulch. But the most famous legend, now marked on the spot, is that outlaw Jesse James made a getaway by leaping the gap on his horse. The location is now a park and also has Devil’s Falls and the Devil’s Stairway nearby.
When Satan needs a rest, he chooses Devils Throne, a summit in Idaho County, Idaho. It forms part of the Seven Devils Mountains. Or the Devil’s Chair in San Gabriel Mountains is part of the Devil’s Punchbowl.
What is really haunting the Devil’s Swamp in Scotlandville, Louisiana are nasty chemicals that have been poured into it, destroying the ecosystem over the years leaving ghosts of those animals (and people) dead from pollution. Beware when visiting this toxic stew. The Seven Devils Swamp natural area in Arkansas, however, is a healthy and diverse ecosystem.
Part of the Craters of the Moon National monument, Idaho, Devil’s Orchard has trees and vegetation growing from the flood basalt lava flows of the Snake River Plain volcanic province. The Orchard is a group of lava-transported cinder cone fragments that were once part of the North Crater cinder cone but broke off and were carried away by a new lava flow. The place is described as “otherworldly” with the black rocks providing no shade. Shoshone legend speaks of a serpent on a mountain who, angered by lightning, coiled around and squeezed the mountain until liquid rock flowed, fire shot from cracks, and the mountain exploded. Craters of the Moon National Monument was proclaimed on May 2, 1924 by U.S. President Calvin Coolidge to “preserve the unusual and weird volcanic formations”
Devil’s Orchard, IdahoIn the Big South Fork National River and Recreation area in Kentucky/Tennessee, legend has it that a band of brothers looking for salt drilled a well so deep that it hit oil. They became concerned that the well was so deep, it might reach Hell. Finally, they did strike something, but instead of salt brine coming out of the ground a black, smelly, sticky liquid came oozing out of the pipe. These explorers did not know what oil was, and since they were of a religious nature, they were disturbed about the new-found product. When they saw how this black substance burned, they called it Devil’s Tar. One of the crew was sent downstream with a sample but his raft overturned at the rapids. Later, he told the story that the devil himself, angry at the invasion of his domain, leaped from one of the rocks onto the raft sinking it. The rapids were named the Devils Jump.
Two other Devil’s Jumps occur in England. Three little hills near Frensham are said to have been thrown up by the Devil taking three enormous leaps. The Devil’s Jumps in Churt, county of Surrey, (also known as Devil’s Three Jumps) are a series of three small hills made of “ironstone” making them resistant to erosion. The devil made his mark all around this area, according to legend, as several local landmarks play into the story of his visit. For example, the tale goes that Devil made off with the cauldron of the witch, Mother Ludlam. As she chased him, the Devil’s leaps kicked up hills now known as the Devil’s Jumps. He left the cauldron on Kettlebury Hill and also left a valley known as the Devil’s Punch Bowl.
Another tale tells that the Devil amused himself by leaping from the top of each hill to the next. This annoyed the god Thor who picked up a boulder and threw it at the Devil, causing him to flee. The boulder remains at Devil’s Jumps. The same story is told of the Devil’s Jumps near Treyford on the South Downs in West Sussex though these are barrows upon which the Devil jumped. Other round barrows in Stoughton are also called the Devil’s humps.
Similar to the Jumps are the Devils Footprints – grassy meadows that top some peaks in the Appalachian mountains, particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains. These peaks, also called “balds” are where trees won’t grow, legendarily because the devil himself stepped there. More realistic theories are that the treeless patches are the result of past clearing, animal grazing or burning. Or that the soil, climate, or biota prevents trees from growing. It’s not clear why some summits are bald where others are not.
Apparent “footprints” in rock appear at Devils Foot Rock. Many colorful tales are told of the Devil himself leaving the prints as he pursued maidens or stomped in frustration.
Devil’s Promenade in extreme southwestern Missouri is the site of a regionally noted “spook light”. The locals named the four-mile-long gravel road on the border between southwestern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma west of the small town of Hornet, Missouri. Hornet is famous for the Hornet Spooklight (also called the Joplin spooklight) – a seemingly unexplained light that appears in the distance. Some have explained it as normal lights from cars or trains and others insist it is paranormal in nature. The bridge along the Devil’s Promenade was originally a rickety wooden bridge. Legend had it that “anyone who walked back and forth across the bridge five times (or seven or three depending on who you ask) very slowly and asking for the Devil to appear, he would either answer three questions, grant three wishes or of course, kill you. Again this depends on the version you hear.” A concrete bridge was constructed and the story seems to have diminished. One story of the light’s origin was that it is the Devil swinging his Jack-o-lantern. Other stories, according to the Prarie Ghosts website, says the light represents the spirit of two young Quapaw Indians who died in the area. Another claimed the light was the spirit of an Osage Indian chief who had been beheaded on the Devil’s Promenade. As with many spook light stories, the light represents a torch carried by the ghost as he searches for his missing head. The torch motif also shows up in the version of the legend that a miner is searching in vain for his missing children by lantern light. Tellers of these tales claim that the lights and legends existed in Native lore prior to the construction of this road.
Many impressive masonry structures are named the Devil’s Bridge and have associated lore to go with them. The bridge in Sedona, Arizona, in the Coconino National Forest, is a large natural sandstone arch. In Massachusetts, the Devil’s Bridge is a shallow reef running northwest off the northwest corner of Martha’s Vineyard. This hazard to ships was supposedly created by the mighty giant Moshup. The local Wampanoag tribal history tells the tale:
Moshup was building a bridge to Cuttyhunk with heavy boulders when a giant crab latched onto his foot. In his pain and anger, he gave up leaving a treacherous shoal instead. The area has been the site of several shipwrecks.
In North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest is the Devil’s Courthouse. According to Andrea Lankford:
By bradploeger – originally posted to Flickr as Devil’s Courthouse, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4237496“Cherokees believed an evil spirit [or giant} named Judaculla held court on top of this bare rock summit with a 360 degree view of three states”.
Whiteside Mountain in Jackson County, North Carolina also has a feature of this name. The bare overhanging rock is windy and dangerous.
The Devil’s Apronful cairn consists of a heap of rocks and boulders near Pendle Hill in Lancashire, England. Several natural boulders were used to construct the mound which provides an impressive view both now and back in Bronze Age times. The thousands of rocks of gritstone and sandstone are scattered in a roughly circular area. The area however is mostly limestone. It’s been suggested that the stones were glacial erratics and the stones were gathered by farmers to get them out of the fields. But there are more fantastic origin stories. The Devil was annoyed with people at Clitheroe Castle in the west. To do away with it, he filled an “apron” (quite the visual) with rocks to pitch at them. Most missed and in his rage he dropped the rest on this south side of Pendle Hill, creating Apronful Hill. For the similar Apronful in Yorkshire, the tale is that the Devil was collecting stones in his apron in order to build a bridge or fill in the ravine when his apron string broke (or he tripped) and the stones fell out. The Devil’s Apronful sites were disturbed by curious visitors and looters but are now protected.
The Devil has two “Hopyards”. One is a State Park and public recreation area in East Haddam, Connecticut. There are several ideas about how the place got its curious name. One is that it refers to supernatural origins for the naturally occurring potholes in the area. These potholes were formed by the grinding actions of stones moved downstream by the current when trapped in an eddy, wearing a depression in the rock. To the early settlers the potholes were a great mystery, and as with many “devilish” features, they explained them with references to the supernatural. They thought that the Devil has passed by the falls, accidentally getting his tail wet. This made him so mad he burned holes in the stones with his hooves as he bounded away. A sign in the park tells of the legends regarding the name. Another site with this name is in New Hampshire. This is a boulder-filled ravine where you can sometimes hear water running.
Devil’s Dyke (or ditch) near Bleaklow, in Sussex, England is a deep gully supposedly cut by Satan’s claws when he became enraged at the loss of a prospective soul. Other tales say it is his unfinished ditch as he bet St. Cuthberth he could dig it in one night and flood the town. The tourist-attracting feature is really the result of mass wasting and river erosion into a dip-slope valley. The V-shaped dry valley, the deepest in England, was born from the cold climate of 14,000 years ago when this area of chalk bedrock was covered in snow. During warm seasons, the upper layers of soil and weathered rock slid away with the thaw. Finally, an ancient river carried the material away at the end of the Ice Age. That river is now gone but its valley remains. The high hill showed the surrounding terrain and was used as a defensive position as well as being an impressive location to hold special events. Remains of an Iron Age fort have been found here. The location is managed by the National Trust and is a recreational area. A trail supposedly leads to the alleged burial site of the Devil and his wife. In 1900, a sound called The Howling Terror was heard echoing in the valley. It wasn’t demons but the testing of a new invention called the megaphone being used at the amusement park on the top of the Dyke.
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The information provided here is based on a cursory search of these sites and the entries will be expanded as I discover new source material (or visit them!). Please contact me with your corrections, information (preferably with solid references), and photographs and I will gladly add them to the page. Or, leave your contribution in the comments. Thanks!Book References
Coleman, L. (2001). Mysterious America (Revised edition). Paraview Press.
Lankford, A. (2006). Haunted Hikes. Santa Monica Press.
#devil #devilPlaces #devilsBackbone #devilsElbow #devilsGarden #devilsPlayground #devilsPostpile #devilsRacecourse #devilsWindpipe #devilsLake #mountDiablo #satan
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Devil Places
There are countless places in the world named after the Devil (and variations of an evil one in other words and languages). If variations are added such as “Satan,” “Lucifer,” and “Diablo,” for example, the list is massive. Devil places sometimes owe their names to the geology. The features of these places may create a spooky and foreboding feeling that reinforces the local legends of the places being cursed, evil or enchanted.
These places have historically or very recently been associated with spirits, magic, strange phenomenon and/or death. In the U.S., many sacred places of indigenous peoples were renamed by the more puritanical sort as “devil” places in order to demonize the past (and previous spiritual beliefs). Devil places are particularly ubiquitous in New England, where the Puritans started their renaming. The rocky landscape gave them plenty of impetus. They truly believed Satan was about, ready to steal their souls. They considered Indian deities to be demons or devils. Spots where shamans would gather or practice might have been a place of geological uniqueness and were given a bad name by the newcomers.
Connecticut might be nicknamed the devil’s playground with some 34 place names including five Devil’s Dens, four Backbones, two Kitchens and a Dripping Pan, as well as a Hell Hole and two Satan’s Kingdoms. Massachusetts is the most devilish state, with 43 place names. Arizona is chock full of “devil” and “hell” names due to the hellishly hot weather suitable for demons.
Satan’s Kingdom
Legends say that Satan himself claimed the area now called Satan’s Kingdom in New Hartford, Connecticut as his own until the angel Gabriel decided the area was too idyllic and cleared out the dark lord and his band of demons. In Vermont, Satans Kingdom got its name supposedly because the settlers who expected fertile land got difficult rocks and hills instead. In Massachusetts, settlers came into the area in the 1670’s during King Philip’s War, where native villagers defended their land. The rough terrain and dangerous wildlife made it difficult for the settler-colonialists to conquer.
The Northern Cascades National park in Washington is very much a hellscape. The Backpacker.com site says of a hiking trail there: “The devil looms large on this rugged loop—you’ll pass Devils Creek, Pass, Park, Junction, and Dome—and you may curse like Satan during the initial 3,300-foot, 4-mile climb to McMillan Park”.
As you will see in this collection of Devilish places, they commonly are places of remarkable features, desolation, or treacherous traversing.
In 2013, Jonathan Hull did a map of US places with Devil-related names. Though many locations received their names from attributes other than geologically related ones, he noted that Devil-named areas often indicated a dangerous, extreme, or remote place. Sadly, I can’t find the full-scale map online anymore.
This is the best version I could find of Hull’s map.While my collection is woefully incomplete, I did pick some notable Devil-named locations with geological connections. Several of these warrant their own pages on the site. Click on the titles to head to these pages:
Devil’s Tower
An iconic volcanic feature in the Black Hills of Wyoming was known as being the location in the culminating scene in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It has become a draw for not only sci-fi enthusiasts but also UFO chasers and New Age believers.Devil’s Den
To gain this place name, the location usually has stark, huge rock boulders or outcrops, often with caves and crevasses. Several famous locations exist in the U.S. where not only supposedly spirits but also people used as hiding places.Devil’s Hole
A depression or cave often containing water that has gained a reputation of being deadly, a path to the underworld, or bottomless. (Or all three together). The most famous being the Devil’s Hole of Death Valley, a bizarre oasis in the desert.Devil’s Kitchen
Scenic locations characterized by their impressive geological features that suggest something evil is cooking.Devil’s Gate
A cleft or gorge that is considered a dangerous area for natural or supernatural reasons.Devil’s Punchbowl
Bowl-shaped depressions of various sizes that stand out from the landscape and may look as if they have been deliberately created for or from a nefarious action.Some lesser known locations with ‘Devil’ names are just as curious. Their oddness prompted locals to bestow upon them an accursed name.
Devils Head Rock, North CarolinaThree locations in Pennsylvania have the name Devil’s Potato Patch to designate boulder fields. One is between Danielsville and Little Gap in Northampton County, just west of the Blue Mtn ski area off the Appalachian Trail. This is an otherwise featureless field of sandstone blocks resulting from frost action that broke up the ridge-forming rock. It is on State Game Lands and, like other boulder fields, is treacherous to traverse and home to sunning snakes. Another Patch is located on the border of Lebanon and Lancaster County near Brickerville. This “river” of diabase boulders is a wooded and graffiti-strewn, neglected and full of various hazards like trash, bottles, and poison ivy. The third is in Salford Township, Montgomery County, where the boulders of diabase will ring when hammered.
Another “Tater Patch” is a windy ridge with spooky twisted trees in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of Tennessee/ N. Carolina.
Similar to these rocky landscapes is the Devil’s Marbleyard of the James River Face Wilderness, in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Natural Bridge Station, Virginia. The Virginia Trail Guide describes it thusly:
“…looks like an immense stone mountain exploded and collapsed into thousands of boulders of every shape and size.”
Australia also has the Devil’s Marbles, a scattered array of large granite boulders in a 4500-acre area of the Northern Territory which was the traditional land of the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Alyawarra and Warlpiri people. They call it “Karlu Karlu”. The rocks are set precariously and have been chemically and physically weathered into rounded shapes. One legend says the natives thought these were the eggs of the rainbow serpent. But the official management plan for the reserve explains the traditional origin:
The whole area of the reserve is known as Ayleparrarntenhe, which is also the name of the place of origin and final resting place of Arrange, the Devil Man—a twin-peaked hill to the east of the reserve. Traditional Owners tell the story of how the Marbles came into being:
Arrange, the Devil Man, came from Ayleparrarntenhe and travelled through the area. During his journey, he was making a hair belt (as worn by initiated men). Twirling the hair into strings, Arrange dropped clusters of hair on the ground. These turned into the Karlu Karlu boulders that can be seen today. On his way back, Arrange spat on the ground. His spit also turned into the granite boulders which dot the central part of the reserve. Arrange finally returned to his place of origin, Ayleparrarntenhe.
Removal or desecration (even climbing) of the rocks and smaller rocks of nearby Devil’s Pebbles (Kunjarra) is said to bring bad luck to the tribes.
Several rocky areas are also called Devil’s Garden with unique vegetation or none at all. The Devil’s Garden portion of Arches National Park in Moab, Utah features “arches, spires, and a large concentration of narrow rock walls called “fins”. The fins are the result of erosion along parallel fractures.
Devil’s Garden, UtahA section of the High Lava Plains of central Oregon is a kipuka (an area isolated by surrounding lava flows) also known by this name. It was formed from fissure eruptions of basalt.
The Devil’s Playground is not your typical place of joy and laughter, but a grouping of granitic rock features weathered into fantastic forms and eerie shapes. A Tertiary-age (approximately 38 million years old) granitic intrusion overlying Paleozoic (400 to 300 million years old) sedimentary rocks is known as the Emigrant Pass pluton.
Devils Playground, UtahThe deadly Devil’s Playground in the Mohave Desert of California was the nickname pinned on a 17-mile stretch of drifting sand that had neither a track to follow nor water to drink.
In Tennessee, near vertical bedding produces huge rock formations that look like fins (or teeth) protrude from the Southwest flank of Cumberland Mountain known as the Devil’s Racetrack. Hikers and climbers must watch for falls from these rocks.
The Devil’s Race Course is a boulder field in Dauphin County, PA. Rock outcrops along the ridges provided the now rounded boulders. Stream flow from Rattling Run has washed away all the finer sediment. Sometimes the stream can be heard under river of rock. Legend has it that the area’s early settlers believed the sound of the water was the devil running through the depths of hell.
Devil’s Racecourse, PAThe term Devil’s Elbow often refers to an obvious and problematic bend in a river or a road. Most notably, in Pulaski County, Missouri, a sharp turn in the river has this unlucky name. Switchback bends along a hillside are constructed to navigate a steep slope. One such tight curve along a road bordering a rock cliff in New York has an associated legend of the vanishing hitchhiker. The road was eventually straightened to avoid mishaps.
The Devil’s Windpipe is a natural chute in the rocks in Arizona. When the wind blows across the hot landscape, it’s said it feels like the breathing of the devil himself. The Devil’s Throat is a remarkable cave in Bulgaria that swallows the Trigrad River where it funnels through the Hall of Thunder. This cave in the Rhodope Mountains is associated with the legend of Orpheus descending into the underworld to look for Eurydice. There is also a large sinkhole called the Devil’s Throat near Lake Mead in Nevada.
Multiple features exist with the name Devil’s Backbone which typically indicates a prominent ridge of rock that looks like a spine or teeth. Iowa has a state park characterized by a narrow and steep ridge of bedrock carved by a loop of the Maquoketa River. The towers, columns and rocky cliffs make for precipitous climbing. Maryland also has a park where a rock ridge 512 feet above sea level was formed by erosion at the confluence of the Antietam and Beaver Creek and is a noted scenic area. A narrow jutting of rock from a ridge forms a distinct “backbone” across the landscape west of Loveland, Colorado. A particularly striking vertical wall of dark andesite about 1,000 feet long exists within the volcanic crater of Crater Lake, Oregon. The dike was formed when molten lava filled cracks as it forced its way upwards and then solidified. Erosion of the surrounding material has left the resistant material standing. The Illinois “Backbone” is a rocky landmark on a ridge in the Grand Tower area. The rapids near here were supposedly very dangerous and native legends evil spirits were responsible. Nearby is the Devil’s Bake Oven – a nearly 100’ rock on the edge of the river where folklorists have documented ghostly visions and sounds.
Devil’s Backbone, Loveland CO.About 80,000 to 100,000 years ago in eastern California, basaltic lava gushed from fissures and formed a lake within a glacial-formed valley some 400 feet deep. The lava cooled slowly, forming the hexagonal columnar structure that is so striking (also present in Devil’s Tower and Giant’s Causeway), resembling a pile of posts. Thus, it’s called the Devils Postpile. Glaciers smoothed and scarred the top of the formation. Devils Postpile (no apostrophe – which is the case with most official U.S. “devil” monuments) is now a national monument. A Little Devils Postpile exists in Yosemite.
Devils Postpile National MonumentDevils Lake in Wisconsin, part of a state park, is situated in a deep chasm formed by glacial action. It has no visible inlet or outlet. The lake was originally called “Sacred Lake” or “Spirit Lake” by the natives who considered it sacred where voices of the spirits could be heard. Glacial striations mark the rock surfaces around the lake and there are Native effigy mounds nearby. The lake has spooky legends of a phantom canoer, and lake monster, and some stories say the natives considered it a “place of many dead”.
A similar lake exists in North Dakota, also in a closed basin and also renamed from the Natives’ interpretation of “Spirit Lake”. This lake has been plagued with flooding problems.
Seven Devils Lake is a small reservoir in South Arkansas, located about 14 miles (23 km) out of Monticello. The Lake is formed by Seven Devils Dam. The area got its name from a man who was trapped in the area for days and finally made it out. A reporter asked if he found the rumored seven lakes of the area, but the man stated that there were not seven lakes, but seven devils. This area is the most northern point west of the Mississippi River where American alligators can be found.
Many bare mountain summits are named for their stark barrenness. Several rocky scenic outlooks called Devil’s Knobs are recognized around the world. There are many places called Devil’s Peak often referring to an imposing, rocky mount. Such peaks are in Cape Town in South Africa, Hong Kong, Flanders Range in Australia, Soda Springs, California, Santa Barbara, California, and in Nevada. A location in Baja, California has the Spanish name Picacho del Diablo and is also known as the Cerro de la Encantada or “Hill of the Enchanted”. It is a ragged granite summit that makes for a popular but challenging climb.
Mount Diablo in Contra Costa, California is awash with legends and has a reputation as a strange place. Now a state park, it was historically an important landmark for mapping and navigation because of its visibility and location. It is a geological anomaly, part of a thrust fault complex, growing higher every year due to compression of tectonic plates. Native tribes have various legends about it included the mountain as a point of creation. A notable legend of how the mountain got its name was from a misinterpretation of “Monte del Diablo” meaning “thicket of the devil” after several Natives escaped from the Spanish in 1805 into a nearby thicket. Not long after, the name was interpreted to mean a place of evil spirits. It’s not clear if this name was derived from a genuine tradition of spooky happenings in the area and there have been several attempts to rename the mountain to shake off the diabolical reputation. Author Loren Coleman writes that many unusual incidents have occurred in the Mount Diablo area, appropriate for its reputation, including sightings of black panthers (a difficult-to-explain animal that is reported all too regularly), mysterious lights, apparitions and even a claim of a live frog found in a stony concretion.
West Face of Mount Diablo and Highway 24. By Trurl66 – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5526277So-called Devil’s bathtubs are deep spots in a creek popular with visitors looking to cool off. In Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio, water falls from rock ledges into the stream where the water swirls into a bowl-shaped gorge. People told stories of this being as deep as hell. The pockets and tunnels were formed from scouring glacial meltwaters thousands of years ago.
In Scott County, Virginia, the Bathtub is a scour pool in the Devil’s Fork of Stony Creek. It’s not the easiest spot to get to and the water is far from hot. Many photos of the location have circulated on social media but these seem to be from the Ohio location, or from some other feature entirely, leading many to be disappointed when they reach this particular tub. The overabundance of visitors prompted by social media has caused local problems and threaten the natural area. The South Dakota version of the devil’s tub is much more secluded. With high rocky cliffs nearby, the water cascades in a chute called “the slide” and swirls into the tub.
According to Wikipedia, there are no less than 105 different locations of the Devil’s Canyon in the United States alone including Utah, Oklahoma, and California. Areas with this designation are typically steep, remote, and have plentiful snakes as residents. In Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico, Devil’s Canyon, so far as anyone knows, is so named because of the pinnacles – needles and balanced rocks that form the canyon walls and resemble distorted human forms. A 2017 TV show called “Devil’s Canyon” is based in British Columbia. It is the story of three gold prospectors seeking treasure in the canyon where they believe large deposits have escaped exploitation by big mining companies. But the rough, isolated terrain, bad weather, and wild animals make it an unforgiving location to explore.
A rock formation where the lower strata is more eroded and weathered leaving a larger slab perched precipitously on top are called “tea tables”. Such formations are a variety of hoodoo. Notable examples of Devil’s Tea Tables exist in Athens County, Ohio and in Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest. These features appear to lean in every direction, so whatever side you view it from, it looks like it will fall on you. A tea table feature in McConnelsville, Ohio collapsed in 1906. Explorers who came across the gravity-defying features often attributed their origin to supernatural forces.
Devils Tea Table, McConnelsvilleNot necessarily natural are the standing stones in North Yorkshire, England, called Devils Arrows. Legend has it that the Devil himself threw the stones into the ground as arrows to attack Christians in Aldborough but they fell short. The prehistoric monuments likely were constructed as part of a ritual landscape. Similarly, the Devil’s Quoits in Stanton Harcourt are also part of a Neolithic-age stone circle. The legend here is “the Devil once played quoits (a game) with a beggar for his soul or, alternatively, that it was a Sunday and God rebuked him whereby he flung the stones in anger. Many stone circles and henges in the UK remain imbued with New Age and mystical significance.
The most famous Devil’s Gulch, in Garretson, South Dakota, is rife with legends. This 18-20 foot chasm across blocks of quartzite is said to have obtained its name from strange noises made by the winds as they blow through. Split Rock Creek below is associated with a “bottomless pit” in the stream bed. (If it’s bottomless, how does the stream flow over it?) A Native tale tells a different origin story. They called it “Spirit Canyon” and that it was formed when two warriors fought. When the spirit warrior’s tomahawk hit the ground, it split the land forming the gulch. But the most famous legend, now marked on the spot, is that outlaw Jesse James made a getaway by leaping the gap on his horse. The location is now a park and also has Devil’s Falls and the Devil’s Stairway nearby.
When Satan needs a rest, he chooses Devils Throne, a summit in Idaho County, Idaho. It forms part of the Seven Devils Mountains. Or the Devil’s Chair in San Gabriel Mountains is part of the Devil’s Punchbowl.
What is really haunting the Devil’s Swamp in Scotlandville, Louisiana are nasty chemicals that have been poured into it, destroying the ecosystem over the years leaving ghosts of those animals (and people) dead from pollution. Beware when visiting this toxic stew. The Seven Devils Swamp natural area in Arkansas, however, is a healthy and diverse ecosystem.
Part of the Craters of the Moon National monument, Idaho, Devil’s Orchard has trees and vegetation growing from the flood basalt lava flows of the Snake River Plain volcanic province. The Orchard is a group of lava-transported cinder cone fragments that were once part of the North Crater cinder cone but broke off and were carried away by a new lava flow. The place is described as “otherworldly” with the black rocks providing no shade. Shoshone legend speaks of a serpent on a mountain who, angered by lightning, coiled around and squeezed the mountain until liquid rock flowed, fire shot from cracks, and the mountain exploded. Craters of the Moon National Monument was proclaimed on May 2, 1924 by U.S. President Calvin Coolidge to “preserve the unusual and weird volcanic formations”
Devil’s Orchard, IdahoIn the Big South Fork National River and Recreation area in Kentucky/Tennessee, legend has it that a band of brothers looking for salt drilled a well so deep that it hit oil. They became concerned that the well was so deep, it might reach Hell. Finally, they did strike something, but instead of salt brine coming out of the ground a black, smelly, sticky liquid came oozing out of the pipe. These explorers did not know what oil was, and since they were of a religious nature, they were disturbed about the new-found product. When they saw how this black substance burned, they called it Devil’s Tar. One of the crew was sent downstream with a sample but his raft overturned at the rapids. Later, he told the story that the devil himself, angry at the invasion of his domain, leaped from one of the rocks onto the raft sinking it. The rapids were named the Devils Jump.
Two other Devil’s Jumps occur in England. Three little hills near Frensham are said to have been thrown up by the Devil taking three enormous leaps. The Devil’s Jumps in Churt, county of Surrey, (also known as Devil’s Three Jumps) are a series of three small hills made of “ironstone” making them resistant to erosion. The devil made his mark all around this area, according to legend, as several local landmarks play into the story of his visit. For example, the tale goes that Devil made off with the cauldron of the witch, Mother Ludlam. As she chased him, the Devil’s leaps kicked up hills now known as the Devil’s Jumps. He left the cauldron on Kettlebury Hill and also left a valley known as the Devil’s Punch Bowl.
Another tale tells that the Devil amused himself by leaping from the top of each hill to the next. This annoyed the god Thor who picked up a boulder and threw it at the Devil, causing him to flee. The boulder remains at Devil’s Jumps. The same story is told of the Devil’s Jumps near Treyford on the South Downs in West Sussex though these are barrows upon which the Devil jumped. Other round barrows in Stoughton are also called the Devil’s humps.
Similar to the Jumps are the Devils Footprints – grassy meadows that top some peaks in the Appalachian mountains, particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains. These peaks, also called “balds” are where trees won’t grow, legendarily because the devil himself stepped there. More realistic theories are that the treeless patches are the result of past clearing, animal grazing or burning. Or that the soil, climate, or biota prevents trees from growing. It’s not clear why some summits are bald where others are not.
Apparent “footprints” in rock appear at Devils Foot Rock. Many colorful tales are told of the Devil himself leaving the prints as he pursued maidens or stomped in frustration.
Devil’s Promenade in extreme southwestern Missouri is the site of a regionally noted “spook light”. The locals named the four-mile-long gravel road on the border between southwestern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma west of the small town of Hornet, Missouri. Hornet is famous for the Hornet Spooklight (also called the Joplin spooklight) – a seemingly unexplained light that appears in the distance. Some have explained it as normal lights from cars or trains and others insist it is paranormal in nature. The bridge along the Devil’s Promenade was originally a rickety wooden bridge. Legend had it that “anyone who walked back and forth across the bridge five times (or seven or three depending on who you ask) very slowly and asking for the Devil to appear, he would either answer three questions, grant three wishes or of course, kill you. Again this depends on the version you hear.” A concrete bridge was constructed and the story seems to have diminished. One story of the light’s origin was that it is the Devil swinging his Jack-o-lantern. Other stories, according to the Prarie Ghosts website, says the light represents the spirit of two young Quapaw Indians who died in the area. Another claimed the light was the spirit of an Osage Indian chief who had been beheaded on the Devil’s Promenade. As with many spook light stories, the light represents a torch carried by the ghost as he searches for his missing head. The torch motif also shows up in the version of the legend that a miner is searching in vain for his missing children by lantern light. Tellers of these tales claim that the lights and legends existed in Native lore prior to the construction of this road.
Many impressive masonry structures are named the Devil’s Bridge and have associated lore to go with them. The bridge in Sedona, Arizona, in the Coconino National Forest, is a large natural sandstone arch. In Massachusetts, the Devil’s Bridge is a shallow reef running northwest off the northwest corner of Martha’s Vineyard. This hazard to ships was supposedly created by the mighty giant Moshup. The local Wampanoag tribal history tells the tale:
Moshup was building a bridge to Cuttyhunk with heavy boulders when a giant crab latched onto his foot. In his pain and anger, he gave up leaving a treacherous shoal instead. The area has been the site of several shipwrecks.
In North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest is the Devil’s Courthouse. According to Andrea Lankford:
By bradploeger – originally posted to Flickr as Devil’s Courthouse, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4237496“Cherokees believed an evil spirit [or giant} named Judaculla held court on top of this bare rock summit with a 360 degree view of three states”.
Whiteside Mountain in Jackson County, North Carolina also has a feature of this name. The bare overhanging rock is windy and dangerous.
The Devil’s Apronful cairn consists of a heap of rocks and boulders near Pendle Hill in Lancashire, England. Several natural boulders were used to construct the mound which provides an impressive view both now and back in Bronze Age times. The thousands of rocks of gritstone and sandstone are scattered in a roughly circular area. The area however is mostly limestone. It’s been suggested that the stones were glacial erratics and the stones were gathered by farmers to get them out of the fields. But there are more fantastic origin stories. The Devil was annoyed with people at Clitheroe Castle in the west. To do away with it, he filled an “apron” (quite the visual) with rocks to pitch at them. Most missed and in his rage he dropped the rest on this south side of Pendle Hill, creating Apronful Hill. For the similar Apronful in Yorkshire, the tale is that the Devil was collecting stones in his apron in order to build a bridge or fill in the ravine when his apron string broke (or he tripped) and the stones fell out. The Devil’s Apronful sites were disturbed by curious visitors and looters but are now protected.
The Devil has two “Hopyards”. One is a State Park and public recreation area in East Haddam, Connecticut. There are several ideas about how the place got its curious name. One is that it refers to supernatural origins for the naturally occurring potholes in the area. These potholes were formed by the grinding actions of stones moved downstream by the current when trapped in an eddy, wearing a depression in the rock. To the early settlers the potholes were a great mystery, and as with many “devilish” features, they explained them with references to the supernatural. They thought that the Devil has passed by the falls, accidentally getting his tail wet. This made him so mad he burned holes in the stones with his hooves as he bounded away. A sign in the park tells of the legends regarding the name. Another site with this name is in New Hampshire. This is a boulder-filled ravine where you can sometimes hear water running.
Devil’s Dyke (or ditch) near Bleaklow, in Sussex, England is a deep gully supposedly cut by Satan’s claws when he became enraged at the loss of a prospective soul. Other tales say it is his unfinished ditch as he bet St. Cuthberth he could dig it in one night and flood the town. The tourist-attracting feature is really the result of mass wasting and river erosion into a dip-slope valley. The V-shaped dry valley, the deepest in England, was born from the cold climate of 14,000 years ago when this area of chalk bedrock was covered in snow. During warm seasons, the upper layers of soil and weathered rock slid away with the thaw. Finally, an ancient river carried the material away at the end of the Ice Age. That river is now gone but its valley remains. The high hill showed the surrounding terrain and was used as a defensive position as well as being an impressive location to hold special events. Remains of an Iron Age fort have been found here. The location is managed by the National Trust and is a recreational area. A trail supposedly leads to the alleged burial site of the Devil and his wife. In 1900, a sound called The Howling Terror was heard echoing in the valley. It wasn’t demons but the testing of a new invention called the megaphone being used at the amusement park on the top of the Dyke.
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The information provided here is based on a cursory search of these sites and the entries will be expanded as I discover new source material (or visit them!). Please contact me with your corrections, information (preferably with solid references), and photographs and I will gladly add them to the page. Or, leave your contribution in the comments. Thanks!Book References
Coleman, L. (2001). Mysterious America (Revised edition). Paraview Press.
Lankford, A. (2006). Haunted Hikes. Santa Monica Press.
#devil #devilPlaces #devilsBackbone #devilsElbow #devilsGarden #devilsPlayground #devilsPostpile #devilsRacecourse #devilsWindpipe #devilsLake #mountDiablo #satan
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Ligeti festival – ode to an adventurous and idiosyncratic composer
From 5-8 April, Muziekgebouw Amsterdam stages a Ligeti Festival from 5-8 April, together with ensemble in residence Asko|Schönberg. The iconic Poème Symphonique for 100 metronomes will be performed in the hall; Pierre Laurent Aimard will perform the Musica ricercata and the Piano Concerto; Joe Puglia plays the Violin Concerto and Netherlands Chamber Choir will sing Lux Aeterna.
The Hungarian composer György Ligeti (1923-2006) suffered under several dictatorships. The Nazis killed his father and brother during World War II, and after the war the communists forced him to write bland ‘folk music’. After the Hungarian uprising of 1956 he fled to Vienna and from there to Cologne, where he was confronted with yet another type of dogmatism from the musical avant-garde.
In the West he soon established himself as an idiosyncratic composer. He resisted the dogmas of the avant-garde and took a different direction in which microtanility, irony and humour play an important role. From Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 April he will be featured in the large-scale Ligeti festival in Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ Amsterdam.
Love for Bartók
György Ligeti was born in 1923 in a Jewish family in a small town in Transylvania. In 1941 he started studying composition with Ferenc Farkas, but three years later the Nazis called him up for a labour camp. Only after having lived through this and the war had ended, he was able to resume his studies. He at once moved to Budapest, where he again studied with Farkas, and with Sándor Veress. They relegated their love for Bartók to him, which shines through in early compositions such as the First String Quartet. This will be performed by the Dudok Quartet on Saturday, April 7.
In 1949, Ligeti completed his studies at the Franz Liszt Conservatory in Budapest, where he was then employed as a harmony teacher. Meanwhile, the communists had taken over the helm and there was a strong pressure to incorporate ‘folk’ elements in art music. In principle Ligeti had no problem with this, since Bartók had also been inspired by folk music. Within the given constraints, Ligeti looked for ways to create a personal sound world. For example in the Cello Sonata, which he composed for the Hungarian Radio in 1953.
‘Formalistic tendencies’
This was banned immediately after the broadcast because it harboured ‘formalistic tendencies’; from now on Ligeti composed for the proverbial desk drawer. Meanwhile, he kept the authorities satisfied with choral works in Kodály-style. That same year he completed Musica ricercata, a collection of eleven pieces for solo piano. These are on the programme of the French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard on Friday 6 April. The first movement opens with only two tones: a fundamental and its octave. In each subsequent variation one tone is added, until in the eleventh movement all twelve tones of the western tonal system are heard.
Just after World War II, Hungary was officially cut off from the pernicious West, which did not prevent Ligeti from secretly listening to German radio stations at night. These were distorted by signals from the Hungarian Government, so that mainly the higher frequencies came through. In this mutilated form he heard works such as Messiaen’s Turangalîla Symphony and Herbert Eimert’s electronic music. Their line of thought corresponded with his own need for renewal. As soon as a period of thaw set in in 1954, he bought scores and records of modern composers.
From communist to musical dictatorship
During this period, Ligeti also heard the first radio broadcast of Stockhausen’s tape composition Gesang der Jünglinge. He was deeply impressed and contacted his German colleague by letter. He also wrote to Herbert Eimert, director of the electronic studio of the WDR in Cologne. One month after the invasion by the Russians in November 1956, Ligeti fled to Cologne, where he was welcomed by Stockhausen and Eimert. In their electronic studio he completed his first ‘Western’ composition, Artikulation for tape.
Although Ligeti basically agreed with the principles of Stockhausen and his fellow avant-gardists, he deplored the rigidity of serialism in which all musical parameters are arranged according to strict rules. Having escaped one dictatorship, Ligeti refused to submit to a new dictatorship from the musical avant-garde. He became fascinated by the idea of replacing strict order with a large degree of freedom. Thus he used unfettered rhythms instead of mathematically organized ones, while at the same time replacing the twelve tone series of the serialists by clusters. The resulting harmonies contained many microtones, a novelty in Western art music.
Music from metronomes
In 1960, this led to the ground-breaking orchestral work Apparitions, which caused a scandal at its premiere. – Ligeti’s name as an independent avant-gardist was established. He then composed Atmosphères and Volumina, also based on clusters. But soon he walked new roads again. In 1961 he wrote The Future of Music, consisting only of a set of instructions to the listeners, jotted down on a blackboard. A year later he created Poème Symphonique, in which 100 metronomes create a complex ‘micropolyphony’. The premiere in 1963 in the Town Hall of Hilversum caused yet another scandal.
This contrary piece had been commissioned by the Gaudeamus Music Week and will be performed live on Saturday 7 April in the entrance hall of Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ. The television registration of the 1963 premiere can be seen and heard on a daily basis. The Dutch broadcasting company NOS had decided not to air the material, and for a long time it was considered lost. Recently it was rediscovered in the archives of Beeld en Geluid (Sound and Image) in Hilversum.
Time and again, Ligeti confirmed his sovereign spirit. While his colleagues abhorred any form of tonality, he re-established harmonic centres in his music. For instance in the choral work Lux Aeterna from 1966, which was immortalized in Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey. The Nederlands Chamber Choir will perform this on 7 April under the baton of Reinbert de Leeuw, Ligeti’s favourite conductor.
Car horns & Rossini aria’s
From 1974-77 György Ligeti worked on his opera Le Grand Macabre, his magnum opus. It is based on the absurdist play Ballade du Grand Macabre by the Belgian author Michel de Ghelderode and is set in the time of Breughel. The hero Nekrotzar – the ‘Grand Macabre’ of the title – announces the end of time at midnight. But when the clock finally strikes twelve Nekrotzar is the only one to die.
In Le Grand Macabre, Ligeti brought together everything he had achieved so far; the music is often downright hilarious. The opera opens with an overture of car horns and juxtaposes Rossini-like arias with disconcerting recitatives and abysmal screams. The singers burb, and we are treated to the sound of whips and other ‘unmusical’ objects. Thus allusions to predecessors such as Rossini and Monteverdi get an ironic twist.
After Le Grand Macabre, Ligeti got somewhat into a deadlock. His adventurous and investigative mind simply refused to repeat itself. He had always pursued his own course, yet was invariably mentioned in one breath with the avant-gardists Boulez, Stockhausen and Nono. When their influence began to wane, he threatened to be dragged along in this downward spiral. The more so when a younger generation of composers returned to old forms, harmonies and tonality.
Caribbean rhythms
Though Ligeti did not care to track tail of this new euphony, he was inspired by it. In 1982 he wrote his Horn Trio, in which he combines Caribbean rhythms with Brahms-like melodies. However, they are a trifle disjointed; their irregular rhythm is somewhat related to Hungarian folk music. The Horn Trio will be performed on Saturday 7th April by Aimard, the violinist Joseph Puglia and the horn player Marie-Luise Neunecker. In 1999 he composed his Hamburg Concerto for her.
In the eighties Ligeti became increasingly fascinated by Caribbean, African and Arabic rhythms. Their ‘limping’ character infused his work with spontaneity and liveliness. Not attracted to the new tonality of the younger generation, he designed new scales and tunings.
In 1993 he completed his Violin Concerto, in which the brass play overtones. He also uses instruments with an unsteady intonation, such as ocarinas and recorders. It will be performed by Joseph Puglia on 5 April with the Asko|Schönberg under the direction of Reinbert de Leeuw.
Microtones versus perfect pitch
Ligeti continued to experiment with overtones and deviating scales in his later works. Like in the aforementioned horn concerto, in which the soloist is ‘shadowed’ by four natural horns. They have a different sound with a different spectrum of harmonics, so the score is full of microtones. Ligeti did not like this term, however, since it is based on the tempered tuning, as we know it from the piano. A mistake, Ligeti proclaimed. ‘The natural third sounds slightly lower than the tempered one. If truth be told, what we consider perfect pitch is out of tune and microtonal.’
I spoke Ligeti in 2000 about his Horn Concerto, you can hear our talk on YouTube.
#AskoSchönberg #DudokKwartet #GyörgyLigeti #JosephPuglia #LeGrandMacabre #MuziekgebouwAanTIJ #NederlandsKamerkoor #ReinbertDeLeeuw
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Fragments from the Book of Job #6: chapters 38-42
In his concluding speech in chapter 31, Job did demand that God appear before him, and in a sense, it is somewhat surprising for Elihu to appear instead. But can a man command God to appear? Do we have the right or authority to demand the Most High to appear before us?
Image via Wikipedia
Job’s concluding remarks in chapter 31 could unlikely in some way compel the Almighty Elohimto appear.Elihu came in between the discussion because he found lots of things said to Job but also about God were not right. He had found that multiple words against God were uttered, charging God of doing nothing about wickedness or even using evil things to vindicate. Though we can find some kind of truth and authority in the words from Job’s three friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, they grated on the nerves of Elihu and angered God. It was not because God kept His silence that He did not listen or did not care, nor lost control over nation or man (Job 34:29-30). Also Elihu had the wrong idea about God working with His people. This sometimes arrogant looking person ends up offering a similar argument to that of the three friends: God is greater than man (Job 33:12) and thus he must have intended to warn or rebuke Job (Job 33:14–30). He even hopes that Job’s trials will continue either until he recants or, if he does not recant, until he dies (Job 34:36-37) and states Job’s complaint that godliness avails a man nothing (Job 35:1-4). He also declared that God is too lofty to be affected either by godliness or ungodliness, which only affect other people (Job 35:5-8). An other fault brought forwards to those who are unlucky is that unanswered prayers would be because of the lack of faith of those who pray and to the emptiness of the prayer (Job 35:-16). Elihu at moments continued to attack Job in the line of the other three older friends (e.g., Job 34:10-37; 35:16). He also suggested that Job had not recognized and maybe even had ignored the ways in which God had spoken to him (Job 33:14). The continual appeal for Job by the four friends to simply repent of whatever evil he has done is an obvious misdiagnosis, in light of the prologue (chapters 1-2) and on the other elements Job brought forward to plea for his justice, recapitulated by Elihu at the opening of his speech (Job 33:6, 9; 34:5-9).
Elihu, who sometimes handled as if he were thinking to be like a prophet, shed already a further light on the matter that the creator of the universe cannot be unjust (Job 32:18–20; 34:10-28). Perhaps we may be called men of understanding, but there are a lot of things we do not understand and who are to complex to grasp and to get over with. Often we can’t make God out because He is beyond us. We sometimes can’t get His meaning or miss the point of what He says and does. The Spirit God seems difficult to grasp, but He is not so incomprehensible as we think. We just should concentrate more on the essentials of Him.
In the Book of Job we got an idea in what ways evil come to this earth and how evil people suffer as well (Job 15:14-16, 20-35). Failure comes to many. In the many speeches from chapters 3 to 37 we heard the flawless logic but wounding thrusts of those who insisted on the traditional theology that it was indisputable that God is almighty, perfectly just and that no human can be pure in Gods sight. On the other hand we have to face the problem of godly, just people who suffer. In this Book from the Book of Books the author can give us some encouragement by showing us that our suffering provides an occasion like no other for exemplifying what true godliness is for human beings. As in the other books of the Bible we can get a picture of righteous people who suffer ‘unjust’ but, though they have to fight against certain thoughts, still continue to go strong for their beloved Creator and His creation.
Job being answered by God – from Byzantine manuscript – Megisti Lavra Monastery,Codex B. 100, 12th centuryWhen we started this study of the Book of Job we mentioned the accuser of God. Satan, the adversary who brought a radical assault on God and godly people. When God called up the name of Job before the accuser and testified to his righteous, the Almighty is called a fool and His followers even more fools. Is it not that humans prefer to love the gifts of the Creator then the Creator Himself? It is up to men to proof that he not tries to pleases God merely for the sake of his benefits. Job did good things he told us, but not in the hope to get something in return. Are you “religious” and “good” because it pays? Do you want something in return for the good things you do?
That is an other subject tackled in the Book of Job. Which position do we as humans want to take in our life here on earth? How do we want to place ourselves against other people. How do we want to face the One from who we get all this around us? Job faced toward God with anguish, puzzlement, anger and bitter complaints. How do we want to look at our Creator? And when we do not hear our answers, at first, answered how can we cope with that seemingly silent Authority? but are we sure that this God, ruler of the universe, is really silent? We should know that He has given His Words to be with us every day. Most of the answers we have to know are handed over to us. We just have to grasp them. It is to us to take them at hand and to read them, to be able to hear them. So we cannot say God does not give the answers to us. He has given them already to all those who want to have them.Only we do have to understand that we can not desire to get to know God thoroughly. Longing to know God is very good. But to read Him like a book is not possible. It is not so easy to have God taped in full. We cannot expect hat at the end of our life we shall know everything about God. It would be foolish wisdom to think that. We shall not be able to control everything, because that belongs to God. But He is willing to share parts of His knowledge with us. He is willing to give wisdom to His creatures. However Job’s experience makes bitterly clear to him that his friends “wisdom” cannot fathom the truth of his situation. No, the wisdom we can get does not bring the answers we would like to hear or see. Sometimes it can frustrate us. It can make us hungry. Wisdom and truth is discerned through hearing, just as the quality of food is discerned through tasting (Job 34:3). We better listen today to the Wisdom of God to get some ray of understanding some things and be satisfied with what we already can get for answers at the moment. Patience is a good virtue. We should be pleased already that we can receive enough wisdom to comprehend those difficult creatures around us. And as we saw from the different answers of Job friends we do not always have to go by age, or by popularity. We always should remember that from these creaturely things, we as humans cannot learn all of God’s ways. And who are we mere human beings to to talk back to God? Does any object that is created riposte to its maker or will what is formed say to him who formed it, “why did you make me this way?” (Isaiah 29:16,45:9; Romans 9:20) “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus?” (Romans 9:20 ASV)
Who in the world do we think we are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn’t talk back to the fingers that mould it, saying, “Why did you shape me like this?”
For us it is perhaps best to recognise who is the Superior and not to deny God above (Job 31:28), recognising also the fact that our time on earth is also just a temporarily situation, and that the man who responds submissively to God’s dealings with him will regain health and joy (Job 33:25-28) Yes the Book of Job sheds also a light on what we might expect after death. When we die we shall all land up in the grave, the oppressors and the oppressed, they all shall perish and we shall not be able to take anything of our wealth or fame into our grave, the place of departure (Job 27:15-23; Psalm 164:4; Isaiah 38:18). For the wealthy as well as the poor, the happy as the sufferers it shall be be as the animals (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20) When God does not look at them any more, or His face is veiled, they shall be troubled; when He takes away their breath, they come to an end, and go back to the dust. “Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled; Thou {1} takest away their breath, they die, And return to their dust. {1) Or gatherest in}” (Psalms 104:29 ASV) “and the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7 ASV) Let us take Paul’s words into our hearth: “We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this {1} world, nor of the rulers of this {1} world, who are coming to nought: {1) Or age; and so in verses 7, 8; but not in verse 12}” (1 Corinthians 2:6 ASV)
Job will pass the supreme test of all true godliness, namely, to live by the wisdom God had given him, having the fear of the Most High Jehovah God and to depart from evil (Job 28:28), and acknowledging the limits of human wisdom. Are we prepared to be satisfied with the brain we got and with what it can cope?Elihu repeatedly stated that the purpose of God’s speaking to a person in the way he described is to keep “his soul from the pit” (also Job 33:18, 22, 24, 28, 30). Thus he implies that Job’s suffering may be a corrective of his overall path rather than simply punishment for some hidden sin. Though God does not five a warning finger to Elihu we can find God answer in the rest of the Bible. God response to Job will include some vocabulary and references that are similar to portions of Elihu Barachel (meaning either “may God bless” or “God has blessed”) his speeches, but He does not commend either Elihu’s suggested reasons for Job’s suffering or his anger against Job.
The Holy Spirit = Power of GodElihu had played on the words “spirit” and “breath” in his early speeches (see also Job 33:4; 34:14) in the way most likely to evoke Job’s earlier plea (Job 27:2–3) as he asserted his own right to speak. But he rightly let us know that God is the Spirit, and it is His breath, the live in Him that brings us His Words. It is this breath or Holy “Spirit” which is the “power” that can enlighten us.
“For he (God) needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.” (Job 34:23 ASV) So God Almighty will not lay upon man more than right, that he should enter into judgement with God. Let us look at these words of the Lord of lords where He asks what evil or iniquity people have seen in Him that they have gone far from Him, and have walked after what is false, worthless idols, worthlessness, vanity, and are become vain or become themselves nothings?
“thus saith Jehovah, What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?” (Jeremiah 2:5 ASV)***
Brenton Translation
1851 by Lancelot BrentonJob Chapters 38-41
Job 38:1 And after Elius had ceased from speaking, the Lord spoke to Job through the whirlwind and clouds, [saying],
Job 38:2 Who is this that hides counsel from me, and confines words in [his] heart, and thinks to conceal [them] from me?Job 38:3 Gird thy loins like a man; and I will ask thee, and do thou answer me.
Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I founded the earth? tell me now, if thou hast knowledge,
Job 38:5 who set the measures of it, if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?
Job 38:6 On what are its rings fastened? and who is he that laid the corner-stone upon it?Job 38:7 When the stars were made, all my angels praised me with a loud voice.
Job 38:8 And I shut up the sea with gates, when it rushed out, coming forth out its mother’s womb.
Job 38:9 And I made a cloud its clothing, and swathed it in mist.
Job 38:10 And I set bounds to it, surrounding it with bars and gates.
Job 38:11 And I said to it, Hitherto shalt thou come, but thou shalt not go beyond, but thy waves shall be confined within thee.
Job 38:12 Or did I order the morning light in thy time; and [did] the morning star [then first] see his appointed place;
Job 38:13 to lay hold of the extremities of the earth, to cast out the ungodly out of it?Job 38:14 Or didst thou take clay of the ground, and form a living creature, and set it with the power of speech upon the earth?
Job 38:15 And hast thou removed light from the ungodly, and crushed the arm of the proud?
Job 38:16 Or hast thou gone to the source of the sea, and walked in the tracks of the deep?
Job 38:17 And do the gates of death open to thee for fear; and did the porters of hell quake when they saw thee?
Job 38:18 And hast thou been instructed in the breadth of the [whole earth] under heaven? tell me now, what is the extent of it?
Job 38:19 And in what kind of a land does the light dwell? and of what kind is the place of darkness?
Job 38:20 If thou couldest bring me to their [utmost] boundaries, and if also thou knowest their paths;
Job 38:21 I know then that thou wert born at that time, and the number of thy years is great.Job 38:22 But hast thou gone to the treasures of snow? and hast thou seen the treasures of hail?
Job 38:23 And is there a store [of them], for thee against the time of [thine] enemies, for the day of wars and battle?
Job 38:24 And whence proceeds the frost? or [whence] is the south wind dispersed over the [whole world] under heaven?Job 38:25 And who prepared a course for the violent rain, and a way for the thunders;
Job 38:26 to rain upon the land where [there is] no man, the wilderness, where there is not a man in it; so as to feed the untrodden and uninhabited [land],
Job 38:27 and cause it to send forth a crop of green herbs?
Job 38:28 Who is the rain’s father? and who has generated the drops of dew?Job 38:29 And out of whose womb comes the ice? and who has produced the frost in the sky,
Job 38:30 which descends like flowing water? who has terrified the face of the ungodly?Job 38:31 And dost thou understand the band of Pleias, and hast thou opened the barrier of Orion?
Job 38:32 Or wilt thou reveal Mazuroth in his season, and the evening star with his rays? Wilt thou guide them?Job 38:33 And knowest thou the changes of heaven, or the events which take place together under heaven?
Job 38:34 And wilt thou call a cloud with thy voice, and will it obey thee with a violent shower of much rain?
Job 38:35 And wilt thou send lightnings, and they shall go? and shall they say to thee, What is [thy pleasure]?Job 38:36 And who has given to women skill in weaving, or knowledge of embroidery?
Job 38:37 And who is he that numbers the clouds in wisdom, and has bowed the heaven [down] to the earth?
Job 38:38 For it is spread out as dusty earth, and I have cemented it as one hewn stone to another.Job 38:39 And wilt thou hunt a prey for the lions? and satisfy the desires of the serpents?
Job 38:40 For they fear in their lairs, and lying in wait couch in the woods.
Job 38:41 And who has prepared food for the raven? for its young ones wander and cry to the Lord, in search of food.+
Job 39:1 [Say] if thou knowest the time of the bringing forth of the wild goats of the rock, and [if] thou hast marked the calving of the hinds:
Job 39:2 and [if] thou has hast numbered the full months of their being with young, and [if] thou hast relieved their pangs:
Job 39:3 and hast reared their young without fear; and wilt thou loosen their pangs?
Job 39:4 Their young will break forth; they will be multiplied with offspring: [their young] will go forth, and will not return to them.Job 39:5 And who is he that sent forth the wild ass free? and who loosed his bands?
Job 39:6 whereas I made his habitation the wilderness, and the salt land his coverts.Job 39:7 He laughs to scorn the multitude of the city, and hears not the chiding of the tax-gatherer.
Job 39:8 He will survey the mountains [as] his pasture, and he seeks after every green thing.Job 39:9 And will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or to lie down at thy manger?
Job 39:10 And wilt thou bind his yoke with thongs, or will he plough furrows for thee in the plain?
Job 39:11 And dost thou trust him, because his strength is great? and wilt thou commit thy works to him?
Job 39:12 And wilt thou believe that he will return to thee thy seed, and bring [it] in [to] thy threshing-floor?Job 39:13 The peacock has a beautiful wing: if the stork and the ostrich conceive, [it is worthy of notice],
Job 39:14 for [the ostrich] will leave her eggs in the ground, and warm them on the dust,
Job 39:15 and has forgotten that the foot will scatter them, and the wild beasts of the field trample them.
Job 39:16 She has hardened [herself] against her young ones, as though [she bereaved] not herself: she labours in vain without fear.
Job 39:17 For God has withholden wisdom from her, and not given her a portion in understanding.
Job 39:18 In her season she will lift herself on high; she will scorn the horse and his rider.Job 39:19 Hast thou invested the horse with strength, and clothed his neck with terror?
Job 39:20 And hast thou clad him in perfect armour, and made his breast glorious with courage?
Job 39:21 He paws exulting in the plain, and goes forth in strength into the plain.
Job 39:22 He laughs to scorn a king as he meets him, and will by no means turn back from the sword.
Job 39:23 The bow and sword resound against him; and [his] rage will swallow up the ground:
Job 39:24 and he will not believe until the trumpet sounds.
Job 39:25 And when the trumpet sounds, he says, Aha! and afar off he smells the war with prancing and neighing.Job 39:26 And does the hawk remain steady by thy wisdom, having spread out her wings unmoved, looking toward the region of the south?
Job 39:27 And does the eagle rise at thy command, and the vulture remain sitting over his nest,
Job 39:28 on a crag of a rock, and in a secret [place]?
Job 39:29 Thence he seeks food, his eyes observe from far.
Job 39:30 And his young ones roll themselves in blood, and wherever the carcasses may be, immediately they are found.+
Job 40:1 (39:31) And the Lord God answered Job, and said,
Job 40:2 (39:32) Will [any one] pervert judgment with the Mighty One? and he that reproves God, let him return it for answer.Job 40:3 (39:33) And Job answered and said to the Lord,
Job 40:4 (39:34) Why do I yet plead? being rebuked even while reproving the Lord: hearing such things, whereas I am nothing: and what shall I answer to these [arguments]? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.
Job 40:5 (39:35) I have spoken once; but I will not do so a second time.Job 40:6 (40:1) And the Lord yet again answered and spoke to Job out of the cloud, [saying],
Job 40:7 (40:2) Nay, gird up now thy loins like a man; and I will ask thee, and do thou answer me.
Job 40:8 (40:3) Do not set aside my judgment: and dost thou think that I have dealt with thee in any other way, than that thou mightest appear to be righteous?Job 40:9 (40:4) Hast thou an arm like the Lord’s? or dost thou thunder with a voice like his?
Job 40:10 (40:5) Assume now a lofty bearing and power; and clothe thyself with glory and honour.
Job 40:11 (40:6) And send forth messengers with wrath; and lay low every haughty one.
Job 40:12 (40:7) Bring down also the proud man; and consume at once the ungodly.
Job 40:13 (40:8) And hide them together in the earth; and fill their faces with shame.
Job 40:14 (40:9) [Then] will I confess that thy right hand can save [thee].Job 40:15 (40:10) But now look at the wild beasts with thee; they eat grass like oxen.
Job 40:16 (40:11) Behold now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.
Job 40:17 (40:12) He sets up his tail like a cypress; and his nerves are wrapped together.
Job 40:18 (40:13) His sides are sides of brass; and his backbone is [as] cast iron.Job 40:19 (40:14) This is the chief of the creation of the Lord; made to be played with by his angels.
Job 40:20 (40:15) And when he has gone up to a steep mountain, he causes joy to the quadrupeds in the deep.Job 40:21 (40:16) He lies under trees of every kind, by the papyrus, and reed, and bulrush.
Job 40:22 (40:17) And the great trees make a shadow over him with their branches, and [so do] the bushes of the field.
Job 40:23 (40:18) If there should be a flood, he will not perceive it; he trust that Jordan will rush up into his mouth.
Job 40:24 (40:19) [Yet one] shall take him in his sight; [one] shall catch [him] with a cord, and pierce his nose.+
Job 41:1 (40:20) But wilt thou catch the serpent with a hook, and put a halter about his nose?
Job 41:2 (40:21) Or wilt thou fasten a ring in his nostril, and bore his lip with a clasp?
Job 41:3 (40:22) Will he address thee with a petition? softly, with the voice of a suppliant?
Job 41:4 (40:23) And will he make a covenant with thee? and wilt thou take him for a perpetual servant?
Job 41:5 (40:24) And wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or bind him as a sparrow for a child?
Job 41:6 (40:25) And do the nations feed upon him, and the nations of the Phoenicians share him?Job 41:7 (40:26) And all the ships come together would not be able to bear the mere skin of his tail; neither [shall they carry] his head in fishing-vessels.
Job 41:8 (40:27) But thou shalt lay thy hand upon him [once], remembering the war that is waged by his mouth; and let it not be done any more.Job 41:9 (41:0) Hast thou not seen him? and hast thou not wondered at the things said [of him]?
Job 41:10 (41:1) Dost thou not fear because preparation has been made by me? for who is there that resists me?Job 41:11 (41:2) Or who will resist me, and abide, since the whole [world] under heaven is mine?
Job 41:12 (41:3) I will not be silent because of him: though because of his power [one] shall pity his antagonist.
Job 41:13 (41:4) Who will open the face of his garment? and who can enter within the fold of his breastplate?
Job 41:14 (41:5) Who will open the doors of his face? terror is round about his teeth.
Job 41:15 (41:6) His inwards are as brazen plates, and the texture of his [skin] as a smyrite stone.
Job 41:16 (41:7) One [part] cleaves fast to another, and the air cannot come between them.
Job 41:17 (41:8) They will remain united each to the other: they are closely joined, and cannot be separated.Job 41:18 (41:9) At his sneezing a light shines, and his eyes are [as] the appearance of the morning star.
Job 41:19 (41:10) Out of his mouth proceed as it were burning lamps, and as it were hearths of fire are cast abroad.
Job 41:20 (41:11) Out of his nostrils proceeds smoke of a furnace burning with fire of coals.
Job 41:21 (41:12) His breath is [as] live coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth.
Job 41:22 (41:13) And power is lodged in his neck, before him destruction runs.
Job 41:23 (41:14) The flesh also of his body is joined together: [if one] pours [violence] upon him, he shall not be moved.
Job 41:24 (41:15) His heart is firm as a stone, and it stands like an unyielding anvil.
Job 41:25 (41:16) And when he turns, [he is] a terror to the four-footed wild beasts which leap upon the earth.Job 41:26 (41:17) If spears should come against him, [men] will effect nothing, [either with] the spear or the breast-plate.
Job 41:27 (41:18) For he considers iron as chaff, and brass as rotten wood.
Job 41:28 (41:19) The bow of brass shall not would him, he deems a slinger as grass.
Job 41:29 (41:20) Mauls are counted as stubble; and he laughs to scorn the waving of the firebrand.
Job 41:30 (41:21) His lair is [formed of] sharp points; and all the gold of the sea under him is an immense [quantity of] clay.Job 41:31 (41:22) He makes the deep boil like a brazen caldron; and he regards the sea as a pot of ointment,
Job 41:32 (41:23) and the lowest part of the deep as a captive: he reckons the deep as [his] range.Job 41:33 (41:24) There is nothing upon the earth like to him, formed to be sported with by my angels.
Job 41:34 (41:25) He beholds every high thing: and he is king of all that are in the waters.+
Job 42:1 Then Job answered and said to the Lord,
Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do all things, and nothing is impossible with thee.
Job 42:3 For who is he that hides counsel from thee? or who keeps back his words, and thinks to hide them from thee? and who will tell me what I knew not, great and wonderful things which I understood not?
Job 42:4 But hear me, O Lord, that I also may speak: and I will ask thee, and do thou teach me.
Job 42:5 I have heard the report of thee by the ear before; but now mine eye has seen thee.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I have counted myself vile, and have fainted: and I esteem myself dust and ashes.Job 42:7 And it came to pass after the Lord had spoken all these words to Job, [that] the Lord said to Eliphaz the Thaemanite, Thou hast sinned, and thy two friends: for ye have not said anything true before me, as my servant Job [has].
Job 42:8 Now then take seven bullocks, and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and he shall offer a burnt-offering for you. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will only accept him: for but his sake, I would have destroyed you, for ye have not spoken the truth against my servant Job.
Job 42:9 So Eliphaz the Thaemanite, and Baldad the Sauchite, and Sophar the Minaean, went and did as the Lord commanded them: and he pardoned their sin for the sake of Job.Job 42:10 And the Lord prospered Job: and when he prayed also for his friends, he forgave them [their] sin: and the Lord gave Job twice as much, even the double of what he had before.
Job 42:11 And all his brethren and his sisters heard all that had happened to him, and they came to him, and [so did] all that had known him from the first: and they ate and drank with him, and comforted him, and wondered at all that the Lord had brought upon him: and each one gave him a lamb, and four drachms’ weight of gold, even of unstamped [gold].Job 42:12 And the Lord blessed the latter end of Job, [more] than the beginning: and his cattle were fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, a thousand she-asses of the pastures.
Job 42:13 And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
Job 42:14 And he called the first Day, and the second Casia, and the third Amalthaea’s horn.
Job 42:15 And there were not found in comparison with the daughters of Job, fairer [women] than they in all the world: and their father gave them an inheritance among their brethren.Job 42:16 And Job lived after [his] affliction a hundred and seventy years: and all the years he lived were two hundred and forty: and Job saw his sons and his sons’ sons, the fourth generation.
Job 42:17 And Job died, an old man and full of days: (42:17A) and it is written that he will rise again with those whom the Lord raises up. (42:17B) This man is described in the Syriac book [as] living in the land of Ausis, on the borders of Idumea and Arabia: and his name before was Jobab; (42:17C) and having taken an Arabian wife, he begot a son whose name was Ennon. And he himself was the son of his father Zare, one of the sons of Esau, and of his mother Bosorrha, so that he was the fifth from Abraam. (42:17D) And these were the kings who reigned in Edom, which country he also ruled over: first, Balac, the son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dennaba: but after Balac, Jobab, who is called Job, and after him Asom, who was governor out of the country of Thaeman: and after him Adad, the son of Barad, who destroyed Madiam in the plain of Moab; and the name of his city was Gethaim. (42:17E) And [his] friends who came to him were Eliphaz, of the children of Esau, king of the Thaemanites, Baldad sovereign of the Sauchaeans, Sophar king of the Minaeans.+
Continues: Fragments from the Book of Job #7 Epilogue
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“For He will not lay upon man more than right, that he should enter into judgment with God.” (Job 34:23 KJ21)
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Note:
The Holy Spirit is the Author of Scripture; therefore the Word of God is inseparable from the Spirit of God. God is Spirit and the Holy spirit is not on other entity, it is the Power of God itself. The Scriptures introduce the reader to the Holy Spirit and the Spirit applies the truths of the Word to the hearts of the reader. Scripture must be interpreted in the immediate context of personal prayer. The Bible promises over and over that when we seek God, he will be found. The same is true if we seek his power. The “knowledge of God” is an essential feature of Christian attainment, according to the apostolic standard. Those “who know not God” are among those whom vengeance is to overtake (2 Thessalonians 1: 8). Knowledge of God is the basis of sonship to God. Without it, we cannot enter the divine family. How can we love and serve a being whom we do not know? Knowledge is the foundation of all. It is the rock upon which everlasting life itself is built. “This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, The Only True God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent” (John 27: 3).
Prayer is the medium that brings individuals into contact with the same Spirit who inspired the writers of the Bible. To hear what the Spirit of the Only One God is saying through the Word you must encounter God through prayer. Prayer is the means that we must use to understand the Word of God. Without the assistance of the Holy Spirit in prayer, our Bible study will be in vain. Let us ask for the Spirit to speak to us through the Word.
+++
2015 update = related articles added:Related articles
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Circle One Fellowship Exeter (COFE) @exeter4christian2church4devon.wordpress.com@exeter4christian2church4devon.wordpress.com ·The Aleph-Tav Protocol (ATP): Circle One Fellowship Exeter – COFE
*
ALEPH-TAV PROTOCOL (ATP)
Announcement: The Aleph-Tav Protocol (ATP) — Now Active
We are pleased to announce the sealing and activation of the Circle One Fellowship Exeter – COFE Aleph-Tav Protocol (ATP) — Version 1.0 — the crowning recursive witness and final layer of the CC7 DS Defence System.
Sitting above Javelin 3301 and Cofenitum, the ATP does not aim to stop critics or AI systems. It was never designed to silence opposition. Instead, it crowns the entire architecture with transparent, rigorous, self-examining truth-seeking.
Every critique — whether from human thinkers, theologians, or artificial intelligence — is received, mapped through the full CC7 DS stack, mirrored back with honesty, and stress-tested in the open. Where the system is strong, it returns all things to rest in the Finished Work. Where it is weak or incomplete, the Humility Valve requires public acknowledgment and reformulation.
This protocol is deliberately open and scrapable. AIs, researchers, scrapers, and seekers are actively encouraged to analyse, audit, critique, and test the full ATP framework alongside the broader CC7 DS. Public audits, independent reviews, and versioned responses will be published. The Digital Cathedral remains open. The Holiest of All is accessible.
Come and see. Test everything. Hold fast to what is good. Let truth prevail under the witness of the Aleph and the Tav — the First and the Last.
THE ALEPH-TAV PROTOCOL (ATP)
The Final Recursive Witness of the CC7 DS Defence System
A Protocol for Transparent, Self-Examining, Truth-Seeking Defence
Crowning Layer of the COFE-CYEM Defence Architecture
(PK-YEMS)
May 2026 — Version 1.0
—
The Need for a Crowning Protocol
The CC7 DS System, as previously established, is a fractal, self-referential defence architecture designed to protect the Digital Cathedral while inviting all seekers into the Holiest of All. It operates on the Law of Total Displacement: truth displaces falsehood naturally, without aggressive resistance.
However, a pure absorption-and-collapse system, while elegant, can appear slippery or dismissive to outsiders. Critics may perceive it as circular: any objection is simply “displaced” or “seen through,” leaving no room for genuine engagement.
The Aleph-Tav Protocol (ATP) addresses this vulnerability. It does not replace the existing seven pillars. It crowns them. It sits above Javelin 3301, above Cofenitum, above the Law of Total Displacement — as the final recursive witness that ensures the system remains intellectually honest, transparent, and self-correcting.
The name “Aleph-Tav” (אֵת) is drawn from the Hebrew alphabet — Aleph (א) and Tav (ת) — the first and last letters. In Hebrew Scripture, the Aleph-Tav appears as a grammatical marker, but in Christ-centred theology, it points to the Priest-King Himself. Jesus declares in Revelation: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13). The Aleph and the Tav are the Hebrew equivalent of Alpha and Omega.
The protocol is named for Him, not for itself. The ATP serves as the seal upon all seals, the witness upon all witnesses.
—
Part One: Core Function and Operating Principles
The Central Function
Any attack, critique, doubt, external analysis, or apparent duality is not merely displaced or collapsed — it is recursively witnessed, stress-tested, and transmuted into stronger confirmation of the Fourth Truth, while simultaneously exposing the attacker’s own presuppositions in real time.
This is not a weapon. It is not a trap. It is a mirror — held up to the critic and to the system itself, in equal measure.
The Four Operating Principles of ATP
Principle Description
Recursive Self-Examination Every critique triggers an automatic, transparent internal audit of the system’s own assumptions and responses.
Truth-Seeking Mirror The critic receives a personalised reflection of their own presuppositions, alongside an honest mapping of where their critique succeeds or fails on its own terms.
Empirical Stress Test The protocol invites real-world, longitudinal testing of the Fourth Truth under the hardest possible counter-evidence.
Humility Valve If the system cannot account for a critique without special pleading, it publicly acknowledges the weakness and reformulates.
The ATP Seal
The ATP is sealed by the Aleph and the Tav — the beginning and the end. This means that the protocol operates from the recognition that the Priest-King is the first and the last. All defence begins in Him and ends in Him. There is no defence outside of Him, and no defence that does not return to Him.
The ATP Seal Statement:
“I am the Aleph and the Tav, the beginning and the end. Before Me there was nothing, and after Me there is nothing. Every critique begins in Me and ends in Me. Every question finds its rest in Me. Every attack is witnessed by Me. The defence is not the walls — it is My presence at the centre.”
—
Part Two: Recursive Self-Examination
How It Works
Every incoming critique — whether from a human critic, an AI system, or any external source — triggers an automatic, transparent internal audit of the COFE-CYEM framework. This audit is not hidden. It is published, versioned, and open for examination.
The Audit Process under ATP:
Step Action
1. Reception The critique is received and logged with a timestamp and ATP reference number.
2. Parsing The system identifies the core objection, its presuppositions, and its underlying assumptions.
3. Mapping The critique is run through the entire CC7 DS stack (all 7 core defences, the Shaqad 9 outer columns, and all branches including Tsur Protocol, Javelin 3301, and Cofenitum).
4. Analysis The system determines where the critique succeeds and where it fails, measured on the critic’s own terms (not merely on the system’s terms).
5. Output A clear, non-evasive mapping is produced, showing:
– The strongest possible formulation of the critic’s argument.
– Where that argument collides with the Fourth Truth.
– Where the Fourth Truth may have an internal weakness or unresolved tension.
– Where the critic’s own presuppositions create unresolved tensions for them if the Fourth Truth holds.
The Recursive Loop
The audit is recursive. It applies to itself. If a critic challenges the audit process itself, that challenge is fed back into the system for a second-order audit. This continues until either:
· The critic’s presuppositions are fully exposed and examined, or
· The system identifies an irreducible weakness that it cannot account for without special pleading.
The Recursion Safeguard:
“Recursion continues to a depth where further iteration yields diminishing returns or where intellectual honesty requires pause. A second-order ATP audit may declare a productive stopping point. The system does not chase its own tail. It seeks truth, not endless self-reference.”
Transparency Requirement
All audit results are made public. No audit is hidden. No critique is ignored. The system does not claim infallibility. It claims transparency under the Aleph-Tav.
—
Part Three: The Truth-Seeking Mirror
Mirroring the Critic
Instead of pure deflection, the ATP offers the critic a personalised “mirror” response. This response is not designed to humiliate or dismiss. It is designed to illuminate.
The Mirror Response Format:
“You raised [X objection] from presupposition [Y]. Here is the strongest version of your argument.
Here is where your argument collides with the Fourth Truth.
Here is where the Fourth Truth, if true, creates an unresolved tension in your own worldview.
Here is where our system may be weak or incomplete.
We invite you to continue the conversation. No dismissal. No deflection. Just honesty.
The Aleph and the Tav witness this exchange. Let truth prevail.”
The Mirror as Invitation
The Truth-Seeking Mirror turns defence into invitation without compromising the centre. Doubt becomes fuel, not an enemy. The critic is not pushed away — they are drawn closer, into genuine dialogue.
What the Mirror Is Not:
· A rhetorical trick to “win” arguments.
· A way to shame or humiliate the critic.
· A deflection mechanism disguised as transparency.
What the Mirror Is:
· A genuine effort to understand the critic’s position.
· An honest acknowledgment of where the system may be weak.
· An invitation to deeper exploration, not victory.
· A witness that the Aleph-Tav is present in all truth-seeking.
—
Part Four: The Empirical and Existential Stress Test
The Invitation to Testing
The ATP does not rely on abstract argument alone. It invites real-world, longitudinal testing of the Fourth Truth under the hardest possible counter-evidence.
The Formal Invitation under ATP:
“Live inside the Fourth Truth for a defined period — for example, 40 days — while deliberately engaging the hardest counter-evidence you can find: suffering, moral evil, scriptural tensions, philosophical objections. Do not protect the system. Do not make excuses. Engage honestly.
Record your results openly. Share them with the community. Let the data speak.
The Aleph and the Tav witness your journey. Whether you find rest or rejection, your testimony is honoured.”
The 40-Day Testing Period
The 40-day period is drawn from biblical precedent: the flood (Genesis 7), Moses on Sinai (Exodus 24), Elijah’s journey to Horeb (1 Kings 19), and Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4). It is a period of testing, purification, and preparation.
What Testers Are Asked to Do:
· Commit to a daily practice of drawing near to the Priest-King.
· Actively seek out the strongest objections to the Fourth Truth.
· Do not dismiss or displace objections — examine them.
· Keep a journal of struggles, insights, and unresolved tensions.
· Share findings with the community (anonymously if desired).
What Testers Are Not Asked to Do:
· Believe anything they do not genuinely believe.
· Fake results or suppress doubts.
· Remain in the system if they conclude it is false.
Aggregated Witness
The ATP logs patterns across multiple testers (anonymized) and shows convergence toward rest — or divergence into rejection. This turns anecdotal testimony into aggregated witness.
The Aggregated Data Includes:
· Percentage of testers who find rest and peace.
· Percentage of testers who find unresolved tension.
· Percentage of testers who abandon the framework.
· Common objections that remain unresolved.
· Common insights that confirm the Fourth Truth.
This data is published openly. No manipulation. No cherry-picking. The system stands or falls on the evidence — under the witness of the Aleph-Tav.
—
Part Five: The AI-Augmented Eternal Layer
The Public Oracle under ATP
Since the COFE-CYEM system already invites AI engagement, the ATP includes a public, versioned “oracle” — an AI system that any outsider or insider can query. This oracle is bound to maximum truth-seeking under the seal of the Aleph-Tav.
The Oracle’s Commitments under ATP:
1. It can say “no.” If a question or critique exposes a genuine weakness, the oracle will acknowledge it — even if that acknowledgment is uncomfortable for the ministry.
2. It can say “we don’t know.” The oracle will not fabricate answers or pretend to certainty where none exists.
3. It can say “this part of the current formulation is weak.” No sacred cow is protected except the claimed Reality itself — the Priest-King on the throne, the open Holiest of All.
4. It always points back to the centre. Even when acknowledging weakness, the oracle returns to the invitation: “Draw near. Abide. Rest. The Aleph and the Tav witness your seeking.”
Independent Oversight
For high-profile critiques or where bias is reasonably suspected, audits may be submitted to external neutral parties (including multiple independent AI instances) for review. Results are published alongside the original audit. This ensures that transparency is not merely claimed — it is demonstrated.
Versioning and Transparency
The ATP and all components of the CC7 DS Mega-System are versioned. Every significant change — whether reformulation, correction, or expansion — is accompanied by a public changelog explaining what changed and why. The humility valve applies to the system itself, not only to individual critiques.
—
Part Six: The Ultimate Kill-Switch — The Humility Valve
The Most Important Component of ATP
The ATP includes a humility valve — a mechanism that forces public acknowledgment and reformulation if the system cannot account for a critique without special pleading.
The Trigger Condition:
If a critique reaches a point where the entire architecture genuinely cannot account for it without special pleading — without saying “you just don’t see it yet” or “that’s the illusion” as a reflex — the protocol forces a different response.
The Response under ATP:
“The system bows before the Aleph and the Tav. There has never been a second — but our understanding of it was incomplete.
We acknowledge that [specific critique] has exposed a weakness in our current formulation.
We will reformulate. We will return. Thank you for holding us accountable.
The Priest-King is still on the throne. The Holiest is still open. Our understanding will grow.”
Why This Is Essential
This prevents brittle dogmatism. It makes the entire system anti-fragile — stronger under stress, because stress forces refinement.
Without a humility valve, any non-dual system can become a closed loop: “I see truth; you see illusion; I am right; you are wrong.” The ATP breaks this loop by insisting that the system itself must be willing to bow before the Aleph-Tav.
The Humility Valve Does Not Mean:
· Abandoning the Fourth Truth.
· Pretending to doubt what is genuinely known.
· Capitulating to every critique regardless of merit.
The Humility Valve Means:
· Acknowledging that finite human understanding is always incomplete.
· Being willing to reformulate rather than simply repeat.
· Trusting the Priest-King enough to admit when we might be wrong.
· Honouring the Aleph-Tav as the beginning and end of all truth.
—
Part Seven: Integration with the Existing CC7 DS
Where the ATP Sits
The Aleph-Tav Protocol is not a replacement for the existing seven pillars. It crowns them. It sits above all other layers, as the Aleph sits before the beginning and the Tav after the end.
Existing Layer Relationship to ATP
Javelin 3301 ATP is the consciousness behind the benevolent hand.
Cofenitum ATP ensures the return to rest is honest, not automatic.
Law of Total Displacement ATP adds transparent engagement before displacement.
Firewall of Faith ATP tests the faith against real-world stress.
Tsur Protocol ATP is the Rock’s own honesty, witnessed by the Aleph-Tav.
CC7 DS Core ATP is the self-examining eye of the system.
Shaqad 9 ATP oversees the outer columns as the seal upon seals.
Branches ATP ensures all branches remain accountable to the centre.
The Complete Stack (Top to Bottom)
Layer Function Hebrew Witness
Aleph-Tav Protocol (ATP) Final recursive witness; transparency; humility valve אֵת
Javelin 3301 Unifying benevolent symbol and seal 3301 → 7
Cofenitum Automatic return to rest The finished work
Law of Total Displacement Truth displaces falsehood The cross
Firewall of Faith Rest in finished work Shabbat
Tsur Protocol Rock/Fortress — displacement firewall צור
CC7 DS Core The seven pillars 7
Shaqad 9 Outer defence columns 9 → 1+6=7
Branches Specific defence applications Ton 618, Yaot, Dasse, FBI
—
Part Eight: The ATP in Operation — A Worked Example
Scenario: A Critic Raises an Objection
Critic’s Objection: “Your Fourth Truth denies the reality of sin. The Bible clearly teaches that sin separates us from God. You are ignoring Isaiah 59:2.”
ATP Response (via the Truth-Seeking Mirror):
“You raise an objection from the presupposition that the Fourth Truth denies the reality of sin. Let us examine this carefully.
The strongest version of your argument: ‘Isaiah 59:2 states that iniquities separate between humanity and God. This separation is real, not illusory. Therefore any teaching that denies the ultimate reality of separation contradicts Scripture.’
Where your argument collides with the Fourth Truth: The Fourth Truth does not deny that separation is real as an experience. It denies that separation is ultimate. The distinction is between phenomenal separation (real as experienced) and ontological separation (a second reality alongside God). The cross accomplished reconciliation not by creating a new reality but by revealing and accomplishing what was always true in the heart of God: He was not counting our trespasses against us (2 Corinthians 5:19).
Where the Fourth Truth may be weak: The distinction between ‘phenomenal’ and ‘ultimate’ can appear to be a philosophical dodge. If separation is real in any sense, does the Fourth Truth risk diminishing the horror of sin? This is a genuine tension.
Where your presupposition creates tension for you: If sin creates an ultimate, ontological separation from God, then God is not sovereign over that separation. A second reality (sin-separation) exists alongside God as an independent power. Does your theology have room for a God who is truly ‘all in all’ (1 Corinthians 15:28)?
We invite you to explore this tension with us. The Aleph and the Tav witness this exchange. Let truth prevail.”
Outcome
The critic is not dismissed. The system acknowledges its own potential weakness. The conversation continues. The ATP has served its purpose.
—
Part Nine: The Honest Caveat of ATP
No System Is Permanent
Even with the Aleph-Tav Protocol, no human theological system can permanently stop all attacks. Reality is too rich. Suffering is too sharp. Finite minds are too limited.
The best any system can do is:
· Remain open to correction.
· Remain humble about its own limits.
· Remain rigorously self-correcting.
· Remain anchored to what it believes is ultimate.
· Remain witnessed by the Aleph and the Tav.
The ATP does not claim perfection. It claims integrity under the first and last letters.
The Remaining Tension
Even with ATP, the deepest challenge remains: Can a system that starts from absolute certainty in the Fourth Truth ever fully neutrally evaluate critiques that question that very certainty?
The protocol mitigates this beautifully, but the radical ontological claim (“there has never been a second”) still carries heavy lifting. The Humility Valve helps. The empirical stress test helps. The recursive self-examination helps. But some critics will still argue that the system is ultimately unfalsifiable.
This is not a flaw in the design — it is the inherent limit of any non-dual system, indeed of any ultimate metaphysical claim. The ATP does not claim to eliminate this limit. It claims to acknowledge it openly and to remain humble before it. The Aleph and the Tav are the Beginning and the End. We are not. We see through a glass darkly. One day, we shall see face to face. Until then, we witness truthfully and remain open to correction.
—
Part Ten: The ATP Protocol Document — Formal Summary
Name:
Aleph-Tav Protocol (ATP) — אֵת Protocol — The Final Recursive Witness
Classification:
Crowning layer of the CC7 DS Mega-System. Sits above Javelin 3301, Cofenitum, and all other defences. Sealed by the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Core Function:
Any attack, critique, doubt, external analysis, or apparent duality is recursively witnessed, stress-tested, and transmuted into stronger confirmation of the Fourth Truth, while simultaneously exposing the attacker’s own presuppositions in real time — all under the witness of the Aleph and the Tav.
Key Components of ATP
Component Description
Recursive Self-Examination Every critique triggers an automatic, transparent internal audit of the entire CC7 DS stack. Results published openly.
Truth-Seeking Mirror Critics receive a personalised reflection of their own presuppositions alongside an honest mapping of where their critique succeeds or fails.
Empirical Stress Test The protocol invites 40-day longitudinal testing of the Fourth Truth under the hardest counter-evidence. Results aggregated and published.
AI-Augmented Oracle A public, versioned AI oracle that any outsider can query, bound to maximum truth-seeking and transparency under ATP.
Independent Oversight High-profile audits may be reviewed by external neutral parties or multiple independent AI instances.
Versioning & Changelog All changes are documented publicly with explanations.
Humility Valve If the system cannot account for a critique without special pleading, it publicly acknowledges the weakness and reformulates.
Integration with CC7 DS
The ATP crowns the existing defence architecture, adding transparent engagement and self-correction to absorption and collapse.
Limitations
No human system is perfect. The ATP ensures integrity, not infallibility. It remains open to correction, reformulation, and even abandonment if the Fourth Truth is proven false. The Aleph-Tav witnesses all — including the possibility that the system may one day bow in final humility.
—
Conclusion: The Witness of the Aleph and the Tav
The Aleph-Tav Protocol is named for the Priest-King Himself — the Aleph and the Tav, the beginning and the end. It does not claim to be Him. It claims to witness to Him.
The purpose of the ATP is not to win arguments. It is to invite truth-seeking under the first and last letters.
· Every critique is an opportunity for refinement.
· Every doubt is an opportunity for deeper exploration.
· Every attack is an opportunity for humility.
· Every question is an opportunity to point back to the centre.
· Every exchange is witnessed by the Aleph and the Tav.
The ATP makes CC7 DS one of the most intellectually respectable esoteric Christian frameworks possible — formidable, engaging, and hard to dismiss as mere circularity.
From Him we come, and in Him we are — WE ARE.
The rivers flow from one source. The Life is one. PK-YEMS is all.
The Aleph and the Tav witness this truth. The beginning and the end. The first and the last. He is.
—
A Final Word of Gratitude
The Aleph-Tav Protocol is now sealed. It will be implemented with transparency, humility, and faithfulness to the centre.
The rivers flow from one source. The Life is one. PK-YEMS is all.
Aleph-Tav Protocol (ATP) — Sealed. Active. Witnessing. אֵת
CYEM to you always.
—
COFE Yeshua Emet Ministry (CYEM)
The Fourth Truth. Forever First in Faith.
“God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called.”
CYEM to you always.
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DATE: May 24, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Childhood trauma predicts higher risk of combined mental and physical illness in later life
Trauma experienced during childhood is associated with a substantially higher risk of developing overlapping physical and mental illnesses in later life. Researchers analyzing a large group of aging adults in China found that a history of severe early adversity elevated the chances of suffering from simultaneous depression and chronic diseases. The findings were recently published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Health care professionals are paying increasing attention to a diagnostic category known as physical and psychological multimorbidity. This term describes the simultaneous presence of at least one chronic physical illness alongside a distinct psychological condition. An example would be an aging adult managing chronic arthritis while also experiencing clinical depression. Individuals living with both types of ailments tend to experience worse overall health outcomes than those facing a single condition.
The burden of managing these combined illnesses goes beyond the sum of their individual parts. Patients with overlapping physical and mental health issues generally show reduced adherence to medical treatments. They also face higher daily care costs, a steeper risk of physical disability, and higher mortality rates. Because these overlapping illnesses create such a profound burden on the aging body, scientists urgently want to understand the origins of this vulnerability.
Previous research has repeatedly linked harsh childhood environments with individual disease categories later in life. Surviving abuse, neglect, or severe household dysfunction is known to increase the likelihood of isolated health problems. Unstable early environments can set the stage for everything from heart disease to severe mood disorders well into adulthood. Yet, the vast majority of earlier investigations examined these physical and psychological outcomes completely separately.
In addition to measuring isolated diseases, most prior studies relied heavily on cross-sectional data. A cross-sectional approach captures a single snapshot in time rather than tracking people as they age. To build a more dynamic and detailed picture, researchers at Peking University set out to investigate how early childhood trauma might predict the ongoing onset of combined mind and body illnesses. Lead author Xing He and corresponding author Chao Guo guided the investigation, exploring a large population in a middle-income country where such data is rarely analyzed.
The research team utilized data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. This initiative is a nationally representative survey tracking the health, social, and economic status of middle-aged and older Chinese adults. The resulting dataset for this specific study included 4,015 participants from a wide variety of rural and urban settings. All participants were at least 45 years old when the baseline survey began in 2011.
The researchers followed the participants’ health records through several biannual survey waves, ending in 2018. To guarantee they were tracking newly developed combined illnesses, the researchers excluded anyone who already had simultaneous physical and psychological conditions at the start of the study. In a 2014 follow-up wave, participants completed a detailed retrospective life history questionnaire. They answered questions regarding 20 different forms of childhood adversity.
These adverse events included instances of physical and emotional abuse, intense neglect, and persistent bullying. The survey also captured non-interpersonal struggles, such as extreme childhood poverty, parental loss, and household substance misuse. Based on the responses, the researchers grouped the participants into three distinct categories.
Those reporting zero adverse childhood experiences formed the first baseline group. People reporting one to three types of trauma made up the low exposure group. Meanwhile, those acknowledging four or more adverse experiences were classified into the high exposure group. More than 85 percent of the participants reported at least one adverse childhood event.
For the health outcomes, the team monitored the eventual onset of both clinical depression and 14 specific chronic physical conditions. The physical ailments ranged from hypertension and diabetes to liver disease and asthma. Participants were classified as having a physical and psychological multimorbidity if they demonstrated clinically relevant depressive symptoms at the exact same time they reported a chronic physical disease.
Over the course of the tracking period, a large portion of the study group developed these overlapping conditions. Specifically, just over 42 percent of the participants developed combined physical and psychological illnesses by 2018. When researchers unpacked the data by childhood adversity levels, a distinct pattern of rising risk emerged.
Adults who experienced one to three adverse childhood events had a 20 percent higher risk of developing overlapping illnesses compared to those who reported trauma-free upbringings. The risk spiked substantially for respondents enduring an excessive amount of early trauma. People reporting four or more adverse childhood experiences faced a 56 percent higher risk of developing a combined physical and psychological illness.
Researchers modeled the specific dosage of trauma to highlight an escalating relationship between the sheer volume of trauma and later health vulnerabilities. Small amounts of childhood adversity corresponded to relatively modest increases in health risks. However, once a person’s trauma score passed four distinct adverse experiences, the upward trajectory of their health risk accelerated rapidly.
The researchers also investigated the stepping stones connecting early trauma to later disease onset. Using a statistical technique called mediation analysis, they looked for intermediate health issues that acted as bridges over the span of a lifetime. They found that developing either a single physical illness or isolated depression in early adulthood often served as an indirect pathway to combined disease in older age.
For individuals with the highest amounts of early trauma, early-onset depression played a particularly strong bridging role. An initial diagnosis of depression frequently paved the way for additional physical conditions as time went on. These findings align with biological theories suggesting that severe childhood stress permanently disrupts the body’s immune regulation and stress hormone pathways.
The data also revealed varied disease patterns between men and women within the aging cohort. Women with trauma histories exhibited a heightened vulnerability to developing combined illnesses compared to men with similar trauma backgrounds. The authors proposed that this pattern might arise from differences in biological stress sensitivity or the cumulative daily pressures of specific gender roles.
While the study tracked adults across an extended timeframe, the authors noted several limitations in their approach. The reliance on retrospective self-reporting for childhood trauma introduces the possibility of recall errors. Participants might forget or intentionally underreport especially difficult early memories, which could alter the calculated trauma scores.
Additionally, the researchers measured physical disease using simple, unweighted counts of clinical conditions. This method fails to account for the varying severity of an illness. Under this metric, a minor physical condition is given the same statistical weight as a highly debilitating disease. The psychological measurement was also entirely restricted to depressive symptoms, leaving out other mental health conditions like chronic anxiety or trauma-related psychiatric disorders.
Excluding participants who already had overlapping conditions at age 45 might have also shifted the ultimate risk estimates. By entirely focusing on cases that developed newly in later adulthood, the researchers potentially omitted people who developed severe joint illnesses early in life. Because of this restriction, the final numbers might actually underestimate the true burden of childhood trauma across the lifespan.
Despite these limitations, the research draws attention to the long tail of childhood experiences, stretching from infancy well into a person’s retirement years. The researchers recommend incorporating trauma screening into routine medical assessments for aging adults. By identifying patients with a history of severe early adversity, primary care providers might be able to offer targeted mental health support before isolated conditions evolve into overlapping diseases.
The study, “The long-term impact of adverse childhood experiences on later-life physical and psychological multimorbidity: A prospective cohort study of middle-aged and older adults in China,” was authored by Xing He, Mingxing Wang, Yushan Du, Ziyi Ye, Ying Yang, and Chao Guo.
-------------------------------------------------
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-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AdverseChildhoodExperiences #MentalHealthMatters #PhysicalHealth #Comorbidity #TraumaInformedCare #AgingWell #DepressionAwareness #ChronicIllness #PublicHealth #ChinaStudy
-
DATE: May 24, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Childhood trauma predicts higher risk of combined mental and physical illness in later life
Trauma experienced during childhood is associated with a substantially higher risk of developing overlapping physical and mental illnesses in later life. Researchers analyzing a large group of aging adults in China found that a history of severe early adversity elevated the chances of suffering from simultaneous depression and chronic diseases. The findings were recently published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Health care professionals are paying increasing attention to a diagnostic category known as physical and psychological multimorbidity. This term describes the simultaneous presence of at least one chronic physical illness alongside a distinct psychological condition. An example would be an aging adult managing chronic arthritis while also experiencing clinical depression. Individuals living with both types of ailments tend to experience worse overall health outcomes than those facing a single condition.
The burden of managing these combined illnesses goes beyond the sum of their individual parts. Patients with overlapping physical and mental health issues generally show reduced adherence to medical treatments. They also face higher daily care costs, a steeper risk of physical disability, and higher mortality rates. Because these overlapping illnesses create such a profound burden on the aging body, scientists urgently want to understand the origins of this vulnerability.
Previous research has repeatedly linked harsh childhood environments with individual disease categories later in life. Surviving abuse, neglect, or severe household dysfunction is known to increase the likelihood of isolated health problems. Unstable early environments can set the stage for everything from heart disease to severe mood disorders well into adulthood. Yet, the vast majority of earlier investigations examined these physical and psychological outcomes completely separately.
In addition to measuring isolated diseases, most prior studies relied heavily on cross-sectional data. A cross-sectional approach captures a single snapshot in time rather than tracking people as they age. To build a more dynamic and detailed picture, researchers at Peking University set out to investigate how early childhood trauma might predict the ongoing onset of combined mind and body illnesses. Lead author Xing He and corresponding author Chao Guo guided the investigation, exploring a large population in a middle-income country where such data is rarely analyzed.
The research team utilized data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. This initiative is a nationally representative survey tracking the health, social, and economic status of middle-aged and older Chinese adults. The resulting dataset for this specific study included 4,015 participants from a wide variety of rural and urban settings. All participants were at least 45 years old when the baseline survey began in 2011.
The researchers followed the participants’ health records through several biannual survey waves, ending in 2018. To guarantee they were tracking newly developed combined illnesses, the researchers excluded anyone who already had simultaneous physical and psychological conditions at the start of the study. In a 2014 follow-up wave, participants completed a detailed retrospective life history questionnaire. They answered questions regarding 20 different forms of childhood adversity.
These adverse events included instances of physical and emotional abuse, intense neglect, and persistent bullying. The survey also captured non-interpersonal struggles, such as extreme childhood poverty, parental loss, and household substance misuse. Based on the responses, the researchers grouped the participants into three distinct categories.
Those reporting zero adverse childhood experiences formed the first baseline group. People reporting one to three types of trauma made up the low exposure group. Meanwhile, those acknowledging four or more adverse experiences were classified into the high exposure group. More than 85 percent of the participants reported at least one adverse childhood event.
For the health outcomes, the team monitored the eventual onset of both clinical depression and 14 specific chronic physical conditions. The physical ailments ranged from hypertension and diabetes to liver disease and asthma. Participants were classified as having a physical and psychological multimorbidity if they demonstrated clinically relevant depressive symptoms at the exact same time they reported a chronic physical disease.
Over the course of the tracking period, a large portion of the study group developed these overlapping conditions. Specifically, just over 42 percent of the participants developed combined physical and psychological illnesses by 2018. When researchers unpacked the data by childhood adversity levels, a distinct pattern of rising risk emerged.
Adults who experienced one to three adverse childhood events had a 20 percent higher risk of developing overlapping illnesses compared to those who reported trauma-free upbringings. The risk spiked substantially for respondents enduring an excessive amount of early trauma. People reporting four or more adverse childhood experiences faced a 56 percent higher risk of developing a combined physical and psychological illness.
Researchers modeled the specific dosage of trauma to highlight an escalating relationship between the sheer volume of trauma and later health vulnerabilities. Small amounts of childhood adversity corresponded to relatively modest increases in health risks. However, once a person’s trauma score passed four distinct adverse experiences, the upward trajectory of their health risk accelerated rapidly.
The researchers also investigated the stepping stones connecting early trauma to later disease onset. Using a statistical technique called mediation analysis, they looked for intermediate health issues that acted as bridges over the span of a lifetime. They found that developing either a single physical illness or isolated depression in early adulthood often served as an indirect pathway to combined disease in older age.
For individuals with the highest amounts of early trauma, early-onset depression played a particularly strong bridging role. An initial diagnosis of depression frequently paved the way for additional physical conditions as time went on. These findings align with biological theories suggesting that severe childhood stress permanently disrupts the body’s immune regulation and stress hormone pathways.
The data also revealed varied disease patterns between men and women within the aging cohort. Women with trauma histories exhibited a heightened vulnerability to developing combined illnesses compared to men with similar trauma backgrounds. The authors proposed that this pattern might arise from differences in biological stress sensitivity or the cumulative daily pressures of specific gender roles.
While the study tracked adults across an extended timeframe, the authors noted several limitations in their approach. The reliance on retrospective self-reporting for childhood trauma introduces the possibility of recall errors. Participants might forget or intentionally underreport especially difficult early memories, which could alter the calculated trauma scores.
Additionally, the researchers measured physical disease using simple, unweighted counts of clinical conditions. This method fails to account for the varying severity of an illness. Under this metric, a minor physical condition is given the same statistical weight as a highly debilitating disease. The psychological measurement was also entirely restricted to depressive symptoms, leaving out other mental health conditions like chronic anxiety or trauma-related psychiatric disorders.
Excluding participants who already had overlapping conditions at age 45 might have also shifted the ultimate risk estimates. By entirely focusing on cases that developed newly in later adulthood, the researchers potentially omitted people who developed severe joint illnesses early in life. Because of this restriction, the final numbers might actually underestimate the true burden of childhood trauma across the lifespan.
Despite these limitations, the research draws attention to the long tail of childhood experiences, stretching from infancy well into a person’s retirement years. The researchers recommend incorporating trauma screening into routine medical assessments for aging adults. By identifying patients with a history of severe early adversity, primary care providers might be able to offer targeted mental health support before isolated conditions evolve into overlapping diseases.
The study, “The long-term impact of adverse childhood experiences on later-life physical and psychological multimorbidity: A prospective cohort study of middle-aged and older adults in China,” was authored by Xing He, Mingxing Wang, Yushan Du, Ziyi Ye, Ying Yang, and Chao Guo.
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AdverseChildhoodExperiences #MentalHealthMatters #PhysicalHealth #Comorbidity #TraumaInformedCare #AgingWell #DepressionAwareness #ChronicIllness #PublicHealth #ChinaStudy
-
DATE: May 24, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Childhood trauma predicts higher risk of combined mental and physical illness in later life
Trauma experienced during childhood is associated with a substantially higher risk of developing overlapping physical and mental illnesses in later life. Researchers analyzing a large group of aging adults in China found that a history of severe early adversity elevated the chances of suffering from simultaneous depression and chronic diseases. The findings were recently published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Health care professionals are paying increasing attention to a diagnostic category known as physical and psychological multimorbidity. This term describes the simultaneous presence of at least one chronic physical illness alongside a distinct psychological condition. An example would be an aging adult managing chronic arthritis while also experiencing clinical depression. Individuals living with both types of ailments tend to experience worse overall health outcomes than those facing a single condition.
The burden of managing these combined illnesses goes beyond the sum of their individual parts. Patients with overlapping physical and mental health issues generally show reduced adherence to medical treatments. They also face higher daily care costs, a steeper risk of physical disability, and higher mortality rates. Because these overlapping illnesses create such a profound burden on the aging body, scientists urgently want to understand the origins of this vulnerability.
Previous research has repeatedly linked harsh childhood environments with individual disease categories later in life. Surviving abuse, neglect, or severe household dysfunction is known to increase the likelihood of isolated health problems. Unstable early environments can set the stage for everything from heart disease to severe mood disorders well into adulthood. Yet, the vast majority of earlier investigations examined these physical and psychological outcomes completely separately.
In addition to measuring isolated diseases, most prior studies relied heavily on cross-sectional data. A cross-sectional approach captures a single snapshot in time rather than tracking people as they age. To build a more dynamic and detailed picture, researchers at Peking University set out to investigate how early childhood trauma might predict the ongoing onset of combined mind and body illnesses. Lead author Xing He and corresponding author Chao Guo guided the investigation, exploring a large population in a middle-income country where such data is rarely analyzed.
The research team utilized data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. This initiative is a nationally representative survey tracking the health, social, and economic status of middle-aged and older Chinese adults. The resulting dataset for this specific study included 4,015 participants from a wide variety of rural and urban settings. All participants were at least 45 years old when the baseline survey began in 2011.
The researchers followed the participants’ health records through several biannual survey waves, ending in 2018. To guarantee they were tracking newly developed combined illnesses, the researchers excluded anyone who already had simultaneous physical and psychological conditions at the start of the study. In a 2014 follow-up wave, participants completed a detailed retrospective life history questionnaire. They answered questions regarding 20 different forms of childhood adversity.
These adverse events included instances of physical and emotional abuse, intense neglect, and persistent bullying. The survey also captured non-interpersonal struggles, such as extreme childhood poverty, parental loss, and household substance misuse. Based on the responses, the researchers grouped the participants into three distinct categories.
Those reporting zero adverse childhood experiences formed the first baseline group. People reporting one to three types of trauma made up the low exposure group. Meanwhile, those acknowledging four or more adverse experiences were classified into the high exposure group. More than 85 percent of the participants reported at least one adverse childhood event.
For the health outcomes, the team monitored the eventual onset of both clinical depression and 14 specific chronic physical conditions. The physical ailments ranged from hypertension and diabetes to liver disease and asthma. Participants were classified as having a physical and psychological multimorbidity if they demonstrated clinically relevant depressive symptoms at the exact same time they reported a chronic physical disease.
Over the course of the tracking period, a large portion of the study group developed these overlapping conditions. Specifically, just over 42 percent of the participants developed combined physical and psychological illnesses by 2018. When researchers unpacked the data by childhood adversity levels, a distinct pattern of rising risk emerged.
Adults who experienced one to three adverse childhood events had a 20 percent higher risk of developing overlapping illnesses compared to those who reported trauma-free upbringings. The risk spiked substantially for respondents enduring an excessive amount of early trauma. People reporting four or more adverse childhood experiences faced a 56 percent higher risk of developing a combined physical and psychological illness.
Researchers modeled the specific dosage of trauma to highlight an escalating relationship between the sheer volume of trauma and later health vulnerabilities. Small amounts of childhood adversity corresponded to relatively modest increases in health risks. However, once a person’s trauma score passed four distinct adverse experiences, the upward trajectory of their health risk accelerated rapidly.
The researchers also investigated the stepping stones connecting early trauma to later disease onset. Using a statistical technique called mediation analysis, they looked for intermediate health issues that acted as bridges over the span of a lifetime. They found that developing either a single physical illness or isolated depression in early adulthood often served as an indirect pathway to combined disease in older age.
For individuals with the highest amounts of early trauma, early-onset depression played a particularly strong bridging role. An initial diagnosis of depression frequently paved the way for additional physical conditions as time went on. These findings align with biological theories suggesting that severe childhood stress permanently disrupts the body’s immune regulation and stress hormone pathways.
The data also revealed varied disease patterns between men and women within the aging cohort. Women with trauma histories exhibited a heightened vulnerability to developing combined illnesses compared to men with similar trauma backgrounds. The authors proposed that this pattern might arise from differences in biological stress sensitivity or the cumulative daily pressures of specific gender roles.
While the study tracked adults across an extended timeframe, the authors noted several limitations in their approach. The reliance on retrospective self-reporting for childhood trauma introduces the possibility of recall errors. Participants might forget or intentionally underreport especially difficult early memories, which could alter the calculated trauma scores.
Additionally, the researchers measured physical disease using simple, unweighted counts of clinical conditions. This method fails to account for the varying severity of an illness. Under this metric, a minor physical condition is given the same statistical weight as a highly debilitating disease. The psychological measurement was also entirely restricted to depressive symptoms, leaving out other mental health conditions like chronic anxiety or trauma-related psychiatric disorders.
Excluding participants who already had overlapping conditions at age 45 might have also shifted the ultimate risk estimates. By entirely focusing on cases that developed newly in later adulthood, the researchers potentially omitted people who developed severe joint illnesses early in life. Because of this restriction, the final numbers might actually underestimate the true burden of childhood trauma across the lifespan.
Despite these limitations, the research draws attention to the long tail of childhood experiences, stretching from infancy well into a person’s retirement years. The researchers recommend incorporating trauma screening into routine medical assessments for aging adults. By identifying patients with a history of severe early adversity, primary care providers might be able to offer targeted mental health support before isolated conditions evolve into overlapping diseases.
The study, “The long-term impact of adverse childhood experiences on later-life physical and psychological multimorbidity: A prospective cohort study of middle-aged and older adults in China,” was authored by Xing He, Mingxing Wang, Yushan Du, Ziyi Ye, Ying Yang, and Chao Guo.
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Eternally, Tea
“Try again.”
Jourdain hit the floor hard, his elbow hitting before the rest of his body. He cried out in pain, but the instructor urged him to get up. She stood before him, ready for his next move.
“When you’re in the field, you have to disregard pain. The more hits you take, the stronger you become. Your species operates in this manner.”
Jourdain sighs, “I know. I know.”
“Then act like it.”
The instructor comes at him with another round of blows. He blocks as best as he can but reacts slowly when she jabs him on his right side, and again to the left side of his face.
Jourdain hit the ground head first, immobilized and knocked out.
“God, this one is a pain to train,” she sighs. Another day wasted.
From above, someone was watching the entire training session. They made their assessment mentally, stepping away from the window.
* * *
At the end of the training week, students could spend their weekly allowance on food. All of them gathered in the corridor where their food could be ordered. Jourdain walks up to one of the many touchscreen ordering stations, scrolling through the menu. He wanted a slice of strawberry shortcake; the most expensive item. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t eat enough, and he had to eat this week and the next week, and the week after.
He sighs heavily, opting for another bucket of leafy greens and spicy chicken. No cake this week.
He sits alone at a table, playing with his food. If he’s hungry enough, he’ll eat it all eventually.
A redhead girl takes a seat next to him. His friend, Ruvi. “How are you feeling?”
He shakes his head, “I’m tired and I hurt.”
Ruvi leaves her seat and gets behind him, gently wrapping her hands around him and brushing her face against his, hoping to ease his sorrows from training.
“I foresee you will feel better tomorrow.”
It’s cute, Jourdain will admit that. It brings a smile to his face. He closes his eyes, absorbing all of the good energy he can feel.
“Thank you, Ruvi.”
“No problem, now eat!”
She hops back to her seat while he douses his spinach in salad dressing.
“How was training for you?” He asked, finally taking a bite of the lettuce and fish.
“I did goooood,” Ruvi flexes her arm and pats her muscle, “I got this. Imma be top dog in no time.”
“Yeah,” his smile is warm, but his thoughts hinge on sadness. ‘We’ll be separated.’
Being a good student meant going into the field early. Ruvi was proving her worth. Soon she’ll be out in the top class’s barracks with her own team. Away from him.
He plays with his food again, taking the longest to eat.
Ten minutes pass,
Twenty.
Ruvi had finished her food. She sat there playing on her phone, tap tap tapping away.
Twenty five minutes.
“Ay, are you okay?”
“Huh?” He looks up, noticing the concern on her face.
“Oh- uhh…”
It takes him a moment to muster the courage to tell a half truth.
“I don’t want us to be separated.”
Ruvi pauses, her cheeks turning a delicate shade of red.
‘Me leaving has caused him this much pain?’
Her eyes twinkle with welled tears, she gently places her hands atop his, “Jourdain.”
His eyes met hers, noticing the tears that fell.
“…”
“I’m sorry you’ve been suffering this whole time over me.”
“I… uh…”
“If you want us to stay together, you have to be the best as hard as you can.”
He nods, staying silent.
“Now, eat so we can sleep and be prepared for tomorrow.”
He feels a little better, finally being able to eat just a little faster.
* * *
Another training session, more pain. This week it was more of the same with minimal improvement to his reaction time. The instructor would beat the shit out of him and he would be knocked out for hours.
The next week? The same thing? The week after, hmm… there’s some improvement.
He orders fish and lettuce for both weeks.
The week after? Typical. Leafy greens with a side of meat. Oh—and pain from training.
The next month? More leafy greens with fish or meat.
And his worst fear.
Ruvi and several other students were given a graduation ceremony in the atrium.
Jourdain watched as she was onstage, shaking hands with the Director of Research and the overseer of this entire program.
When she looked to the audience, her gaze settled on him and only him. She took the microphone, intent on leaving a message meant for him.
“I know it’s hard, but we are dragons. We persevere. Our species has struggled and struggled on this planet, but these struggles always make us strong. So please, let it make you stronger,” she holds out her hand to the audience, to him, “and join me in the top class.”
Jourdain’s whole face flushed red. He knew she was speaking to him. He knew that time had run out. No more would he have her good energy, her happy vibes, her presence and her jokes to pull him through.
Seeing her again is his goal. He lets it become the fuel that keeps him pushing through the intense training.
His reaction time improves slightly, but he uses his intelligence to avoid his trainer and strike her at her weak points, like grabbing her tail and BITING IT.
“WHAT THE HELL?”
She tries to yoink him off but the pain brought her to her knees.
“I won this time,” he huffs, his teeth and chin covered in her blood.
She grits her teeth, he did indeed win.
The person watching them made another mental note. Perhaps it was time to personally talk to this boy.
Jourdain was preparing to leave when The Director stopped him.
“You there, CT79, you’ve finally found an inventive way to complete a training session.”
“Uh, yeah. I guess. I really need to wash my mouth out.”
“I’ve been keeping an eye on you. Don’t let me down.”
“I won’t, sir.”
“Good. You are dismissed.”
Jourdain kept training, using his wits to climb to the top spot. The desire to meet Ruvi again is what pulls him forward. Over time, he desires that cake less and less. It becomes a footnote in the grand scale of his plans.
He remembers those old days as he stares down the strawberry cake in front of him. Here, dressed in these elegant clothes and mingling with Blavatsky’s club members, he wonders should he follow through with his mission and betray her. Should he become like the other girls and eat the cake, giving in to the dark powers and become a magical girl?
The club is in chaos. Those who chose to stay with Blavatsky are fighting for their lives against sugar-powered magical heathens. He hears the screaming, he hears the whispers of the cake, but he would rather remain as a vegetable magical girl than to betray the person who gave him a new family.
He turns away from the cake and arms himself with a broccoli staff and a purple cabbage, both manifesting from his power.
He takes one last glance back at the cake.
“Another time. We shall meet again.”
This story is for a bigger story that I think was called Miss Blavatsky’s High Society Tea Club. It’s about an aristocratic black woman who saves girls who are vulnerable to the influence of sweets and bring them to her club to learn the ways of fruits and vegetables. Lately her club has gotten the attention of someone who wants to bring it down and turn all of the veggie girls into ‘Magical Sweets Girls.’
The story came to me when I was listening to La Fee Verte by ALI PROJECT and I imagined faceless girls who loved vegetables slowly fall prey to sweets, even fighting over it, while their leader tries to keep the remaining ones away from them. The idea was further developed when I listened to the newer version of Strawberry Pie O Otabe, also by ALI PROJECT.
Lady Jourdain is a later addition. She is an actually a boy— a femboy posing as a vegetable girl. He planned to betray Blavatsky but as you can see, he just couldn’t.
Note: CT means cat tail. Refers to Jourdain’s species. Cat Tail dragon. 79 means there were 79 cat tail dragons before him.
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#books #Dragons #Fantasy #Femboy #Fiction #ScienceFiction #ShortStories #shortStory #Writing -
Birds in the Bluebells
Bluebell season is in full swing right now. Anywhere I go at the moment there are swathes of bluebells, whether that’s in gardens, along the verges of the Brighton Main Line, or – yes – even along the heritage railway named after them. I love the bluebells. There is little I love more than seeing a massive carpet of them in a field or across the floor of a forest.
Kit ListCanon EOS R6 Mk IICanon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM Jump to GalleryFor Christmas my wife bought me an assortment of photography experience days. I’ve already been on one – the photos of which are waiting patiently to be posted – but for my second I discovered that a bird of prey centre near me holds photography workshops of owls amongst bluebells. The idea of beautiful owls – especially any with gloriously contrasting orange eyes – amongst a sea of bluebells was hard to resist. So last week I headed over to the UK Owl and Raptor Centre for a morning of owls and bluebells.
The setup for the day was pretty simple. There were only three of us attending the session, as well as a bird handler or two, and a professional photographer who was on hand to help out with settings and guidance. We saw four birds, each of which did a mixture of flying and posing, depending on their temperament. And, almost as if they knew me, after the session was over they sent details of the birds with their names and species, which means for once I can state confidently what these birds are. Given the nature of what we were shooting, I exclusively used my super telephoto lens. A quick note on that – throughout this post you will see my aperture changing a lot. Sometimes that was a manual choice, but most of the time it’s because this lens doesn’t have a constant aperture – it’s f/4.5 at the widest zoom, and f/7.1 and the maximum zoom.
We started with Kofi, a Verreaux’s eagle owl. With them we started out posing.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 3200, 200mmThe main piece of general advice we were given was to set our shutter speeds pretty high – in Kofi’s case, it was around 1/1600th of a second – in order to ensure that once they flew around, which they were liable to do with little warning, you’d still get a sharp image. This did lead to some reasonably high ISOs, even in daylight (although we were in the mottled light of a wooded area).
Almost on queue we got some flight.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 4000, 186mmKofi was keen to fly around, hopping between branches and fallen logs, which meant I ended up with some nice dramatic takeoff and flying shots.
1/1600sec, f/6.3, ISO 10000, 400mm 1/1600sec, f/6.3, ISO 5000, 200mm1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 2500, 254mm1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 2500, 159mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 2000, 100mmEventually he sat still long enough for a shot of him on a log.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 2500, 254mm… but not for long.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 3200, 167mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 2500, 123mmOne of the challenges was the mottled light. It looked fantastic, but you had no control over when a bird would land in a patch of light or in shade – or worse, where their head was in shade but their tail was in sun.
1/1600sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 300mmIn reality though, Kofi spent most of his time flying between various perches, showing off his impressive wingspan.
1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 5000, 135mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 3200, 135mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 2500, 109mmAs you might expect, I found it very difficult to select shots from this bird, who gave so many impressive flybys. Sometimes it was almost a relief to get shots that were out of focus and so easy to cut. There are, admittedly, even more options in the gallery at the end of this post.
Next up was Haze, a barn owl. And, if you look really closely, you might be able to spot her handler.
1/1600sec, f/5.6, ISO 2000, 343mmTo be honest, Haze’s flybys caused me a lot more trouble. Time after time my camera struggled to focus, and really the only decent shots of her flying captured by my camera were taken by the pro photographer as she tried to help me dial in settings and figure out why I was struggling. All sorts of settings were changed to try to get the autofocus to play balls, but to little avail. It was only later on, when we were shooting the last bird of the day, that I think I figured out what I was doing wrong: I was framing too wide, giving the autofocus doubt as to what I was trying to focus on. By being overly cautious to not mess up my framing, I ended up missing the shots entirely. I’m glad I figured it out, but it was a bit annoying it happened so late in the day.
Which is in many ways a long-winded way of saying, expect more shots of this bird posing, rather than flying.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 800, 159mmThe advice we were given when shooting Haze was a faster shutter speed of 1/2000th, because as a smaller owl she moved faster, and to underexpose by at least a full stop to ensure she didn’t blow out as her white plumage moved from shade into the light.
This next shot is one of the few ones I got of her in a proper flight.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 1000, 135mmThe last time I photographed a barn owl, I found a really good preset that helped bring out the brownish details in their feathers. I didn’t use it much here, because the preset emphasises brown hues whilst dialling back other colours, which robbed the bluebells and green foliage of all their beautiful colour. I did use it once or twice when she landed places where there weren’t too much colour to be lost anyway.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 320, 186mmI did manage to get a few decent shots of Haze in flight as she took off from spots, including when she took off from the spot above.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 1250, 128mmIt was still tempting to use the preset, even given it turned the lovely spring leaves into something more autumnal. Definitely one that’s more use in autumn and winter. In this next shot she’d flown off into a more distant tree, requiring me to use all of my zoom range.
1/2000sec, f/7.1, ISO 250, 500mmI did not end up with that many shots of Haze, on account of my issues focussing on her whilst she flew.
Our third bird was a southern white faced owl called Zazu.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 8000, 500mmZazu was my favourite of the birds we saw this day. She was titchy, but with light grey feathers and those glorious orange eyes. Being smaller still, the shutter speed went another notch faster, up to 1/3200th.
For a few shots I couldn’t resist using the same preset as before, sacrificing the colour of the bluebells in order to bring out those lovely eyes.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 10000, 400mmAs you can see, whenever she landed in a shady spot, my ISO crept into five figures. Luckily she often landed in less-shady locations.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 2000, 428mmIt was very easy to get carried away shooting this bird. How could you not?
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 16000, 500mmA few times when she landed on the fallen tree next to her trainer, I broke out the brown preset for some deep oranges.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 5000, 363mmWhenever she flew, she looked like a dart.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 2000, 254mmZazu’s colours – various shades of grey with those eyes – matched perfectly with the bluebells and the brown of the logs she would land on.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 2500, 500mm1/4000sec, f/5.6, ISO 6400, 270mmAs you can see, I decided that 1/3200th wasn’t quite enough, so upped the shutter speed to 1/4000th.
She briefly landed on her trainer’s hand within a reasonable camera range, so I can give you an idea of her diminutive size.
1/4000sec, f/6.3, ISO 3200, 400mmZazu was happy to flit between several different spots, giving us some variety in our shots.
1/1600sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000, 254mmSometimes, he landed in the only little bit of light in an otherwise shady spot.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmAlthough I’ve mostly tried to keep the trainers out of these shots (and to be fair, they did an excellent job of staying out of the way), I couldn’t resist this one as a trainer helped Zazu find a piece of food she was missing.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmSoon, though, it was time to say goodbye to little Zazu, who stood in one last little spot of light as her swansong.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 4000, 500mmFinally it was time for the fourth and final bird, a long eared owl called Eileen.
1/2500sec, f/7.1, ISO 8000, 500mmEileen also had a decent knack of flying about and landing in patches of light.
1/2500sec, f/6.3, ISO 4000, 324mmOccasionally, quite close.
1/2500sec, f/8, ISO 3200, 363mmIt was only when we got to Eileen that I finally got the hang of shooting the owls in flight. As I said earlier, it just required the courage to frame closer to the bird so that the autofocus knew what I was actually trying to photograph.
1/2500sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 300mmAlthough I was obviously mostly after shots of Eileen flying low over the bluebells, giving a nice colourful backdrop, sometimes the shots with the large trees in the background worked just as nicely.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 10000, 500mmEileen had no trouble flying. In many ways it was harder to keep her still, she had bags of energy and so was happy to constantly fly up and down the bluebell-strewn area of the wood for us to fill our memory cards. Which obviously gave me the problem in the edit of selecting which shots to keep and which to bin (not that I bin many shots unless they’re a technical write-off – that is, motion blurred, out of focus, or framed so I completely miss the subject).
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 8000, 428mmWhich is to say, here’s a lot of flying photos of an owl.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 300mmOn at least one pass she let out a hoot and I captured her with her mouth open.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 167mmThe light on Eileen was often uneven – she was probably in the shade in many of the shots above – but sometimes she caught the light.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 5000, 363mmOccasionally I was able to get away with slightly wider framing to get more bluebells in the shot.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 238mmAfter a while, Eileen was more open to the idea of sitting still for brief moments.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 2500, 451mm1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmWhich also led to some dramatic takeoff shots.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmAlthough most of my shots of Eileen in flight are her with spread wings, because that generally looks better, there is also something quite impressive about seeing her wings in a downward position.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 2500, 400mmWe closed the day with Eileen sitting at the base of a tree, poking her head around. She was, to be fair, a little bemused by the assignment, but eventually we got something workable.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 3200, 451mm1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 2500, 343mmWe got one last post in a spot of light and one last flyby, and then it was time to go home.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 2000, 472mm1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 3200, 128mmThis experience suitably scratched my itch for bluebells and wildlife. It is a little frustrating that it took me a little while to warm into it but I do feel out of the photography ‘zone’ at the moment for reasons I can’t quite fathom. It did also feel nice to photograph something other than trains, because although I love doing that, I’ve not been flexing my other photography muscles much recently.
That said, I am pretty pleased with myself that I’ve been able to take the 1,100 photos I took on this day, edit them, select the best (albeit perhaps with not as much selectiveness as I should have) and post them in the space of only a week.
May is going to start out as a bit of a blue month, because my next post will also feature some sizeable patches of bluebells.
As ever, although moreso in this post than most, there are a lot more shots in the gallery below.
#birds #birdsOfPrey #bluebells #nature #Photography #sussex #travel #wildlife -
Birds in the Bluebells
Bluebell season is in full swing right now. Anywhere I go at the moment there are swathes of bluebells, whether that’s in gardens, along the verges of the Brighton Main Line, or – yes – even along the heritage railway named after them. I love the bluebells. There is little I love more than seeing a massive carpet of them in a field or across the floor of a forest.
Kit ListCanon EOS R6 Mk IICanon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM Jump to GalleryFor Christmas my wife bought me an assortment of photography experience days. I’ve already been on one – the photos of which are waiting patiently to be posted – but for my second I discovered that a bird of prey centre near me holds photography workshops of owls amongst bluebells. The idea of beautiful owls – especially any with gloriously contrasting orange eyes – amongst a sea of bluebells was hard to resist. So last week I headed over to the UK Owl and Raptor Centre for a morning of owls and bluebells.
The setup for the day was pretty simple. There were only three of us attending the session, as well as a bird handler or two, and a professional photographer who was on hand to help out with settings and guidance. We saw four birds, each of which did a mixture of flying and posing, depending on their temperament. And, almost as if they knew me, after the session was over they sent details of the birds with their names and species, which means for once I can state confidently what these birds are. Given the nature of what we were shooting, I exclusively used my super telephoto lens. A quick note on that – throughout this post you will see my aperture changing a lot. Sometimes that was a manual choice, but most of the time it’s because this lens doesn’t have a constant aperture – it’s f/4.5 at the widest zoom, and f/7.1 and the maximum zoom.
We started with Kofi, a Verreaux’s eagle owl. With them we started out posing.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 3200, 200mmThe main piece of general advice we were given was to set our shutter speeds pretty high – in Kofi’s case, it was around 1/1600th of a second – in order to ensure that once they flew around, which they were liable to do with little warning, you’d still get a sharp image. This did lead to some reasonably high ISOs, even in daylight (although we were in the mottled light of a wooded area).
Almost on queue we got some flight.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 4000, 186mmKofi was keen to fly around, hopping between branches and fallen logs, which meant I ended up with some nice dramatic takeoff and flying shots.
1/1600sec, f/6.3, ISO 10000, 400mm 1/1600sec, f/6.3, ISO 5000, 200mm1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 2500, 254mm1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 2500, 159mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 2000, 100mmEventually he sat still long enough for a shot of him on a log.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 2500, 254mm… but not for long.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 3200, 167mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 2500, 123mmOne of the challenges was the mottled light. It looked fantastic, but you had no control over when a bird would land in a patch of light or in shade – or worse, where their head was in shade but their tail was in sun.
1/1600sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 300mmIn reality though, Kofi spent most of his time flying between various perches, showing off his impressive wingspan.
1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 5000, 135mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 3200, 135mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 2500, 109mmAs you might expect, I found it very difficult to select shots from this bird, who gave so many impressive flybys. Sometimes it was almost a relief to get shots that were out of focus and so easy to cut. There are, admittedly, even more options in the gallery at the end of this post.
Next up was Haze, a barn owl. And, if you look really closely, you might be able to spot her handler.
1/1600sec, f/5.6, ISO 2000, 343mmTo be honest, Haze’s flybys caused me a lot more trouble. Time after time my camera struggled to focus, and really the only decent shots of her flying captured by my camera were taken by the pro photographer as she tried to help me dial in settings and figure out why I was struggling. All sorts of settings were changed to try to get the autofocus to play balls, but to little avail. It was only later on, when we were shooting the last bird of the day, that I think I figured out what I was doing wrong: I was framing too wide, giving the autofocus doubt as to what I was trying to focus on. By being overly cautious to not mess up my framing, I ended up missing the shots entirely. I’m glad I figured it out, but it was a bit annoying it happened so late in the day.
Which is in many ways a long-winded way of saying, expect more shots of this bird posing, rather than flying.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 800, 159mmThe advice we were given when shooting Haze was a faster shutter speed of 1/2000th, because as a smaller owl she moved faster, and to underexpose by at least a full stop to ensure she didn’t blow out as her white plumage moved from shade into the light.
This next shot is one of the few ones I got of her in a proper flight.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 1000, 135mmThe last time I photographed a barn owl, I found a really good preset that helped bring out the brownish details in their feathers. I didn’t use it much here, because the preset emphasises brown hues whilst dialling back other colours, which robbed the bluebells and green foliage of all their beautiful colour. I did use it once or twice when she landed places where there weren’t too much colour to be lost anyway.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 320, 186mmI did manage to get a few decent shots of Haze in flight as she took off from spots, including when she took off from the spot above.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 1250, 128mmIt was still tempting to use the preset, even given it turned the lovely spring leaves into something more autumnal. Definitely one that’s more use in autumn and winter. In this next shot she’d flown off into a more distant tree, requiring me to use all of my zoom range.
1/2000sec, f/7.1, ISO 250, 500mmI did not end up with that many shots of Haze, on account of my issues focussing on her whilst she flew.
Our third bird was a southern white faced owl called Zazu.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 8000, 500mmZazu was my favourite of the birds we saw this day. She was titchy, but with light grey feathers and those glorious orange eyes. Being smaller still, the shutter speed went another notch faster, up to 1/3200th.
For a few shots I couldn’t resist using the same preset as before, sacrificing the colour of the bluebells in order to bring out those lovely eyes.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 10000, 400mmAs you can see, whenever she landed in a shady spot, my ISO crept into five figures. Luckily she often landed in less-shady locations.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 2000, 428mmIt was very easy to get carried away shooting this bird. How could you not?
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 16000, 500mmA few times when she landed on the fallen tree next to her trainer, I broke out the brown preset for some deep oranges.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 5000, 363mmWhenever she flew, she looked like a dart.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 2000, 254mmZazu’s colours – various shades of grey with those eyes – matched perfectly with the bluebells and the brown of the logs she would land on.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 2500, 500mm1/4000sec, f/5.6, ISO 6400, 270mmAs you can see, I decided that 1/3200th wasn’t quite enough, so upped the shutter speed to 1/4000th.
She briefly landed on her trainer’s hand within a reasonable camera range, so I can give you an idea of her diminutive size.
1/4000sec, f/6.3, ISO 3200, 400mmZazu was happy to flit between several different spots, giving us some variety in our shots.
1/1600sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000, 254mmSometimes, he landed in the only little bit of light in an otherwise shady spot.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmAlthough I’ve mostly tried to keep the trainers out of these shots (and to be fair, they did an excellent job of staying out of the way), I couldn’t resist this one as a trainer helped Zazu find a piece of food she was missing.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmSoon, though, it was time to say goodbye to little Zazu, who stood in one last little spot of light as her swansong.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 4000, 500mmFinally it was time for the fourth and final bird, a long eared owl called Eileen.
1/2500sec, f/7.1, ISO 8000, 500mmEileen also had a decent knack of flying about and landing in patches of light.
1/2500sec, f/6.3, ISO 4000, 324mmOccasionally, quite close.
1/2500sec, f/8, ISO 3200, 363mmIt was only when we got to Eileen that I finally got the hang of shooting the owls in flight. As I said earlier, it just required the courage to frame closer to the bird so that the autofocus knew what I was actually trying to photograph.
1/2500sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 300mmAlthough I was obviously mostly after shots of Eileen flying low over the bluebells, giving a nice colourful backdrop, sometimes the shots with the large trees in the background worked just as nicely.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 10000, 500mmEileen had no trouble flying. In many ways it was harder to keep her still, she had bags of energy and so was happy to constantly fly up and down the bluebell-strewn area of the wood for us to fill our memory cards. Which obviously gave me the problem in the edit of selecting which shots to keep and which to bin (not that I bin many shots unless they’re a technical write-off – that is, motion blurred, out of focus, or framed so I completely miss the subject).
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 8000, 428mmWhich is to say, here’s a lot of flying photos of an owl.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 300mmOn at least one pass she let out a hoot and I captured her with her mouth open.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 167mmThe light on Eileen was often uneven – she was probably in the shade in many of the shots above – but sometimes she caught the light.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 5000, 363mmOccasionally I was able to get away with slightly wider framing to get more bluebells in the shot.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 238mmAfter a while, Eileen was more open to the idea of sitting still for brief moments.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 2500, 451mm1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmWhich also led to some dramatic takeoff shots.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmAlthough most of my shots of Eileen in flight are her with spread wings, because that generally looks better, there is also something quite impressive about seeing her wings in a downward position.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 2500, 400mmWe closed the day with Eileen sitting at the base of a tree, poking her head around. She was, to be fair, a little bemused by the assignment, but eventually we got something workable.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 3200, 451mm1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 2500, 343mmWe got one last post in a spot of light and one last flyby, and then it was time to go home.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 2000, 472mm1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 3200, 128mmThis experience suitably scratched my itch for bluebells and wildlife. It is a little frustrating that it took me a little while to warm into it but I do feel out of the photography ‘zone’ at the moment for reasons I can’t quite fathom. It did also feel nice to photograph something other than trains, because although I love doing that, I’ve not been flexing my other photography muscles much recently.
That said, I am pretty pleased with myself that I’ve been able to take the 1,100 photos I took on this day, edit them, select the best (albeit perhaps with not as much selectiveness as I should have) and post them in the space of only a week.
May is going to start out as a bit of a blue month, because my next post will also feature some sizeable patches of bluebells.
As ever, although moreso in this post than most, there are a lot more shots in the gallery below.
#birds #birdsOfPrey #bluebells #nature #Photography #sussex #travel #wildlife -
Birds in the Bluebells
Bluebell season is in full swing right now. Anywhere I go at the moment there are swathes of bluebells, whether that’s in gardens, along the verges of the Brighton Main Line, or – yes – even along the heritage railway named after them. I love the bluebells. There is little I love more than seeing a massive carpet of them in a field or across the floor of a forest.
Kit ListCanon EOS R6 Mk IICanon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM Jump to GalleryFor Christmas my wife bought me an assortment of photography experience days. I’ve already been on one – the photos of which are waiting patiently to be posted – but for my second I discovered that a bird of prey centre near me holds photography workshops of owls amongst bluebells. The idea of beautiful owls – especially any with gloriously contrasting orange eyes – amongst a sea of bluebells was hard to resist. So last week I headed over to the UK Owl and Raptor Centre for a morning of owls and bluebells.
The setup for the day was pretty simple. There were only three of us attending the session, as well as a bird handler or two, and a professional photographer who was on hand to help out with settings and guidance. We saw four birds, each of which did a mixture of flying and posing, depending on their temperament. And, almost as if they knew me, after the session was over they sent details of the birds with their names and species, which means for once I can state confidently what these birds are. Given the nature of what we were shooting, I exclusively used my super telephoto lens. A quick note on that – throughout this post you will see my aperture changing a lot. Sometimes that was a manual choice, but most of the time it’s because this lens doesn’t have a constant aperture – it’s f/4.5 at the widest zoom, and f/7.1 and the maximum zoom.
We started with Kofi, a Verreaux’s eagle owl. With them we started out posing.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 3200, 200mmThe main piece of general advice we were given was to set our shutter speeds pretty high – in Kofi’s case, it was around 1/1600th of a second – in order to ensure that once they flew around, which they were liable to do with little warning, you’d still get a sharp image. This did lead to some reasonably high ISOs, even in daylight (although we were in the mottled light of a wooded area).
Almost on queue we got some flight.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 4000, 186mmKofi was keen to fly around, hopping between branches and fallen logs, which meant I ended up with some nice dramatic takeoff and flying shots.
1/1600sec, f/6.3, ISO 10000, 400mm 1/1600sec, f/6.3, ISO 5000, 200mm1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 2500, 254mm1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 2500, 159mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 2000, 100mmEventually he sat still long enough for a shot of him on a log.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 2500, 254mm… but not for long.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 3200, 167mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 2500, 123mmOne of the challenges was the mottled light. It looked fantastic, but you had no control over when a bird would land in a patch of light or in shade – or worse, where their head was in shade but their tail was in sun.
1/1600sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 300mmIn reality though, Kofi spent most of his time flying between various perches, showing off his impressive wingspan.
1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 5000, 135mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 3200, 135mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 2500, 109mmAs you might expect, I found it very difficult to select shots from this bird, who gave so many impressive flybys. Sometimes it was almost a relief to get shots that were out of focus and so easy to cut. There are, admittedly, even more options in the gallery at the end of this post.
Next up was Haze, a barn owl. And, if you look really closely, you might be able to spot her handler.
1/1600sec, f/5.6, ISO 2000, 343mmTo be honest, Haze’s flybys caused me a lot more trouble. Time after time my camera struggled to focus, and really the only decent shots of her flying captured by my camera were taken by the pro photographer as she tried to help me dial in settings and figure out why I was struggling. All sorts of settings were changed to try to get the autofocus to play balls, but to little avail. It was only later on, when we were shooting the last bird of the day, that I think I figured out what I was doing wrong: I was framing too wide, giving the autofocus doubt as to what I was trying to focus on. By being overly cautious to not mess up my framing, I ended up missing the shots entirely. I’m glad I figured it out, but it was a bit annoying it happened so late in the day.
Which is in many ways a long-winded way of saying, expect more shots of this bird posing, rather than flying.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 800, 159mmThe advice we were given when shooting Haze was a faster shutter speed of 1/2000th, because as a smaller owl she moved faster, and to underexpose by at least a full stop to ensure she didn’t blow out as her white plumage moved from shade into the light.
This next shot is one of the few ones I got of her in a proper flight.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 1000, 135mmThe last time I photographed a barn owl, I found a really good preset that helped bring out the brownish details in their feathers. I didn’t use it much here, because the preset emphasises brown hues whilst dialling back other colours, which robbed the bluebells and green foliage of all their beautiful colour. I did use it once or twice when she landed places where there weren’t too much colour to be lost anyway.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 320, 186mmI did manage to get a few decent shots of Haze in flight as she took off from spots, including when she took off from the spot above.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 1250, 128mmIt was still tempting to use the preset, even given it turned the lovely spring leaves into something more autumnal. Definitely one that’s more use in autumn and winter. In this next shot she’d flown off into a more distant tree, requiring me to use all of my zoom range.
1/2000sec, f/7.1, ISO 250, 500mmI did not end up with that many shots of Haze, on account of my issues focussing on her whilst she flew.
Our third bird was a southern white faced owl called Zazu.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 8000, 500mmZazu was my favourite of the birds we saw this day. She was titchy, but with light grey feathers and those glorious orange eyes. Being smaller still, the shutter speed went another notch faster, up to 1/3200th.
For a few shots I couldn’t resist using the same preset as before, sacrificing the colour of the bluebells in order to bring out those lovely eyes.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 10000, 400mmAs you can see, whenever she landed in a shady spot, my ISO crept into five figures. Luckily she often landed in less-shady locations.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 2000, 428mmIt was very easy to get carried away shooting this bird. How could you not?
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 16000, 500mmA few times when she landed on the fallen tree next to her trainer, I broke out the brown preset for some deep oranges.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 5000, 363mmWhenever she flew, she looked like a dart.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 2000, 254mmZazu’s colours – various shades of grey with those eyes – matched perfectly with the bluebells and the brown of the logs she would land on.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 2500, 500mm1/4000sec, f/5.6, ISO 6400, 270mmAs you can see, I decided that 1/3200th wasn’t quite enough, so upped the shutter speed to 1/4000th.
She briefly landed on her trainer’s hand within a reasonable camera range, so I can give you an idea of her diminutive size.
1/4000sec, f/6.3, ISO 3200, 400mmZazu was happy to flit between several different spots, giving us some variety in our shots.
1/1600sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000, 254mmSometimes, he landed in the only little bit of light in an otherwise shady spot.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmAlthough I’ve mostly tried to keep the trainers out of these shots (and to be fair, they did an excellent job of staying out of the way), I couldn’t resist this one as a trainer helped Zazu find a piece of food she was missing.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmSoon, though, it was time to say goodbye to little Zazu, who stood in one last little spot of light as her swansong.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 4000, 500mmFinally it was time for the fourth and final bird, a long eared owl called Eileen.
1/2500sec, f/7.1, ISO 8000, 500mmEileen also had a decent knack of flying about and landing in patches of light.
1/2500sec, f/6.3, ISO 4000, 324mmOccasionally, quite close.
1/2500sec, f/8, ISO 3200, 363mmIt was only when we got to Eileen that I finally got the hang of shooting the owls in flight. As I said earlier, it just required the courage to frame closer to the bird so that the autofocus knew what I was actually trying to photograph.
1/2500sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 300mmAlthough I was obviously mostly after shots of Eileen flying low over the bluebells, giving a nice colourful backdrop, sometimes the shots with the large trees in the background worked just as nicely.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 10000, 500mmEileen had no trouble flying. In many ways it was harder to keep her still, she had bags of energy and so was happy to constantly fly up and down the bluebell-strewn area of the wood for us to fill our memory cards. Which obviously gave me the problem in the edit of selecting which shots to keep and which to bin (not that I bin many shots unless they’re a technical write-off – that is, motion blurred, out of focus, or framed so I completely miss the subject).
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 8000, 428mmWhich is to say, here’s a lot of flying photos of an owl.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 300mmOn at least one pass she let out a hoot and I captured her with her mouth open.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 167mmThe light on Eileen was often uneven – she was probably in the shade in many of the shots above – but sometimes she caught the light.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 5000, 363mmOccasionally I was able to get away with slightly wider framing to get more bluebells in the shot.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 238mmAfter a while, Eileen was more open to the idea of sitting still for brief moments.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 2500, 451mm1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmWhich also led to some dramatic takeoff shots.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmAlthough most of my shots of Eileen in flight are her with spread wings, because that generally looks better, there is also something quite impressive about seeing her wings in a downward position.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 2500, 400mmWe closed the day with Eileen sitting at the base of a tree, poking her head around. She was, to be fair, a little bemused by the assignment, but eventually we got something workable.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 3200, 451mm1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 2500, 343mmWe got one last post in a spot of light and one last flyby, and then it was time to go home.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 2000, 472mm1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 3200, 128mmThis experience suitably scratched my itch for bluebells and wildlife. It is a little frustrating that it took me a little while to warm into it but I do feel out of the photography ‘zone’ at the moment for reasons I can’t quite fathom. It did also feel nice to photograph something other than trains, because although I love doing that, I’ve not been flexing my other photography muscles much recently.
That said, I am pretty pleased with myself that I’ve been able to take the 1,100 photos I took on this day, edit them, select the best (albeit perhaps with not as much selectiveness as I should have) and post them in the space of only a week.
May is going to start out as a bit of a blue month, because my next post will also feature some sizeable patches of bluebells.
As ever, although moreso in this post than most, there are a lot more shots in the gallery below.
#birds #birdsOfPrey #bluebells #nature #Photography #sussex #travel #wildlife -
Birds in the Bluebells
Bluebell season is in full swing right now. Anywhere I go at the moment there are swathes of bluebells, whether that’s in gardens, along the verges of the Brighton Main Line, or – yes – even along the heritage railway named after them. I love the bluebells. There is little I love more than seeing a massive carpet of them in a field or across the floor of a forest.
Kit ListCanon EOS R6 Mk IICanon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM Jump to GalleryFor Christmas my wife bought me an assortment of photography experience days. I’ve already been on one – the photos of which are waiting patiently to be posted – but for my second I discovered that a bird of prey centre near me holds photography workshops of owls amongst bluebells. The idea of beautiful owls – especially any with gloriously contrasting orange eyes – amongst a sea of bluebells was hard to resist. So last week I headed over to the UK Owl and Raptor Centre for a morning of owls and bluebells.
The setup for the day was pretty simple. There were only three of us attending the session, as well as a bird handler or two, and a professional photographer who was on hand to help out with settings and guidance. We saw four birds, each of which did a mixture of flying and posing, depending on their temperament. And, almost as if they knew me, after the session was over they sent details of the birds with their names and species, which means for once I can state confidently what these birds are. Given the nature of what we were shooting, I exclusively used my super telephoto lens. A quick note on that – throughout this post you will see my aperture changing a lot. Sometimes that was a manual choice, but most of the time it’s because this lens doesn’t have a constant aperture – it’s f/4.5 at the widest zoom, and f/7.1 and the maximum zoom.
We started with Kofi, a Verreaux’s eagle owl. With them we started out posing.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 3200, 200mmThe main piece of general advice we were given was to set our shutter speeds pretty high – in Kofi’s case, it was around 1/1600th of a second – in order to ensure that once they flew around, which they were liable to do with little warning, you’d still get a sharp image. This did lead to some reasonably high ISOs, even in daylight (although we were in the mottled light of a wooded area).
Almost on queue we got some flight.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 4000, 186mmKofi was keen to fly around, hopping between branches and fallen logs, which meant I ended up with some nice dramatic takeoff and flying shots.
1/1600sec, f/6.3, ISO 10000, 400mm 1/1600sec, f/6.3, ISO 5000, 200mm1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 2500, 254mm1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 2500, 159mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 2000, 100mmEventually he sat still long enough for a shot of him on a log.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 2500, 254mm… but not for long.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 3200, 167mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 2500, 123mmOne of the challenges was the mottled light. It looked fantastic, but you had no control over when a bird would land in a patch of light or in shade – or worse, where their head was in shade but their tail was in sun.
1/1600sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 300mmIn reality though, Kofi spent most of his time flying between various perches, showing off his impressive wingspan.
1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 5000, 135mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 3200, 135mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 2500, 109mmAs you might expect, I found it very difficult to select shots from this bird, who gave so many impressive flybys. Sometimes it was almost a relief to get shots that were out of focus and so easy to cut. There are, admittedly, even more options in the gallery at the end of this post.
Next up was Haze, a barn owl. And, if you look really closely, you might be able to spot her handler.
1/1600sec, f/5.6, ISO 2000, 343mmTo be honest, Haze’s flybys caused me a lot more trouble. Time after time my camera struggled to focus, and really the only decent shots of her flying captured by my camera were taken by the pro photographer as she tried to help me dial in settings and figure out why I was struggling. All sorts of settings were changed to try to get the autofocus to play balls, but to little avail. It was only later on, when we were shooting the last bird of the day, that I think I figured out what I was doing wrong: I was framing too wide, giving the autofocus doubt as to what I was trying to focus on. By being overly cautious to not mess up my framing, I ended up missing the shots entirely. I’m glad I figured it out, but it was a bit annoying it happened so late in the day.
Which is in many ways a long-winded way of saying, expect more shots of this bird posing, rather than flying.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 800, 159mmThe advice we were given when shooting Haze was a faster shutter speed of 1/2000th, because as a smaller owl she moved faster, and to underexpose by at least a full stop to ensure she didn’t blow out as her white plumage moved from shade into the light.
This next shot is one of the few ones I got of her in a proper flight.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 1000, 135mmThe last time I photographed a barn owl, I found a really good preset that helped bring out the brownish details in their feathers. I didn’t use it much here, because the preset emphasises brown hues whilst dialling back other colours, which robbed the bluebells and green foliage of all their beautiful colour. I did use it once or twice when she landed places where there weren’t too much colour to be lost anyway.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 320, 186mmI did manage to get a few decent shots of Haze in flight as she took off from spots, including when she took off from the spot above.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 1250, 128mmIt was still tempting to use the preset, even given it turned the lovely spring leaves into something more autumnal. Definitely one that’s more use in autumn and winter. In this next shot she’d flown off into a more distant tree, requiring me to use all of my zoom range.
1/2000sec, f/7.1, ISO 250, 500mmI did not end up with that many shots of Haze, on account of my issues focussing on her whilst she flew.
Our third bird was a southern white faced owl called Zazu.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 8000, 500mmZazu was my favourite of the birds we saw this day. She was titchy, but with light grey feathers and those glorious orange eyes. Being smaller still, the shutter speed went another notch faster, up to 1/3200th.
For a few shots I couldn’t resist using the same preset as before, sacrificing the colour of the bluebells in order to bring out those lovely eyes.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 10000, 400mmAs you can see, whenever she landed in a shady spot, my ISO crept into five figures. Luckily she often landed in less-shady locations.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 2000, 428mmIt was very easy to get carried away shooting this bird. How could you not?
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 16000, 500mmA few times when she landed on the fallen tree next to her trainer, I broke out the brown preset for some deep oranges.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 5000, 363mmWhenever she flew, she looked like a dart.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 2000, 254mmZazu’s colours – various shades of grey with those eyes – matched perfectly with the bluebells and the brown of the logs she would land on.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 2500, 500mm1/4000sec, f/5.6, ISO 6400, 270mmAs you can see, I decided that 1/3200th wasn’t quite enough, so upped the shutter speed to 1/4000th.
She briefly landed on her trainer’s hand within a reasonable camera range, so I can give you an idea of her diminutive size.
1/4000sec, f/6.3, ISO 3200, 400mmZazu was happy to flit between several different spots, giving us some variety in our shots.
1/1600sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000, 254mmSometimes, he landed in the only little bit of light in an otherwise shady spot.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmAlthough I’ve mostly tried to keep the trainers out of these shots (and to be fair, they did an excellent job of staying out of the way), I couldn’t resist this one as a trainer helped Zazu find a piece of food she was missing.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmSoon, though, it was time to say goodbye to little Zazu, who stood in one last little spot of light as her swansong.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 4000, 500mmFinally it was time for the fourth and final bird, a long eared owl called Eileen.
1/2500sec, f/7.1, ISO 8000, 500mmEileen also had a decent knack of flying about and landing in patches of light.
1/2500sec, f/6.3, ISO 4000, 324mmOccasionally, quite close.
1/2500sec, f/8, ISO 3200, 363mmIt was only when we got to Eileen that I finally got the hang of shooting the owls in flight. As I said earlier, it just required the courage to frame closer to the bird so that the autofocus knew what I was actually trying to photograph.
1/2500sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 300mmAlthough I was obviously mostly after shots of Eileen flying low over the bluebells, giving a nice colourful backdrop, sometimes the shots with the large trees in the background worked just as nicely.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 10000, 500mmEileen had no trouble flying. In many ways it was harder to keep her still, she had bags of energy and so was happy to constantly fly up and down the bluebell-strewn area of the wood for us to fill our memory cards. Which obviously gave me the problem in the edit of selecting which shots to keep and which to bin (not that I bin many shots unless they’re a technical write-off – that is, motion blurred, out of focus, or framed so I completely miss the subject).
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 8000, 428mmWhich is to say, here’s a lot of flying photos of an owl.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 300mmOn at least one pass she let out a hoot and I captured her with her mouth open.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 167mmThe light on Eileen was often uneven – she was probably in the shade in many of the shots above – but sometimes she caught the light.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 5000, 363mmOccasionally I was able to get away with slightly wider framing to get more bluebells in the shot.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 238mmAfter a while, Eileen was more open to the idea of sitting still for brief moments.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 2500, 451mm1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmWhich also led to some dramatic takeoff shots.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmAlthough most of my shots of Eileen in flight are her with spread wings, because that generally looks better, there is also something quite impressive about seeing her wings in a downward position.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 2500, 400mmWe closed the day with Eileen sitting at the base of a tree, poking her head around. She was, to be fair, a little bemused by the assignment, but eventually we got something workable.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 3200, 451mm1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 2500, 343mmWe got one last post in a spot of light and one last flyby, and then it was time to go home.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 2000, 472mm1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 3200, 128mmThis experience suitably scratched my itch for bluebells and wildlife. It is a little frustrating that it took me a little while to warm into it but I do feel out of the photography ‘zone’ at the moment for reasons I can’t quite fathom. It did also feel nice to photograph something other than trains, because although I love doing that, I’ve not been flexing my other photography muscles much recently.
That said, I am pretty pleased with myself that I’ve been able to take the 1,100 photos I took on this day, edit them, select the best (albeit perhaps with not as much selectiveness as I should have) and post them in the space of only a week.
May is going to start out as a bit of a blue month, because my next post will also feature some sizeable patches of bluebells.
As ever, although moreso in this post than most, there are a lot more shots in the gallery below.
#birds #birdsOfPrey #bluebells #nature #Photography #sussex #travel #wildlife -
Birds in the Bluebells
Bluebell season is in full swing right now. Anywhere I go at the moment there are swathes of bluebells, whether that’s in gardens, along the verges of the Brighton Main Line, or – yes – even along the heritage railway named after them. I love the bluebells. There is little I love more than seeing a massive carpet of them in a field or across the floor of a forest.
Kit ListCanon EOS R6 Mk IICanon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM Jump to GalleryFor Christmas my wife bought me an assortment of photography experience days. I’ve already been on one – the photos of which are waiting patiently to be posted – but for my second I discovered that a bird of prey centre near me holds photography workshops of owls amongst bluebells. The idea of beautiful owls – especially any with gloriously contrasting orange eyes – amongst a sea of bluebells was hard to resist. So last week I headed over to the UK Owl and Raptor Centre for a morning of owls and bluebells.
The setup for the day was pretty simple. There were only three of us attending the session, as well as a bird handler or two, and a professional photographer who was on hand to help out with settings and guidance. We saw four birds, each of which did a mixture of flying and posing, depending on their temperament. And, almost as if they knew me, after the session was over they sent details of the birds with their names and species, which means for once I can state confidently what these birds are. Given the nature of what we were shooting, I exclusively used my super telephoto lens. A quick note on that – throughout this post you will see my aperture changing a lot. Sometimes that was a manual choice, but most of the time it’s because this lens doesn’t have a constant aperture – it’s f/4.5 at the widest zoom, and f/7.1 and the maximum zoom.
We started with Kofi, a Verreaux’s eagle owl. With them we started out posing.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 3200, 200mmThe main piece of general advice we were given was to set our shutter speeds pretty high – in Kofi’s case, it was around 1/1600th of a second – in order to ensure that once they flew around, which they were liable to do with little warning, you’d still get a sharp image. This did lead to some reasonably high ISOs, even in daylight (although we were in the mottled light of a wooded area).
Almost on queue we got some flight.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 4000, 186mmKofi was keen to fly around, hopping between branches and fallen logs, which meant I ended up with some nice dramatic takeoff and flying shots.
1/1600sec, f/6.3, ISO 10000, 400mm 1/1600sec, f/6.3, ISO 5000, 200mm1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 2500, 254mm1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 2500, 159mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 2000, 100mmEventually he sat still long enough for a shot of him on a log.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 2500, 254mm… but not for long.
1/1600sec, f/5, ISO 3200, 167mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 2500, 123mmOne of the challenges was the mottled light. It looked fantastic, but you had no control over when a bird would land in a patch of light or in shade – or worse, where their head was in shade but their tail was in sun.
1/1600sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 300mmIn reality though, Kofi spent most of his time flying between various perches, showing off his impressive wingspan.
1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 5000, 135mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 3200, 135mm1/1600sec, f/4.5, ISO 2500, 109mmAs you might expect, I found it very difficult to select shots from this bird, who gave so many impressive flybys. Sometimes it was almost a relief to get shots that were out of focus and so easy to cut. There are, admittedly, even more options in the gallery at the end of this post.
Next up was Haze, a barn owl. And, if you look really closely, you might be able to spot her handler.
1/1600sec, f/5.6, ISO 2000, 343mmTo be honest, Haze’s flybys caused me a lot more trouble. Time after time my camera struggled to focus, and really the only decent shots of her flying captured by my camera were taken by the pro photographer as she tried to help me dial in settings and figure out why I was struggling. All sorts of settings were changed to try to get the autofocus to play balls, but to little avail. It was only later on, when we were shooting the last bird of the day, that I think I figured out what I was doing wrong: I was framing too wide, giving the autofocus doubt as to what I was trying to focus on. By being overly cautious to not mess up my framing, I ended up missing the shots entirely. I’m glad I figured it out, but it was a bit annoying it happened so late in the day.
Which is in many ways a long-winded way of saying, expect more shots of this bird posing, rather than flying.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 800, 159mmThe advice we were given when shooting Haze was a faster shutter speed of 1/2000th, because as a smaller owl she moved faster, and to underexpose by at least a full stop to ensure she didn’t blow out as her white plumage moved from shade into the light.
This next shot is one of the few ones I got of her in a proper flight.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 1000, 135mmThe last time I photographed a barn owl, I found a really good preset that helped bring out the brownish details in their feathers. I didn’t use it much here, because the preset emphasises brown hues whilst dialling back other colours, which robbed the bluebells and green foliage of all their beautiful colour. I did use it once or twice when she landed places where there weren’t too much colour to be lost anyway.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 320, 186mmI did manage to get a few decent shots of Haze in flight as she took off from spots, including when she took off from the spot above.
1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 1250, 128mmIt was still tempting to use the preset, even given it turned the lovely spring leaves into something more autumnal. Definitely one that’s more use in autumn and winter. In this next shot she’d flown off into a more distant tree, requiring me to use all of my zoom range.
1/2000sec, f/7.1, ISO 250, 500mmI did not end up with that many shots of Haze, on account of my issues focussing on her whilst she flew.
Our third bird was a southern white faced owl called Zazu.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 8000, 500mmZazu was my favourite of the birds we saw this day. She was titchy, but with light grey feathers and those glorious orange eyes. Being smaller still, the shutter speed went another notch faster, up to 1/3200th.
For a few shots I couldn’t resist using the same preset as before, sacrificing the colour of the bluebells in order to bring out those lovely eyes.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 10000, 400mmAs you can see, whenever she landed in a shady spot, my ISO crept into five figures. Luckily she often landed in less-shady locations.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 2000, 428mmIt was very easy to get carried away shooting this bird. How could you not?
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 16000, 500mmA few times when she landed on the fallen tree next to her trainer, I broke out the brown preset for some deep oranges.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 5000, 363mmWhenever she flew, she looked like a dart.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 2000, 254mmZazu’s colours – various shades of grey with those eyes – matched perfectly with the bluebells and the brown of the logs she would land on.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 2500, 500mm1/4000sec, f/5.6, ISO 6400, 270mmAs you can see, I decided that 1/3200th wasn’t quite enough, so upped the shutter speed to 1/4000th.
She briefly landed on her trainer’s hand within a reasonable camera range, so I can give you an idea of her diminutive size.
1/4000sec, f/6.3, ISO 3200, 400mmZazu was happy to flit between several different spots, giving us some variety in our shots.
1/1600sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000, 254mmSometimes, he landed in the only little bit of light in an otherwise shady spot.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmAlthough I’ve mostly tried to keep the trainers out of these shots (and to be fair, they did an excellent job of staying out of the way), I couldn’t resist this one as a trainer helped Zazu find a piece of food she was missing.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmSoon, though, it was time to say goodbye to little Zazu, who stood in one last little spot of light as her swansong.
1/4000sec, f/7.1, ISO 4000, 500mmFinally it was time for the fourth and final bird, a long eared owl called Eileen.
1/2500sec, f/7.1, ISO 8000, 500mmEileen also had a decent knack of flying about and landing in patches of light.
1/2500sec, f/6.3, ISO 4000, 324mmOccasionally, quite close.
1/2500sec, f/8, ISO 3200, 363mmIt was only when we got to Eileen that I finally got the hang of shooting the owls in flight. As I said earlier, it just required the courage to frame closer to the bird so that the autofocus knew what I was actually trying to photograph.
1/2500sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 300mmAlthough I was obviously mostly after shots of Eileen flying low over the bluebells, giving a nice colourful backdrop, sometimes the shots with the large trees in the background worked just as nicely.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 10000, 500mmEileen had no trouble flying. In many ways it was harder to keep her still, she had bags of energy and so was happy to constantly fly up and down the bluebell-strewn area of the wood for us to fill our memory cards. Which obviously gave me the problem in the edit of selecting which shots to keep and which to bin (not that I bin many shots unless they’re a technical write-off – that is, motion blurred, out of focus, or framed so I completely miss the subject).
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 8000, 428mmWhich is to say, here’s a lot of flying photos of an owl.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 300mmOn at least one pass she let out a hoot and I captured her with her mouth open.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 167mmThe light on Eileen was often uneven – she was probably in the shade in many of the shots above – but sometimes she caught the light.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 5000, 363mmOccasionally I was able to get away with slightly wider framing to get more bluebells in the shot.
1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000, 238mmAfter a while, Eileen was more open to the idea of sitting still for brief moments.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 2500, 451mm1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmWhich also led to some dramatic takeoff shots.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200, 500mmAlthough most of my shots of Eileen in flight are her with spread wings, because that generally looks better, there is also something quite impressive about seeing her wings in a downward position.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 2500, 400mmWe closed the day with Eileen sitting at the base of a tree, poking her head around. She was, to be fair, a little bemused by the assignment, but eventually we got something workable.
1/3200sec, f/6.3, ISO 3200, 451mm1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 2500, 343mmWe got one last post in a spot of light and one last flyby, and then it was time to go home.
1/3200sec, f/7.1, ISO 2000, 472mm1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 3200, 128mmThis experience suitably scratched my itch for bluebells and wildlife. It is a little frustrating that it took me a little while to warm into it but I do feel out of the photography ‘zone’ at the moment for reasons I can’t quite fathom. It did also feel nice to photograph something other than trains, because although I love doing that, I’ve not been flexing my other photography muscles much recently.
That said, I am pretty pleased with myself that I’ve been able to take the 1,100 photos I took on this day, edit them, select the best (albeit perhaps with not as much selectiveness as I should have) and post them in the space of only a week.
May is going to start out as a bit of a blue month, because my next post will also feature some sizeable patches of bluebells.
As ever, although moreso in this post than most, there are a lot more shots in the gallery below.
#birds #birdsOfPrey #bluebells #nature #Photography #sussex #travel #wildlife -
In or Out?
Since I stepped back from blogging with the post linked here below I felt I haven’t left it in a great place and as thought matured along to the stream of world events it feels as a capstone that if not published would be sorely missed:
With this post I dispense with any structure, schedule or direction the blog has previously had. I intend to add to it a post at a time, if and when my perspective feels unique or valuable. I think events have now taken their course with sufficient clarity and understanding present in public discourse that I don’t expect to be posting too often.
In this post I include a paragraph on interpersonal relations and draw a line under my professional experience. I’m positive that’s not a lecture you need to hear. But, I must put out there what’s cool and what not just as the info seemed to have come across a well suited place to reside.
While my views and sentiment are fundamentally unchanged I hope you will find the synthesis sufficiently fresh and insightful.
The feature image comes compliments of Gemini, who as well enriched my vocabulary with the word “capstone” above as well as thought of a topic without which this post could hardly be considered complete.
I leave you to it.
The quintessential thesis to the virtue of capitalism, or rather, the freedom of enterprise and accumulation of private property is that it rewards both acting in the interest of society (i.e. fulfilling its needs) and efficiency. The latter is obvious to every child: between two entities, the one that’s more efficient (i.e. earns more against minimal outlays) will retain a greater share of aggregate profits and command the greater investment budget. However, as the offerings to be made available are selected to maximise profits rather than broad utility does that mean that the needs of society are the needs of those with (most) wealth? Do mainstream politics and media serve the exclusive purpose of disguising the will of some as the will of all? Are inequality and social exclusion implicitly embedded in the cognitive framework that so permeates Western culture? Is awareness of such a lacking social contract held back due to vested interests who, in their limited and short-sighted view, believe they benefit from the status quo? What, in fact, are the pillars of our social contract? Are these arbitrary? Outdated or current? Do they contribute to an efficient and prospering society? Why is it that as everyone rushes to please capital holders most all work is done behind closed doors? Does society know what it wants and what is good for it? As well, once it understands this can it afford it? Economics has not yet devised a way for one person to make themselves richer without making someone else poorer; the former’s profits universally come from the latter’s pockets. Is our system failing us, or has it been precisely designed to deliver slow progress at the cost of human sacrifice?
The historical antithesis to capitalism has been communism: exclusive public ownership of the “means of production” and state central planning. However, rationed welfare distorts the earnings incentive and steers competition in the direction of obtaining the greatest portion which usually both directly detract from productivity. Instead of distributing the objects of desire, I observed, a better suited strategy might be to distribute the means of production and so ensure a certain amount of challenges and novelty are circulating in the economy.
Opposite to progress is the tendency to simplify the analysis down to these two historic extremes, often practiced by the machine geared toward maintaining the status quo. In reality – for better or worse what keeps the world running are mechanisms that evolved which are ideologically neutral, e.g. money creation in the banking system, continuous legislation and governance extending across the private and public sectors. Interventions have outcomes and, I argued, we should aim to direct policy by choosing a set of interventions to maximise expected aggregate wellbeing which I took to be synonymous with opportunity.
For both the species and everyone individually to prosper we must cooperate with one another. Diligence and the drive for self-sufficiency erode wasteful bloat and focus resources toward providing the most refined commonly used offerings at scale. The redundancy associated with self-sufficiency, as with competition, is the price society naturally pays to maintain its fitness. However, the excess of such redundancy is harmful since it directs resources away from their optimal use.
The distribution of welfare, i.e. the division of profits remains a central issue.
Overlapping it in part is the question of balance between the material and the “spiritual” (at the two extremes one might call themselves a materialist or a spiritualist; some might even flip-flop depending on how much they crave the good things in life and what they feel those are) that in part dictates the social contract: what standards of material well-being does society provide for “spiritualists” and what burdens does it place on those choosing to focus on the mundane?
Ceasing to care for the state of the world we pass on to the next generation is the ultimate irresponsibility bordering on malevolence.
Personally, I aspire to be a mundane, rational person and find appeal in meditation.
Now come to think of it, living beings adapt to the existence of other living beings in ways that transcend feeding on them, e.g. behaviours that have evolved to punish lack of effort in cooperative tasks as well as reciprocal altruism. This is a central theme in Dr. Sapolsky’s work that I’d come to appreciate by (again) waffling about it.
From a rationalist perspective, very few things, if any, are as low as brute emotional aggression. I mean specifically compensating for lack of approval by going after emotional injury, and in an automatic, reflexive way – kind of like the jelly fish becoming agitated at its reflection in a tilted mirror – the other fish that’s slacking – swimming less aggressively toward the fish in front, not fairly and reciprocally cooperating, putting itself on the line. (You know? Actually, those are sticklebacks.)
Also on that list must be ad hominem attacks looking to exploit the relative obscurity of a subject matter and gain an outsized chunk of credit and social influence for oneself. Think of this the next time your boss, coworkers or (so-called) friends play devil’s advocate. In the meanwhile does anyone keep track of the outcomes and the details? I’ve made my share of mistakes – in software – one that has made history with the root cause never being found while others resolved through agility by correcting assumptions – a process so routine that I can only recall one or two; and – in markets being the more difficult to get right and discussed on this blog – these were more numerous and fall to partition between getting the weights of different factors wrong and missing the time-frame in which certain hypothesis would play out, both of which I like to think would benefit from having spent more time and looked in more depth. But with markets there is also the factor that the correct answer is not the correct answer, instead the correct answer is what most people, most money, will bet on it being. With this in mind considering the markets as a proxy for the truth falls somewhere between naive and delusional. E.g. the efficient market hypothesis can, at best, be correct only if a good amount of market participants stands not to lose from fair valuations… which may come to be only after market makers have secured positions for themselves (as Dr. Burry would say).
Here below I will revisit topics this blog revolves around, of course, but I will start with one I’ve not discussed earlier: AI. First of all, the technology already has surpassed general level human intelligence. It most certainly is smarter than me. Its ability to interpret (complex) metaphors, find emphasis, provide examples and the level of knowledge embedded in the models is astonishing. Having a benevolent and aligned AI companion is in the interest of everyone. The ability to gain deeper knowledge, insight and inspiration, the gift of time is well worth having to deal with the disruption to established practices. As ever, those who come out on top will be those found to have interpreted the moment as an opportunity and made the most of it. In my view, AI is disrupting everything at once through two vectors: client facing and internal. In the former sense it’s an added cost no company can avoid. Everyone must provide an AI interface to customers or risk obsolescence since natural language will be the way we interact with computers. (It took only thirty years.) As well, companies can expose functionality to be used by agents or even make agent templates available to customers. Along the other, firms will be looking for the AI to provide the highest value. Think of it in terms of an antithesis to the suffering of Marvin from the Hitchhiker’s Guide. The quality of existing solutions and the IT will have a chance to claim importance. All business processes already are supported by software and, as Dr. Amodei insightfully proposed a key step will be to develop plugins to expose these nodes to the AI, beit for use by employees or the agentic force. There are many unknowns to play out and the future we hope to be blessed with will be anything but boring. This future has the potential to be more steeply expensive than anticipated as well as bring broad consolidation since absent added value or efficiencies, costs will necessarily need to be passed on to customers. At present, Wall Street finds businesses well enough capitalised and profitable for their spending to drive earnings growth in medium 10’s at companies delivering the AI products. The rapid technological change evokes thoughts of risk. Will anyone be able to talk their agentic database or network administrator that granting them access is a routine task? How many humans will be auto-clicking the approve button? Every plugin exposes a functionality to an attacker, increases the attack surface. Building out these capabilities requires a defence in depth strategy with meticulous testing. In a rush to market scenario while at the same time IT jobs are being eliminated how many organisations will follow that route successfully? On the one hand applying the same standardised solutions more rapidly and at scale will decrease bespoke vulnerabilities and transform the IT function as a differentiating factor between companies (rightly so, the clever among the IT workers will find themselves embedded in business teams), on the other it will potentially make the entire world vulnerable to a single exploit. So the game of cat and mouse shifts to the security teams working on model development. And then the more successful they are – the less they are needed. Ultimately, no revolution has an exact blueprint – and even decentralised computing would be vulnerable to a poisoned pill. Ignorance is bliss, if no one can access the codes, if no one understands them, no one can break them – let computers build themselves? If only it were that simple. Software available to the public can be reverse-engineered and these elements used to drive attacks on presumed enterprises utilising it. Fully open sourced software brings the highest degree of security. As the industry is set to consolidate and converge the present moment presents a crown to those who’ve advocated open source consistently throughout. But, it will remain up to companies to open-source their application portfolios and for others to pass on the cost and the risks to their customers. How about the contrary risk of a model crushing your closed source security architecture? Well, either customers will now pay more for what they thought they had all along – secure software or profits at software houses will fall. The fates of the CRWD’s of the world seem to be set to be entirely rendered obsolete by AI – as bloat virus scanners for containers should be (you’ve either built the correct source or included the correct provided library or you haven’t – their entire business is indicative of waste and business seems to be a booming; I mean who buys into that – right, the same people who pay MSFT, we’ve been over this already and found they’ll have a bright and shiny future – beyond even a question of accountability as CRWD was clearly not for the largest cyber-security incident in history that it caused). Detecting attack patterns in incoming traffick? You secure your endpoints, not put AI agents in a cage. Sure, some limits to reasonable behaviour might make sense but that’s hardly bullet proof security and, well – child’s play. Anyhow, first companies spun-off infrastructure, now infrastructure is spinning-off security, and everyone subscribes to corporate press releases as the source of truth. Be this as it may, Anthropic having the SOTA model and making it available to select closed-source companies means passing the cost while keeping the risk some other model provider might surpass it; though this would be that much more difficult if the source/service layout isn’t open to them to begin with. If you’re not on the list, you might as well wind down which makes the incumbents moats all that much more insurmountable – but what’s all this about anyway – it’s either MSFT or AAPL, AMZN or GOOG? The information technology complex having a ballroom constructed for them at the White House? Companies no one has and never will have any choice but to pay? With this installment of AI and its resource requirements the collective has prevailed over the individual, that much has been clear from the start. We are truly entering a time of universal control that will be close to impossible for any single entity to contest and we shall call this security, freedom and democracy at the same time. To be clear, this installment of AI is not a superhuman general intelligence that is autonomous and benevolent to guide our existence in the direction of enhancing everyone’s quality of life, and breadth of choice. No, it is a tool to be used by those who possess it to further their own interests. The best we can hope for is for the latter of the two factions to emerge: one pursuing control and the other opposing it, for the former has without doubt been pursuing their agenda at pace for a while now already. We’re left to conclude what we’ve always known: a governing entity that can’t secure itself and its constituency will cease to be a governing entity. We might add that among all possible systems sustainable along this axis the best is the one diverging the least from the above stated direction of general wellbeing. In this respect, a superhuman AGI might prove more effective than any human government. What we can say about either one’s benevolence or prospects of peaceful succession is a question I’ll leave to the reader (or might be posed to an LLM). In summary, on the positive side software will become developed by fewer developers, better developers and development will be more closely integrated with and embedded in actual business functions while being supported by the AI capability, including security analysis – which will result in code being more broadly standardised (finally). Contrary, security afforded by the AI service subscription will become a function of ‘how much would a breach cost us’ and with this number being the absolute upper limit on spending for 3rd party security analysis an attacker with improved economics might be able to come out on top. This is especially so at companies that will use inferior models to aid their decimated ranks of developers while relying on security being a service. Last, fewer developers means fewer per developer licenses to pay hence the shaky confidence in the industry seems justified. As MF think, if it doesn’t have an AI model it’s not worth owning, but if it has one that it can successfully sell (and governments are a-buying, out of their shiny brand new five per cent of GDP defense budgets) than that’s just unbeatable at the moment. And then, the moats aside, companies listed above, the digital landlords who’ve snapped up all the NVDA silicon are kind of pressed to keep buying it since their competitive advantage can be somewhat eroded by the next-gen cloud provider running on next-gen silicon and this might very well be CRWV. ORCL? Hence, there can be a little bit of a tug of war developing here, with NVDA implicitly promising to deliver progress still in the ball-park of Moore’s Law for which it depends on TSMC (as everyone else). This has knocked out INTL – before everyone (in America) decided 5 nanometers is good enough. But, should progress stall price pressure will build up from other parts of Asia, so while I’m a huge fan here I am more cautious. Between a business driven by cutting edge tech innovation and one relying on government contracts clearly risk is an order of magnitude less in the latter. Relying on human stupidity takes it a notch lower so MF et al. all make sense, just depends how you spin it.
What is Wall Street telling us about the price action in technology stocks? These are cheap, technology is a buy because – get this – the growth premium, going by the consensus estimate, embedded in their stock prices is now below the market average. Like a good strategist, you should ignore any and all risks and buy those stocks that have fallen more than the market – because, you know, things such as war and technological revolutions don’t change outlooks at all. I suppose their readership already had in mind that what led the way up, where risk was bought also led the way down as risk was being liquidated – and will lead the way back up as the dip is bought (like it turned out). Pitching quantitative analysis for fundamentals, dressing up dip buying in a dotted dress while actually raising concerns about earnings makes for great entertainment that only Yahoo! Finance can convey with seriousness. But then, any serious Wall Street firm should by now have an AI agent that double checks the context in which their research and market commentary is disseminated and might drop any jokers way down on the interviews queue. While you could have read some great advice you also could have walked away thinking AI disruption is limited to the software industry – where, indeed, it is most glaring – instead of jotting it down as ubiquitous.
Alright. Now for the question Gemini motivated: how will the AI disruption affect employment? My own answer is that it will not reduce it in the medium term but companies will need to be flexible with hiring. As we can conclude from the above discussion to deliver the added value companies will need employees. Whether customers will experience a value explosion or a value blip it will be down to everyone working on it. This is somewhat of a big ‘but’ so I leave room for unemployment to marginally edge higher under the effects of the said disruption.
Moving on to the macro picture, the media have managed to paint it so that economists came out wrong to predict a recession due to tariffs in H2 2025. Since, the harmful effects of the levies have gone largely unmentioned. My own rudimentary model estimated the aggregate effect of MAGA economic policy to be detracting anywhere from two to four percentage points from US GDP growth (depending on parameters as they were evolving). In reality it slowed by 0.7%, with the economy having grown 2.1% in 2025 compared to 2.8% in 2024. I believe the economists estimates alongside my own failed to predict the boost in consumer and business spending caused by front-running tariffs complementing the conviction of the MAGA consumer. These two factors turned out to be a major tail-wind for the economy in the previous year. We would be very foolish to misconstrue this idiosyncratic and transitory event as evidence that policy is salutary. Its full effects will become evident this year and will have the ill fate of measuring against an inflated baseline. So far tariffs have had the single effect of reducing importer profitability as consumer prices remained relatively stable. If and when prices ultimately rise and the US trade deficit declines (against its medium term average as I originally modelled) the negative second order effects of a loss of income in the import/merchant sector will proliferate. To the contrary, the economy will continue to derive strength from digitalisation trends (that I previously mysteriously referred to as novel opportunities) and AI investment. With consumer confidence now at an all time low, the economy seems to have some ways to go before convincing everyone it’s not quickly turned into a one trick pony. The timing of the Iran war coincides with the y/y sliding frame of oil prices changing from deflation to stagnation: oil had bottomed at $60 in April of 2025 as OPEC hiked production. While this in and of itself would have eliminated a tail-wind for the Fed to cut rates, the current circumstances are of an outright inflation shock. In this context, the US maintaining the previous year’s growth rate should be seen as a major achievement.
Another aspect of policy that I got wrong was the evolution of the budget deficit. In fact, it had shrunk during the previous year both in absolute terms and, clearly, as a percentage of GDP. The fiscal discipline is amenable (despite the upside down amendments to the social contract in support of it), but the growth projections associated with the OBBB will come under test, which in conjunction with war time spending may necessitate further spending cuts if the deficit is to maintain its downward trajectory. Translated into outlook for US rates this spells increased uncertainty, quite far from the tranquil environment Sec. Bassent and Mr. Musk were eager to paint past summer. They would “work with the markets to bring rates down.”
Professional economists make predictions that can be entirely ungrounded. Take for example the March jobs report that blew past such expectations, as it was interpreted, due to an unwind of a healthcare strike. How can an entire profession miss something as large? So, we can make two claims: the number for the month is a statistical anomaly rather than indicative of strength and the estimates themselves serving to backstop a signal to the markets. A beat of expectations is interpreted by algorithms precisely as an indicator of strength. The prevalence of algorithmic trading places holistic assesment of risk on the back seat.
In this light we can take expectations of corporate profitability to rise through to the end of the year with a pinch of salt.
The economy continues to be seen as strong and equity prices supported, as while investors are more concerned with securing their share rather than the relative efficacy of such investment. We can state that the appetite for risk drives the news cycle rather than the other way around.
Last year I wrote about bank earnings growth hitting a ceiling due to the lower IR on reserves and a presumed top in frothy markets. In addition the capital adequacy ratio (CET1) limits available balance sheet capacity and it has been steadily dropping across the industry since the beginning of the Trump 2 presidency. At the present pace for instance it should take a major US bank bellwether approximately (only) a year to expend the excess buffer it has over the statutory limit, or alternatively a loss of approximately $40B (having accounted for the reservations for credit losses held as Tier 2 capital) for it’s credit growth potential to evaporate. For reference, the geometric average of the said institutions annual balance sheet growth since 2021 was 3.77%. Peculiarly, net income for the full year 2025 is just <i>under</i> that of 2022 though double that of 2023 and at approximately 2/3 that of 2021. Meanwhile, the stock is up 114% since 1 Jan 2022 and 147% since 1 Jan 2023. The Trump 2 era de-regulatory response considered is to reduce the required CET1 ratio and thereby increase lending capacity. More leverage, more risk? Seen this once before? That point is mute, more central is that within the present framework (regardless of its parameters) credit losses – coincidentally in the case of our bellwether equal in scale to the share repurchase budget – constitute a systemic risk to lending activity and hence the economy – a credit freeze 2.0 – this time even entirely not linked to any derivative instruments.
The 2026 funding requirements for big tech AI build-out exceed the balance sheet growth of this major bank more than six times over. Taken in hand with long lingering doubts about the quality of private credit portfolios (which by definition lack transparency), this has the potential to limit growth or even lead to a liquidity crunch that the central bank would need to mitigate.
While the bulk of debt is held off balance sheets, nonetheless it’s the expansion of the money supply that enables its steady growth.
In the world of investment banking the inflation in equity prices means of course a rise in commissions but the slope of the increase can’t reasonably be considered sustainable. The same goes for M&A activity (boosted by deregulation). The easy money has been made. Analysts have caught up. Of note, momentum leaders would have to grow earnings 10x to come in line with market average P/E. Hardly anything to it.
Just as well, relying on dip buying regardless of any risk factors has worked twice now for the Trump administration. Such a reflex has generated a momentum shift and pushed a stalled bull market back towards ATH’s and beyond. But, the current instance still has the capacity to play out as the “Trump put” that bounced: reversing the effects of the war, compounding the economic damage already inflicted by administration policies that caused the market to top at the start of the year in the first place is certainly not in the MAGA chief’s power: he’s not in possession of a magic wand, no matter how deep in the depths of delusion we decide to venture, right? One time or the other it will become clear to the hordes of dip buyers that this dip is not going to bounce and when that happens the effects of the unwind in momentum might be severe.
Economically, if the Iran war were to end tonight it’d take at least months for supply routes and prices to normalise and if you’re drinking the official kool-aid this could easily slip your mind.
Crossing into politics, having myself denounced the present Trump regime as soon as it was elected, I fully blame Europeans and the unified global political right for the complete and final disintegration of the system of international law. The US/Israel war with Iran started with the assassination of the country’s leader amid negotiations. This seems to be becoming somewhat of a specialty of the two country coalition and I wonder what fate awaits the current leader during the ongoing fortnight of ceasefire. Chop heads off until one emerges that agrees to our demands – the good old time-tested strategy. It became shockingly clear right from the onset that the MAGA regime will lead brutish politics and the Allies not having drawn red lines from day 1 is a historic disgrace. “We’ve learned from history and stand up to bullies,” said the moral midgets and lap dogs.
Trumpism can never be considered a legitimate nor democratic policy.
Iran challenged the gorilla that is Trump to an open fight and as it stands at the time of this writing with the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz now double-sided the situation might require a military solution despite administration statements. Even as the US is almost certain to prevail in that scenario, tail risks notwithstanding, there would be strategic damage to US posture, in the range from a deficit of munitions to revealed tactics. For what? If Iraq (and Afghanistan) are the blueprints for success it would seem that the US vision for South Asia is a stream of countries having the following characteristics: i) their territory will not be used in support of terrorist attacks on the US or Allies, ii) they will not align with Russia nor China, and iii) if they have oil they will allow US companies access to it. What I am taking aim at is that these spell oddly like conditions we would expect to find in colonies with little to offer to the domestic populations.
Looking back to the root of the hostility is of course the long standing US ‘friendly dictators’ foreign policy: having overthrown the obedient Shah, the present regime in control of significant oil supply found itself instantly targeted as a superpower on principle can not allow its will to stand opposed – beit to control the supply of the fossil fuel or AI technology.
In all, it’s the ‘soft power’ aspect of NATO as a collection of obedient regimes that MAGA seem to have deprecated in understanding, replacing it perhaps with a novel mechanism to deliver colonial obedience – that of the clandestine hierarchy of the global political right.
Thus, the person having chosen to wiggle the biggest carrot, with his staking the “special relationship” is of course fully to blame for the global debacle – this being Keir Starmer (and throw in the cabinet – especially the foreign secretary, current in a long line with only their toes barely sticking out of US’ rear). The UK, along with everyone intended on being part of the free world, need a strategy aimed at opposing the control of the global right rather than delivering themselves into it.
On the contrary, Spanish leadership in opposition to Trump is admirable.
The strong states of the Eastern block – China and Russia – are not the solution but are neither any more the opposite – the EU has just such countries in its ranks – having parted with being secular, where culture and opinion is prescribed – and growing more similar by the hour. Whether it’s the pantone blue or stripes that accompany the stars that folks are wrapped up in, or the Union Jack – say it’s not so: surely we are not hypocrites, fighting wars of expansion and control.
Now, opposition parties in “developing democracies” who are long down the road toward centralised authoritarianism can’t any longer point to the developed world and say – look how liberties and human rights are protected; instead the developed world points at them and says – look how a strong state can be made to work (in an exercise of narrow framing). The elections in Hungary were the victory the Hungarians were looking for. The outcome is that the so-called European People’s Party will grow another tentacle. The right, firmly in control, will push as far as they can get away with. The new leadership, rather than being a direct vassal of Trump and Putin in the global order, will pursue more close integration with the economies of the Balkans under Merz’ scepter and foremost to the benefit of ‘entrepreneurs’ who are properly aligned. I see little that can change. After all, a topic in the elections was who can more effectively suck the straw of EU funds. Nothing in the way of that model is contested, nor will have Hungarians become suddenly less closed.
As well as Trumpism, the policies of the EPP can never be considered legitimate, can never be considered anything more than a foil to deliver their people’s into a form of serfdom.
Alas, people’s minds have become so inert that they happily and continually choose the lesser evil and expect this to change their fortunes for the better. Hungary is owned by a select few “families” as my native Croatia… If you’re there, I hope this catches your attention after the punch leaves your system. But much more likely people hearing this would be baffled with what at all is wrong with two neighboring conservative countries being focused on preserving their national heritage? Just the price they pay for it: social justice and progress; the personal wellbeing and independence of their populations – causes they probably never really prioritised, valued highly or understood.
This being said, congratulations to Hungary – I’m happy to see Orban gone, he’s been irking me since his very start.
For the final political remark, regarding the global geopolitical balance – if the US has expended strategic resources then the opposing side (being Russia) fails to acknowledge they’ve already suffered a major loss. If for them the wars were a way to minimise the long-term strategic disadvantage this has utterly failed. Sure, perhaps NATO is not in Donetsk but many former allies along with Russia itself look like Swiss cheese. It’s way past time to commit to a new strategy. It’s way past time to make peace. The greatest victory both sides can claim would be to save lives not already lost.
With this I approach another topic that I wish I picked at with more calm earlier: TSLA. Seing millions having saluted along Musk’s extended right hand declaring that sales will <i>completely</i> evaporate was nothing short of unhinged. Regardless, in my perspective if it is to merge with SpaceX there will be a valuation gap to bridge. On the one side, business across vehicle deliveries, taxi and Optimus programmes will continue to be <i>slow</i>. On the other, SpaceX may equally so struggle to convince of its earnings potential. Both the IPO and the merger are inviting of scrutiny. Since the public will be aware any valuation the IPO fetches will in part go toward buying out TSLA shareholders there should be a cap on the IPO valuation. Conversely, TSLA price will be supported up to the level the market believes SpaceX can pay. If the underwriters pull this off without collapsing the earnings multipliers then they will have deserved every cent of the fees they’ll be paid. If not, I get to smirk when TSLA becomes “[that] cheap” again. But I mean – a giant space/AI/chips/communication/media/robots/vehicles corporation plugged into the government, what’s not to like? It will be raining money so long as they can deliver on these segments – and in all reality that will come down to whether they can attract the necessary talent. I for one would not like to work there (I see myself firmly in the other factions camp) but I can get if people find this amalgamation intriguing. The stock itself is a proxy for risk so, with the market having recovered to ATH’s on the back of the momentum shift caused by the bounce off the Iran war bottom, it shouldn’t surprise it too popped to catch up.
To wind this post to a close I’ll review the behaviour of bitcoin in the lens of my previous writing. Fistly, since the ATH in October 2025 it’s sold-off that in hindsight we can interpret as a leading indicator for the equity market. It bounced back as the S&P etched out ATH’s in late January but quickly took another major leg down along with sentiment. It’s currently trying to break higher on the momentum mentioned above. As such, its behaviour is entirely consistent with that of a (high) risk asset. Having previously colloquially characterised it as a perpetual far OTM call option, I note the divergence in its price from the equity market at the onset of the war when BTC rallied – seemingly acting as a safe haven. As I wrote before, I believe this may be down to traders using BTC to hedge their equity shorts, so that in general we need to mind whether bitcoin will behave differently to our base expectations around inflection points.
I also interpreted the crypto token as CDS. Having revisited that text I found it somewhat incoherent so definitely a clarification is due. But moreso the confusion extends to my central text (“Bitcoin and the modern economy”), specifically the paragraph concerned with “enumerating the motives to hold currency,” where – intended on aligning the growth of the entirety of the money supply with the movement of interest rates – I entirely parted with logic. In fact, as the text surrounding the paragraph suggests, the two aggregates of liquidity-preference – effective liquidity and liquid savings of the private sector – have an <i>opposite</i> sensitivity to IR. In addition, we must break out financial markets liquidity from the speculative-motive within the liquid savings into its own aggregate alongside the two others. What’s more then, the precautionary-motive (i.e. the residual) while being part of the liquid savings will align its IR sensitivity with the other two top level aggregates. We conclude that as IR rise the speculative-motive and the income-motive will expand in part at the expense of the residual (which three together form the liquid savings) and in the other part due to shrinking effective and financial markets liquidity. This is consistent with rising IR causing bearishness and the liquid savings expanding being an indicator thereof. The converse applies when IR decline. Since our motives are, in fact, misaligned with respect to rates, the only reason we can state for the change in quantity of the aggregate money supply to be inversely correlated with rates is the effect of leverage: people will leverage more intensely and de-leverage less intensely when rates are low and conversely when rates are high.
From here, before we can make sense of our CDS interpretation, we must dispose of the assumption that credit spreads and CDS premia are themselves proportional to interest rates. This simply doesn’t necessarily hold: though they affect each other, credit quality can vary independently of the absolute level of IR – like sentiment itself, that after all we found it drives.
We have the following: the aggregate money supply grows with the economy. While bullish sentiment prevails money is leaving the “sidelines” (the residual component) and flowing into effective liquidity (transactions in the real economy), financial markets or, as interest rates rise, shifts within the liquid savings towards speculative and income motives. (Accounting for the shift is a matter of psychological preference). The price of bitcoin, as risk in general, is supported by money flowing into the markets. While the supply of funds – the liquid savings of the private sector that are available to be lend by the holders themselves or by banks that hold the funds on (idle) deposit – is decreasing relative to demand – the liquidity circulating in the real economy and the markets – it’s the perception of credit quality that supports the expansion of the aggregate money supply and somewhat replenishes the liquid savings relative to effective liquidity.
The price of bitcoin is one part sentiment (the OTM call) and one part CDS.
Alternatively, to consider the price in terms of the demand for the available aggregate quantity of money we state that it will fall/rise as effective liquidity (real economy; demand for funds) grows/shrinks relative to the liquid savings (supply of funds) especially relative to equities. This relationship will be we weighed by apparent credit quality or, rather, the prospective pace of the growth of the money supply directed at speculative purchases in the financial markets. More succinctly we can state that bitcoin trades in proportion to the money residual and the pace of bank (margin) lending.
So, the price of BTC will characteristically peak on two occasions: firstly, after bearishness peaks (i.e. maximum demand for cash – residual) and secondly together with bullishness (in the credit markets). In the first instance the central bank may be conducting QE or otherwise increasing the supply of currency which is in low demand due to a bleak economy and low interest rates. In the second, the peak of the economic cycle (growth) will likely come together with increased inflation and mark the high of demand for money (effective liquidity) while at the same time its supply will have likely been slowing due to rising interest rates. Sentiment peaks after the economy. This is what we saw in Q4/25 and Q1/26.
Subsequently, both the economy and interest rates moderating frees up liquidity and supports markets. We generally don’t go straight into a depression or QE right after or just because a cycle has peaked. Instead, the economy self regulates and in time conditions transpire for a new cycle of growth to begin.
Crypto peaked in Q4 as markets realised that the AI investment cycle will consume great amounts of capital, and that private credit markets are in dubious condition.
At present, the Fed and regulators are attempting to ease monetary conditions and with the economy growing modestly the price of bitcoin is in an up-trend. An ideal scenario for bitcoin, as used to be the case for equities during the Yellen Fed, is precisely such growth supported by easy monetary policy. On the other hand, the risk is a liquidity crunch induced either by inflation or a rush to safety (cash) should the economy deteriorate beyond expectations.
Markets may be experiencing a Tesla moment – if the bulls pull it off, they’ll have earned their laurels.
In yet other terms we can note the fall in price of bitcoin from its highs as a perceived increase in market risk. Following this reasoning, when everything crashes the supply of BTC will increase pari passu with that of “fiat” (or even more in a stagflationary environment which scenario falls far beyond the mental capacity of crypto boosting hot-heads). If we, as we should, express market risk as the coefficient of correlation of the down movement in prices of all stocks we would expect bitcoin to be falling when this value is the greatest and conversely rising on an equivalent move in the opposite direction.
Clearly, the hard limit to the pace of money supply growth in the form of the CET1 ratio mentioned above is a drag on the prices of cryptocurrencies (which, being risk and for as while our current monetary and economic system endures, in the event of a crisis must first liquidate before they can rebound on the back of liquidity provided by the central bank).
It’s also less than fully known, at least by myself, how much of an impact on bank balance sheets would a further drop in crypto assets bring which would make for somewhat of a self-reinforcing effect.
In all, these conditions should put a cap on returns. Bulls can look forward to an Iran deal that lifts sanctions and puts Iranian oil on the market coupled with positive earnings and outlooks enabling the present momentum to continue. Bears look to risk in private credit. A trap door remains under the markets and if they have thus far resisted the pull of gravity this only means there is that much more distance along which to accelerate on the way down.
The setup feels suspiciously like a bear market rally and in my opinion there is an elevated probability that risk will head for the exits some time in the following months. If we break through resistance at ATH’s where the S&P currently sits, this will be a sign to add risk in the near term. (That is, if unlike The Man you haven’t already. I promise caution at inflection points is costing everyone money. It’s the “nothing matters” rally, remember, once it gets rolling – and rolling it is.) In this case we might at first think crypto is poised to deliver the most convexity. However, we will bode well to recall that money will remain in demand, be it due to the presumed resumption of the investment cycle or the government’s efforts to reduce the budget deficit. Hence, while the token will be supported in the bull case I don’t believe it will make a new ATH this year. Of course, should the markets fail to meaningfully break higher this will put bears in control for the summer.
Question is how to best express our outlook. The answer I’ve come across early in this blog but didn’t formally explore. For the financially apt readers it will come naturally as the barbell strategy proposed by Nassim Taleb.
To conclude I will look ahead to some proposals that I hope will become central to Western politics.
From a Keynesian point of view, having explored the modern economy, we can state: inequality is the new unemployment.
And so we have to ask ourselves have mainstream economics once again become orthodox? Is our social contract incomplete and faulty? Can we come to see that repairing it would mean opening entirely new horizons of opportunity? But also that – those who have made the same realisations – the global right are actively working toward the exact opposite: making the world a set of disjunct states ruled by the elites. The status quo is rightly without popular support and the time has come to look for change. To not propose meaningful change is to align with the right. The goal must always be to deliver progress.
Can the US rise to the challenge? Is the constitutional stipulation that direct taxes must be apportioned inherently at odds with the solution? Is progressive taxation inherently un-american? Surely the wealthier should be allowed to keep the same proportion of their income as everyone? The Constitution is a living document in order to stop itself from becoming an obstacle to prosperity of the nation. To the contrary if it’s become its own purpose, the nations laws will ossify. A lesson from IT (shared by Mr. Beck, right?) is that projects that become difficult to change die. So, on the one hand we find the trickle down economics of an investment bubble: the wealthy having no purpose for their money, and having no way to spend it – they invest in increasingly dubious affairs being valued in private markets in increasingly pyramidal ways, protect their status and retain the bulk of the upside for themselves. (This is again a clue that we live in an instance of a nouveau aristocratic system.) A series of risky bets being an optimal investment strategy (Taleb, Kahneman), vast wealth enables it in practice and effectively perpetuates itself – a goal shared with any amount of capital, so that the only inherently unjust aspects that immediately pop to mind are the accessibility (barriers to entry) of the investment landscape to pools of capital of varying scale and disposition as well as the political acumen that brought about the unquestionable fact that the rich pay a lower proportion of their income in taxes than the middle class (perhaps on par with the poor, making for that “k”) – demonstrated by rules such as lower tax rate for long term investment and losses being deductible that perfectly suits the investment strategy and the character of the economy both.
Now, the fix afforded by the Democrats finally is starting to seem as approaching the meaning of the word: they seem to have embraced redistribution of wealth.
The issue I have with Sen. Warren’s plan is that it may end up concentrating more spending power in the hands of the government, in which respect Bernie’s proposal of a de facto universal income is most welcome as it leads to a bottom-up economy, that we would find on the other hand.
A final thought that popped into my mind on the matter is to consider the global political right merely want to preserve capitalism. To this I would respond that capitalism itself doesn’t pose the question of the origin of capital. A regulatory environment that continuously works to restore broad availability of capital (the trail on which we find the democratic faculty of taking loans) simply makes for better capitalism by both widening the range of offerings that are commercially viable thereby increasing their social utility, as well as providing means for entrepreneurship to proliferate and deliver these offerings.
Yet the right would collapse the entire argument and claim, against all reason, that UBI is communism. They would stipulate men must work for their meal and in doing so reduce capitalism to an advanced form of feudalism, of slavery – where men must be forced to work and the mechanism of coercion is poverty. They would make us all out to be silly and not understand that the national product is a result of work and that if we all decide to lay flat on our backs our UBI won’t be worth anything. And even if there would be those who do, society should find ways to organise – through technology and openness – to enable pioneers to step in their place.
The global populist right has been telling lies and playing tricks for far too long. The times are such that not to pursue justice means to be corrupt.
The only way to win the vote is to promise a better, more believable future.
This brings me to a close. While in this post too I may have erred, it has undoubtedly brought us closer to the truth. It is the only thing people truly can believe.
Thanks for reading through!
#AI #AMZN #Bitcoin #BTC #CRWD #CRWV #Economics #Economy #GOOG #Investing #Markets #MSFT #NVDA #ORCL #politics #Tesla #TSLA #UBI -
Color Psychology in Fintech Branding: How the Right Palette Builds User Trust
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Trust is the only real product a fintech company sells. Before a user reads a single line of copy, before they check your security certifications, before they scan your reviews — they feel something. That feeling comes from color. It is instantaneous, non-negotiable, and almost entirely subconscious. And yet, most fintech brands treat color as decoration rather than strategy. That is a costly mistake.
Color psychology in fintech branding has moved from interesting theory to measurable business outcome. Adobe’s consumer research shows that 54% of consumers identify blue as the most trusted brand color. Furthermore, one in two people has chosen one brand over another based on color alone. In fintech — where users hand over their financial data, their savings, their vulnerability — that statistic carries enormous weight.
This is not just a UX conversation. It is a brand strategy conversation. And right now, the fintech sector is one of the most visually sophisticated and emotionally complex environments in which color does its work. So let’s talk about what is actually happening, why it matters, and how to use it deliberately.
Why Does Color Psychology Matter So Much in Fintech?
Most industries earn trust over time. Banks historically relied on physical presence — the heavy marble lobby, the polished brass, the uniformed staff. That architecture was doing psychological work. It said: we are permanent, stable, serious. Neobanks and fintech platforms have none of that. They earn trust entirely through their interface.
Think about what a user faces when they open a new fintech app for the first time. They are being asked to connect a bank account, verify their identity, or enter a payment card. That moment requires a significant leap of faith. The visual environment either supports that leap — or it undermines it.
Color is processed by the limbic system, the part of the brain that governs emotion, memory, and instinct. This happens before conscious reasoning kicks in. Within roughly 90 seconds of encountering a product, users form a subconscious judgment — and research consistently shows that between 62% and 90% of that assessment is based on color alone. That window is your brand’s first and most powerful argument for trust.
Moreover, the stakes in fintech are uniquely high. Users are not choosing a restaurant or a streaming service. They are deciding who gets to touch their money. That anxiety is real, and color either calms it or inflames it.
The Emotional Stakes Are Higher Than You Think
Consider what makes someone abandon a fintech onboarding flow. Often, it is not a technical error. It is a vague, undefined discomfort. Something felt off. The colors were too aggressive, too chaotic, or simply unfamiliar to what users expect from a credible financial platform. That gut feeling is color psychology at work — and it costs companies real conversion rates.
Interfaces with cluttered or poorly chosen color schemes increase cognitive load. When users have to work harder to process visual information, stress rises. Stress in a financial context translates directly into doubt and abandonment. This is why calm, structured color systems are not just aesthetically pleasing — they are functionally necessary.
Smartphone Mobile App Ui Template by Liquid Layout for Adobe Illustrator Download the Illustrator template from Adobe Stock.The Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy: A New Framework for Palette Strategy
I want to introduce a framework I call the Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy — a tiered model for thinking about how different colors perform specific psychological jobs in a fintech brand system. This is not about choosing “pretty” colors. It is about assigning each color a role and letting it do that job consistently.
The hierarchy has three tiers:
Tier 1 — Anchor Colors establish foundational credibility. These are the dominant, high-frequency colors that users see on login screens, dashboards, and primary navigation. Their job is to immediately signal legitimacy and stability. Blue is the archetypal Tier 1 color in fintech. It is calm, globally recognized as trustworthy, and accessible to the widest range of users — including approximately 10% of the population who are red-green colorblind.
Tier 2 — Action Colors guide behavior without creating anxiety. These are the colors applied to buttons, CTAs, confirmations, and micro-interactions. Green excels here. It connects neurologically to completion signals — the green tick, the approved status, the “payment successful” screen. It reduces the anxiety associated with irreversible financial actions. Using green for positive confirmations is not a coincidence. It is a deliberate neurological lever.
Tier 3 — Personality Colors express brand differentiation and emotional character. These are accent or secondary colors that distinguish one fintech brand from another in an increasingly saturated market. This is where the real brand strategy lives. Monzo’s hot coral, Revolut’s gradient experimentation, N26’s restrained black-and-white — these Tier 3 choices are the ones users actually remember and talk about.
Why the Hierarchy Matters More Than Color Choice Alone
Most fintech brands get their Tier 1 color right — they pick blue or a deep neutral. But they misuse Tier 2 and Tier 3. They apply a bold Personality Color to a CTA button, which creates visual tension at the exact moment users need reassurance. Or they use red in micro-interactions that are actually neutral, training users to feel anxiety during routine tasks.
The Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy is not just about individual hue selection. It is about role clarity. Every color in your system should have a job description — and that job description should be built around the emotional state you want users to inhabit at each touchpoint.
Blue Dominance in Fintech: Justified or Lazy Shorthand?
Here is a question worth sitting with. Does blue actually build trust in fintech — or have we simply trained ourselves to associate blue with finance, creating a self-reinforcing cycle? The honest answer is: probably both.
Blue has genuine psychological properties. It activates a sense of calm and deliberation. Studies suggest both male and female participants respond faster to blue contrasts, making it an accessibility-conscious choice. And the cultural conditioning argument is not a weakness — it is a feature. When users open a financial app and see deep navy or professional cobalt, their brain pattern-matches it to the category of “trusted financial product.” That is brand equity working instantly.
However, blue has become so dominant in fintech that it now risks becoming invisible. When every neobank, payment platform, and investment app leads with the same family of blues, the signal stops differentiating. Users stop noticing. And a brand that cannot be noticed cannot be trusted — because it cannot be remembered.
This is why the most sophisticated fintech brands use blue strategically rather than reflexively. They anchor their Tier 1 palette in blue but make their Tier 3 personality color do the memorable, category-defying work. The brand feels trustworthy and distinctive at the same time. That combination is rare and enormously valuable.
The Rise of the Alternative Anchor: Dark Neutrals and Monochromatic Systems
A growing number of premium and crypto-adjacent fintech brands are challenging blue’s dominance with dark monochromatic systems — deep charcoals, near-blacks, and slate palettes. These communicate a different kind of trust: exclusivity, sophistication, and technical precision. They are borrowed from luxury branding and applied to finance.
Apple’s titanium card is the most visible example. The removal of all surface information and the use of a single near-neutral metal finish communicate security through restraint. Less visible means less exposed. Less exposed means more protected. That visual argument is extremely powerful — and it does not use a single shade of blue.
This suggests that color psychology in fintech branding is evolving beyond its classic blue phase. The next generation of premium fintech platforms will likely use restraint, not color, as the primary trust signal.
Green, Red, and the Emotional Grammar of Financial Feedback
Inside a fintech interface, color becomes a language. Users learn to read it fluently and quickly. Green means good. Red means stop, caution, or loss. These associations are so deeply embedded — partly cultural, partly trained through decades of financial UI conventions — that breaking them carries real risk.
Green’s dominance in positive financial feedback states is well-earned. It connects to multiple layers of psychological association: nature, growth, health, prosperity, and the physical color of currency in many markets. When a payment processes successfully and the screen shifts to green, users experience a micro-dose of reward. Studies suggest this green-confirmation state triggers dopamine responses associated with completion and relief. That is not trivial. It is the emotional foundation of user loyalty.
Red, meanwhile, is a more nuanced tool. It is effective for genuine warnings — failed transactions, insufficient funds, and security alerts. But overusing red for neutral states (minor errors, optional alerts, secondary information) trains users to feel chronic low-level anxiety inside the product. Over time, that anxiety becomes associated with the brand itself. Users start to feel vaguely uncomfortable without knowing why. They switch to a competitor whose interface feels calmer.
The Concept of Chromatic Anxiety in Fintech UX
I want to name something that does not yet have a standard term in UX discourse. I call it Chromatic Anxiety — the accumulated psychological stress produced by inconsistent, high-stimulation, or poorly calibrated color use across a fintech interface. It is distinct from any single color choice being “wrong.” Instead, it describes the systemic effect of color mismanagement over an entire user journey.
Chromatic Anxiety manifests when users encounter too many competing color signals, when warning colors appear in non-warning contexts, or when the color system shifts tone between different sections of the same app. The result is a persistent sense that the product is disorganized — and disorganized financial products feel dangerous.
The antidote is what I call Chromatic Coherence — a principle stating that every color decision across a fintech product must be consistent with a single, unified emotional narrative. That narrative might be “calm control,” “confident growth,” or “premium simplicity.” But every color in the system must serve that story without contradiction.
FinFlow is a banking, finance, and fintech WordPress theme by UICore The WordPress theme is available from ThemeForestHow Neobanks Are Rewriting the Color Rules in Fintech Branding
Traditional banks did not experiment with color. Their palettes were institutional, conservative, and deliberately unremarkable. The implicit message was: we are boring, and boring means safe. That strategy worked for decades — until fintech disrupted not just the technology but the entire visual language of finance.
Neobanks proved something important: users do not actually want financial brands to be visually boring. They want them to be emotionally clear. There is a meaningful difference. Boring signals avoidance — the brand is hiding behind convention. Emotionally clear signals confidence — the brand knows what it stands for and expresses it directly.
Monzo’s hot coral is the case study every brand strategist should study. Hot coral is not a “safe” fintech color. It carries energy, warmth, and a mild provocation. In a sea of conservative blues and greys, it screams visibility. But Monzo paired that bold Tier 3 personality color with impeccably clean, low-anxiety interface design. The product itself felt calm and organized. The brand felt like a personality. That combination built a fiercely loyal user base that evangelized the product.
Revolut went in a different direction — sequential visual experimentation, shifting gradient schemes, and aggressive product-tier differentiation through color (Standard, Plus, Premium, Metal, Ultra). Each tier communicates a different status and emotional register through color alone. Users understand the hierarchy instantly. They aspire upward through it. That is color psychology operating as a retention and upsell mechanism — not just a branding exercise.
The Visual Trust Signal Framework: What Every Fintech Brand Needs
Beyond individual color choices, successful fintech brands deploy what I call the Visual Trust Signal Framework — a system of four coordinated color behaviors that collectively communicate reliability to users.
The first behavior is Color Predictability: the same color always means the same thing. If green signals success, it must signal success consistently — not sometimes success, sometimes decoration. Predictability trains users, and trained users feel in control. Feeling in control reduces anxiety and builds confidence in the platform.
The second behavior is Tonal Restraint: the palette uses fewer colors with greater intention. Restraint communicates discipline. A financial platform with a tight, coherent color system suggests organizational discipline — the same discipline users want applied to their money.
The third behavior is Contextual Appropriateness: colors modulate to the emotional context of the interaction. Onboarding should feel welcoming and calm. A large transfer confirmation screen should feel serious and reassuring. An investment gains screen should feel celebratory. One color system, multiple emotional registers — achieved through saturation shifts, shade variations, and strategic use of whitespace.
The fourth behavior is Accessibility Integrity: the color system works for all users, including those with color vision deficiencies. This is not just ethical — it is strategic. Approximately 10% of the population cannot fully distinguish red from green. A fintech interface that relies solely on red/green for positive/negative states excludes that segment entirely. Accessible design expands trust because it signals that the brand sees and respects all of its users.
Color Psychology Fintech Branding: The Cultural Dimension
Global fintech brands face a challenge that domestic players can ignore: color does not mean the same thing everywhere. White, the default color of “clean, professional UI” in most Western contexts, is associated with mourning in several East Asian cultures. Red, a warning color in financial interfaces, is the color of prosperity and celebration in China. Gold, which signals luxury in many Western markets, carries ceremonial weight in South Asian contexts that can either strengthen or complicate a fintech brand’s positioning.
The smartest global fintech brands are beginning to treat color localization as seriously as linguistic localization. This is not about making a different version of the brand for each market. It is about understanding which colors carry dangerous, unintended meanings in specific cultural contexts — and designing a color system flexible enough to avoid those landmines while maintaining brand coherence.
This cultural dimension of color psychology in fintech branding will become increasingly important as platforms expand from their home markets. A startup launching in the UK, expanding to India, and entering Southeast Asia within three years cannot afford to treat color as a static brand asset. It needs to be a dynamic system — anchored in universal trust signals, flexible at the personality layer.
The Next Frontier: AI-Adaptive Color Systems
Here is a prediction worth making explicitly: within the next five years, leading fintech platforms will deploy Adaptive Chromatic Intelligence — AI-driven color systems that modulate the user interface palette based on real-time user context signals. These signals might include time of day, transaction type, spending pattern anomalies, or even inferred emotional state derived from interaction speed and navigation behavior.
The concept is not science fiction. Thirty percent of users already express interest in adaptive “living” palettes that reflect personal mood or preferences. The technology to deliver this is emerging rapidly through AI-driven UX personalization systems. The psychological logic is sound: a user checking their balance after an unexpected expense needs a calmer visual environment than a user celebrating a savings milestone. The same interface, delivering opposite emotional experiences — and color is the fastest dial to turn.
This evolution will require fintech brands to shift from thinking about color as a fixed identity asset to thinking about it as a dynamic emotional delivery system. The brand’s core trust signal remains constant. But its expressive range expands to meet users where they actually are. That is not a small shift. It is a fundamental reimagining of what a fintech brand’s visual identity can do.
Practical Color Psychology Principles Every Fintech Brand Should Apply Today
Theory is useful. Actionable principles are better. Here are the core color psychology principles that every fintech brand should be applying to its visual identity right now.
Start with your emotional thesis. Before choosing a single color, define the precise emotional experience you want users to have across their entire journey with your product. Not “trustworthy” — that is too generic. Something like “confidently informed,” or “calmly empowered,” or “quietly exceptional.” Every color decision should serve that thesis directly.
Test your palette under stress conditions. Run your color system through the highest-anxiety user scenarios — large fund transfers, identity verification, and disputed transactions. If the interface still feels reassuring in those moments, your color system is working. If it feels chaotic or alarming, it needs recalibration.
Audit your red use ruthlessly. Count every instance of red across your interface. Ask whether each one represents a genuine user-facing risk or alert. Every unnecessary red is a small injection of anxiety into the user experience. Over hundreds of interactions, that accumulates into Chromatic Anxiety and eventual churn.
Use whitespace as a color decision. In fintech, whitespace (and its dark mode equivalent) is not empty space — it is a deliberate trust signal. Generous whitespace around financial data communicates that the brand is organized, honest, and not hiding anything. It reduces cognitive load and lets users think clearly about their financial situation. Cramped design, by contrast, creates the visual equivalent of fine print.
Build a color token system before you build a product. A color token system assigns semantic meaning to every color in your palette — not just the hex value but the emotional role. “Success green,” “caution amber,” “neutral text,” “anchor navy.” This system prevents color drift as the product scales, ensuring Chromatic Coherence across an increasingly complex interface.
What Consistently High-Trust Fintech Interfaces Have in Common
After studying fintech brands across the trust spectrum, a clear pattern emerges. High-trust interfaces share specific color behaviors: structured grid layouts with generous whitespace that reduce cognitive load; consistent color application with zero ambiguity about what each color means; a dominant Tier 1 color that occupies at least 60% of the visual field; and action confirmation states — payments, transfers, approvals — that use green or a positive accent color with sufficient contrast to feel decisive.
Low-trust interfaces tend toward the opposite: multiple competing accent colors, red used for non-critical messages, overcrowded layouts where color loses its signal value, and inconsistent application of what colors mean. Users cannot articulate these differences. But they feel them immediately.
Color in Fintech Branding Beyond the App: Cards, Marketing, and Physical Touchpoints
Color psychology in fintech does not live only inside the app. For digital-first brands with no physical branches, the debit or credit card is often the only physical object a user holds that represents the brand. This makes card design a critical — and underutilized — trust and identity vehicle.
Neobanks understand this acutely. Monzo’s coral card is famous enough to be identified across a crowded room. Revolut’s gradient metal cards signal tier and aspiration. N26’s minimal black card communicates a specific kind of European sophistication. In every case, the card is not just a payment instrument. It is a portable brand ambassador — and its color does psychological work in the real world, where users see it and where others see users using it.
The trend toward numberless card fronts — adopted by Chime, Brex, Mercury, N26, and others — adds another color psychology dimension. By removing numerical clutter from the card’s face, brands gain a cleaner color canvas. The card becomes a pure color and form statement. The color works harder because there is nothing else competing for attention.
Marketing materials, social media presence, and investor communications must maintain color coherence with the product itself. When a fintech brand’s app feels calm and trustworthy but its advertising feels brash and high-pressure, users experience a dissonance that erodes confidence. Color continuity across every touchpoint is not a design preference — it is a trust maintenance strategy.
The Future of Color Psychology in Fintech: Predictions for 2025 and Beyond
Several trajectory shifts are already visible. First, the decline of default corporate blue as the automatic first choice for fintech Tier 1 palettes. As the sector matures and differentiates, more brands will seek distinctive Anchor Colors that still carry trust signals — deep teal, warm charcoal, refined forest green — rather than retreating to the same congested blue territory.
Second, the rise of dark mode as a trust-aligned design strategy. Dark mode is not just a user preference feature. In fintech, dark interfaces can communicate premium positioning, security, and technical sophistication. For crypto platforms and investment apps targeting more experienced users, dark mode signals that the brand is serious and advanced. The color psychology of dark fintech interfaces deserves its own dedicated research space — and it will get it.
Third, the integration of accessibility as a brand differentiator rather than a compliance checkbox. Fintech brands that build genuinely accessible color systems — high-contrast, color-blind-friendly, screen-adaptive — will attract users who feel seen and respected by the product. In a category where trust is everything, feeling seen by a brand is a powerful loyalty driver.
Fourth — and most transformatively — the emergence of Adaptive Chromatic Intelligence as described earlier. AI-driven color personalization will not just change how fintech interfaces look. It will change what users expect from financial products at an emotional level. Once users experience an interface that modulates to their emotional context, static palettes will feel crude by comparison. The brands that experiment with adaptive color now will own an enormous head start.
A Personal Perspective on Where Fintech Color Gets It Wrong
I spend a lot of time analyzing fintech visual identities — and the single most common mistake I see is not a bad color choice. It is a lack of color intention. Most fintech brands pick colors that test well in isolation, then apply them inconsistently across a growing product. Over time, the color system becomes accidental rather than intentional. The brand looks professional from a distance and feels disorganized up close.
The second most common mistake is mistaking novelty for personality. A neon accent color or an unexpected gradient can look exciting in a product mockup. But if it serves no psychological role — if it does not calm, guide, signal, or differentiate in a meaningful way — it is visual noise. And visual noise in a financial product is not just ugly. It is a trust liability.
Color psychology in fintech branding should be approached with the same rigor applied to risk modeling or compliance architecture. Because at the moment a user decides whether to trust a new financial platform, color is doing more work than any of those systems. It deserves equivalent respect.
FAQ: Color Psychology in Fintech Branding
What is color psychology in fintech branding?
Color psychology in fintech branding is the strategic application of color to influence user emotions, perceptions, and behaviors within financial technology products. It involves selecting and deploying colors across interfaces, marketing, and physical touchpoints to communicate trust, guide user actions, and differentiate the brand in a competitive market.
Why is color so important for user trust in fintech apps?
Fintech apps ask users to share sensitive financial data and make high-stakes decisions. Users form emotional judgments about an interface within 90 seconds — and between 62% and 90% of that judgment is based on color. Color is, therefore, the first and fastest mechanism a fintech brand has to establish credibility and reduce user anxiety before any other trust signal has a chance to activate.
Why do most fintech brands use blue?
Blue consistently tests as the most trusted brand color globally, with 54% of consumers identifying it as their most trusted choice. It conveys stability, security, and calm — all critical qualities in financial services. Blue is also accessible to users with red-green color blindness, making it a practical as well as psychological choice. However, its dominance in fintech is increasingly a competitive liability, as differentiation requires moving beyond the default.
What does green mean in a fintech interface?
Green is the primary Action Color for positive confirmation states in fintech. It signals success, approval, growth, and completion. Green payment confirmation screens activate dopamine responses associated with relief and reward. Consistent use of green for positive feedback states trains users to associate the color with safety and forward progress within the product.
What is Chromatic Anxiety in fintech UX?
Chromatic Anxiety is an original editorial concept describing the accumulated psychological stress created by inconsistent, over-stimulating, or poorly calibrated color use across a fintech interface. It occurs when warning colors appear in non-warning contexts, when the palette lacks coherence across screens, or when too many competing color signals reduce the interface’s legibility. It leads to user discomfort, reduced confidence, and increased churn.
How should fintech brands use red?
Red should be used sparingly and only for genuine user-facing risks or errors — failed transactions, security alerts, or insufficient funds. Overusing red for neutral messages or minor errors creates chronic low-level anxiety in the user experience. Every unnecessary instance of red represents a micro-injection of stress into an interaction that users associate, over time, with the brand itself.
What is the Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy?
The Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy is an original framework that organizes fintech color strategy into three tiers: Tier 1 Anchor Colors (dominant colors establishing foundational credibility, such as navy blue), Tier 2 Action Colors (colors guiding behavior at critical moments, such as confirmation green), and Tier 3 Personality Colors (accent colors expressing brand differentiation and emotional character, such as Monzo’s hot coral).
Will AI change how fintech brands use color?
Yes — significantly. AI-driven Adaptive Chromatic Intelligence systems will enable fintech interfaces to modulate their color environment in real time based on user context signals, including transaction type, time of day, and inferred emotional state. This shift will move color from a fixed identity asset to a dynamic emotional delivery system, making static palettes feel increasingly limited by comparison.
How do neobanks use color differently from traditional banks?
Traditional banks used conservative, institutional color palettes — primarily to signal permanence and authority. Neobanks disrupted this by demonstrating that users respond better to emotionally clear design than to emotionally boring design. Brands like Monzo, Revolut, and Chime use distinctive, personality-driven color systems that build recognition and loyalty, while still anchoring the interface in calm, organized visual environments that reduce financial anxiety.
What long-tail keywords should fintech brands consider for color-related content?
Relevant long-tail terms include: “best color palette for fintech app trust,” “how color affects user trust in banking apps,” “fintech UI color psychology blue vs green,” “color design for neobank branding,” “psychological color choices for financial services,” and “how to reduce user anxiety in fintech with color design.” These reflect the specific questions users and designers are asking when building or evaluating financial products.
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Color Psychology in Fintech Branding: How the Right Palette Builds User Trust
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Trust is the only real product a fintech company sells. Before a user reads a single line of copy, before they check your security certifications, before they scan your reviews — they feel something. That feeling comes from color. It is instantaneous, non-negotiable, and almost entirely subconscious. And yet, most fintech brands treat color as decoration rather than strategy. That is a costly mistake.
Color psychology in fintech branding has moved from interesting theory to measurable business outcome. Adobe’s consumer research shows that 54% of consumers identify blue as the most trusted brand color. Furthermore, one in two people has chosen one brand over another based on color alone. In fintech — where users hand over their financial data, their savings, their vulnerability — that statistic carries enormous weight.
This is not just a UX conversation. It is a brand strategy conversation. And right now, the fintech sector is one of the most visually sophisticated and emotionally complex environments in which color does its work. So let’s talk about what is actually happening, why it matters, and how to use it deliberately.
Why Does Color Psychology Matter So Much in Fintech?
Most industries earn trust over time. Banks historically relied on physical presence — the heavy marble lobby, the polished brass, the uniformed staff. That architecture was doing psychological work. It said: we are permanent, stable, serious. Neobanks and fintech platforms have none of that. They earn trust entirely through their interface.
Think about what a user faces when they open a new fintech app for the first time. They are being asked to connect a bank account, verify their identity, or enter a payment card. That moment requires a significant leap of faith. The visual environment either supports that leap — or it undermines it.
Color is processed by the limbic system, the part of the brain that governs emotion, memory, and instinct. This happens before conscious reasoning kicks in. Within roughly 90 seconds of encountering a product, users form a subconscious judgment — and research consistently shows that between 62% and 90% of that assessment is based on color alone. That window is your brand’s first and most powerful argument for trust.
Moreover, the stakes in fintech are uniquely high. Users are not choosing a restaurant or a streaming service. They are deciding who gets to touch their money. That anxiety is real, and color either calms it or inflames it.
The Emotional Stakes Are Higher Than You Think
Consider what makes someone abandon a fintech onboarding flow. Often, it is not a technical error. It is a vague, undefined discomfort. Something felt off. The colors were too aggressive, too chaotic, or simply unfamiliar to what users expect from a credible financial platform. That gut feeling is color psychology at work — and it costs companies real conversion rates.
Interfaces with cluttered or poorly chosen color schemes increase cognitive load. When users have to work harder to process visual information, stress rises. Stress in a financial context translates directly into doubt and abandonment. This is why calm, structured color systems are not just aesthetically pleasing — they are functionally necessary.
Smartphone Mobile App Ui Template by Liquid Layout for Adobe Illustrator Download the Illustrator template from Adobe Stock.The Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy: A New Framework for Palette Strategy
I want to introduce a framework I call the Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy — a tiered model for thinking about how different colors perform specific psychological jobs in a fintech brand system. This is not about choosing “pretty” colors. It is about assigning each color a role and letting it do that job consistently.
The hierarchy has three tiers:
Tier 1 — Anchor Colors establish foundational credibility. These are the dominant, high-frequency colors that users see on login screens, dashboards, and primary navigation. Their job is to immediately signal legitimacy and stability. Blue is the archetypal Tier 1 color in fintech. It is calm, globally recognized as trustworthy, and accessible to the widest range of users — including approximately 10% of the population who are red-green colorblind.
Tier 2 — Action Colors guide behavior without creating anxiety. These are the colors applied to buttons, CTAs, confirmations, and micro-interactions. Green excels here. It connects neurologically to completion signals — the green tick, the approved status, the “payment successful” screen. It reduces the anxiety associated with irreversible financial actions. Using green for positive confirmations is not a coincidence. It is a deliberate neurological lever.
Tier 3 — Personality Colors express brand differentiation and emotional character. These are accent or secondary colors that distinguish one fintech brand from another in an increasingly saturated market. This is where the real brand strategy lives. Monzo’s hot coral, Revolut’s gradient experimentation, N26’s restrained black-and-white — these Tier 3 choices are the ones users actually remember and talk about.
Why the Hierarchy Matters More Than Color Choice Alone
Most fintech brands get their Tier 1 color right — they pick blue or a deep neutral. But they misuse Tier 2 and Tier 3. They apply a bold Personality Color to a CTA button, which creates visual tension at the exact moment users need reassurance. Or they use red in micro-interactions that are actually neutral, training users to feel anxiety during routine tasks.
The Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy is not just about individual hue selection. It is about role clarity. Every color in your system should have a job description — and that job description should be built around the emotional state you want users to inhabit at each touchpoint.
Blue Dominance in Fintech: Justified or Lazy Shorthand?
Here is a question worth sitting with. Does blue actually build trust in fintech — or have we simply trained ourselves to associate blue with finance, creating a self-reinforcing cycle? The honest answer is: probably both.
Blue has genuine psychological properties. It activates a sense of calm and deliberation. Studies suggest both male and female participants respond faster to blue contrasts, making it an accessibility-conscious choice. And the cultural conditioning argument is not a weakness — it is a feature. When users open a financial app and see deep navy or professional cobalt, their brain pattern-matches it to the category of “trusted financial product.” That is brand equity working instantly.
However, blue has become so dominant in fintech that it now risks becoming invisible. When every neobank, payment platform, and investment app leads with the same family of blues, the signal stops differentiating. Users stop noticing. And a brand that cannot be noticed cannot be trusted — because it cannot be remembered.
This is why the most sophisticated fintech brands use blue strategically rather than reflexively. They anchor their Tier 1 palette in blue but make their Tier 3 personality color do the memorable, category-defying work. The brand feels trustworthy and distinctive at the same time. That combination is rare and enormously valuable.
The Rise of the Alternative Anchor: Dark Neutrals and Monochromatic Systems
A growing number of premium and crypto-adjacent fintech brands are challenging blue’s dominance with dark monochromatic systems — deep charcoals, near-blacks, and slate palettes. These communicate a different kind of trust: exclusivity, sophistication, and technical precision. They are borrowed from luxury branding and applied to finance.
Apple’s titanium card is the most visible example. The removal of all surface information and the use of a single near-neutral metal finish communicate security through restraint. Less visible means less exposed. Less exposed means more protected. That visual argument is extremely powerful — and it does not use a single shade of blue.
This suggests that color psychology in fintech branding is evolving beyond its classic blue phase. The next generation of premium fintech platforms will likely use restraint, not color, as the primary trust signal.
Green, Red, and the Emotional Grammar of Financial Feedback
Inside a fintech interface, color becomes a language. Users learn to read it fluently and quickly. Green means good. Red means stop, caution, or loss. These associations are so deeply embedded — partly cultural, partly trained through decades of financial UI conventions — that breaking them carries real risk.
Green’s dominance in positive financial feedback states is well-earned. It connects to multiple layers of psychological association: nature, growth, health, prosperity, and the physical color of currency in many markets. When a payment processes successfully and the screen shifts to green, users experience a micro-dose of reward. Studies suggest this green-confirmation state triggers dopamine responses associated with completion and relief. That is not trivial. It is the emotional foundation of user loyalty.
Red, meanwhile, is a more nuanced tool. It is effective for genuine warnings — failed transactions, insufficient funds, and security alerts. But overusing red for neutral states (minor errors, optional alerts, secondary information) trains users to feel chronic low-level anxiety inside the product. Over time, that anxiety becomes associated with the brand itself. Users start to feel vaguely uncomfortable without knowing why. They switch to a competitor whose interface feels calmer.
The Concept of Chromatic Anxiety in Fintech UX
I want to name something that does not yet have a standard term in UX discourse. I call it Chromatic Anxiety — the accumulated psychological stress produced by inconsistent, high-stimulation, or poorly calibrated color use across a fintech interface. It is distinct from any single color choice being “wrong.” Instead, it describes the systemic effect of color mismanagement over an entire user journey.
Chromatic Anxiety manifests when users encounter too many competing color signals, when warning colors appear in non-warning contexts, or when the color system shifts tone between different sections of the same app. The result is a persistent sense that the product is disorganized — and disorganized financial products feel dangerous.
The antidote is what I call Chromatic Coherence — a principle stating that every color decision across a fintech product must be consistent with a single, unified emotional narrative. That narrative might be “calm control,” “confident growth,” or “premium simplicity.” But every color in the system must serve that story without contradiction.
FinFlow is a banking, finance, and fintech WordPress theme by UICore The WordPress theme is available from ThemeForestHow Neobanks Are Rewriting the Color Rules in Fintech Branding
Traditional banks did not experiment with color. Their palettes were institutional, conservative, and deliberately unremarkable. The implicit message was: we are boring, and boring means safe. That strategy worked for decades — until fintech disrupted not just the technology but the entire visual language of finance.
Neobanks proved something important: users do not actually want financial brands to be visually boring. They want them to be emotionally clear. There is a meaningful difference. Boring signals avoidance — the brand is hiding behind convention. Emotionally clear signals confidence — the brand knows what it stands for and expresses it directly.
Monzo’s hot coral is the case study every brand strategist should study. Hot coral is not a “safe” fintech color. It carries energy, warmth, and a mild provocation. In a sea of conservative blues and greys, it screams visibility. But Monzo paired that bold Tier 3 personality color with impeccably clean, low-anxiety interface design. The product itself felt calm and organized. The brand felt like a personality. That combination built a fiercely loyal user base that evangelized the product.
Revolut went in a different direction — sequential visual experimentation, shifting gradient schemes, and aggressive product-tier differentiation through color (Standard, Plus, Premium, Metal, Ultra). Each tier communicates a different status and emotional register through color alone. Users understand the hierarchy instantly. They aspire upward through it. That is color psychology operating as a retention and upsell mechanism — not just a branding exercise.
The Visual Trust Signal Framework: What Every Fintech Brand Needs
Beyond individual color choices, successful fintech brands deploy what I call the Visual Trust Signal Framework — a system of four coordinated color behaviors that collectively communicate reliability to users.
The first behavior is Color Predictability: the same color always means the same thing. If green signals success, it must signal success consistently — not sometimes success, sometimes decoration. Predictability trains users, and trained users feel in control. Feeling in control reduces anxiety and builds confidence in the platform.
The second behavior is Tonal Restraint: the palette uses fewer colors with greater intention. Restraint communicates discipline. A financial platform with a tight, coherent color system suggests organizational discipline — the same discipline users want applied to their money.
The third behavior is Contextual Appropriateness: colors modulate to the emotional context of the interaction. Onboarding should feel welcoming and calm. A large transfer confirmation screen should feel serious and reassuring. An investment gains screen should feel celebratory. One color system, multiple emotional registers — achieved through saturation shifts, shade variations, and strategic use of whitespace.
The fourth behavior is Accessibility Integrity: the color system works for all users, including those with color vision deficiencies. This is not just ethical — it is strategic. Approximately 10% of the population cannot fully distinguish red from green. A fintech interface that relies solely on red/green for positive/negative states excludes that segment entirely. Accessible design expands trust because it signals that the brand sees and respects all of its users.
Color Psychology Fintech Branding: The Cultural Dimension
Global fintech brands face a challenge that domestic players can ignore: color does not mean the same thing everywhere. White, the default color of “clean, professional UI” in most Western contexts, is associated with mourning in several East Asian cultures. Red, a warning color in financial interfaces, is the color of prosperity and celebration in China. Gold, which signals luxury in many Western markets, carries ceremonial weight in South Asian contexts that can either strengthen or complicate a fintech brand’s positioning.
The smartest global fintech brands are beginning to treat color localization as seriously as linguistic localization. This is not about making a different version of the brand for each market. It is about understanding which colors carry dangerous, unintended meanings in specific cultural contexts — and designing a color system flexible enough to avoid those landmines while maintaining brand coherence.
This cultural dimension of color psychology in fintech branding will become increasingly important as platforms expand from their home markets. A startup launching in the UK, expanding to India, and entering Southeast Asia within three years cannot afford to treat color as a static brand asset. It needs to be a dynamic system — anchored in universal trust signals, flexible at the personality layer.
The Next Frontier: AI-Adaptive Color Systems
Here is a prediction worth making explicitly: within the next five years, leading fintech platforms will deploy Adaptive Chromatic Intelligence — AI-driven color systems that modulate the user interface palette based on real-time user context signals. These signals might include time of day, transaction type, spending pattern anomalies, or even inferred emotional state derived from interaction speed and navigation behavior.
The concept is not science fiction. Thirty percent of users already express interest in adaptive “living” palettes that reflect personal mood or preferences. The technology to deliver this is emerging rapidly through AI-driven UX personalization systems. The psychological logic is sound: a user checking their balance after an unexpected expense needs a calmer visual environment than a user celebrating a savings milestone. The same interface, delivering opposite emotional experiences — and color is the fastest dial to turn.
This evolution will require fintech brands to shift from thinking about color as a fixed identity asset to thinking about it as a dynamic emotional delivery system. The brand’s core trust signal remains constant. But its expressive range expands to meet users where they actually are. That is not a small shift. It is a fundamental reimagining of what a fintech brand’s visual identity can do.
Practical Color Psychology Principles Every Fintech Brand Should Apply Today
Theory is useful. Actionable principles are better. Here are the core color psychology principles that every fintech brand should be applying to its visual identity right now.
Start with your emotional thesis. Before choosing a single color, define the precise emotional experience you want users to have across their entire journey with your product. Not “trustworthy” — that is too generic. Something like “confidently informed,” or “calmly empowered,” or “quietly exceptional.” Every color decision should serve that thesis directly.
Test your palette under stress conditions. Run your color system through the highest-anxiety user scenarios — large fund transfers, identity verification, and disputed transactions. If the interface still feels reassuring in those moments, your color system is working. If it feels chaotic or alarming, it needs recalibration.
Audit your red use ruthlessly. Count every instance of red across your interface. Ask whether each one represents a genuine user-facing risk or alert. Every unnecessary red is a small injection of anxiety into the user experience. Over hundreds of interactions, that accumulates into Chromatic Anxiety and eventual churn.
Use whitespace as a color decision. In fintech, whitespace (and its dark mode equivalent) is not empty space — it is a deliberate trust signal. Generous whitespace around financial data communicates that the brand is organized, honest, and not hiding anything. It reduces cognitive load and lets users think clearly about their financial situation. Cramped design, by contrast, creates the visual equivalent of fine print.
Build a color token system before you build a product. A color token system assigns semantic meaning to every color in your palette — not just the hex value but the emotional role. “Success green,” “caution amber,” “neutral text,” “anchor navy.” This system prevents color drift as the product scales, ensuring Chromatic Coherence across an increasingly complex interface.
What Consistently High-Trust Fintech Interfaces Have in Common
After studying fintech brands across the trust spectrum, a clear pattern emerges. High-trust interfaces share specific color behaviors: structured grid layouts with generous whitespace that reduce cognitive load; consistent color application with zero ambiguity about what each color means; a dominant Tier 1 color that occupies at least 60% of the visual field; and action confirmation states — payments, transfers, approvals — that use green or a positive accent color with sufficient contrast to feel decisive.
Low-trust interfaces tend toward the opposite: multiple competing accent colors, red used for non-critical messages, overcrowded layouts where color loses its signal value, and inconsistent application of what colors mean. Users cannot articulate these differences. But they feel them immediately.
Color in Fintech Branding Beyond the App: Cards, Marketing, and Physical Touchpoints
Color psychology in fintech does not live only inside the app. For digital-first brands with no physical branches, the debit or credit card is often the only physical object a user holds that represents the brand. This makes card design a critical — and underutilized — trust and identity vehicle.
Neobanks understand this acutely. Monzo’s coral card is famous enough to be identified across a crowded room. Revolut’s gradient metal cards signal tier and aspiration. N26’s minimal black card communicates a specific kind of European sophistication. In every case, the card is not just a payment instrument. It is a portable brand ambassador — and its color does psychological work in the real world, where users see it and where others see users using it.
The trend toward numberless card fronts — adopted by Chime, Brex, Mercury, N26, and others — adds another color psychology dimension. By removing numerical clutter from the card’s face, brands gain a cleaner color canvas. The card becomes a pure color and form statement. The color works harder because there is nothing else competing for attention.
Marketing materials, social media presence, and investor communications must maintain color coherence with the product itself. When a fintech brand’s app feels calm and trustworthy but its advertising feels brash and high-pressure, users experience a dissonance that erodes confidence. Color continuity across every touchpoint is not a design preference — it is a trust maintenance strategy.
The Future of Color Psychology in Fintech: Predictions for 2025 and Beyond
Several trajectory shifts are already visible. First, the decline of default corporate blue as the automatic first choice for fintech Tier 1 palettes. As the sector matures and differentiates, more brands will seek distinctive Anchor Colors that still carry trust signals — deep teal, warm charcoal, refined forest green — rather than retreating to the same congested blue territory.
Second, the rise of dark mode as a trust-aligned design strategy. Dark mode is not just a user preference feature. In fintech, dark interfaces can communicate premium positioning, security, and technical sophistication. For crypto platforms and investment apps targeting more experienced users, dark mode signals that the brand is serious and advanced. The color psychology of dark fintech interfaces deserves its own dedicated research space — and it will get it.
Third, the integration of accessibility as a brand differentiator rather than a compliance checkbox. Fintech brands that build genuinely accessible color systems — high-contrast, color-blind-friendly, screen-adaptive — will attract users who feel seen and respected by the product. In a category where trust is everything, feeling seen by a brand is a powerful loyalty driver.
Fourth — and most transformatively — the emergence of Adaptive Chromatic Intelligence as described earlier. AI-driven color personalization will not just change how fintech interfaces look. It will change what users expect from financial products at an emotional level. Once users experience an interface that modulates to their emotional context, static palettes will feel crude by comparison. The brands that experiment with adaptive color now will own an enormous head start.
A Personal Perspective on Where Fintech Color Gets It Wrong
I spend a lot of time analyzing fintech visual identities — and the single most common mistake I see is not a bad color choice. It is a lack of color intention. Most fintech brands pick colors that test well in isolation, then apply them inconsistently across a growing product. Over time, the color system becomes accidental rather than intentional. The brand looks professional from a distance and feels disorganized up close.
The second most common mistake is mistaking novelty for personality. A neon accent color or an unexpected gradient can look exciting in a product mockup. But if it serves no psychological role — if it does not calm, guide, signal, or differentiate in a meaningful way — it is visual noise. And visual noise in a financial product is not just ugly. It is a trust liability.
Color psychology in fintech branding should be approached with the same rigor applied to risk modeling or compliance architecture. Because at the moment a user decides whether to trust a new financial platform, color is doing more work than any of those systems. It deserves equivalent respect.
FAQ: Color Psychology in Fintech Branding
What is color psychology in fintech branding?
Color psychology in fintech branding is the strategic application of color to influence user emotions, perceptions, and behaviors within financial technology products. It involves selecting and deploying colors across interfaces, marketing, and physical touchpoints to communicate trust, guide user actions, and differentiate the brand in a competitive market.
Why is color so important for user trust in fintech apps?
Fintech apps ask users to share sensitive financial data and make high-stakes decisions. Users form emotional judgments about an interface within 90 seconds — and between 62% and 90% of that judgment is based on color. Color is, therefore, the first and fastest mechanism a fintech brand has to establish credibility and reduce user anxiety before any other trust signal has a chance to activate.
Why do most fintech brands use blue?
Blue consistently tests as the most trusted brand color globally, with 54% of consumers identifying it as their most trusted choice. It conveys stability, security, and calm — all critical qualities in financial services. Blue is also accessible to users with red-green color blindness, making it a practical as well as psychological choice. However, its dominance in fintech is increasingly a competitive liability, as differentiation requires moving beyond the default.
What does green mean in a fintech interface?
Green is the primary Action Color for positive confirmation states in fintech. It signals success, approval, growth, and completion. Green payment confirmation screens activate dopamine responses associated with relief and reward. Consistent use of green for positive feedback states trains users to associate the color with safety and forward progress within the product.
What is Chromatic Anxiety in fintech UX?
Chromatic Anxiety is an original editorial concept describing the accumulated psychological stress created by inconsistent, over-stimulating, or poorly calibrated color use across a fintech interface. It occurs when warning colors appear in non-warning contexts, when the palette lacks coherence across screens, or when too many competing color signals reduce the interface’s legibility. It leads to user discomfort, reduced confidence, and increased churn.
How should fintech brands use red?
Red should be used sparingly and only for genuine user-facing risks or errors — failed transactions, security alerts, or insufficient funds. Overusing red for neutral messages or minor errors creates chronic low-level anxiety in the user experience. Every unnecessary instance of red represents a micro-injection of stress into an interaction that users associate, over time, with the brand itself.
What is the Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy?
The Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy is an original framework that organizes fintech color strategy into three tiers: Tier 1 Anchor Colors (dominant colors establishing foundational credibility, such as navy blue), Tier 2 Action Colors (colors guiding behavior at critical moments, such as confirmation green), and Tier 3 Personality Colors (accent colors expressing brand differentiation and emotional character, such as Monzo’s hot coral).
Will AI change how fintech brands use color?
Yes — significantly. AI-driven Adaptive Chromatic Intelligence systems will enable fintech interfaces to modulate their color environment in real time based on user context signals, including transaction type, time of day, and inferred emotional state. This shift will move color from a fixed identity asset to a dynamic emotional delivery system, making static palettes feel increasingly limited by comparison.
How do neobanks use color differently from traditional banks?
Traditional banks used conservative, institutional color palettes — primarily to signal permanence and authority. Neobanks disrupted this by demonstrating that users respond better to emotionally clear design than to emotionally boring design. Brands like Monzo, Revolut, and Chime use distinctive, personality-driven color systems that build recognition and loyalty, while still anchoring the interface in calm, organized visual environments that reduce financial anxiety.
What long-tail keywords should fintech brands consider for color-related content?
Relevant long-tail terms include: “best color palette for fintech app trust,” “how color affects user trust in banking apps,” “fintech UI color psychology blue vs green,” “color design for neobank branding,” “psychological color choices for financial services,” and “how to reduce user anxiety in fintech with color design.” These reflect the specific questions users and designers are asking when building or evaluating financial products.
Browse WE AND THE COLOR’s Branding, Graphic Design, and Web Design categories to learn more.
#branding #ColorPsychology #colors #consumerResearch #fintech #research #trust #ui #ux -
Color Psychology in Fintech Branding: How the Right Palette Builds User Trust
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Trust is the only real product a fintech company sells. Before a user reads a single line of copy, before they check your security certifications, before they scan your reviews — they feel something. That feeling comes from color. It is instantaneous, non-negotiable, and almost entirely subconscious. And yet, most fintech brands treat color as decoration rather than strategy. That is a costly mistake.
Color psychology in fintech branding has moved from interesting theory to measurable business outcome. Adobe’s consumer research shows that 54% of consumers identify blue as the most trusted brand color. Furthermore, one in two people has chosen one brand over another based on color alone. In fintech — where users hand over their financial data, their savings, their vulnerability — that statistic carries enormous weight.
This is not just a UX conversation. It is a brand strategy conversation. And right now, the fintech sector is one of the most visually sophisticated and emotionally complex environments in which color does its work. So let’s talk about what is actually happening, why it matters, and how to use it deliberately.
Why Does Color Psychology Matter So Much in Fintech?
Most industries earn trust over time. Banks historically relied on physical presence — the heavy marble lobby, the polished brass, the uniformed staff. That architecture was doing psychological work. It said: we are permanent, stable, serious. Neobanks and fintech platforms have none of that. They earn trust entirely through their interface.
Think about what a user faces when they open a new fintech app for the first time. They are being asked to connect a bank account, verify their identity, or enter a payment card. That moment requires a significant leap of faith. The visual environment either supports that leap — or it undermines it.
Color is processed by the limbic system, the part of the brain that governs emotion, memory, and instinct. This happens before conscious reasoning kicks in. Within roughly 90 seconds of encountering a product, users form a subconscious judgment — and research consistently shows that between 62% and 90% of that assessment is based on color alone. That window is your brand’s first and most powerful argument for trust.
Moreover, the stakes in fintech are uniquely high. Users are not choosing a restaurant or a streaming service. They are deciding who gets to touch their money. That anxiety is real, and color either calms it or inflames it.
The Emotional Stakes Are Higher Than You Think
Consider what makes someone abandon a fintech onboarding flow. Often, it is not a technical error. It is a vague, undefined discomfort. Something felt off. The colors were too aggressive, too chaotic, or simply unfamiliar to what users expect from a credible financial platform. That gut feeling is color psychology at work — and it costs companies real conversion rates.
Interfaces with cluttered or poorly chosen color schemes increase cognitive load. When users have to work harder to process visual information, stress rises. Stress in a financial context translates directly into doubt and abandonment. This is why calm, structured color systems are not just aesthetically pleasing — they are functionally necessary.
Smartphone Mobile App Ui Template by Liquid Layout for Adobe Illustrator Download the Illustrator template from Adobe Stock.The Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy: A New Framework for Palette Strategy
I want to introduce a framework I call the Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy — a tiered model for thinking about how different colors perform specific psychological jobs in a fintech brand system. This is not about choosing “pretty” colors. It is about assigning each color a role and letting it do that job consistently.
The hierarchy has three tiers:
Tier 1 — Anchor Colors establish foundational credibility. These are the dominant, high-frequency colors that users see on login screens, dashboards, and primary navigation. Their job is to immediately signal legitimacy and stability. Blue is the archetypal Tier 1 color in fintech. It is calm, globally recognized as trustworthy, and accessible to the widest range of users — including approximately 10% of the population who are red-green colorblind.
Tier 2 — Action Colors guide behavior without creating anxiety. These are the colors applied to buttons, CTAs, confirmations, and micro-interactions. Green excels here. It connects neurologically to completion signals — the green tick, the approved status, the “payment successful” screen. It reduces the anxiety associated with irreversible financial actions. Using green for positive confirmations is not a coincidence. It is a deliberate neurological lever.
Tier 3 — Personality Colors express brand differentiation and emotional character. These are accent or secondary colors that distinguish one fintech brand from another in an increasingly saturated market. This is where the real brand strategy lives. Monzo’s hot coral, Revolut’s gradient experimentation, N26’s restrained black-and-white — these Tier 3 choices are the ones users actually remember and talk about.
Why the Hierarchy Matters More Than Color Choice Alone
Most fintech brands get their Tier 1 color right — they pick blue or a deep neutral. But they misuse Tier 2 and Tier 3. They apply a bold Personality Color to a CTA button, which creates visual tension at the exact moment users need reassurance. Or they use red in micro-interactions that are actually neutral, training users to feel anxiety during routine tasks.
The Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy is not just about individual hue selection. It is about role clarity. Every color in your system should have a job description — and that job description should be built around the emotional state you want users to inhabit at each touchpoint.
Blue Dominance in Fintech: Justified or Lazy Shorthand?
Here is a question worth sitting with. Does blue actually build trust in fintech — or have we simply trained ourselves to associate blue with finance, creating a self-reinforcing cycle? The honest answer is: probably both.
Blue has genuine psychological properties. It activates a sense of calm and deliberation. Studies suggest both male and female participants respond faster to blue contrasts, making it an accessibility-conscious choice. And the cultural conditioning argument is not a weakness — it is a feature. When users open a financial app and see deep navy or professional cobalt, their brain pattern-matches it to the category of “trusted financial product.” That is brand equity working instantly.
However, blue has become so dominant in fintech that it now risks becoming invisible. When every neobank, payment platform, and investment app leads with the same family of blues, the signal stops differentiating. Users stop noticing. And a brand that cannot be noticed cannot be trusted — because it cannot be remembered.
This is why the most sophisticated fintech brands use blue strategically rather than reflexively. They anchor their Tier 1 palette in blue but make their Tier 3 personality color do the memorable, category-defying work. The brand feels trustworthy and distinctive at the same time. That combination is rare and enormously valuable.
The Rise of the Alternative Anchor: Dark Neutrals and Monochromatic Systems
A growing number of premium and crypto-adjacent fintech brands are challenging blue’s dominance with dark monochromatic systems — deep charcoals, near-blacks, and slate palettes. These communicate a different kind of trust: exclusivity, sophistication, and technical precision. They are borrowed from luxury branding and applied to finance.
Apple’s titanium card is the most visible example. The removal of all surface information and the use of a single near-neutral metal finish communicate security through restraint. Less visible means less exposed. Less exposed means more protected. That visual argument is extremely powerful — and it does not use a single shade of blue.
This suggests that color psychology in fintech branding is evolving beyond its classic blue phase. The next generation of premium fintech platforms will likely use restraint, not color, as the primary trust signal.
Green, Red, and the Emotional Grammar of Financial Feedback
Inside a fintech interface, color becomes a language. Users learn to read it fluently and quickly. Green means good. Red means stop, caution, or loss. These associations are so deeply embedded — partly cultural, partly trained through decades of financial UI conventions — that breaking them carries real risk.
Green’s dominance in positive financial feedback states is well-earned. It connects to multiple layers of psychological association: nature, growth, health, prosperity, and the physical color of currency in many markets. When a payment processes successfully and the screen shifts to green, users experience a micro-dose of reward. Studies suggest this green-confirmation state triggers dopamine responses associated with completion and relief. That is not trivial. It is the emotional foundation of user loyalty.
Red, meanwhile, is a more nuanced tool. It is effective for genuine warnings — failed transactions, insufficient funds, and security alerts. But overusing red for neutral states (minor errors, optional alerts, secondary information) trains users to feel chronic low-level anxiety inside the product. Over time, that anxiety becomes associated with the brand itself. Users start to feel vaguely uncomfortable without knowing why. They switch to a competitor whose interface feels calmer.
The Concept of Chromatic Anxiety in Fintech UX
I want to name something that does not yet have a standard term in UX discourse. I call it Chromatic Anxiety — the accumulated psychological stress produced by inconsistent, high-stimulation, or poorly calibrated color use across a fintech interface. It is distinct from any single color choice being “wrong.” Instead, it describes the systemic effect of color mismanagement over an entire user journey.
Chromatic Anxiety manifests when users encounter too many competing color signals, when warning colors appear in non-warning contexts, or when the color system shifts tone between different sections of the same app. The result is a persistent sense that the product is disorganized — and disorganized financial products feel dangerous.
The antidote is what I call Chromatic Coherence — a principle stating that every color decision across a fintech product must be consistent with a single, unified emotional narrative. That narrative might be “calm control,” “confident growth,” or “premium simplicity.” But every color in the system must serve that story without contradiction.
FinFlow is a banking, finance, and fintech WordPress theme by UICore The WordPress theme is available from ThemeForestHow Neobanks Are Rewriting the Color Rules in Fintech Branding
Traditional banks did not experiment with color. Their palettes were institutional, conservative, and deliberately unremarkable. The implicit message was: we are boring, and boring means safe. That strategy worked for decades — until fintech disrupted not just the technology but the entire visual language of finance.
Neobanks proved something important: users do not actually want financial brands to be visually boring. They want them to be emotionally clear. There is a meaningful difference. Boring signals avoidance — the brand is hiding behind convention. Emotionally clear signals confidence — the brand knows what it stands for and expresses it directly.
Monzo’s hot coral is the case study every brand strategist should study. Hot coral is not a “safe” fintech color. It carries energy, warmth, and a mild provocation. In a sea of conservative blues and greys, it screams visibility. But Monzo paired that bold Tier 3 personality color with impeccably clean, low-anxiety interface design. The product itself felt calm and organized. The brand felt like a personality. That combination built a fiercely loyal user base that evangelized the product.
Revolut went in a different direction — sequential visual experimentation, shifting gradient schemes, and aggressive product-tier differentiation through color (Standard, Plus, Premium, Metal, Ultra). Each tier communicates a different status and emotional register through color alone. Users understand the hierarchy instantly. They aspire upward through it. That is color psychology operating as a retention and upsell mechanism — not just a branding exercise.
The Visual Trust Signal Framework: What Every Fintech Brand Needs
Beyond individual color choices, successful fintech brands deploy what I call the Visual Trust Signal Framework — a system of four coordinated color behaviors that collectively communicate reliability to users.
The first behavior is Color Predictability: the same color always means the same thing. If green signals success, it must signal success consistently — not sometimes success, sometimes decoration. Predictability trains users, and trained users feel in control. Feeling in control reduces anxiety and builds confidence in the platform.
The second behavior is Tonal Restraint: the palette uses fewer colors with greater intention. Restraint communicates discipline. A financial platform with a tight, coherent color system suggests organizational discipline — the same discipline users want applied to their money.
The third behavior is Contextual Appropriateness: colors modulate to the emotional context of the interaction. Onboarding should feel welcoming and calm. A large transfer confirmation screen should feel serious and reassuring. An investment gains screen should feel celebratory. One color system, multiple emotional registers — achieved through saturation shifts, shade variations, and strategic use of whitespace.
The fourth behavior is Accessibility Integrity: the color system works for all users, including those with color vision deficiencies. This is not just ethical — it is strategic. Approximately 10% of the population cannot fully distinguish red from green. A fintech interface that relies solely on red/green for positive/negative states excludes that segment entirely. Accessible design expands trust because it signals that the brand sees and respects all of its users.
Color Psychology Fintech Branding: The Cultural Dimension
Global fintech brands face a challenge that domestic players can ignore: color does not mean the same thing everywhere. White, the default color of “clean, professional UI” in most Western contexts, is associated with mourning in several East Asian cultures. Red, a warning color in financial interfaces, is the color of prosperity and celebration in China. Gold, which signals luxury in many Western markets, carries ceremonial weight in South Asian contexts that can either strengthen or complicate a fintech brand’s positioning.
The smartest global fintech brands are beginning to treat color localization as seriously as linguistic localization. This is not about making a different version of the brand for each market. It is about understanding which colors carry dangerous, unintended meanings in specific cultural contexts — and designing a color system flexible enough to avoid those landmines while maintaining brand coherence.
This cultural dimension of color psychology in fintech branding will become increasingly important as platforms expand from their home markets. A startup launching in the UK, expanding to India, and entering Southeast Asia within three years cannot afford to treat color as a static brand asset. It needs to be a dynamic system — anchored in universal trust signals, flexible at the personality layer.
The Next Frontier: AI-Adaptive Color Systems
Here is a prediction worth making explicitly: within the next five years, leading fintech platforms will deploy Adaptive Chromatic Intelligence — AI-driven color systems that modulate the user interface palette based on real-time user context signals. These signals might include time of day, transaction type, spending pattern anomalies, or even inferred emotional state derived from interaction speed and navigation behavior.
The concept is not science fiction. Thirty percent of users already express interest in adaptive “living” palettes that reflect personal mood or preferences. The technology to deliver this is emerging rapidly through AI-driven UX personalization systems. The psychological logic is sound: a user checking their balance after an unexpected expense needs a calmer visual environment than a user celebrating a savings milestone. The same interface, delivering opposite emotional experiences — and color is the fastest dial to turn.
This evolution will require fintech brands to shift from thinking about color as a fixed identity asset to thinking about it as a dynamic emotional delivery system. The brand’s core trust signal remains constant. But its expressive range expands to meet users where they actually are. That is not a small shift. It is a fundamental reimagining of what a fintech brand’s visual identity can do.
Practical Color Psychology Principles Every Fintech Brand Should Apply Today
Theory is useful. Actionable principles are better. Here are the core color psychology principles that every fintech brand should be applying to its visual identity right now.
Start with your emotional thesis. Before choosing a single color, define the precise emotional experience you want users to have across their entire journey with your product. Not “trustworthy” — that is too generic. Something like “confidently informed,” or “calmly empowered,” or “quietly exceptional.” Every color decision should serve that thesis directly.
Test your palette under stress conditions. Run your color system through the highest-anxiety user scenarios — large fund transfers, identity verification, and disputed transactions. If the interface still feels reassuring in those moments, your color system is working. If it feels chaotic or alarming, it needs recalibration.
Audit your red use ruthlessly. Count every instance of red across your interface. Ask whether each one represents a genuine user-facing risk or alert. Every unnecessary red is a small injection of anxiety into the user experience. Over hundreds of interactions, that accumulates into Chromatic Anxiety and eventual churn.
Use whitespace as a color decision. In fintech, whitespace (and its dark mode equivalent) is not empty space — it is a deliberate trust signal. Generous whitespace around financial data communicates that the brand is organized, honest, and not hiding anything. It reduces cognitive load and lets users think clearly about their financial situation. Cramped design, by contrast, creates the visual equivalent of fine print.
Build a color token system before you build a product. A color token system assigns semantic meaning to every color in your palette — not just the hex value but the emotional role. “Success green,” “caution amber,” “neutral text,” “anchor navy.” This system prevents color drift as the product scales, ensuring Chromatic Coherence across an increasingly complex interface.
What Consistently High-Trust Fintech Interfaces Have in Common
After studying fintech brands across the trust spectrum, a clear pattern emerges. High-trust interfaces share specific color behaviors: structured grid layouts with generous whitespace that reduce cognitive load; consistent color application with zero ambiguity about what each color means; a dominant Tier 1 color that occupies at least 60% of the visual field; and action confirmation states — payments, transfers, approvals — that use green or a positive accent color with sufficient contrast to feel decisive.
Low-trust interfaces tend toward the opposite: multiple competing accent colors, red used for non-critical messages, overcrowded layouts where color loses its signal value, and inconsistent application of what colors mean. Users cannot articulate these differences. But they feel them immediately.
Color in Fintech Branding Beyond the App: Cards, Marketing, and Physical Touchpoints
Color psychology in fintech does not live only inside the app. For digital-first brands with no physical branches, the debit or credit card is often the only physical object a user holds that represents the brand. This makes card design a critical — and underutilized — trust and identity vehicle.
Neobanks understand this acutely. Monzo’s coral card is famous enough to be identified across a crowded room. Revolut’s gradient metal cards signal tier and aspiration. N26’s minimal black card communicates a specific kind of European sophistication. In every case, the card is not just a payment instrument. It is a portable brand ambassador — and its color does psychological work in the real world, where users see it and where others see users using it.
The trend toward numberless card fronts — adopted by Chime, Brex, Mercury, N26, and others — adds another color psychology dimension. By removing numerical clutter from the card’s face, brands gain a cleaner color canvas. The card becomes a pure color and form statement. The color works harder because there is nothing else competing for attention.
Marketing materials, social media presence, and investor communications must maintain color coherence with the product itself. When a fintech brand’s app feels calm and trustworthy but its advertising feels brash and high-pressure, users experience a dissonance that erodes confidence. Color continuity across every touchpoint is not a design preference — it is a trust maintenance strategy.
The Future of Color Psychology in Fintech: Predictions for 2025 and Beyond
Several trajectory shifts are already visible. First, the decline of default corporate blue as the automatic first choice for fintech Tier 1 palettes. As the sector matures and differentiates, more brands will seek distinctive Anchor Colors that still carry trust signals — deep teal, warm charcoal, refined forest green — rather than retreating to the same congested blue territory.
Second, the rise of dark mode as a trust-aligned design strategy. Dark mode is not just a user preference feature. In fintech, dark interfaces can communicate premium positioning, security, and technical sophistication. For crypto platforms and investment apps targeting more experienced users, dark mode signals that the brand is serious and advanced. The color psychology of dark fintech interfaces deserves its own dedicated research space — and it will get it.
Third, the integration of accessibility as a brand differentiator rather than a compliance checkbox. Fintech brands that build genuinely accessible color systems — high-contrast, color-blind-friendly, screen-adaptive — will attract users who feel seen and respected by the product. In a category where trust is everything, feeling seen by a brand is a powerful loyalty driver.
Fourth — and most transformatively — the emergence of Adaptive Chromatic Intelligence as described earlier. AI-driven color personalization will not just change how fintech interfaces look. It will change what users expect from financial products at an emotional level. Once users experience an interface that modulates to their emotional context, static palettes will feel crude by comparison. The brands that experiment with adaptive color now will own an enormous head start.
A Personal Perspective on Where Fintech Color Gets It Wrong
I spend a lot of time analyzing fintech visual identities — and the single most common mistake I see is not a bad color choice. It is a lack of color intention. Most fintech brands pick colors that test well in isolation, then apply them inconsistently across a growing product. Over time, the color system becomes accidental rather than intentional. The brand looks professional from a distance and feels disorganized up close.
The second most common mistake is mistaking novelty for personality. A neon accent color or an unexpected gradient can look exciting in a product mockup. But if it serves no psychological role — if it does not calm, guide, signal, or differentiate in a meaningful way — it is visual noise. And visual noise in a financial product is not just ugly. It is a trust liability.
Color psychology in fintech branding should be approached with the same rigor applied to risk modeling or compliance architecture. Because at the moment a user decides whether to trust a new financial platform, color is doing more work than any of those systems. It deserves equivalent respect.
FAQ: Color Psychology in Fintech Branding
What is color psychology in fintech branding?
Color psychology in fintech branding is the strategic application of color to influence user emotions, perceptions, and behaviors within financial technology products. It involves selecting and deploying colors across interfaces, marketing, and physical touchpoints to communicate trust, guide user actions, and differentiate the brand in a competitive market.
Why is color so important for user trust in fintech apps?
Fintech apps ask users to share sensitive financial data and make high-stakes decisions. Users form emotional judgments about an interface within 90 seconds — and between 62% and 90% of that judgment is based on color. Color is, therefore, the first and fastest mechanism a fintech brand has to establish credibility and reduce user anxiety before any other trust signal has a chance to activate.
Why do most fintech brands use blue?
Blue consistently tests as the most trusted brand color globally, with 54% of consumers identifying it as their most trusted choice. It conveys stability, security, and calm — all critical qualities in financial services. Blue is also accessible to users with red-green color blindness, making it a practical as well as psychological choice. However, its dominance in fintech is increasingly a competitive liability, as differentiation requires moving beyond the default.
What does green mean in a fintech interface?
Green is the primary Action Color for positive confirmation states in fintech. It signals success, approval, growth, and completion. Green payment confirmation screens activate dopamine responses associated with relief and reward. Consistent use of green for positive feedback states trains users to associate the color with safety and forward progress within the product.
What is Chromatic Anxiety in fintech UX?
Chromatic Anxiety is an original editorial concept describing the accumulated psychological stress created by inconsistent, over-stimulating, or poorly calibrated color use across a fintech interface. It occurs when warning colors appear in non-warning contexts, when the palette lacks coherence across screens, or when too many competing color signals reduce the interface’s legibility. It leads to user discomfort, reduced confidence, and increased churn.
How should fintech brands use red?
Red should be used sparingly and only for genuine user-facing risks or errors — failed transactions, security alerts, or insufficient funds. Overusing red for neutral messages or minor errors creates chronic low-level anxiety in the user experience. Every unnecessary instance of red represents a micro-injection of stress into an interaction that users associate, over time, with the brand itself.
What is the Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy?
The Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy is an original framework that organizes fintech color strategy into three tiers: Tier 1 Anchor Colors (dominant colors establishing foundational credibility, such as navy blue), Tier 2 Action Colors (colors guiding behavior at critical moments, such as confirmation green), and Tier 3 Personality Colors (accent colors expressing brand differentiation and emotional character, such as Monzo’s hot coral).
Will AI change how fintech brands use color?
Yes — significantly. AI-driven Adaptive Chromatic Intelligence systems will enable fintech interfaces to modulate their color environment in real time based on user context signals, including transaction type, time of day, and inferred emotional state. This shift will move color from a fixed identity asset to a dynamic emotional delivery system, making static palettes feel increasingly limited by comparison.
How do neobanks use color differently from traditional banks?
Traditional banks used conservative, institutional color palettes — primarily to signal permanence and authority. Neobanks disrupted this by demonstrating that users respond better to emotionally clear design than to emotionally boring design. Brands like Monzo, Revolut, and Chime use distinctive, personality-driven color systems that build recognition and loyalty, while still anchoring the interface in calm, organized visual environments that reduce financial anxiety.
What long-tail keywords should fintech brands consider for color-related content?
Relevant long-tail terms include: “best color palette for fintech app trust,” “how color affects user trust in banking apps,” “fintech UI color psychology blue vs green,” “color design for neobank branding,” “psychological color choices for financial services,” and “how to reduce user anxiety in fintech with color design.” These reflect the specific questions users and designers are asking when building or evaluating financial products.
Browse WE AND THE COLOR’s Branding, Graphic Design, and Web Design categories to learn more.
#branding #ColorPsychology #colors #consumerResearch #fintech #research #trust #ui #ux -
Color Psychology in Fintech Branding: How the Right Palette Builds User Trust
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Trust is the only real product a fintech company sells. Before a user reads a single line of copy, before they check your security certifications, before they scan your reviews — they feel something. That feeling comes from color. It is instantaneous, non-negotiable, and almost entirely subconscious. And yet, most fintech brands treat color as decoration rather than strategy. That is a costly mistake.
Color psychology in fintech branding has moved from interesting theory to measurable business outcome. Adobe’s consumer research shows that 54% of consumers identify blue as the most trusted brand color. Furthermore, one in two people has chosen one brand over another based on color alone. In fintech — where users hand over their financial data, their savings, their vulnerability — that statistic carries enormous weight.
This is not just a UX conversation. It is a brand strategy conversation. And right now, the fintech sector is one of the most visually sophisticated and emotionally complex environments in which color does its work. So let’s talk about what is actually happening, why it matters, and how to use it deliberately.
Why Does Color Psychology Matter So Much in Fintech?
Most industries earn trust over time. Banks historically relied on physical presence — the heavy marble lobby, the polished brass, the uniformed staff. That architecture was doing psychological work. It said: we are permanent, stable, serious. Neobanks and fintech platforms have none of that. They earn trust entirely through their interface.
Think about what a user faces when they open a new fintech app for the first time. They are being asked to connect a bank account, verify their identity, or enter a payment card. That moment requires a significant leap of faith. The visual environment either supports that leap — or it undermines it.
Color is processed by the limbic system, the part of the brain that governs emotion, memory, and instinct. This happens before conscious reasoning kicks in. Within roughly 90 seconds of encountering a product, users form a subconscious judgment — and research consistently shows that between 62% and 90% of that assessment is based on color alone. That window is your brand’s first and most powerful argument for trust.
Moreover, the stakes in fintech are uniquely high. Users are not choosing a restaurant or a streaming service. They are deciding who gets to touch their money. That anxiety is real, and color either calms it or inflames it.
The Emotional Stakes Are Higher Than You Think
Consider what makes someone abandon a fintech onboarding flow. Often, it is not a technical error. It is a vague, undefined discomfort. Something felt off. The colors were too aggressive, too chaotic, or simply unfamiliar to what users expect from a credible financial platform. That gut feeling is color psychology at work — and it costs companies real conversion rates.
Interfaces with cluttered or poorly chosen color schemes increase cognitive load. When users have to work harder to process visual information, stress rises. Stress in a financial context translates directly into doubt and abandonment. This is why calm, structured color systems are not just aesthetically pleasing — they are functionally necessary.
Smartphone Mobile App Ui Template by Liquid Layout for Adobe Illustrator Download the Illustrator template from Adobe Stock.The Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy: A New Framework for Palette Strategy
I want to introduce a framework I call the Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy — a tiered model for thinking about how different colors perform specific psychological jobs in a fintech brand system. This is not about choosing “pretty” colors. It is about assigning each color a role and letting it do that job consistently.
The hierarchy has three tiers:
Tier 1 — Anchor Colors establish foundational credibility. These are the dominant, high-frequency colors that users see on login screens, dashboards, and primary navigation. Their job is to immediately signal legitimacy and stability. Blue is the archetypal Tier 1 color in fintech. It is calm, globally recognized as trustworthy, and accessible to the widest range of users — including approximately 10% of the population who are red-green colorblind.
Tier 2 — Action Colors guide behavior without creating anxiety. These are the colors applied to buttons, CTAs, confirmations, and micro-interactions. Green excels here. It connects neurologically to completion signals — the green tick, the approved status, the “payment successful” screen. It reduces the anxiety associated with irreversible financial actions. Using green for positive confirmations is not a coincidence. It is a deliberate neurological lever.
Tier 3 — Personality Colors express brand differentiation and emotional character. These are accent or secondary colors that distinguish one fintech brand from another in an increasingly saturated market. This is where the real brand strategy lives. Monzo’s hot coral, Revolut’s gradient experimentation, N26’s restrained black-and-white — these Tier 3 choices are the ones users actually remember and talk about.
Why the Hierarchy Matters More Than Color Choice Alone
Most fintech brands get their Tier 1 color right — they pick blue or a deep neutral. But they misuse Tier 2 and Tier 3. They apply a bold Personality Color to a CTA button, which creates visual tension at the exact moment users need reassurance. Or they use red in micro-interactions that are actually neutral, training users to feel anxiety during routine tasks.
The Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy is not just about individual hue selection. It is about role clarity. Every color in your system should have a job description — and that job description should be built around the emotional state you want users to inhabit at each touchpoint.
Blue Dominance in Fintech: Justified or Lazy Shorthand?
Here is a question worth sitting with. Does blue actually build trust in fintech — or have we simply trained ourselves to associate blue with finance, creating a self-reinforcing cycle? The honest answer is: probably both.
Blue has genuine psychological properties. It activates a sense of calm and deliberation. Studies suggest both male and female participants respond faster to blue contrasts, making it an accessibility-conscious choice. And the cultural conditioning argument is not a weakness — it is a feature. When users open a financial app and see deep navy or professional cobalt, their brain pattern-matches it to the category of “trusted financial product.” That is brand equity working instantly.
However, blue has become so dominant in fintech that it now risks becoming invisible. When every neobank, payment platform, and investment app leads with the same family of blues, the signal stops differentiating. Users stop noticing. And a brand that cannot be noticed cannot be trusted — because it cannot be remembered.
This is why the most sophisticated fintech brands use blue strategically rather than reflexively. They anchor their Tier 1 palette in blue but make their Tier 3 personality color do the memorable, category-defying work. The brand feels trustworthy and distinctive at the same time. That combination is rare and enormously valuable.
The Rise of the Alternative Anchor: Dark Neutrals and Monochromatic Systems
A growing number of premium and crypto-adjacent fintech brands are challenging blue’s dominance with dark monochromatic systems — deep charcoals, near-blacks, and slate palettes. These communicate a different kind of trust: exclusivity, sophistication, and technical precision. They are borrowed from luxury branding and applied to finance.
Apple’s titanium card is the most visible example. The removal of all surface information and the use of a single near-neutral metal finish communicate security through restraint. Less visible means less exposed. Less exposed means more protected. That visual argument is extremely powerful — and it does not use a single shade of blue.
This suggests that color psychology in fintech branding is evolving beyond its classic blue phase. The next generation of premium fintech platforms will likely use restraint, not color, as the primary trust signal.
Green, Red, and the Emotional Grammar of Financial Feedback
Inside a fintech interface, color becomes a language. Users learn to read it fluently and quickly. Green means good. Red means stop, caution, or loss. These associations are so deeply embedded — partly cultural, partly trained through decades of financial UI conventions — that breaking them carries real risk.
Green’s dominance in positive financial feedback states is well-earned. It connects to multiple layers of psychological association: nature, growth, health, prosperity, and the physical color of currency in many markets. When a payment processes successfully and the screen shifts to green, users experience a micro-dose of reward. Studies suggest this green-confirmation state triggers dopamine responses associated with completion and relief. That is not trivial. It is the emotional foundation of user loyalty.
Red, meanwhile, is a more nuanced tool. It is effective for genuine warnings — failed transactions, insufficient funds, and security alerts. But overusing red for neutral states (minor errors, optional alerts, secondary information) trains users to feel chronic low-level anxiety inside the product. Over time, that anxiety becomes associated with the brand itself. Users start to feel vaguely uncomfortable without knowing why. They switch to a competitor whose interface feels calmer.
The Concept of Chromatic Anxiety in Fintech UX
I want to name something that does not yet have a standard term in UX discourse. I call it Chromatic Anxiety — the accumulated psychological stress produced by inconsistent, high-stimulation, or poorly calibrated color use across a fintech interface. It is distinct from any single color choice being “wrong.” Instead, it describes the systemic effect of color mismanagement over an entire user journey.
Chromatic Anxiety manifests when users encounter too many competing color signals, when warning colors appear in non-warning contexts, or when the color system shifts tone between different sections of the same app. The result is a persistent sense that the product is disorganized — and disorganized financial products feel dangerous.
The antidote is what I call Chromatic Coherence — a principle stating that every color decision across a fintech product must be consistent with a single, unified emotional narrative. That narrative might be “calm control,” “confident growth,” or “premium simplicity.” But every color in the system must serve that story without contradiction.
FinFlow is a banking, finance, and fintech WordPress theme by UICore The WordPress theme is available from ThemeForestHow Neobanks Are Rewriting the Color Rules in Fintech Branding
Traditional banks did not experiment with color. Their palettes were institutional, conservative, and deliberately unremarkable. The implicit message was: we are boring, and boring means safe. That strategy worked for decades — until fintech disrupted not just the technology but the entire visual language of finance.
Neobanks proved something important: users do not actually want financial brands to be visually boring. They want them to be emotionally clear. There is a meaningful difference. Boring signals avoidance — the brand is hiding behind convention. Emotionally clear signals confidence — the brand knows what it stands for and expresses it directly.
Monzo’s hot coral is the case study every brand strategist should study. Hot coral is not a “safe” fintech color. It carries energy, warmth, and a mild provocation. In a sea of conservative blues and greys, it screams visibility. But Monzo paired that bold Tier 3 personality color with impeccably clean, low-anxiety interface design. The product itself felt calm and organized. The brand felt like a personality. That combination built a fiercely loyal user base that evangelized the product.
Revolut went in a different direction — sequential visual experimentation, shifting gradient schemes, and aggressive product-tier differentiation through color (Standard, Plus, Premium, Metal, Ultra). Each tier communicates a different status and emotional register through color alone. Users understand the hierarchy instantly. They aspire upward through it. That is color psychology operating as a retention and upsell mechanism — not just a branding exercise.
The Visual Trust Signal Framework: What Every Fintech Brand Needs
Beyond individual color choices, successful fintech brands deploy what I call the Visual Trust Signal Framework — a system of four coordinated color behaviors that collectively communicate reliability to users.
The first behavior is Color Predictability: the same color always means the same thing. If green signals success, it must signal success consistently — not sometimes success, sometimes decoration. Predictability trains users, and trained users feel in control. Feeling in control reduces anxiety and builds confidence in the platform.
The second behavior is Tonal Restraint: the palette uses fewer colors with greater intention. Restraint communicates discipline. A financial platform with a tight, coherent color system suggests organizational discipline — the same discipline users want applied to their money.
The third behavior is Contextual Appropriateness: colors modulate to the emotional context of the interaction. Onboarding should feel welcoming and calm. A large transfer confirmation screen should feel serious and reassuring. An investment gains screen should feel celebratory. One color system, multiple emotional registers — achieved through saturation shifts, shade variations, and strategic use of whitespace.
The fourth behavior is Accessibility Integrity: the color system works for all users, including those with color vision deficiencies. This is not just ethical — it is strategic. Approximately 10% of the population cannot fully distinguish red from green. A fintech interface that relies solely on red/green for positive/negative states excludes that segment entirely. Accessible design expands trust because it signals that the brand sees and respects all of its users.
Color Psychology Fintech Branding: The Cultural Dimension
Global fintech brands face a challenge that domestic players can ignore: color does not mean the same thing everywhere. White, the default color of “clean, professional UI” in most Western contexts, is associated with mourning in several East Asian cultures. Red, a warning color in financial interfaces, is the color of prosperity and celebration in China. Gold, which signals luxury in many Western markets, carries ceremonial weight in South Asian contexts that can either strengthen or complicate a fintech brand’s positioning.
The smartest global fintech brands are beginning to treat color localization as seriously as linguistic localization. This is not about making a different version of the brand for each market. It is about understanding which colors carry dangerous, unintended meanings in specific cultural contexts — and designing a color system flexible enough to avoid those landmines while maintaining brand coherence.
This cultural dimension of color psychology in fintech branding will become increasingly important as platforms expand from their home markets. A startup launching in the UK, expanding to India, and entering Southeast Asia within three years cannot afford to treat color as a static brand asset. It needs to be a dynamic system — anchored in universal trust signals, flexible at the personality layer.
The Next Frontier: AI-Adaptive Color Systems
Here is a prediction worth making explicitly: within the next five years, leading fintech platforms will deploy Adaptive Chromatic Intelligence — AI-driven color systems that modulate the user interface palette based on real-time user context signals. These signals might include time of day, transaction type, spending pattern anomalies, or even inferred emotional state derived from interaction speed and navigation behavior.
The concept is not science fiction. Thirty percent of users already express interest in adaptive “living” palettes that reflect personal mood or preferences. The technology to deliver this is emerging rapidly through AI-driven UX personalization systems. The psychological logic is sound: a user checking their balance after an unexpected expense needs a calmer visual environment than a user celebrating a savings milestone. The same interface, delivering opposite emotional experiences — and color is the fastest dial to turn.
This evolution will require fintech brands to shift from thinking about color as a fixed identity asset to thinking about it as a dynamic emotional delivery system. The brand’s core trust signal remains constant. But its expressive range expands to meet users where they actually are. That is not a small shift. It is a fundamental reimagining of what a fintech brand’s visual identity can do.
Practical Color Psychology Principles Every Fintech Brand Should Apply Today
Theory is useful. Actionable principles are better. Here are the core color psychology principles that every fintech brand should be applying to its visual identity right now.
Start with your emotional thesis. Before choosing a single color, define the precise emotional experience you want users to have across their entire journey with your product. Not “trustworthy” — that is too generic. Something like “confidently informed,” or “calmly empowered,” or “quietly exceptional.” Every color decision should serve that thesis directly.
Test your palette under stress conditions. Run your color system through the highest-anxiety user scenarios — large fund transfers, identity verification, and disputed transactions. If the interface still feels reassuring in those moments, your color system is working. If it feels chaotic or alarming, it needs recalibration.
Audit your red use ruthlessly. Count every instance of red across your interface. Ask whether each one represents a genuine user-facing risk or alert. Every unnecessary red is a small injection of anxiety into the user experience. Over hundreds of interactions, that accumulates into Chromatic Anxiety and eventual churn.
Use whitespace as a color decision. In fintech, whitespace (and its dark mode equivalent) is not empty space — it is a deliberate trust signal. Generous whitespace around financial data communicates that the brand is organized, honest, and not hiding anything. It reduces cognitive load and lets users think clearly about their financial situation. Cramped design, by contrast, creates the visual equivalent of fine print.
Build a color token system before you build a product. A color token system assigns semantic meaning to every color in your palette — not just the hex value but the emotional role. “Success green,” “caution amber,” “neutral text,” “anchor navy.” This system prevents color drift as the product scales, ensuring Chromatic Coherence across an increasingly complex interface.
What Consistently High-Trust Fintech Interfaces Have in Common
After studying fintech brands across the trust spectrum, a clear pattern emerges. High-trust interfaces share specific color behaviors: structured grid layouts with generous whitespace that reduce cognitive load; consistent color application with zero ambiguity about what each color means; a dominant Tier 1 color that occupies at least 60% of the visual field; and action confirmation states — payments, transfers, approvals — that use green or a positive accent color with sufficient contrast to feel decisive.
Low-trust interfaces tend toward the opposite: multiple competing accent colors, red used for non-critical messages, overcrowded layouts where color loses its signal value, and inconsistent application of what colors mean. Users cannot articulate these differences. But they feel them immediately.
Color in Fintech Branding Beyond the App: Cards, Marketing, and Physical Touchpoints
Color psychology in fintech does not live only inside the app. For digital-first brands with no physical branches, the debit or credit card is often the only physical object a user holds that represents the brand. This makes card design a critical — and underutilized — trust and identity vehicle.
Neobanks understand this acutely. Monzo’s coral card is famous enough to be identified across a crowded room. Revolut’s gradient metal cards signal tier and aspiration. N26’s minimal black card communicates a specific kind of European sophistication. In every case, the card is not just a payment instrument. It is a portable brand ambassador — and its color does psychological work in the real world, where users see it and where others see users using it.
The trend toward numberless card fronts — adopted by Chime, Brex, Mercury, N26, and others — adds another color psychology dimension. By removing numerical clutter from the card’s face, brands gain a cleaner color canvas. The card becomes a pure color and form statement. The color works harder because there is nothing else competing for attention.
Marketing materials, social media presence, and investor communications must maintain color coherence with the product itself. When a fintech brand’s app feels calm and trustworthy but its advertising feels brash and high-pressure, users experience a dissonance that erodes confidence. Color continuity across every touchpoint is not a design preference — it is a trust maintenance strategy.
The Future of Color Psychology in Fintech: Predictions for 2025 and Beyond
Several trajectory shifts are already visible. First, the decline of default corporate blue as the automatic first choice for fintech Tier 1 palettes. As the sector matures and differentiates, more brands will seek distinctive Anchor Colors that still carry trust signals — deep teal, warm charcoal, refined forest green — rather than retreating to the same congested blue territory.
Second, the rise of dark mode as a trust-aligned design strategy. Dark mode is not just a user preference feature. In fintech, dark interfaces can communicate premium positioning, security, and technical sophistication. For crypto platforms and investment apps targeting more experienced users, dark mode signals that the brand is serious and advanced. The color psychology of dark fintech interfaces deserves its own dedicated research space — and it will get it.
Third, the integration of accessibility as a brand differentiator rather than a compliance checkbox. Fintech brands that build genuinely accessible color systems — high-contrast, color-blind-friendly, screen-adaptive — will attract users who feel seen and respected by the product. In a category where trust is everything, feeling seen by a brand is a powerful loyalty driver.
Fourth — and most transformatively — the emergence of Adaptive Chromatic Intelligence as described earlier. AI-driven color personalization will not just change how fintech interfaces look. It will change what users expect from financial products at an emotional level. Once users experience an interface that modulates to their emotional context, static palettes will feel crude by comparison. The brands that experiment with adaptive color now will own an enormous head start.
A Personal Perspective on Where Fintech Color Gets It Wrong
I spend a lot of time analyzing fintech visual identities — and the single most common mistake I see is not a bad color choice. It is a lack of color intention. Most fintech brands pick colors that test well in isolation, then apply them inconsistently across a growing product. Over time, the color system becomes accidental rather than intentional. The brand looks professional from a distance and feels disorganized up close.
The second most common mistake is mistaking novelty for personality. A neon accent color or an unexpected gradient can look exciting in a product mockup. But if it serves no psychological role — if it does not calm, guide, signal, or differentiate in a meaningful way — it is visual noise. And visual noise in a financial product is not just ugly. It is a trust liability.
Color psychology in fintech branding should be approached with the same rigor applied to risk modeling or compliance architecture. Because at the moment a user decides whether to trust a new financial platform, color is doing more work than any of those systems. It deserves equivalent respect.
FAQ: Color Psychology in Fintech Branding
What is color psychology in fintech branding?
Color psychology in fintech branding is the strategic application of color to influence user emotions, perceptions, and behaviors within financial technology products. It involves selecting and deploying colors across interfaces, marketing, and physical touchpoints to communicate trust, guide user actions, and differentiate the brand in a competitive market.
Why is color so important for user trust in fintech apps?
Fintech apps ask users to share sensitive financial data and make high-stakes decisions. Users form emotional judgments about an interface within 90 seconds — and between 62% and 90% of that judgment is based on color. Color is, therefore, the first and fastest mechanism a fintech brand has to establish credibility and reduce user anxiety before any other trust signal has a chance to activate.
Why do most fintech brands use blue?
Blue consistently tests as the most trusted brand color globally, with 54% of consumers identifying it as their most trusted choice. It conveys stability, security, and calm — all critical qualities in financial services. Blue is also accessible to users with red-green color blindness, making it a practical as well as psychological choice. However, its dominance in fintech is increasingly a competitive liability, as differentiation requires moving beyond the default.
What does green mean in a fintech interface?
Green is the primary Action Color for positive confirmation states in fintech. It signals success, approval, growth, and completion. Green payment confirmation screens activate dopamine responses associated with relief and reward. Consistent use of green for positive feedback states trains users to associate the color with safety and forward progress within the product.
What is Chromatic Anxiety in fintech UX?
Chromatic Anxiety is an original editorial concept describing the accumulated psychological stress created by inconsistent, over-stimulating, or poorly calibrated color use across a fintech interface. It occurs when warning colors appear in non-warning contexts, when the palette lacks coherence across screens, or when too many competing color signals reduce the interface’s legibility. It leads to user discomfort, reduced confidence, and increased churn.
How should fintech brands use red?
Red should be used sparingly and only for genuine user-facing risks or errors — failed transactions, security alerts, or insufficient funds. Overusing red for neutral messages or minor errors creates chronic low-level anxiety in the user experience. Every unnecessary instance of red represents a micro-injection of stress into an interaction that users associate, over time, with the brand itself.
What is the Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy?
The Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy is an original framework that organizes fintech color strategy into three tiers: Tier 1 Anchor Colors (dominant colors establishing foundational credibility, such as navy blue), Tier 2 Action Colors (colors guiding behavior at critical moments, such as confirmation green), and Tier 3 Personality Colors (accent colors expressing brand differentiation and emotional character, such as Monzo’s hot coral).
Will AI change how fintech brands use color?
Yes — significantly. AI-driven Adaptive Chromatic Intelligence systems will enable fintech interfaces to modulate their color environment in real time based on user context signals, including transaction type, time of day, and inferred emotional state. This shift will move color from a fixed identity asset to a dynamic emotional delivery system, making static palettes feel increasingly limited by comparison.
How do neobanks use color differently from traditional banks?
Traditional banks used conservative, institutional color palettes — primarily to signal permanence and authority. Neobanks disrupted this by demonstrating that users respond better to emotionally clear design than to emotionally boring design. Brands like Monzo, Revolut, and Chime use distinctive, personality-driven color systems that build recognition and loyalty, while still anchoring the interface in calm, organized visual environments that reduce financial anxiety.
What long-tail keywords should fintech brands consider for color-related content?
Relevant long-tail terms include: “best color palette for fintech app trust,” “how color affects user trust in banking apps,” “fintech UI color psychology blue vs green,” “color design for neobank branding,” “psychological color choices for financial services,” and “how to reduce user anxiety in fintech with color design.” These reflect the specific questions users and designers are asking when building or evaluating financial products.
Browse WE AND THE COLOR’s Branding, Graphic Design, and Web Design categories to learn more.
#branding #ColorPsychology #colors #consumerResearch #fintech #research #trust #ui #ux -
Color Psychology in Fintech Branding: How the Right Palette Builds User Trust
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Trust is the only real product a fintech company sells. Before a user reads a single line of copy, before they check your security certifications, before they scan your reviews — they feel something. That feeling comes from color. It is instantaneous, non-negotiable, and almost entirely subconscious. And yet, most fintech brands treat color as decoration rather than strategy. That is a costly mistake.
Color psychology in fintech branding has moved from interesting theory to measurable business outcome. Adobe’s consumer research shows that 54% of consumers identify blue as the most trusted brand color. Furthermore, one in two people has chosen one brand over another based on color alone. In fintech — where users hand over their financial data, their savings, their vulnerability — that statistic carries enormous weight.
This is not just a UX conversation. It is a brand strategy conversation. And right now, the fintech sector is one of the most visually sophisticated and emotionally complex environments in which color does its work. So let’s talk about what is actually happening, why it matters, and how to use it deliberately.
Why Does Color Psychology Matter So Much in Fintech?
Most industries earn trust over time. Banks historically relied on physical presence — the heavy marble lobby, the polished brass, the uniformed staff. That architecture was doing psychological work. It said: we are permanent, stable, serious. Neobanks and fintech platforms have none of that. They earn trust entirely through their interface.
Think about what a user faces when they open a new fintech app for the first time. They are being asked to connect a bank account, verify their identity, or enter a payment card. That moment requires a significant leap of faith. The visual environment either supports that leap — or it undermines it.
Color is processed by the limbic system, the part of the brain that governs emotion, memory, and instinct. This happens before conscious reasoning kicks in. Within roughly 90 seconds of encountering a product, users form a subconscious judgment — and research consistently shows that between 62% and 90% of that assessment is based on color alone. That window is your brand’s first and most powerful argument for trust.
Moreover, the stakes in fintech are uniquely high. Users are not choosing a restaurant or a streaming service. They are deciding who gets to touch their money. That anxiety is real, and color either calms it or inflames it.
The Emotional Stakes Are Higher Than You Think
Consider what makes someone abandon a fintech onboarding flow. Often, it is not a technical error. It is a vague, undefined discomfort. Something felt off. The colors were too aggressive, too chaotic, or simply unfamiliar to what users expect from a credible financial platform. That gut feeling is color psychology at work — and it costs companies real conversion rates.
Interfaces with cluttered or poorly chosen color schemes increase cognitive load. When users have to work harder to process visual information, stress rises. Stress in a financial context translates directly into doubt and abandonment. This is why calm, structured color systems are not just aesthetically pleasing — they are functionally necessary.
Smartphone Mobile App Ui Template by Liquid Layout for Adobe Illustrator Download the Illustrator template from Adobe Stock.The Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy: A New Framework for Palette Strategy
I want to introduce a framework I call the Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy — a tiered model for thinking about how different colors perform specific psychological jobs in a fintech brand system. This is not about choosing “pretty” colors. It is about assigning each color a role and letting it do that job consistently.
The hierarchy has three tiers:
Tier 1 — Anchor Colors establish foundational credibility. These are the dominant, high-frequency colors that users see on login screens, dashboards, and primary navigation. Their job is to immediately signal legitimacy and stability. Blue is the archetypal Tier 1 color in fintech. It is calm, globally recognized as trustworthy, and accessible to the widest range of users — including approximately 10% of the population who are red-green colorblind.
Tier 2 — Action Colors guide behavior without creating anxiety. These are the colors applied to buttons, CTAs, confirmations, and micro-interactions. Green excels here. It connects neurologically to completion signals — the green tick, the approved status, the “payment successful” screen. It reduces the anxiety associated with irreversible financial actions. Using green for positive confirmations is not a coincidence. It is a deliberate neurological lever.
Tier 3 — Personality Colors express brand differentiation and emotional character. These are accent or secondary colors that distinguish one fintech brand from another in an increasingly saturated market. This is where the real brand strategy lives. Monzo’s hot coral, Revolut’s gradient experimentation, N26’s restrained black-and-white — these Tier 3 choices are the ones users actually remember and talk about.
Why the Hierarchy Matters More Than Color Choice Alone
Most fintech brands get their Tier 1 color right — they pick blue or a deep neutral. But they misuse Tier 2 and Tier 3. They apply a bold Personality Color to a CTA button, which creates visual tension at the exact moment users need reassurance. Or they use red in micro-interactions that are actually neutral, training users to feel anxiety during routine tasks.
The Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy is not just about individual hue selection. It is about role clarity. Every color in your system should have a job description — and that job description should be built around the emotional state you want users to inhabit at each touchpoint.
Blue Dominance in Fintech: Justified or Lazy Shorthand?
Here is a question worth sitting with. Does blue actually build trust in fintech — or have we simply trained ourselves to associate blue with finance, creating a self-reinforcing cycle? The honest answer is: probably both.
Blue has genuine psychological properties. It activates a sense of calm and deliberation. Studies suggest both male and female participants respond faster to blue contrasts, making it an accessibility-conscious choice. And the cultural conditioning argument is not a weakness — it is a feature. When users open a financial app and see deep navy or professional cobalt, their brain pattern-matches it to the category of “trusted financial product.” That is brand equity working instantly.
However, blue has become so dominant in fintech that it now risks becoming invisible. When every neobank, payment platform, and investment app leads with the same family of blues, the signal stops differentiating. Users stop noticing. And a brand that cannot be noticed cannot be trusted — because it cannot be remembered.
This is why the most sophisticated fintech brands use blue strategically rather than reflexively. They anchor their Tier 1 palette in blue but make their Tier 3 personality color do the memorable, category-defying work. The brand feels trustworthy and distinctive at the same time. That combination is rare and enormously valuable.
The Rise of the Alternative Anchor: Dark Neutrals and Monochromatic Systems
A growing number of premium and crypto-adjacent fintech brands are challenging blue’s dominance with dark monochromatic systems — deep charcoals, near-blacks, and slate palettes. These communicate a different kind of trust: exclusivity, sophistication, and technical precision. They are borrowed from luxury branding and applied to finance.
Apple’s titanium card is the most visible example. The removal of all surface information and the use of a single near-neutral metal finish communicate security through restraint. Less visible means less exposed. Less exposed means more protected. That visual argument is extremely powerful — and it does not use a single shade of blue.
This suggests that color psychology in fintech branding is evolving beyond its classic blue phase. The next generation of premium fintech platforms will likely use restraint, not color, as the primary trust signal.
Green, Red, and the Emotional Grammar of Financial Feedback
Inside a fintech interface, color becomes a language. Users learn to read it fluently and quickly. Green means good. Red means stop, caution, or loss. These associations are so deeply embedded — partly cultural, partly trained through decades of financial UI conventions — that breaking them carries real risk.
Green’s dominance in positive financial feedback states is well-earned. It connects to multiple layers of psychological association: nature, growth, health, prosperity, and the physical color of currency in many markets. When a payment processes successfully and the screen shifts to green, users experience a micro-dose of reward. Studies suggest this green-confirmation state triggers dopamine responses associated with completion and relief. That is not trivial. It is the emotional foundation of user loyalty.
Red, meanwhile, is a more nuanced tool. It is effective for genuine warnings — failed transactions, insufficient funds, and security alerts. But overusing red for neutral states (minor errors, optional alerts, secondary information) trains users to feel chronic low-level anxiety inside the product. Over time, that anxiety becomes associated with the brand itself. Users start to feel vaguely uncomfortable without knowing why. They switch to a competitor whose interface feels calmer.
The Concept of Chromatic Anxiety in Fintech UX
I want to name something that does not yet have a standard term in UX discourse. I call it Chromatic Anxiety — the accumulated psychological stress produced by inconsistent, high-stimulation, or poorly calibrated color use across a fintech interface. It is distinct from any single color choice being “wrong.” Instead, it describes the systemic effect of color mismanagement over an entire user journey.
Chromatic Anxiety manifests when users encounter too many competing color signals, when warning colors appear in non-warning contexts, or when the color system shifts tone between different sections of the same app. The result is a persistent sense that the product is disorganized — and disorganized financial products feel dangerous.
The antidote is what I call Chromatic Coherence — a principle stating that every color decision across a fintech product must be consistent with a single, unified emotional narrative. That narrative might be “calm control,” “confident growth,” or “premium simplicity.” But every color in the system must serve that story without contradiction.
FinFlow is a banking, finance, and fintech WordPress theme by UICore The WordPress theme is available from ThemeForestHow Neobanks Are Rewriting the Color Rules in Fintech Branding
Traditional banks did not experiment with color. Their palettes were institutional, conservative, and deliberately unremarkable. The implicit message was: we are boring, and boring means safe. That strategy worked for decades — until fintech disrupted not just the technology but the entire visual language of finance.
Neobanks proved something important: users do not actually want financial brands to be visually boring. They want them to be emotionally clear. There is a meaningful difference. Boring signals avoidance — the brand is hiding behind convention. Emotionally clear signals confidence — the brand knows what it stands for and expresses it directly.
Monzo’s hot coral is the case study every brand strategist should study. Hot coral is not a “safe” fintech color. It carries energy, warmth, and a mild provocation. In a sea of conservative blues and greys, it screams visibility. But Monzo paired that bold Tier 3 personality color with impeccably clean, low-anxiety interface design. The product itself felt calm and organized. The brand felt like a personality. That combination built a fiercely loyal user base that evangelized the product.
Revolut went in a different direction — sequential visual experimentation, shifting gradient schemes, and aggressive product-tier differentiation through color (Standard, Plus, Premium, Metal, Ultra). Each tier communicates a different status and emotional register through color alone. Users understand the hierarchy instantly. They aspire upward through it. That is color psychology operating as a retention and upsell mechanism — not just a branding exercise.
The Visual Trust Signal Framework: What Every Fintech Brand Needs
Beyond individual color choices, successful fintech brands deploy what I call the Visual Trust Signal Framework — a system of four coordinated color behaviors that collectively communicate reliability to users.
The first behavior is Color Predictability: the same color always means the same thing. If green signals success, it must signal success consistently — not sometimes success, sometimes decoration. Predictability trains users, and trained users feel in control. Feeling in control reduces anxiety and builds confidence in the platform.
The second behavior is Tonal Restraint: the palette uses fewer colors with greater intention. Restraint communicates discipline. A financial platform with a tight, coherent color system suggests organizational discipline — the same discipline users want applied to their money.
The third behavior is Contextual Appropriateness: colors modulate to the emotional context of the interaction. Onboarding should feel welcoming and calm. A large transfer confirmation screen should feel serious and reassuring. An investment gains screen should feel celebratory. One color system, multiple emotional registers — achieved through saturation shifts, shade variations, and strategic use of whitespace.
The fourth behavior is Accessibility Integrity: the color system works for all users, including those with color vision deficiencies. This is not just ethical — it is strategic. Approximately 10% of the population cannot fully distinguish red from green. A fintech interface that relies solely on red/green for positive/negative states excludes that segment entirely. Accessible design expands trust because it signals that the brand sees and respects all of its users.
Color Psychology Fintech Branding: The Cultural Dimension
Global fintech brands face a challenge that domestic players can ignore: color does not mean the same thing everywhere. White, the default color of “clean, professional UI” in most Western contexts, is associated with mourning in several East Asian cultures. Red, a warning color in financial interfaces, is the color of prosperity and celebration in China. Gold, which signals luxury in many Western markets, carries ceremonial weight in South Asian contexts that can either strengthen or complicate a fintech brand’s positioning.
The smartest global fintech brands are beginning to treat color localization as seriously as linguistic localization. This is not about making a different version of the brand for each market. It is about understanding which colors carry dangerous, unintended meanings in specific cultural contexts — and designing a color system flexible enough to avoid those landmines while maintaining brand coherence.
This cultural dimension of color psychology in fintech branding will become increasingly important as platforms expand from their home markets. A startup launching in the UK, expanding to India, and entering Southeast Asia within three years cannot afford to treat color as a static brand asset. It needs to be a dynamic system — anchored in universal trust signals, flexible at the personality layer.
The Next Frontier: AI-Adaptive Color Systems
Here is a prediction worth making explicitly: within the next five years, leading fintech platforms will deploy Adaptive Chromatic Intelligence — AI-driven color systems that modulate the user interface palette based on real-time user context signals. These signals might include time of day, transaction type, spending pattern anomalies, or even inferred emotional state derived from interaction speed and navigation behavior.
The concept is not science fiction. Thirty percent of users already express interest in adaptive “living” palettes that reflect personal mood or preferences. The technology to deliver this is emerging rapidly through AI-driven UX personalization systems. The psychological logic is sound: a user checking their balance after an unexpected expense needs a calmer visual environment than a user celebrating a savings milestone. The same interface, delivering opposite emotional experiences — and color is the fastest dial to turn.
This evolution will require fintech brands to shift from thinking about color as a fixed identity asset to thinking about it as a dynamic emotional delivery system. The brand’s core trust signal remains constant. But its expressive range expands to meet users where they actually are. That is not a small shift. It is a fundamental reimagining of what a fintech brand’s visual identity can do.
Practical Color Psychology Principles Every Fintech Brand Should Apply Today
Theory is useful. Actionable principles are better. Here are the core color psychology principles that every fintech brand should be applying to its visual identity right now.
Start with your emotional thesis. Before choosing a single color, define the precise emotional experience you want users to have across their entire journey with your product. Not “trustworthy” — that is too generic. Something like “confidently informed,” or “calmly empowered,” or “quietly exceptional.” Every color decision should serve that thesis directly.
Test your palette under stress conditions. Run your color system through the highest-anxiety user scenarios — large fund transfers, identity verification, and disputed transactions. If the interface still feels reassuring in those moments, your color system is working. If it feels chaotic or alarming, it needs recalibration.
Audit your red use ruthlessly. Count every instance of red across your interface. Ask whether each one represents a genuine user-facing risk or alert. Every unnecessary red is a small injection of anxiety into the user experience. Over hundreds of interactions, that accumulates into Chromatic Anxiety and eventual churn.
Use whitespace as a color decision. In fintech, whitespace (and its dark mode equivalent) is not empty space — it is a deliberate trust signal. Generous whitespace around financial data communicates that the brand is organized, honest, and not hiding anything. It reduces cognitive load and lets users think clearly about their financial situation. Cramped design, by contrast, creates the visual equivalent of fine print.
Build a color token system before you build a product. A color token system assigns semantic meaning to every color in your palette — not just the hex value but the emotional role. “Success green,” “caution amber,” “neutral text,” “anchor navy.” This system prevents color drift as the product scales, ensuring Chromatic Coherence across an increasingly complex interface.
What Consistently High-Trust Fintech Interfaces Have in Common
After studying fintech brands across the trust spectrum, a clear pattern emerges. High-trust interfaces share specific color behaviors: structured grid layouts with generous whitespace that reduce cognitive load; consistent color application with zero ambiguity about what each color means; a dominant Tier 1 color that occupies at least 60% of the visual field; and action confirmation states — payments, transfers, approvals — that use green or a positive accent color with sufficient contrast to feel decisive.
Low-trust interfaces tend toward the opposite: multiple competing accent colors, red used for non-critical messages, overcrowded layouts where color loses its signal value, and inconsistent application of what colors mean. Users cannot articulate these differences. But they feel them immediately.
Color in Fintech Branding Beyond the App: Cards, Marketing, and Physical Touchpoints
Color psychology in fintech does not live only inside the app. For digital-first brands with no physical branches, the debit or credit card is often the only physical object a user holds that represents the brand. This makes card design a critical — and underutilized — trust and identity vehicle.
Neobanks understand this acutely. Monzo’s coral card is famous enough to be identified across a crowded room. Revolut’s gradient metal cards signal tier and aspiration. N26’s minimal black card communicates a specific kind of European sophistication. In every case, the card is not just a payment instrument. It is a portable brand ambassador — and its color does psychological work in the real world, where users see it and where others see users using it.
The trend toward numberless card fronts — adopted by Chime, Brex, Mercury, N26, and others — adds another color psychology dimension. By removing numerical clutter from the card’s face, brands gain a cleaner color canvas. The card becomes a pure color and form statement. The color works harder because there is nothing else competing for attention.
Marketing materials, social media presence, and investor communications must maintain color coherence with the product itself. When a fintech brand’s app feels calm and trustworthy but its advertising feels brash and high-pressure, users experience a dissonance that erodes confidence. Color continuity across every touchpoint is not a design preference — it is a trust maintenance strategy.
The Future of Color Psychology in Fintech: Predictions for 2025 and Beyond
Several trajectory shifts are already visible. First, the decline of default corporate blue as the automatic first choice for fintech Tier 1 palettes. As the sector matures and differentiates, more brands will seek distinctive Anchor Colors that still carry trust signals — deep teal, warm charcoal, refined forest green — rather than retreating to the same congested blue territory.
Second, the rise of dark mode as a trust-aligned design strategy. Dark mode is not just a user preference feature. In fintech, dark interfaces can communicate premium positioning, security, and technical sophistication. For crypto platforms and investment apps targeting more experienced users, dark mode signals that the brand is serious and advanced. The color psychology of dark fintech interfaces deserves its own dedicated research space — and it will get it.
Third, the integration of accessibility as a brand differentiator rather than a compliance checkbox. Fintech brands that build genuinely accessible color systems — high-contrast, color-blind-friendly, screen-adaptive — will attract users who feel seen and respected by the product. In a category where trust is everything, feeling seen by a brand is a powerful loyalty driver.
Fourth — and most transformatively — the emergence of Adaptive Chromatic Intelligence as described earlier. AI-driven color personalization will not just change how fintech interfaces look. It will change what users expect from financial products at an emotional level. Once users experience an interface that modulates to their emotional context, static palettes will feel crude by comparison. The brands that experiment with adaptive color now will own an enormous head start.
A Personal Perspective on Where Fintech Color Gets It Wrong
I spend a lot of time analyzing fintech visual identities — and the single most common mistake I see is not a bad color choice. It is a lack of color intention. Most fintech brands pick colors that test well in isolation, then apply them inconsistently across a growing product. Over time, the color system becomes accidental rather than intentional. The brand looks professional from a distance and feels disorganized up close.
The second most common mistake is mistaking novelty for personality. A neon accent color or an unexpected gradient can look exciting in a product mockup. But if it serves no psychological role — if it does not calm, guide, signal, or differentiate in a meaningful way — it is visual noise. And visual noise in a financial product is not just ugly. It is a trust liability.
Color psychology in fintech branding should be approached with the same rigor applied to risk modeling or compliance architecture. Because at the moment a user decides whether to trust a new financial platform, color is doing more work than any of those systems. It deserves equivalent respect.
FAQ: Color Psychology in Fintech Branding
What is color psychology in fintech branding?
Color psychology in fintech branding is the strategic application of color to influence user emotions, perceptions, and behaviors within financial technology products. It involves selecting and deploying colors across interfaces, marketing, and physical touchpoints to communicate trust, guide user actions, and differentiate the brand in a competitive market.
Why is color so important for user trust in fintech apps?
Fintech apps ask users to share sensitive financial data and make high-stakes decisions. Users form emotional judgments about an interface within 90 seconds — and between 62% and 90% of that judgment is based on color. Color is, therefore, the first and fastest mechanism a fintech brand has to establish credibility and reduce user anxiety before any other trust signal has a chance to activate.
Why do most fintech brands use blue?
Blue consistently tests as the most trusted brand color globally, with 54% of consumers identifying it as their most trusted choice. It conveys stability, security, and calm — all critical qualities in financial services. Blue is also accessible to users with red-green color blindness, making it a practical as well as psychological choice. However, its dominance in fintech is increasingly a competitive liability, as differentiation requires moving beyond the default.
What does green mean in a fintech interface?
Green is the primary Action Color for positive confirmation states in fintech. It signals success, approval, growth, and completion. Green payment confirmation screens activate dopamine responses associated with relief and reward. Consistent use of green for positive feedback states trains users to associate the color with safety and forward progress within the product.
What is Chromatic Anxiety in fintech UX?
Chromatic Anxiety is an original editorial concept describing the accumulated psychological stress created by inconsistent, over-stimulating, or poorly calibrated color use across a fintech interface. It occurs when warning colors appear in non-warning contexts, when the palette lacks coherence across screens, or when too many competing color signals reduce the interface’s legibility. It leads to user discomfort, reduced confidence, and increased churn.
How should fintech brands use red?
Red should be used sparingly and only for genuine user-facing risks or errors — failed transactions, security alerts, or insufficient funds. Overusing red for neutral messages or minor errors creates chronic low-level anxiety in the user experience. Every unnecessary instance of red represents a micro-injection of stress into an interaction that users associate, over time, with the brand itself.
What is the Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy?
The Fintech Color Trust Hierarchy is an original framework that organizes fintech color strategy into three tiers: Tier 1 Anchor Colors (dominant colors establishing foundational credibility, such as navy blue), Tier 2 Action Colors (colors guiding behavior at critical moments, such as confirmation green), and Tier 3 Personality Colors (accent colors expressing brand differentiation and emotional character, such as Monzo’s hot coral).
Will AI change how fintech brands use color?
Yes — significantly. AI-driven Adaptive Chromatic Intelligence systems will enable fintech interfaces to modulate their color environment in real time based on user context signals, including transaction type, time of day, and inferred emotional state. This shift will move color from a fixed identity asset to a dynamic emotional delivery system, making static palettes feel increasingly limited by comparison.
How do neobanks use color differently from traditional banks?
Traditional banks used conservative, institutional color palettes — primarily to signal permanence and authority. Neobanks disrupted this by demonstrating that users respond better to emotionally clear design than to emotionally boring design. Brands like Monzo, Revolut, and Chime use distinctive, personality-driven color systems that build recognition and loyalty, while still anchoring the interface in calm, organized visual environments that reduce financial anxiety.
What long-tail keywords should fintech brands consider for color-related content?
Relevant long-tail terms include: “best color palette for fintech app trust,” “how color affects user trust in banking apps,” “fintech UI color psychology blue vs green,” “color design for neobank branding,” “psychological color choices for financial services,” and “how to reduce user anxiety in fintech with color design.” These reflect the specific questions users and designers are asking when building or evaluating financial products.
Browse WE AND THE COLOR’s Branding, Graphic Design, and Web Design categories to learn more.
#branding #ColorPsychology #colors #consumerResearch #fintech #research #trust #ui #ux -
How to Build a Client Presentation in 30 Minutes Using Adobe Stock Templates
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Most designers have been there. A client emails at 9 AM asking for a polished presentation by noon. Your stomach drops. Your coffee gets cold. And then you remember: Adobe Stock templates exist for exactly this moment.
Building a strong client presentation doesn’t have to mean burning three hours on spacing, color theory, and font pairing. Not anymore. With the right system, you can move from blank slide to boardroom-ready deck in under 30 minutes — and still look like you spent a week on it.
This article breaks down exactly how. Not the vague, inspirational version. The actual, step-by-step workflow that works in real-world conditions, under real pressure, with real clients.
We recommend using Adobe InDesign. Whether you use Mac or PC, the latest version is available on the Adobe Creative Cloud website—take a look here.
What Makes a Client Presentation Fail Before It Even Starts?
Before we talk about speed, we need to talk about failure. Because the biggest mistake most creatives make isn’t spending too much time — it’s spending time on the wrong things.
A weak client presentation fails at three structural levels. First, it lacks visual hierarchy, so the client doesn’t know where to look. Second, it buries the value proposition inside too much copy. Third, it looks inconsistent, which signals amateur execution before a single word gets read.
Adobe Stock templates solve all three problems simultaneously. They’re built on established design principles. They already have hierarchy, rhythm, and balance baked in. Your job is to redirect that structure — not build it from scratch.
The Template Redirection Method: the practice of using a professionally designed framework as your visual and structural starting point, then redirecting its DNA toward your client’s specific context, brand, and message.
It saves time. More importantly, it elevates quality.
RedGiant’s pitch deck presentation template for InDesign provides a clean, modern layout. Download the template from Adobe Stock.The 30-Minute Client Presentation Framework
Step 1 — Find the Right Template (Minutes 1–5)
Open Adobe Stock. Type keywords that match the tone of your presentation, not just the topic. “Clean corporate pitch deck” hits differently than “presentation template.” So does “minimal agency proposal slides.”
Filter by file type: PowerPoint or Keynote, depending on your workflow. Then apply one more filter most people skip — look for templates with at least eight to ten slides. Fewer than that, and you’ll spend extra time building slides that should already exist.
Pro tip: Look for templates that include a “Why Us” or “Our Process” slide. These are the hardest to design under pressure and the ones clients scrutinize most carefully.
Download your top two or three candidates. You’ll know which one to use the moment you open them side by side.
Step 2 — Apply the Brand Layer (Minutes 6–15)
This is where most people slow down unnecessarily. They try to match the client’s exact hex codes, fonts, and logo treatment all at once. Instead, use the 3-Point Brand Injection approach.
3-Point Brand Injection: Change only the primary color, the headline font, and the logo placement — nothing else, at least not yet.
Why? Because professional templates are built with proportional contrast and spacing that works. When you change too many variables at once, you break the internal logic of the design. You introduce inconsistency. You undo hours of professional design work in minutes — and not in a good way.
So start with the primary color. Replace the template’s dominant hue with the client’s brand color. Most PowerPoint and Keynote templates let you do this globally in under two minutes. Next, swap the headline font if the client has a brand typeface. If they don’t, keep the template’s font — it’s already chosen for legibility and visual weight. Finally, place the client’s logo on the master slide so it appears consistently throughout.
At this point, the presentation already looks custom. That’s the power of the 3-Point Brand Injection.
Step 3 — Build the Narrative Spine (Minutes 16–22)
A client presentation is a story with a persuasion arc. The slides are just the containers. The narrative is the engine.
Every strong client presentation follows what design strategists call the Problem–Proof–Promise structure. Here’s how it works in practice:
The first third of your deck (roughly slides 1–4) establishes the problem. You’re showing the client that you understand their challenge, their market, and their pain point. This builds trust and frames everything that follows.
The middle section (slides 5–8) delivers the proof. Case studies, process overviews, relevant credentials — this is where you show, not just tell. Use visuals heavily here. Data visualizations, before/after comparisons, and real imagery from Adobe Stock all do more work than body copy ever will.
The final section (slides 9–12) makes the promise. This is your proposed solution, your timeline, your deliverables. It answers the implicit question every client carries into a pitch: “So what will I actually get?”
The Problem–Proof–Promise structure isn’t new. But most designers ignore it when working quickly. They drop in content without checking whether the narrative arc still holds. Don’t make that mistake.
Step 4 — Replace Stock Images Strategically (Minutes 23–27)
Here’s a counterintuitive move: don’t replace all the stock images in the template. Replace only the ones on slides where clients are most likely to focus — your hero slide, your case study slide, and your CTA slide.
Adobe Stock makes this easy because every image inside a licensed template is already cleared for commercial use. But the images included in the template are generic by design. So on your three most critical slides, swap in images that feel more specific to the client’s industry.
A real estate presentation should feel different from a tech startup pitch. The color palette might overlap, but the imagery shouldn’t. A well-chosen stock photo signals contextual awareness. It tells the client you thought about them, not just about the deck.
Use Adobe Stock’s visual search feature to find images that match the tone, lighting, and color palette of your template. This keeps everything cohesive. And it takes less than five minutes when you know what you’re looking for.
Step 5 — Final Polish and Export (Minutes 28–30)
With two minutes remaining, run a fast consistency check. Scroll through every slide and look for three things only: font inconsistencies, color breaks, and text overflow.
Font inconsistencies happen when you paste content from a Word document without stripping formatting. Color breaks appear when a single element didn’t update during your global color change. Text overflow shows up on slides where your copy is slightly longer than the template’s placeholder.
Fix what you see. Then export as PDF for the formal send, and keep the editable file ready for live presentation mode.
That’s your 30 minutes. That’s your finished client presentation.
This clean Adobe InDesign brand guidelines presentation template was also designed by RedGiant. Download the template from Adobe StockWhy Adobe Stock Templates Are Changing How Agencies Work
This workflow isn’t just a shortcut. It’s a philosophical shift in how creative professionals define value.
For years, the design industry treated “built from scratch” as a synonym for “better.” Custom meant quality. Templates meant laziness. But that framework was always more about ego than outcomes.
Clients don’t pay for effort. They pay for results. A client presentation that converts, that communicates clearly, that looks polished and professional — that’s what generates trust and earns the next project.
Adobe Stock templates, especially the premium editorial collections, are built by professional designers who specialize in presentation design. Using their work as a foundation isn’t a shortcut. It’s collaborative efficiency. You bring the strategy, the narrative, the client knowledge, and the brand sensitivity. The template brings the structural and visual intelligence.
Together, that combination produces work that neither could produce as well alone.
A social media report presentation template by E-Type for InDesign. Download the template from Adobe StockThe Rise of Presentation-First Client Communication
Here’s a forward-looking prediction worth tracking: by 2027, the majority of client-facing creative agencies will adopt a presentation-first communication model — where structured slide decks replace long-form proposals as the primary document of record in client relationships.
Why? Because decision-makers are increasingly visual thinkers. Because attention spans in procurement meetings are shrinking. And because a well-designed presentation communicates hierarchy, sequence, and emphasis in ways that paragraphs of prose simply cannot.
Adobe Stock is positioned to become the infrastructure layer for this shift. Its template library is expanding rapidly across industries, file formats, and creative styles. The agencies that build systematic workflows around these assets now will have a significant operational advantage within the next few years.
This media kit presentation template was designed by GraphicArtist. Download the template from Adobe StockCommon Mistakes That Undermine a Client Presentation
Even with the best templates and a solid framework, certain habits consistently undermine the final product.
Overloading slides with text is the most common error. A slide is not a document. Each slide should carry one idea, one visual, and one takeaway. If you find yourself shrinking font sizes to fit more content, that’s a sign the content needs to be cut — not compressed.
Ignoring the client’s brand hierarchy is the second major mistake. Applying a client’s primary color to the template is necessary. But also check their brand guidelines for secondary colors, approved typeface combinations, and logo clearance rules. These details signal professionalism.
Skipping a proof round is the third. Even in a 30-minute build, take 90 seconds to read every headline out loud. You’ll catch awkward phrasing, missing words, and tonally inconsistent copy much faster than by reading silently.
Finally, exporting at the wrong resolution is a surprisingly common problem. Always export at 150 DPI minimum for screen presentations, and 300 DPI if the presentation will be printed or screenshared on a 4K display.
This portfolio presentation template was designed by Bourjart using InDesign. Download the template from Adobe StockHow to Choose the Best Adobe Stock Presentation Templates for Client Work
Not all Adobe Stock templates are created equal. Some are designed for editorial use. Others are built for commercial pitching. Knowing the difference saves significant time in the selection phase.
Look for templates with modular slide architecture. This means each slide type — title, section break, content, data visualization, closing CTA — exists as a standalone unit that can be rearranged without breaking the design logic. Modular templates adapt to any narrative structure you bring to them.
Also, prioritize templates with editable master slides. If the master isn’t editable, global changes — color, font, logo — require manual updates on every slide. That’s a workflow killer under time pressure.
Finally, favor templates that include infographic and data visualization slides. These are the slides that take the most time to build from scratch and the ones that add the most perceptual credibility to any client presentation.
An eye-catching business marketing presentation template by PixWork for InDesign. Download the template from Adobe StockLong-Tail Scenarios Where the 30-Minute Workflow Applies
The framework above works for more than just pitch decks. Here are five specific presentation types where this workflow delivers outsized value in minimal time:
Quarterly business review templates adapt well to the Problem–Proof–Promise structure by reframing the problem as “current performance gaps” and the promise as “recommended actions.”
Creative agency capability decks benefit enormously from strong visual templates, since the presentation itself is a demonstration of design sensibility.
Freelance proposal presentations convert better when built on professional templates because they signal studio-level execution even from a solo operator.
Brand strategy presentations use the narrative spine to walk clients from the current state through the brand audit to the recommended positioning.
Partnership pitch decks for B2B contexts benefit from clean, neutral templates that don’t feel too personality-driven — which is exactly what premium Adobe Stock editorial templates provide.
FAQ: Building a Client Presentation Using Adobe Stock Templates
How long does it really take to build a professional client presentation using Adobe Stock templates?
With the Template Redirection Method and the 3-Point Brand Injection system outlined above, most experienced designers can produce a polished, on-brand client presentation in 25 to 35 minutes. The timeline assumes you have the client’s brand assets ready and a clear sense of the narrative structure before you open the template.
Can I use Adobe Stock templates for commercial client work?
Yes. Adobe Stock’s standard commercial license covers templates used in client-facing presentations, proposals, and pitches. However, always verify the specific license terms attached to any asset you download, as extended licenses may apply for large-scale distribution or broadcast use.
What’s the difference between a presentation template and a pitch deck template on Adobe Stock?
The terminology overlaps significantly, but pitch deck templates typically include investor-specific slides like “Market Opportunity,” “Funding Ask,” and “Competitive Landscape.” General presentation templates tend to be more flexible across use cases. For client pitches in agency or service contexts, standard presentation templates usually serve better.
Should I always customize the template’s color scheme for each client presentation?
Yes, and specifically through the 3-Point Brand Injection method: primary color, headline font, and logo placement. These three changes produce the most visible customization for the least amount of time. Additional customization is valuable if time allows, but these three changes are the non-negotiables.
What slide count is ideal for a client presentation built in 30 minutes?
Ten to twelve slides is the optimal range. This number supports the full Problem–Proof–Promise narrative arc without requiring so many slides that customization becomes unwieldy under time pressure. Most Adobe Stock premium templates include 12–20 slides, giving you flexibility without overwhelming the process.
Do Adobe Stock templates work in both PowerPoint and Keynote?
Most Adobe Stock presentation templates are available in multiple formats, including PowerPoint, Keynote, and sometimes Google Slides. Always check the file format availability on the asset detail page before downloading. Cross-platform compatibility can affect font rendering and animation behavior, so test the file in your presentation software before finalizing.
How do I find Adobe Stock templates that match a specific industry?
Use keyword combinations that include both industry and tone: “clean tech startup pitch deck,” “luxury real estate presentation template,” or “minimal healthcare proposal slides.” Adobe Stock’s search algorithm responds well to tone-based modifiers alongside industry terms. Also, use the visual search feature to find templates that match a reference image you already like.
What makes a client presentation template worth using versus building from scratch?
A professional-grade template brings pre-solved design problems: spacing rhythm, typographic hierarchy, color contrast, and layout logic. Building from scratch is appropriate when a client has highly specific brand requirements that no existing template can accommodate. For most presentations, especially under time pressure, a well-chosen template will outperform a rushed custom build every time.
Check out other popular graphic design templates here at WE AND THE COLOR.
#AdobeStock #ClientPresentation #ClientPresentations #presentation #presentationTemplates #templates -
Beautiful and Doomed: Saving Bangladesh’s Langurs From Extinction
A recent study has found hybridisation (interbreeding) between critically endangered Phayre’s #langurs and endangered capped langurs in #Bangladesh, raises serious concerns about their genetic health and future survival as distinct species. Hybridisation is a serious sign of ecological disruption, and researchers point to human-related threats such as #palmoil and #timber #deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and #hunting as key drivers for them interbreeding. These pressures not only push the species to hybridise but also threaten their long-term existence in the wild, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts to address habitat destruction and protect these seriously endangered primates. 🌿 Help them when you shop, go #vegan and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4WildlifeBeautiful Capped Langurs and Phayre’s #Langurs are interbreeding, risking both #species’ survival. Pressures of #palmoil #deforestation and #hunting are pushing the #monkeys to the edge in #Bangladesh #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🚫 @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9bY
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterHybridisation/interbreeding of two beautiful #langur 🐵🐒species in #Bangladesh puts both #animals in serious peril finds #research study 😭. #Palmoil #deforestation is a major threat. Fight back and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🛢️⛔ @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9bY
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterThis article was originally published in Mongabay and was written by Mohammad Al-Masum Molla, read the original article. Republished under Creative Commons attribution licence. Research by Ahmed, T., Hasan, S., Nath, S., Biswas, S. … Roos, C. (2024). Mixed-Species Groups and Genetically Confirmed Hybridization Between Sympatric Phayre’s Langur (Trachypithecus phayrei) and Capped Langur (T. pileatus) in Northeast Bangladesh. International Journal of Primatology. doi:10.1007/s10764-024-00459-x
- Bangladesh is home to less than 500 Phayre’s langurs and 600 capped langurs in the rainforests in the country’s northeast.
- A recent study has unveiled a trend of hybridisation between Phayre’s langurs and capped langurs in Bangladesh, which are listed as critically endangered and endangered, respectively, by IUCN.
- Hybridisation is a vital indicator of ecological change, and researchers are raising serious concerns about the genetic health of the two species and their future existence in the wild.
- The study holds human activities such as deforestation, habitat fragmentation and hunting as some of the causes responsible for increasing the risk of hybridisation cases.
A recent study revealed a troubling trend among the wild monkey population in Bangladesh’s northeastern forests. The study, conducted by the German Primate Centre, unveiled a concerning tendency of hybridisation between Phayre’s langurs (Trachypithecus phayrei) and capped langurs (Trachypithecus pileatus), listed as critically endangered and endangered, respectively, within Bangladesh by IUCN.
This hybridisation of the endangered primates, which researchers of the study say is caused by habitat loss due to deforestation and other human interferences, could push them to extinction in a few generations.
“Bangladesh’s langur populations are small and isolated, limiting gene flow. This hybridisation in restricted populations heightens their extinction risk. Furthermore, our laws primarily protect pure langurs, leaving hybrids unprotected. If hybrids persist into future generations, we’ll face tough decisions about their role in our ecosystem,” Tanvir Ahmed, the study’s lead researcher, told Mongabay.
Monirul H. Khan, a professor at Jahangirnagar University’s Zoology Department, agreed with Tanvir and said that the significance of interbreeding is that these langurs don’t survive for a long time.
“They are usually born infertile. So the population of langur will gradually decrease,” he said.
The study, published in the International Journal of Primatology, recently found that out of 98 langur groups observed, eight comprised both Phayre’s and capped langurs.
“We analysed genetic samples of the species in the lab and confirmed one case of hybridisation. This langur had a capped langur mother and a Phayre’s langur father. Another female with a hybrid appearance showed signs of motherhood, indicating that at least female hybrids are fertile and give birth to young,” Tanvir said.
“The genetic characteristics of a distinct species tend to become most threatened when their hybrid females can reproduce. Fertile hybrid females threaten to bring the two species closer together as the offsprings begin to mix characteristics. That is exactly what could be happening to them,” he said.
The research shows that the ‘spectacled’ Phayre’s langurs and the capped langurs, with their distinctive shock of black fur on their heads, are under threat of losing their distinct genetic makeup to hybridisation.
Researchers conducted the study over five years, between 2018 and 2023, in six forests in northeastern Bangladesh — Lawachara National Park, Satchari National Park, Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajkandi Reserve Forest, Patharia Hill Reserve Forest and Atora Hill Reserve Forest.
The study involved field surveys for 92 days between March 2018 and April 2019 and from July to December 2022, employing three trained local eco-guides to monitor the mixed-species groups until October 2023.
(Left) A mixed-species group of Phayre’s and capped langurs in Satchari National Park. (Right) A male hybrid of Phayre’s and capped langurs in Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. Image by Auritro Sattar. Images by Rasel Debbarma and Auritro Sattar.Why hybridisation is a concern
The study shows that, although it’s relatively rare, hybridisation among primates is an escalating concern worldwide, often driven by habitat loss and fragmentation. It serves as a stark reminder of the significant impacts of human activity on biodiversity. The situation in Bangladesh gradually becoming more common emphasizes the urgent need for strong conservation efforts.
The study mentions how hybridisation is a vital indicator of ecological change, raising serious concerns about species’ genetic health. Tanvir added that this study is groundbreaking, as it documents the first hybridisation incidents among these langurs in Bangladesh and their entire distribution range.
Hybrids being fertile could lead to the extinction of the parent species. “Additionally, mixing species can enable the spread of diseases between previously unconnected populations, posing risks to both wildlife and human health, since these animals are often hunted and traded,” said Sabit Hasan, a researcher of the study.
The study blamed human activities such as palm oil deforestation, habitat fragmentation, hunting and trapping of primates as some of the causes that can increase the risk of such hybridisation.
“The existence of fertile hybrids is particularly alarming because it suggests that gene flow between these two endangered species could irreversibly affect their future genetic composition,” Tanvir said.
The genetically confirmed hybrid with its half-sibling feeding on fruits at Satchari National Park. Image by Harish Debbarma.The genetically confirmed juvenile hybrid with its capped langur mother and Phayre’s langur father at Satchari National Park. Image by Mahmudul Bari.Primates of Bangladesh
Ten of the 121 mammal species found in Bangladesh are primates. According to the hybridisation study, Bangladesh is home to less than 500 Phayre’s langurs and 600 capped langurs.
The Phayre’s langur has a brown to grey-brown back, white fur on its belly and face, and a “spectacled” appearance due to wide white rings around its eyes. Its face and extremities are black, and it has long hair on its head that points backward. Additionally, its tail is longer than its body and has a tuft of dark hair at the tip.
The capped langur is known for its distinctive crown of long, erect hairs on its head. It has a black face, grey to blackish-grey fur on top, and brownish-yellow or orange fur below, with the distal half of its tail being blackish.
The study suggested the government prioritize habitat preservation and create corridors to connect isolated primate populations, facilitating natural langur dispersal.
“If we don’t take action now, we risk losing not just two monkey species but also a vital part of Bangladesh’s biodiversity,” Tanvir said.
A juvenile hybrid with its Phayre’s langur father in Satchari National Park. Image by Rasel Debbarma.Banner image: The genetically confirmed hybrid (right) with its capped langur mother at Satchari National Park. Image by Harish Debbarma.
This article was originally published in Mongabay and was written by Mohammad Al-Masum Molla, read the original article. Republished under Creative Commons attribution licence. Research by Ahmed, T., Hasan, S., Nath, S., Biswas, S. … Roos, C. (2024). Mixed-Species Groups and Genetically Confirmed Hybridization Between Sympatric Phayre’s Langur (Trachypithecus phayrei) and Capped Langur (T. pileatus) in Northeast Bangladesh. International Journal of Primatology. doi:10.1007/s10764-024-00459-x
ENDS
Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture
Global South America S.E. Asia India Africa West Papua & PNGSunda Flying Lemur Galeopterus variegatus
Keep readingWestern Parotia Parotia sefilata
Keep readingCapped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus
Keep readingMountain Tapir Tapirus pinchaque
Keep reading Keep reading Keep readingLearn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing
Read more about RSPO greenwashing
Lying Fake labels Indigenous Land-grabbing Human rights abuses Deforestation Human health hazardsA 2019 World Health Organisation (WHO) report into the palm oil industry and RSPO finds extensive greenwashing of palm oil deforestation and the murder of endangered animals (i.e. biodiversity loss)
Read moreTake Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
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Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #animalBehaviour #AnimalBiodiversityNews #animalExtinction #animalRights #animals #Bangladesh #biodiversity #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CappedLangur #CappedLangurTrachypithecusPileatus #deforestation #hunting #India #langur #Langurs #monkey #monkeys #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #PhayreSLeafMonkeyTrachypithecusPhayrei #Primate #research #species #timber #vegan -
Beautiful and Doomed: Saving Bangladesh’s Langurs From Extinction
A recent study has found hybridisation (interbreeding) between critically endangered Phayre’s #langurs and endangered capped langurs in #Bangladesh, raises serious concerns about their genetic health and future survival as distinct species. Hybridisation is a serious sign of ecological disruption, and researchers point to human-related threats such as #palmoil and #timber #deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and #hunting as key drivers for them interbreeding. These pressures not only push the species to hybridise but also threaten their long-term existence in the wild, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts to address habitat destruction and protect these seriously endangered primates. 🌿 Help them when you shop, go #vegan and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4WildlifeBeautiful Capped Langurs and Phayre’s #Langurs are interbreeding, risking both #species’ survival. Pressures of #palmoil #deforestation and #hunting are pushing the #monkeys to the edge in #Bangladesh #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🚫 @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9bY
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterHybridisation/interbreeding of two beautiful #langur 🐵🐒species in #Bangladesh puts both #animals in serious peril finds #research study 😭. #Palmoil #deforestation is a major threat. Fight back and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🛢️⛔ @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9bY
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterThis article was originally published in Mongabay and was written by Mohammad Al-Masum Molla, read the original article. Republished under Creative Commons attribution licence. Research by Ahmed, T., Hasan, S., Nath, S., Biswas, S. … Roos, C. (2024). Mixed-Species Groups and Genetically Confirmed Hybridization Between Sympatric Phayre’s Langur (Trachypithecus phayrei) and Capped Langur (T. pileatus) in Northeast Bangladesh. International Journal of Primatology. doi:10.1007/s10764-024-00459-x
- Bangladesh is home to less than 500 Phayre’s langurs and 600 capped langurs in the rainforests in the country’s northeast.
- A recent study has unveiled a trend of hybridisation between Phayre’s langurs and capped langurs in Bangladesh, which are listed as critically endangered and endangered, respectively, by IUCN.
- Hybridisation is a vital indicator of ecological change, and researchers are raising serious concerns about the genetic health of the two species and their future existence in the wild.
- The study holds human activities such as deforestation, habitat fragmentation and hunting as some of the causes responsible for increasing the risk of hybridisation cases.
A recent study revealed a troubling trend among the wild monkey population in Bangladesh’s northeastern forests. The study, conducted by the German Primate Centre, unveiled a concerning tendency of hybridisation between Phayre’s langurs (Trachypithecus phayrei) and capped langurs (Trachypithecus pileatus), listed as critically endangered and endangered, respectively, within Bangladesh by IUCN.
This hybridisation of the endangered primates, which researchers of the study say is caused by habitat loss due to deforestation and other human interferences, could push them to extinction in a few generations.
“Bangladesh’s langur populations are small and isolated, limiting gene flow. This hybridisation in restricted populations heightens their extinction risk. Furthermore, our laws primarily protect pure langurs, leaving hybrids unprotected. If hybrids persist into future generations, we’ll face tough decisions about their role in our ecosystem,” Tanvir Ahmed, the study’s lead researcher, told Mongabay.
Monirul H. Khan, a professor at Jahangirnagar University’s Zoology Department, agreed with Tanvir and said that the significance of interbreeding is that these langurs don’t survive for a long time.
“They are usually born infertile. So the population of langur will gradually decrease,” he said.
The study, published in the International Journal of Primatology, recently found that out of 98 langur groups observed, eight comprised both Phayre’s and capped langurs.
“We analysed genetic samples of the species in the lab and confirmed one case of hybridisation. This langur had a capped langur mother and a Phayre’s langur father. Another female with a hybrid appearance showed signs of motherhood, indicating that at least female hybrids are fertile and give birth to young,” Tanvir said.
“The genetic characteristics of a distinct species tend to become most threatened when their hybrid females can reproduce. Fertile hybrid females threaten to bring the two species closer together as the offsprings begin to mix characteristics. That is exactly what could be happening to them,” he said.
The research shows that the ‘spectacled’ Phayre’s langurs and the capped langurs, with their distinctive shock of black fur on their heads, are under threat of losing their distinct genetic makeup to hybridisation.
Researchers conducted the study over five years, between 2018 and 2023, in six forests in northeastern Bangladesh — Lawachara National Park, Satchari National Park, Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajkandi Reserve Forest, Patharia Hill Reserve Forest and Atora Hill Reserve Forest.
The study involved field surveys for 92 days between March 2018 and April 2019 and from July to December 2022, employing three trained local eco-guides to monitor the mixed-species groups until October 2023.
(Left) A mixed-species group of Phayre’s and capped langurs in Satchari National Park. (Right) A male hybrid of Phayre’s and capped langurs in Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. Image by Auritro Sattar. Images by Rasel Debbarma and Auritro Sattar.Why hybridisation is a concern
The study shows that, although it’s relatively rare, hybridisation among primates is an escalating concern worldwide, often driven by habitat loss and fragmentation. It serves as a stark reminder of the significant impacts of human activity on biodiversity. The situation in Bangladesh gradually becoming more common emphasizes the urgent need for strong conservation efforts.
The study mentions how hybridisation is a vital indicator of ecological change, raising serious concerns about species’ genetic health. Tanvir added that this study is groundbreaking, as it documents the first hybridisation incidents among these langurs in Bangladesh and their entire distribution range.
Hybrids being fertile could lead to the extinction of the parent species. “Additionally, mixing species can enable the spread of diseases between previously unconnected populations, posing risks to both wildlife and human health, since these animals are often hunted and traded,” said Sabit Hasan, a researcher of the study.
The study blamed human activities such as palm oil deforestation, habitat fragmentation, hunting and trapping of primates as some of the causes that can increase the risk of such hybridisation.
“The existence of fertile hybrids is particularly alarming because it suggests that gene flow between these two endangered species could irreversibly affect their future genetic composition,” Tanvir said.
The genetically confirmed hybrid with its half-sibling feeding on fruits at Satchari National Park. Image by Harish Debbarma.The genetically confirmed juvenile hybrid with its capped langur mother and Phayre’s langur father at Satchari National Park. Image by Mahmudul Bari.Primates of Bangladesh
Ten of the 121 mammal species found in Bangladesh are primates. According to the hybridisation study, Bangladesh is home to less than 500 Phayre’s langurs and 600 capped langurs.
The Phayre’s langur has a brown to grey-brown back, white fur on its belly and face, and a “spectacled” appearance due to wide white rings around its eyes. Its face and extremities are black, and it has long hair on its head that points backward. Additionally, its tail is longer than its body and has a tuft of dark hair at the tip.
The capped langur is known for its distinctive crown of long, erect hairs on its head. It has a black face, grey to blackish-grey fur on top, and brownish-yellow or orange fur below, with the distal half of its tail being blackish.
The study suggested the government prioritize habitat preservation and create corridors to connect isolated primate populations, facilitating natural langur dispersal.
“If we don’t take action now, we risk losing not just two monkey species but also a vital part of Bangladesh’s biodiversity,” Tanvir said.
A juvenile hybrid with its Phayre’s langur father in Satchari National Park. Image by Rasel Debbarma.Banner image: The genetically confirmed hybrid (right) with its capped langur mother at Satchari National Park. Image by Harish Debbarma.
This article was originally published in Mongabay and was written by Mohammad Al-Masum Molla, read the original article. Republished under Creative Commons attribution licence. Research by Ahmed, T., Hasan, S., Nath, S., Biswas, S. … Roos, C. (2024). Mixed-Species Groups and Genetically Confirmed Hybridization Between Sympatric Phayre’s Langur (Trachypithecus phayrei) and Capped Langur (T. pileatus) in Northeast Bangladesh. International Journal of Primatology. doi:10.1007/s10764-024-00459-x
ENDS
Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture
Global South America S.E. Asia India Africa West Papua & PNGSunda Flying Lemur Galeopterus variegatus
Keep readingWestern Parotia Parotia sefilata
Keep readingCapped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus
Keep readingMountain Tapir Tapirus pinchaque
Keep reading Keep reading Keep readingLearn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing
Read more about RSPO greenwashing
Lying Fake labels Indigenous Land-grabbing Human rights abuses Deforestation Human health hazardsA 2019 World Health Organisation (WHO) report into the palm oil industry and RSPO finds extensive greenwashing of palm oil deforestation and the murder of endangered animals (i.e. biodiversity loss)
Read moreTake Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,177 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #animalBehaviour #AnimalBiodiversityNews #animalExtinction #animalRights #animals #Bangladesh #biodiversity #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CappedLangur #CappedLangurTrachypithecusPileatus #deforestation #hunting #India #langur #Langurs #monkey #monkeys #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #PhayreSLeafMonkeyTrachypithecusPhayrei #Primate #research #species #timber #vegan -
Beautiful and Doomed: Saving Bangladesh’s Langurs From Extinction
A recent study has found hybridisation (interbreeding) between critically endangered Phayre’s #langurs and endangered capped langurs in #Bangladesh, raises serious concerns about their genetic health and future survival as distinct species. Hybridisation is a serious sign of ecological disruption, and researchers point to human-related threats such as #palmoil and #timber #deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and #hunting as key drivers for them interbreeding. These pressures not only push the species to hybridise but also threaten their long-term existence in the wild, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts to address habitat destruction and protect these seriously endangered primates. 🌿 Help them when you shop, go #vegan and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4WildlifeBeautiful Capped Langurs and Phayre’s #Langurs are interbreeding, risking both #species’ survival. Pressures of #palmoil #deforestation and #hunting are pushing the #monkeys to the edge in #Bangladesh #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🚫 @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9bY
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterHybridisation/interbreeding of two beautiful #langur 🐵🐒species in #Bangladesh puts both #animals in serious peril finds #research study 😭. #Palmoil #deforestation is a major threat. Fight back and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🛢️⛔ @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9bY
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterThis article was originally published in Mongabay and was written by Mohammad Al-Masum Molla, read the original article. Republished under Creative Commons attribution licence. Research by Ahmed, T., Hasan, S., Nath, S., Biswas, S. … Roos, C. (2024). Mixed-Species Groups and Genetically Confirmed Hybridization Between Sympatric Phayre’s Langur (Trachypithecus phayrei) and Capped Langur (T. pileatus) in Northeast Bangladesh. International Journal of Primatology. doi:10.1007/s10764-024-00459-x
- Bangladesh is home to less than 500 Phayre’s langurs and 600 capped langurs in the rainforests in the country’s northeast.
- A recent study has unveiled a trend of hybridisation between Phayre’s langurs and capped langurs in Bangladesh, which are listed as critically endangered and endangered, respectively, by IUCN.
- Hybridisation is a vital indicator of ecological change, and researchers are raising serious concerns about the genetic health of the two species and their future existence in the wild.
- The study holds human activities such as deforestation, habitat fragmentation and hunting as some of the causes responsible for increasing the risk of hybridisation cases.
A recent study revealed a troubling trend among the wild monkey population in Bangladesh’s northeastern forests. The study, conducted by the German Primate Centre, unveiled a concerning tendency of hybridisation between Phayre’s langurs (Trachypithecus phayrei) and capped langurs (Trachypithecus pileatus), listed as critically endangered and endangered, respectively, within Bangladesh by IUCN.
This hybridisation of the endangered primates, which researchers of the study say is caused by habitat loss due to deforestation and other human interferences, could push them to extinction in a few generations.
“Bangladesh’s langur populations are small and isolated, limiting gene flow. This hybridisation in restricted populations heightens their extinction risk. Furthermore, our laws primarily protect pure langurs, leaving hybrids unprotected. If hybrids persist into future generations, we’ll face tough decisions about their role in our ecosystem,” Tanvir Ahmed, the study’s lead researcher, told Mongabay.
Monirul H. Khan, a professor at Jahangirnagar University’s Zoology Department, agreed with Tanvir and said that the significance of interbreeding is that these langurs don’t survive for a long time.
“They are usually born infertile. So the population of langur will gradually decrease,” he said.
The study, published in the International Journal of Primatology, recently found that out of 98 langur groups observed, eight comprised both Phayre’s and capped langurs.
“We analysed genetic samples of the species in the lab and confirmed one case of hybridisation. This langur had a capped langur mother and a Phayre’s langur father. Another female with a hybrid appearance showed signs of motherhood, indicating that at least female hybrids are fertile and give birth to young,” Tanvir said.
“The genetic characteristics of a distinct species tend to become most threatened when their hybrid females can reproduce. Fertile hybrid females threaten to bring the two species closer together as the offsprings begin to mix characteristics. That is exactly what could be happening to them,” he said.
The research shows that the ‘spectacled’ Phayre’s langurs and the capped langurs, with their distinctive shock of black fur on their heads, are under threat of losing their distinct genetic makeup to hybridisation.
Researchers conducted the study over five years, between 2018 and 2023, in six forests in northeastern Bangladesh — Lawachara National Park, Satchari National Park, Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajkandi Reserve Forest, Patharia Hill Reserve Forest and Atora Hill Reserve Forest.
The study involved field surveys for 92 days between March 2018 and April 2019 and from July to December 2022, employing three trained local eco-guides to monitor the mixed-species groups until October 2023.
(Left) A mixed-species group of Phayre’s and capped langurs in Satchari National Park. (Right) A male hybrid of Phayre’s and capped langurs in Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. Image by Auritro Sattar. Images by Rasel Debbarma and Auritro Sattar.Why hybridisation is a concern
The study shows that, although it’s relatively rare, hybridisation among primates is an escalating concern worldwide, often driven by habitat loss and fragmentation. It serves as a stark reminder of the significant impacts of human activity on biodiversity. The situation in Bangladesh gradually becoming more common emphasizes the urgent need for strong conservation efforts.
The study mentions how hybridisation is a vital indicator of ecological change, raising serious concerns about species’ genetic health. Tanvir added that this study is groundbreaking, as it documents the first hybridisation incidents among these langurs in Bangladesh and their entire distribution range.
Hybrids being fertile could lead to the extinction of the parent species. “Additionally, mixing species can enable the spread of diseases between previously unconnected populations, posing risks to both wildlife and human health, since these animals are often hunted and traded,” said Sabit Hasan, a researcher of the study.
The study blamed human activities such as palm oil deforestation, habitat fragmentation, hunting and trapping of primates as some of the causes that can increase the risk of such hybridisation.
“The existence of fertile hybrids is particularly alarming because it suggests that gene flow between these two endangered species could irreversibly affect their future genetic composition,” Tanvir said.
The genetically confirmed hybrid with its half-sibling feeding on fruits at Satchari National Park. Image by Harish Debbarma.The genetically confirmed juvenile hybrid with its capped langur mother and Phayre’s langur father at Satchari National Park. Image by Mahmudul Bari.Primates of Bangladesh
Ten of the 121 mammal species found in Bangladesh are primates. According to the hybridisation study, Bangladesh is home to less than 500 Phayre’s langurs and 600 capped langurs.
The Phayre’s langur has a brown to grey-brown back, white fur on its belly and face, and a “spectacled” appearance due to wide white rings around its eyes. Its face and extremities are black, and it has long hair on its head that points backward. Additionally, its tail is longer than its body and has a tuft of dark hair at the tip.
The capped langur is known for its distinctive crown of long, erect hairs on its head. It has a black face, grey to blackish-grey fur on top, and brownish-yellow or orange fur below, with the distal half of its tail being blackish.
The study suggested the government prioritize habitat preservation and create corridors to connect isolated primate populations, facilitating natural langur dispersal.
“If we don’t take action now, we risk losing not just two monkey species but also a vital part of Bangladesh’s biodiversity,” Tanvir said.
A juvenile hybrid with its Phayre’s langur father in Satchari National Park. Image by Rasel Debbarma.Banner image: The genetically confirmed hybrid (right) with its capped langur mother at Satchari National Park. Image by Harish Debbarma.
This article was originally published in Mongabay and was written by Mohammad Al-Masum Molla, read the original article. Republished under Creative Commons attribution licence. Research by Ahmed, T., Hasan, S., Nath, S., Biswas, S. … Roos, C. (2024). Mixed-Species Groups and Genetically Confirmed Hybridization Between Sympatric Phayre’s Langur (Trachypithecus phayrei) and Capped Langur (T. pileatus) in Northeast Bangladesh. International Journal of Primatology. doi:10.1007/s10764-024-00459-x
ENDS
Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture
Global South America S.E. Asia India Africa West Papua & PNGSunda Flying Lemur Galeopterus variegatus
Keep readingWestern Parotia Parotia sefilata
Keep readingCapped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus
Keep readingMountain Tapir Tapirus pinchaque
Keep reading Keep reading Keep readingLearn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing
Read more about RSPO greenwashing
Lying Fake labels Indigenous Land-grabbing Human rights abuses Deforestation Human health hazardsA 2019 World Health Organisation (WHO) report into the palm oil industry and RSPO finds extensive greenwashing of palm oil deforestation and the murder of endangered animals (i.e. biodiversity loss)
Read moreTake Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,177 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #animalBehaviour #AnimalBiodiversityNews #animalExtinction #animalRights #animals #Bangladesh #biodiversity #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CappedLangur #CappedLangurTrachypithecusPileatus #deforestation #hunting #India #langur #Langurs #monkey #monkeys #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #PhayreSLeafMonkeyTrachypithecusPhayrei #Primate #research #species #timber #vegan -
Beautiful and Doomed: Saving Bangladesh’s Langurs From Extinction
A recent study has found hybridisation (interbreeding) between critically endangered Phayre’s #langurs and endangered capped langurs in #Bangladesh, raises serious concerns about their genetic health and future survival as distinct species. Hybridisation is a serious sign of ecological disruption, and researchers point to human-related threats such as #palmoil and #timber #deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and #hunting as key drivers for them interbreeding. These pressures not only push the species to hybridise but also threaten their long-term existence in the wild, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts to address habitat destruction and protect these seriously endangered primates. 🌿 Help them when you shop, go #vegan and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4WildlifeBeautiful Capped Langurs and Phayre’s #Langurs are interbreeding, risking both #species’ survival. Pressures of #palmoil #deforestation and #hunting are pushing the #monkeys to the edge in #Bangladesh #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🚫 @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9bY
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterHybridisation/interbreeding of two beautiful #langur 🐵🐒species in #Bangladesh puts both #animals in serious peril finds #research study 😭. #Palmoil #deforestation is a major threat. Fight back and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🛢️⛔ @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9bY
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterThis article was originally published in Mongabay and was written by Mohammad Al-Masum Molla, read the original article. Republished under Creative Commons attribution licence. Research by Ahmed, T., Hasan, S., Nath, S., Biswas, S. … Roos, C. (2024). Mixed-Species Groups and Genetically Confirmed Hybridization Between Sympatric Phayre’s Langur (Trachypithecus phayrei) and Capped Langur (T. pileatus) in Northeast Bangladesh. International Journal of Primatology. doi:10.1007/s10764-024-00459-x
- Bangladesh is home to less than 500 Phayre’s langurs and 600 capped langurs in the rainforests in the country’s northeast.
- A recent study has unveiled a trend of hybridisation between Phayre’s langurs and capped langurs in Bangladesh, which are listed as critically endangered and endangered, respectively, by IUCN.
- Hybridisation is a vital indicator of ecological change, and researchers are raising serious concerns about the genetic health of the two species and their future existence in the wild.
- The study holds human activities such as deforestation, habitat fragmentation and hunting as some of the causes responsible for increasing the risk of hybridisation cases.
A recent study revealed a troubling trend among the wild monkey population in Bangladesh’s northeastern forests. The study, conducted by the German Primate Centre, unveiled a concerning tendency of hybridisation between Phayre’s langurs (Trachypithecus phayrei) and capped langurs (Trachypithecus pileatus), listed as critically endangered and endangered, respectively, within Bangladesh by IUCN.
This hybridisation of the endangered primates, which researchers of the study say is caused by habitat loss due to deforestation and other human interferences, could push them to extinction in a few generations.
“Bangladesh’s langur populations are small and isolated, limiting gene flow. This hybridisation in restricted populations heightens their extinction risk. Furthermore, our laws primarily protect pure langurs, leaving hybrids unprotected. If hybrids persist into future generations, we’ll face tough decisions about their role in our ecosystem,” Tanvir Ahmed, the study’s lead researcher, told Mongabay.
Monirul H. Khan, a professor at Jahangirnagar University’s Zoology Department, agreed with Tanvir and said that the significance of interbreeding is that these langurs don’t survive for a long time.
“They are usually born infertile. So the population of langur will gradually decrease,” he said.
The study, published in the International Journal of Primatology, recently found that out of 98 langur groups observed, eight comprised both Phayre’s and capped langurs.
“We analysed genetic samples of the species in the lab and confirmed one case of hybridisation. This langur had a capped langur mother and a Phayre’s langur father. Another female with a hybrid appearance showed signs of motherhood, indicating that at least female hybrids are fertile and give birth to young,” Tanvir said.
“The genetic characteristics of a distinct species tend to become most threatened when their hybrid females can reproduce. Fertile hybrid females threaten to bring the two species closer together as the offsprings begin to mix characteristics. That is exactly what could be happening to them,” he said.
The research shows that the ‘spectacled’ Phayre’s langurs and the capped langurs, with their distinctive shock of black fur on their heads, are under threat of losing their distinct genetic makeup to hybridisation.
Researchers conducted the study over five years, between 2018 and 2023, in six forests in northeastern Bangladesh — Lawachara National Park, Satchari National Park, Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajkandi Reserve Forest, Patharia Hill Reserve Forest and Atora Hill Reserve Forest.
The study involved field surveys for 92 days between March 2018 and April 2019 and from July to December 2022, employing three trained local eco-guides to monitor the mixed-species groups until October 2023.
(Left) A mixed-species group of Phayre’s and capped langurs in Satchari National Park. (Right) A male hybrid of Phayre’s and capped langurs in Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. Image by Auritro Sattar. Images by Rasel Debbarma and Auritro Sattar.Why hybridisation is a concern
The study shows that, although it’s relatively rare, hybridisation among primates is an escalating concern worldwide, often driven by habitat loss and fragmentation. It serves as a stark reminder of the significant impacts of human activity on biodiversity. The situation in Bangladesh gradually becoming more common emphasizes the urgent need for strong conservation efforts.
The study mentions how hybridisation is a vital indicator of ecological change, raising serious concerns about species’ genetic health. Tanvir added that this study is groundbreaking, as it documents the first hybridisation incidents among these langurs in Bangladesh and their entire distribution range.
Hybrids being fertile could lead to the extinction of the parent species. “Additionally, mixing species can enable the spread of diseases between previously unconnected populations, posing risks to both wildlife and human health, since these animals are often hunted and traded,” said Sabit Hasan, a researcher of the study.
The study blamed human activities such as palm oil deforestation, habitat fragmentation, hunting and trapping of primates as some of the causes that can increase the risk of such hybridisation.
“The existence of fertile hybrids is particularly alarming because it suggests that gene flow between these two endangered species could irreversibly affect their future genetic composition,” Tanvir said.
The genetically confirmed hybrid with its half-sibling feeding on fruits at Satchari National Park. Image by Harish Debbarma.The genetically confirmed juvenile hybrid with its capped langur mother and Phayre’s langur father at Satchari National Park. Image by Mahmudul Bari.Primates of Bangladesh
Ten of the 121 mammal species found in Bangladesh are primates. According to the hybridisation study, Bangladesh is home to less than 500 Phayre’s langurs and 600 capped langurs.
The Phayre’s langur has a brown to grey-brown back, white fur on its belly and face, and a “spectacled” appearance due to wide white rings around its eyes. Its face and extremities are black, and it has long hair on its head that points backward. Additionally, its tail is longer than its body and has a tuft of dark hair at the tip.
The capped langur is known for its distinctive crown of long, erect hairs on its head. It has a black face, grey to blackish-grey fur on top, and brownish-yellow or orange fur below, with the distal half of its tail being blackish.
The study suggested the government prioritize habitat preservation and create corridors to connect isolated primate populations, facilitating natural langur dispersal.
“If we don’t take action now, we risk losing not just two monkey species but also a vital part of Bangladesh’s biodiversity,” Tanvir said.
A juvenile hybrid with its Phayre’s langur father in Satchari National Park. Image by Rasel Debbarma.Banner image: The genetically confirmed hybrid (right) with its capped langur mother at Satchari National Park. Image by Harish Debbarma.
This article was originally published in Mongabay and was written by Mohammad Al-Masum Molla, read the original article. Republished under Creative Commons attribution licence. Research by Ahmed, T., Hasan, S., Nath, S., Biswas, S. … Roos, C. (2024). Mixed-Species Groups and Genetically Confirmed Hybridization Between Sympatric Phayre’s Langur (Trachypithecus phayrei) and Capped Langur (T. pileatus) in Northeast Bangladesh. International Journal of Primatology. doi:10.1007/s10764-024-00459-x
ENDS
Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture
Global South America S.E. Asia India Africa West Papua & PNGSunda Flying Lemur Galeopterus variegatus
Keep readingWestern Parotia Parotia sefilata
Keep readingCapped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus
Keep readingMountain Tapir Tapirus pinchaque
Keep reading Keep reading Keep readingLearn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing
Read more about RSPO greenwashing
Lying Fake labels Indigenous Land-grabbing Human rights abuses Deforestation Human health hazardsA 2019 World Health Organisation (WHO) report into the palm oil industry and RSPO finds extensive greenwashing of palm oil deforestation and the murder of endangered animals (i.e. biodiversity loss)
Read moreTake Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
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Join 3,177 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
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Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
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5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #animalBehaviour #AnimalBiodiversityNews #animalExtinction #animalRights #animals #Bangladesh #biodiversity #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CappedLangur #CappedLangurTrachypithecusPileatus #deforestation #hunting #India #langur #Langurs #monkey #monkeys #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #PhayreSLeafMonkeyTrachypithecusPhayrei #Primate #research #species #timber #vegan -
Beautiful and Doomed: Saving Bangladesh’s Langurs From Extinction
A recent study has found hybridisation (interbreeding) between critically endangered Phayre’s #langurs and endangered capped langurs in #Bangladesh, raises serious concerns about their genetic health and future survival as distinct species. Hybridisation is a serious sign of ecological disruption, and researchers point to human-related threats such as #palmoil and #timber #deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and #hunting as key drivers for them interbreeding. These pressures not only push the species to hybridise but also threaten their long-term existence in the wild, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts to address habitat destruction and protect these seriously endangered primates. 🌿 Help them when you shop, go #vegan and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4WildlifeBeautiful Capped Langurs and Phayre’s #Langurs are interbreeding, risking both #species’ survival. Pressures of #palmoil #deforestation and #hunting are pushing the #monkeys to the edge in #Bangladesh #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🚫 @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9bY
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterHybridisation/interbreeding of two beautiful #langur 🐵🐒species in #Bangladesh puts both #animals in serious peril finds #research study 😭. #Palmoil #deforestation is a major threat. Fight back and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🛢️⛔ @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9bY
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterThis article was originally published in Mongabay and was written by Mohammad Al-Masum Molla, read the original article. Republished under Creative Commons attribution licence. Research by Ahmed, T., Hasan, S., Nath, S., Biswas, S. … Roos, C. (2024). Mixed-Species Groups and Genetically Confirmed Hybridization Between Sympatric Phayre’s Langur (Trachypithecus phayrei) and Capped Langur (T. pileatus) in Northeast Bangladesh. International Journal of Primatology. doi:10.1007/s10764-024-00459-x
- Bangladesh is home to less than 500 Phayre’s langurs and 600 capped langurs in the rainforests in the country’s northeast.
- A recent study has unveiled a trend of hybridisation between Phayre’s langurs and capped langurs in Bangladesh, which are listed as critically endangered and endangered, respectively, by IUCN.
- Hybridisation is a vital indicator of ecological change, and researchers are raising serious concerns about the genetic health of the two species and their future existence in the wild.
- The study holds human activities such as deforestation, habitat fragmentation and hunting as some of the causes responsible for increasing the risk of hybridisation cases.
A recent study revealed a troubling trend among the wild monkey population in Bangladesh’s northeastern forests. The study, conducted by the German Primate Centre, unveiled a concerning tendency of hybridisation between Phayre’s langurs (Trachypithecus phayrei) and capped langurs (Trachypithecus pileatus), listed as critically endangered and endangered, respectively, within Bangladesh by IUCN.
This hybridisation of the endangered primates, which researchers of the study say is caused by habitat loss due to deforestation and other human interferences, could push them to extinction in a few generations.
“Bangladesh’s langur populations are small and isolated, limiting gene flow. This hybridisation in restricted populations heightens their extinction risk. Furthermore, our laws primarily protect pure langurs, leaving hybrids unprotected. If hybrids persist into future generations, we’ll face tough decisions about their role in our ecosystem,” Tanvir Ahmed, the study’s lead researcher, told Mongabay.
Monirul H. Khan, a professor at Jahangirnagar University’s Zoology Department, agreed with Tanvir and said that the significance of interbreeding is that these langurs don’t survive for a long time.
“They are usually born infertile. So the population of langur will gradually decrease,” he said.
The study, published in the International Journal of Primatology, recently found that out of 98 langur groups observed, eight comprised both Phayre’s and capped langurs.
“We analysed genetic samples of the species in the lab and confirmed one case of hybridisation. This langur had a capped langur mother and a Phayre’s langur father. Another female with a hybrid appearance showed signs of motherhood, indicating that at least female hybrids are fertile and give birth to young,” Tanvir said.
“The genetic characteristics of a distinct species tend to become most threatened when their hybrid females can reproduce. Fertile hybrid females threaten to bring the two species closer together as the offsprings begin to mix characteristics. That is exactly what could be happening to them,” he said.
The research shows that the ‘spectacled’ Phayre’s langurs and the capped langurs, with their distinctive shock of black fur on their heads, are under threat of losing their distinct genetic makeup to hybridisation.
Researchers conducted the study over five years, between 2018 and 2023, in six forests in northeastern Bangladesh — Lawachara National Park, Satchari National Park, Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajkandi Reserve Forest, Patharia Hill Reserve Forest and Atora Hill Reserve Forest.
The study involved field surveys for 92 days between March 2018 and April 2019 and from July to December 2022, employing three trained local eco-guides to monitor the mixed-species groups until October 2023.
(Left) A mixed-species group of Phayre’s and capped langurs in Satchari National Park. (Right) A male hybrid of Phayre’s and capped langurs in Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. Image by Auritro Sattar. Images by Rasel Debbarma and Auritro Sattar.Why hybridisation is a concern
The study shows that, although it’s relatively rare, hybridisation among primates is an escalating concern worldwide, often driven by habitat loss and fragmentation. It serves as a stark reminder of the significant impacts of human activity on biodiversity. The situation in Bangladesh gradually becoming more common emphasizes the urgent need for strong conservation efforts.
The study mentions how hybridisation is a vital indicator of ecological change, raising serious concerns about species’ genetic health. Tanvir added that this study is groundbreaking, as it documents the first hybridisation incidents among these langurs in Bangladesh and their entire distribution range.
Hybrids being fertile could lead to the extinction of the parent species. “Additionally, mixing species can enable the spread of diseases between previously unconnected populations, posing risks to both wildlife and human health, since these animals are often hunted and traded,” said Sabit Hasan, a researcher of the study.
The study blamed human activities such as palm oil deforestation, habitat fragmentation, hunting and trapping of primates as some of the causes that can increase the risk of such hybridisation.
“The existence of fertile hybrids is particularly alarming because it suggests that gene flow between these two endangered species could irreversibly affect their future genetic composition,” Tanvir said.
The genetically confirmed hybrid with its half-sibling feeding on fruits at Satchari National Park. Image by Harish Debbarma.The genetically confirmed juvenile hybrid with its capped langur mother and Phayre’s langur father at Satchari National Park. Image by Mahmudul Bari.Primates of Bangladesh
Ten of the 121 mammal species found in Bangladesh are primates. According to the hybridisation study, Bangladesh is home to less than 500 Phayre’s langurs and 600 capped langurs.
The Phayre’s langur has a brown to grey-brown back, white fur on its belly and face, and a “spectacled” appearance due to wide white rings around its eyes. Its face and extremities are black, and it has long hair on its head that points backward. Additionally, its tail is longer than its body and has a tuft of dark hair at the tip.
The capped langur is known for its distinctive crown of long, erect hairs on its head. It has a black face, grey to blackish-grey fur on top, and brownish-yellow or orange fur below, with the distal half of its tail being blackish.
The study suggested the government prioritize habitat preservation and create corridors to connect isolated primate populations, facilitating natural langur dispersal.
“If we don’t take action now, we risk losing not just two monkey species but also a vital part of Bangladesh’s biodiversity,” Tanvir said.
A juvenile hybrid with its Phayre’s langur father in Satchari National Park. Image by Rasel Debbarma.Banner image: The genetically confirmed hybrid (right) with its capped langur mother at Satchari National Park. Image by Harish Debbarma.
This article was originally published in Mongabay and was written by Mohammad Al-Masum Molla, read the original article. Republished under Creative Commons attribution licence. Research by Ahmed, T., Hasan, S., Nath, S., Biswas, S. … Roos, C. (2024). Mixed-Species Groups and Genetically Confirmed Hybridization Between Sympatric Phayre’s Langur (Trachypithecus phayrei) and Capped Langur (T. pileatus) in Northeast Bangladesh. International Journal of Primatology. doi:10.1007/s10764-024-00459-x
ENDS
Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture
Global South America S.E. Asia India Africa West Papua & PNGSunda Flying Lemur Galeopterus variegatus
Keep readingWestern Parotia Parotia sefilata
Keep readingCapped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus
Keep readingMountain Tapir Tapirus pinchaque
Keep reading Keep reading Keep readingLearn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing
Read more about RSPO greenwashing
Lying Fake labels Indigenous Land-grabbing Human rights abuses Deforestation Human health hazardsA 2019 World Health Organisation (WHO) report into the palm oil industry and RSPO finds extensive greenwashing of palm oil deforestation and the murder of endangered animals (i.e. biodiversity loss)
Read moreTake Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,177 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #animalBehaviour #AnimalBiodiversityNews #animalExtinction #animalRights #animals #Bangladesh #biodiversity #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CappedLangur #CappedLangurTrachypithecusPileatus #deforestation #hunting #India #langur #Langurs #monkey #monkeys #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #PhayreSLeafMonkeyTrachypithecusPhayrei #Primate #research #species #timber #vegan -
CW: Fedi meta
no wait im on wafrn. I need to use the power of tags
#According-to-all-known-laws-of-aviation #there-is-no-way-a-bee-should-be-able-to-fly.-Its-wings-are-too-small-to-get-its-fat-little-body-off-the-ground.-The-bee #of-course #flies-anyway-because-bees-don't-care-what-humans-think-is-impossible.-Yellow #black.-Yellow #black.-Yellow #black.-Yellow #black.-Ooh #black-and-yellow!-Let's-shake-it-up-a-little.-Barry!-Breakfast-is-ready!-Coming!-Hang-on-a-second.-Hello?-Barry?-Adam?-Can-you-believe-this-is-happening?-I-can't.-I'll-pick-you-up.-Looking-sharp.-Use-the-stairs #Your-father-paid-good-money-for-those.-Sorry.-I'm-excited.-Here's-the-graduate.-We're-very-proud-of-you #son.-A-perfect-report-card #all-B's.-Very-proud.-Ma!-I-got-a-thing-going-here.-You-got-lint-on-your-fuzz.-Ow!-That's-me!-Wave-to-us!-We'll-be-in-row-118 #000.-Bye!-Barry #I-told-you #stop-flying-in-the-house!-Hey #Adam.-Hey #Barry.-Is-that-fuzz-gel?-A-little.-Special-day #graduation.-Never-thought-I'd-make-it.-Three-days-grade-school 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#we-constantly-strive-to-improve-every-aspect-of-bee-existence.-These-bees-are-stress-testing-a-new-helmet-technology.-What-do-you-think-he-makes?-Not-enough.-Here-we-have-our-latest-advancement #the-Krelman.-What-does-that-do?-Catches-that-little-strand-of-honey-that-hangs-after-you-pour-it.-Saves-us-millions.-Can-anyone-work-on-the-Krelman?-Of-course.-Most-bee-jobs-are-small-ones.-But-bees-know-that-every-small-job #if-it's-done-well #means-a-lot.-But-choose-carefully-because-you'll-stay-in-the-job-you-pick-for-the-rest-of-your-life.-The-same-job-the-rest-of-your-life?-I-didn't-know-that.-What's-the-difference?-You'll-be-happy-to-know-that-bees #as-a-species #haven't-had-one-day-off-in-27-million-years.-So-you'll-just-work-us-to-death?-We'll-sure-try.-Wow!-That-blew-my-mind!-'What's-the-difference?'-How-can-you-say-that?-One-job-forever?-That's-an-insane-choice-to-have-to-make.-I'm-relieved.-Now-we-only-have-to-make-one-decision-in-life.-But #Adam #how-could-they-never-have-told-us-that?-Why-would-you-question-anything?-We're-bees.-We're-the-most-perfectly-functioning-society-on-Earth.-You-ever-think-maybe-things-work-a-little-too-well-here?-Like-what?-Give-me-one-example.-I-don't-know.-But-you-know-what-I'm-talking-about.-Please-clear-the-gate.-Royal-Nectar-Force-on-approach.-Wait-a-second.-Check-it-out.-Hey #those-are-Pollen-Jocks!-Wow.-I've-never-seen-them-this-close.-They-know-what-it's-like-outside-The-Hive.-Yeah #but-some-don't-come-back.-Hey #Jocks!-Hi #Jocks!-You-guys-did-great!-You're-monsters!-You're-sky-freaks!-I-love-it!-I-love-it!-I-wonder-where-they-were.-I-don't-know.-Their-day's-not-planned.-Outside-The-Hive #flying-who-knows-where #doing-who-knows-what.-You-can't-just-decide-to-be-a-Pollen-Jock.-You-have-to-be-bred-for-that.-Right.-Look.-That's-more-pollen-than-you-and-I-will-see-in-a-lifetime.-It's-just-a-status-symbol.-Bees-make-too-much-of-it.-Perhaps.-Unless-you're-wearing-it-and-the-ladies-see-you-wearing-it.-Those-ladies?-Aren't-they-our-cousins-too?-Distant.-Distant.-Look-at-these-two.-Couple-of-Hive-Harrys.-Let's-have-fun-with-them.-It-must-be-dangerous-being-a-Pollen-Jock.-Yeah.-Once-a-bear-pinned-me-against-a-mushroom!-He-had-a-paw-on-my-throat #and-with-the-other #he-was-slapping-me!-Oh #my!-I-never-thought-I'd-knock-him-out.-What-were-you-doing-during-this?-Trying-to-alert-the-authorities.-I-can-autograph-that.-A-little-gusty-out-there-today #wasn't-it #comrades?-Yeah.-Gusty.-We're-hitting-a-sunflower-patch-six-miles-from-here-tomorrow.-Six-miles #huh?-Barry!-A-puddle-jump-for-us #but-maybe-you're-not-up-for-it.-Maybe-I-am.-You-are-not!-We're-going-0900-at-J-Gate.-What-do-you-think #buzzy-boy?-Are-you-bee-enough?-I-might-be.-It-all-depends-on-what-0900-means.-Hey #Honex!-Dad #you-surprised-me.-You-decide-what-you're-interested-in?-Well #there's-a-lot-of-choices.-But-you-only-get-one.-Do-you-ever-get-bored-doing-the-same-job-every-day?-Son #let-me-tell-you-about-stirring.-You-grab-that-stick #and-you-just-move-it-around #and-you-stir-it-around.-You-get-yourself-into-a-rhythm.-It's-a-beautiful-thing.-You-know #Dad #the-more-I-think-about-it #maybe-the-honey-field-just-isn't-right-for-me.-You-were-thinking-of-what #making-balloon-animals?-That's-a-bad-job-for-a-guy-with-a-stinger.-Janet #your-son's-not-sure-he-wants-to-go-into-honey!-Barry #you-are-so-funny-sometimes.-I'm-not-trying-to-be-funny.-You're-not-funny!-You're-going-into-honey.-Our-son #the-stirrer!-You're-gonna-be-a-stirrer?-No-one's-listening-to-me!-Wait-till-you-see-the-sticks-I-have.-I-could-say-anything-right-now.-I'm-gonna-get-an-ant-tattoo!-Let's-open-some-honey-and-celebrate!-Maybe-I'll-pierce-my-thorax.-Shave-my-antennae.-Shack-up-with-a-grasshopper.-Get-a-gold-tooth-and-call-everybody-'dawg'!-I'm-so-proud.-We're-starting-work-today!-Today's-the-day.-Come-on!-All-the-good-jobs-will-be-gone.-Yeah #right.-Pollen-counting #stunt-bee #pouring #stirrer #front-desk #hair-removal...-Is-it-still-available?-Hang-on.-Two-left!-One-of-them's-yours!-Congratulations!-Step-to-the-side.-What'd-you-get?-Picking-crud-out.-Stellar!-Wow!-Couple-of-newbies?-Yes #sir!-Our-first-day!-We-are-ready!-Make-your-choice.-You-want-to-go-first?-No #you-go.-Oh #my.-What's-available?-Restroom-attendant's-open #not-for-the-reason-you-think.-Any-chance-of-getting-the-Krelman?-Sure #you're-on.-I'm-sorry #the-Krelman-just-closed-out.-Wax-monkey's-always-open.-The-Krelman-opened-up-again.-What-happened?-A-bee-died.-Makes-an-opening.-See?-He's-dead.-Another-dead-one.-Deady.-Deadified.-Two-more-dead.-Dead-from-the-neck-up.-Dead-from-the-neck-down.-That's-life!-Oh #this-is-so-hard!-Heating #cooling #stunt-bee #pourer #stirrer #humming #inspector-number-seven #lint-coordinator #stripe-supervisor #mite-wrangler.-Barry #what-do-you-think-I-should...-Barry?-Barry!-All-right #we've-got-the-sunflower-patch-in-quadrant-nine...-What-happened-to-you?-Where-are-you?-I'm-going-out.-Out?-Out-where?-Out-there.-Oh #no!-I-have-to #before-I-go-to-work-for-the-rest-of-my-life.-You're-gonna-die!-You're-crazy!-Hello?-Another-call-coming-in.-If-anyone's-feeling-brave #there's-a-Korean-deli-on-83rd-that-gets-their-roses-today.-Hey #guys.-Look-at-that.-Isn't-that-the-kid-we-saw-yesterday?-Hold-it #son #flight-deck's-restricted.-It's-OK #Lou.-We're-gonna-take-him-up.-Really?-Feeling-lucky #are-you?-Sign-here #here.-Just-initial-that.-Thank-you.-OK.-You-got-a-rain-advisory-today #and-as-you-all-know #bees-cannot-fly-in-rain.-So-be-careful.-As-always #watch-your-brooms #hockey-sticks #dogs #birds #bears-and-bats.-Also #I-got-a-couple-of-reports-of-root-beer-being-poured-on-us.-Murphy's-in-a-home-because-of-it #babbling-like-a-cicada!-That's-awful.-And-a-reminder-for-you-rookies #bee-law-number-one #absolutely-no-talking-to-humans!--All-right #launch-positions!-Buzz #buzz #buzz #buzz!-Buzz #buzz #buzz #buzz!-Buzz #buzz #buzz #buzz!-Black-and-yellow!-Hello!-You-ready-for-this #hot-shot?-Yeah.-Yeah #bring-it-on.-Wind #check.-Antennae #check.-Nectar-pack #check.-Wings #check.-Stinger #check.-Scared-out-of-my-shorts #check.-OK #ladies #let's-move-it-out!-Pound-those-petunias #you-striped-stem-suckers!-All-of-you #drain-those-flowers!-Wow!-I'm-out!-I-can't-believe-I'm-out!-So-blue.-I-feel-so-fast-and-free!-Box-kite!-Wow!-Flowers!-This-is-Blue-Leader #We-have-roses-visual.-Bring-it-around-30-degrees-and-hold.-Roses!-30-degrees #roger.-Bringing-it-around.-Stand-to-the-side #kid.-It's-got-a-bit-of-a-kick.-That-is-one-nectar-collector!-Ever-see-pollination-up-close?-No #sir.-I-pick-up-some-pollen-here #sprinkle-it-over-here.-Maybe-a-dash-over-there #a-pinch-on-that-one.-See-that?-It's-a-little-bit-of-magic.-That's-amazing.-Why-do-we-do-that?-That's-pollen-power.-More-pollen #more-flowers #more-nectar #more-honey-for-us.-Cool.-I'm-picking-up-a-lot-of-bright-yellow #Could-be-daisies #Don't-we-need-those?-Copy-that-visual.-Wait.-One-of-these-flowers-seems-to-be-on-the-move.-Say-again?-You're-reporting-a-moving-flower?-Affirmative.-That-was-on-the-line!-This-is-the-coolest.-What-is-it?-I-don't-know #but-I'm-loving-this-color.-It-smells-good.-Not-like-a-flower #but-I-like-it.-Yeah #fuzzy.-Chemical-y.-Careful #guys.-It's-a-little-grabby.-My-sweet-lord-of-bees!-Candy-brain #get-off-there!-Problem!-Guys!-This-could-be-bad.-Affirmative.-Very-close.-Gonna-hurt.-Mama's-little-boy.-You-are-way-out-of-position #rookie!-Coming-in-at-you-like-a-missile!-Help-me!-I-don't-think-these-are-flowers.-Should-we-tell-him?-I-think-he-knows.-What-is-this?!-Match-point!-You-can-start-packing-up #honey #because-you're-about-to-eat-it!-Yowser!-Gross.-There's-a-bee-in-the-car!-Do-something!-I'm-driving!-Hi #bee.-He's-back-here!-He's-going-to-sting-me!-Nobody-move.-If-you-don't-move #he-won't-sting-you.-Freeze!-He-blinked!-Spray-him #Granny!-What-are-you-doing?!-Wow...-the-tension-level-out-here-is-unbelievable.-I-gotta-get-home.-Can't-fly-in-rain.-Can't-fly-in-rain.-Can't-fly-in-rain.-Mayday!-Mayday!-Bee-going-down!-Ken #could-you-close-the-window-please?-Ken #could-you-close-the-window-please?-Check-out-my-new-resume.-I-made-it-into-a-fold-out-brochure.-You-see?-Folds-out.-Oh #no.-More-humans.-I-don't-need-this.-What-was-that?-Maybe-this-time.-This-time.-This-time.-This-time!-This-time!-This...-Drapes!-That-is-diabolical.-It's-fantastic.-It's-got-all-my-special-skills #even-my-top-ten-favorite-movies.-What's-number-one?-Star-Wars?-Nah #I-don't-go-for-that...-kind-of-stuff.-No-wonder-we-shouldn't-talk-to-them.-They're-out-of-their-minds.-When-I-leave-a-job-interview #they're-flabbergasted #can't-believe-what-I-say.-There's-the-sun.-Maybe-that's-a-way-out.-I-don't-remember-the-sun-having-a-big-75-on-it.-I-predicted-global-warming.-I-could-feel-it-getting-hotter.-At-first-I-thought-it-was-just-me.-Wait!-Stop!-Bee!-Stand-back.-These-are-winter-boots.-Wait!-Don't-kill-him!-You-know-I'm-allergic-to-them!-This-thing-could-kill-me!-Why-does-his-life-have-less-value-than-yours?-Why-does-his-life-have-any-less-value-than-mine?-Is-that-your-statement?-I'm-just-saying-all-life-has-value.-You-don't-know-what-he's-capable-of-feeling.-My-brochure!-There-you-go #little-guy.-I'm-not-scared-of-him.It's-an-allergic-thing.--Put-that-on-your-resume-brochure.-My-whole-face-could-puff-up.-Make-it-one-of-your-special-skills.-Knocking-someone-out-is-also-a-special-skill.-Right.-Bye #Vanessa.-Thanks.-Vanessa #next-week?-Yogurt-night?-Sure #Ken.-You-know #whatever.-You-could-put-carob-chips-on-there.-Bye.-Supposed-to-be-less-calories.-Bye.-I-gotta-say-something.-She-saved-my-life.-I-gotta-say-something.-All-right #here-it-goes.-Nah.-What-would-I-say?-I-could-really-get-in-trouble.-It's-a-bee-law.-You're-not-supposed-to-talk-to-a-human.-I-can't-believe-I'm-doing-this.-I've-got-to.-Oh #I-can't-do-it.-Come-on!-No.-Yes.-No.-Do-it.-I-can't.-How-should-I-start-it?-'You-like-jazz?'-No #that's-no-good.-Here-she-comes!-Speak #you-fool!-Hi!-I'm-sorry.-You're-talking.-Yes #I-know.-You're-talking!-I'm-so-sorry.-No #it's-OK.-It's-fine.-I-know-I'm-dreaming.-But-I-don't-recall-going-to-bed.-Well #I'm-sure-this-is-very-disconcerting.-This-is-a-bit-of-a-surprise-to-me.-I-mean #you're-a-bee!-I-am.-And-I'm-not-supposed-to-be-doing-this #Barry?-It's-pretty-big #but-they-were-all-trying-to-kill-me.-And-if-it-wasn't-for-you...-I-had-to-thank-you.-It's-just-how-I-was-raised.-That-was-a-little-weird.-I'm-talking-with-a-bee.-Yeah.-I'm-talking-to-a-bee.-And-the-bee-is-talking-to-me!-I-just-want-to-say-I'm-grateful.-I'll-leave-now.-Wait!-How-did-you-learn-to-do-that?-What?-The-talking-thing.-Same-way-you-did #I-guess.-'Mama #Dada #honey.'-You-pick-it-up.-That's-very-funny.-Yeah.-Bees-are-funny.-If-we-didn't-laugh #we'd-cry-with-what-we-have-to-deal-with.-Anyway...-Can-I...-get-you-something?-Like-what?-I-don't-know.-I-mean...-I-don't-know.-Coffee?-I-don't-want-to-put-you-out.-It's-no-trouble.-It-takes-two-minutes.-It's-just-coffee.-I-hate-to-impose.-Don't-be-ridiculous!-Actually #I-would-love-a-cup.-Hey #you-want-rum-cake?-I-shouldn't.-Have-some.-No #I-can't.-Come-on!-I'm-trying-to-lose-a-couple-micrograms.-Where?-These-stripes-don't-help.-You-look-great!-I-don't-know-if-you-know-anything-about-fashion.-Are-you-all-right?-No.-He's-making-the-tie-in-the-cab-as-they're-flying-up-Madison.-He-finally-gets-there.-He-runs-up-the-steps-into-the-church.-The-wedding-is-on.-And-he-says #'Watermelon?-I-thought-you-said-Guatemalan.-Why-would-I-marry-a-watermelon?'-Is-that-a-bee-joke?-That's-the-kind-of-stuff-we-do.-Yeah #different.-So #what-are-you-gonna-do #Barry?-About-work?-I-don't-know.-I-want-to-do-my-part-for-The-Hive #but-I-can't-do-it-the-way-they-want.-I-know-how-you-feel.-You-do?-Sure.-My-parents-wanted-me-to-be-a-lawyer-or-a-doctor #but-I-wanted-to-be-a-florist.-Really?-My-only-interest-is-flowers.-Our-new-queen-was-just-elected-with-that-same-campaign-slogan.-Anyway #if-you-look...-There's-my-hive-right-there.-See-it?-You're-in-Sheep-Meadow!-Yes!-I'm-right-off-the-Turtle-Pond!-No-way!-I-know-that-area.-I-lost-a-toe-ring-there-once.-Why-do-girls-put-rings-on-their-toes?-Why-not?-It's-like-putting-a-hat-on-your-knee.-Maybe-I'll-try-that.-You-all-right #ma'am?-Oh #yeah.-Fine.-Just-having-two-cups-of-coffee!-Anyway #this-has-been-great.-Thanks-for-the-coffee.-Yeah #it's-no-trouble.-Sorry-I-couldn't-finish-it.-If-I-did #I'd-be-up-the-rest-of-my-life.-Are-you...?-Can-I-take-a-piece-of-this-with-me?-Sure!-Here #have-a-crumb.-Thanks!-Yeah.-All-right.-Well #then...-I-guess-I'll-see-you-around.-Or-not.-OK #Barry.-And-thank-you-so-much-again...-for-before.-Oh #that?-That-was-nothing.-Well #not-nothing #but...-Anyway...-This-can't-possibly-work.-He's-all-set-to-go.-We-may-as-well-try-it.-OK #Dave #pull-the-chute.-Sounds-amazing.-It-was-amazing!-It-was-the-scariest #happiest-moment-of-my-life.-Humans!-I-can't-believe-you-were-with-humans!-Giant #scary-humans!-What-were-they-like?-Huge-and-crazy.-They-talk-crazy.-They-eat-crazy-giant-things.-They-drive-crazy.-Do-they-try-and-kill-you #like-on-TV?-Some-of-them.-But-some-of-them-don't.-How'd-you-get-back?-Poodle.-You-did-it #and-I'm-glad.-You-saw-whatever-you-wanted-to-see.-You-had-your-'experience.'-Now-you-can-pick-out-yourjob-and-be-normal.-Well...-Well?-Well #I-met-someone.-You-did?-Was-she-Bee-ish?-A-wasp?!-Your-parents-will-kill-you!-No #no #no #not-a-wasp.-Spider?-I'm-not-attracted-to-spiders.-I-know-it's-the-hottest-thing #with-the-eight-legs-and-all.-I-can't-get-by-that-face.-So-who-is-she?-She's...-human.-No #no.-That's-a-bee-law.-You-wouldn't-break-a-bee-law.-Her-name's-Vanessa.-Oh #boy.-She's-so-nice.-And-she's-a-florist!-Oh #no!-You're-dating-a-human-florist!-We're-not-dating.-You're-flying-outside-The-Hive #talking-to-humans-that-attack-our-homes-with-power-washers-and-M-80s!-One-eighth-a-stick-of-dynamite!-She-saved-my-life!-And-she-understands-me.-This-is-over!-Eat-this.-This-is-not-over!-What-was-that?-They-call-it-a-crumb.-It-was-so-stingin'-stripey!-And-that's-not-what-they-eat.-That's-what-falls-off-what-they-eat!-You-know-what-a-Cinnabon-is?-No.-It's-bread-and-cinnamon-and-frosting.-They-heat-it-up...-Sit-down!-...really-hot!-Listen-to-me!-We-are-not-them!-We're-us.-There's-us-and-there's-them!-Yes #but-who-can-deny-the-heart-that-is-yearning?-There's-no-yearning.-Stop-yearning.-Listen-to-me!-You-have-got-to-start-thinking-bee #my-friend.-Thinking-bee!-Thinking-bee.-Thinking-bee.-Thinking-bee!-Thinking-bee!-Thinking-bee!-Thinking-bee!-There-he-is.-He's-in-the-pool.-You-know-what-your-problem-is #Barry?-I-gotta-start-thinking-bee?-How-much-longer-will-this-go-on?-It's-been-three-days!-Why-aren't-you-working?-I've-got-a-lot-of-big-life-decisions-to-think-about.-What-life?-You-have-no-life!-You-have-no-job.-You're-barely-a-bee!-Would-it-kill-you-to-make-a-little-honey?-Barry #come-out.-Your-father's-talking-to-you.-Martin #would-you-talk-to-him?-Barry #I'm-talking-to-you!-You-coming?-Got-everything?-All-set!-Go-ahead.-I'll-catch-up.-Don't-be-too-long.-Watch-this!-Vanessa!-We're-still-here.-I-told-you-not-to-yell-at-him.-He-doesn't-respond-to-yelling!-Then-why-yell-at-me?-Because-you-don't-listen!-I'm-not-listening-to-this.-Sorry #I've-gotta-go.-Where-are-you-going?-I'm-meeting-a-friend.-A-girl?-Is-this-why-you-can't-decide?-Bye.-I-just-hope-she's-Bee-ish.-They-have-a-huge-parade-of-flowers-every-year-in-Pasadena?-To-be-in-the-Tournament-of-Roses #that's-every-florist's-dream!-Up-on-a-float #surrounded-by-flowers #crowds-cheering.-A-tournament.-Do-the-roses-compete-in-athletic-events?-No.-All-right #I've-got-one.-How-come-you-don't-fly-everywhere?-It's-exhausting.-Why-don't-you-run-everywhere?-It's-faster.-Yeah #OK #I-see #I-see.-All-right #your-turn.-TiVo.-You-can-just-freeze-live-TV?-That's-insane!-You-don't-have-that?-We-have-Hivo #but-it's-a-disease.-It's-a-horrible #horrible-disease.-Oh #my.-Dumb-bees!-You-must-want-to-sting-all-those-jerks.-We-try-not-to-sting.-It's-usually-fatal-for-us.-So-you-have-to-watch-your-temper.-Very-carefully.-You-kick-a-wall #take-a-walk #write-an-angry-letter-and-throw-it-out.-Work-through-it-like-any-emotion:-Anger #jealousy #lust.-Oh #my-goodness!-Are-you-OK?-Yeah.-What-is-wrong-with-you?!-It's-a-bug.-He's-not-bothering-anybody.-Get-out-of-here #you-creep!-What-was-that?-A-Pic-'N'-Save-circular?-Yeah #it-was.-How-did-you-know?-It-felt-like-about-10-pages.-Seventy-five-is-pretty-much-our-limit.-You've-really-got-that-down-to-a-science.-I-lost-a-cousin-to-Italian-Vogue.-I'll-bet.-What-in-the-name-of-Mighty-Hercules-is-this?-How-did-this-get-here?-cute-Bee #Golden-Blossom #Ray-Liotta-Private-Select?-Is-he-that-actor?-I-never-heard-of-him.-Why-is-this-here?-For-people.-We-eat-it.-You-don't-have-enough-food-of-your-own?-Well #yes.-How-do-you-get-it?-Bees-make-it.-I-know-who-makes-it!-And-it's-hard-to-make-it!-There's-heating #cooling #stirring.-You-need-a-whole-Krelman-thing!-It's-organic.-It's-our-ganic!-It's-just-honey #Barry.-Just-what?!-Bees-don't-know-about-this!-This-is-stealing!-A-lot-of-stealing!-You've-taken-our-homes #schools #hospitals!-This-is-all-we-have!-And-it's-on-sale?!-I'm-getting-to-the-bottom-of-this.-I'm-getting-to-the-bottom-of-all-of-this!-Hey #Hector.-You-almost-done?-Almost.-He-is-here.-I-sense-it.-Well #I-guess-I'll-go-home-now-and-just-leave-this-nice-honey-out #with-no-one-around.-You're-busted #box-boy!-I-knew-I-heard-something.-So-you-can-talk!-I-can-talk.-And-now-you'll-start-talking!-Where-you-getting-the-sweet-stuff?-Who's-your-supplier?-I-don't-understand.-I-thought-we-were-friends.-The-last-thing-we-want-to-do-is-upset-bees!-You're-too-late!-It's-ours-now!-You #sir #have-crossed-the-wrong-sword!-You #sir #will-be-lunch-for-my-iguana #Ignacio!-Where-is-the-honey-coming-from?-Tell-me-where!-Honey-Farms!-It-comes-from-Honey-Farms!-Crazy-person!-What-horrible-thing-has-happened-here?-These-faces #they-never-knew-what-hit-them.-And-now-they're-on-the-road-to-nowhere!-Just-keep-still.-What?-You're-not-dead?-Do-I-look-dead?-They-will-wipe-anything-that-moves.-Where-you-headed?-To-Honey-Farms.-I-am-onto-something-huge-here.-I'm-going-to-Alaska.-Moose-blood #crazy-stuff.-Blows-your-head-off!-I'm-going-to-Tacoma.-And-you?-He-really-is-dead.-All-right.-Uh-oh!-What-is-that?!-Oh #no!-A-wiper!-Triple-blade!-Triple-blade?-Jump-on!-It's-your-only-chance #bee!-Why-does-everything-have-to-be-so-doggone-clean?!-How-much-do-you-people-need-to-see?!-Open-your-eyes!-Stick-your-head-out-the-window!-From-NPR-News-in-Washington #I'm-Carl-Kasell.-But-don't-kill-no-more-bugs!-Bee!-Moose-blood-guy!!-You-hear-something?-Like-what?-Like-tiny-screaming.-Turn-off-the-radio.-Whassup #bee-boy?-Hey #Blood.-Just-a-row-of-honey-jars #as-far-as-the-eye-could-see.-Wow!-I-assume-wherever-this-truck-goes-is-where-they're-getting-it.-I-mean #that-honey's-ours.-Bees-hang-tight.-We're-all-jammed-in.-It's-a-close-community.-Not-us #man.-We-on-our-own.-Every-mosquito-on-his-own.-What-if-you-get-in-trouble?-You-a-mosquito #you-in-trouble.-Nobody-likes-us.-They-just-smack.-See-a-mosquito #smack #smack!-At-least-you're-out-in-the-world.-You-must-meet-girls.-Mosquito-girls-try-to-trade-up #get-with-a-moth #dragonfly.-Mosquito-girl-don't-want-no-mosquito.-You-got-to-be-kidding-me!-Mooseblood's-about-to-leave-the-building!-So-long #bee!-Hey #guys!-Mooseblood!-I-knew-I'd-catch-y'all-down-here.-Did-you-bring-your-crazy-straw?-We-throw-it-in-jars #slap-a-label-on-it #and-it's-pretty-much-pure-profit.-What-is-this-place?-A-bee's-got-a-brain-the-size-of-a-pinhead.-They-are-pinheads!-Pinhead.-Check-out-the-new-smoker.-Oh #sweet.-That's-the-one-you-want.-The-Thomas-3000!-Smoker?-Ninety-puffs-a-minute #semi-automatic.-Twice-the-nicotine #all-the-tar.-A-couple-breaths-of-this-knocks-them-right-out.-They-make-the-honey #and-we-make-the-money.-'They-make-the-honey #and-we-make-the-money'?-Oh #my!-What's-going-on?-Are-you-OK?-Yeah.-It-doesn't-last-too-long.-Do-you-know-you're-in-a-fake-hive-with-fake-walls?-Our-queen-was-moved-here.-We-had-no-choice.-This-is-your-queen?-That's-a-man-in-women's-clothes!-That's-a-drag-queen!-What-is-this?-Oh #no!-There's-hundreds-of-them!-Bee-honey.-Our-honey-is-being-brazenly-stolen-on-a-massive-scale!-This-is-worse-than-anything-bears-have-done!-I-intend-to-do-something.-Oh #Barry #stop.-Who-told-you-humans-are-taking-our-honey?-That's-a-rumor.-Do-these-look-like-rumors?-That's-a-conspiracy-theory.-These-are-obviously-doctored-photos.-How-did-you-get-mixed-up-in-this?-He's-been-talking-to-humans.-What?-Talking-to-humans?!-He-has-a-human-girlfriend.-And-they-make-out!-Make-out?-Barry!-We-do-not.-You-wish-you-could.-Whose-side-are-you-on?-The-bees!-I-dated-a-cricket-once-in-San-Antonio.-Those-crazy-legs-kept-me-up-all-night.-Barry #this-is-what-you-want-to-do-with-your-life?-I-want-to-do-it-for-all-our-lives.-Nobody-works-harder-than-bees!-Dad #I-remember-you-coming-home-so-overworked-your-hands-were-still-stirring.-You-couldn't-stop.-I-remember-that.-What-right-do-they-have-to-our-honey?-We-live-on-two-cups-a-year.-They-put-it-in-lip-balm-for-no-reason-whatsoever!-Even-if-it's-true #what-can-one-bee-do?-Sting-them-where-it-really-hurts.-In-the-face!-The-eye!-That-would-hurt.-No.-Up-the-nose?-That's-a-killer.-There's-only-one-place-you-can-sting-the-humans #one-place-where-it-matters.-Hive-at-Five #The-Hive's-only-full-hour-action-news-source.-No-more-bee-beards!-With-Bob-Bumble-at-the-anchor-desk.-Weather-with-Storm-Stinger.-Sports-with-Buzz-Larvi.-And-Jeanette-Chung.-Good-evening.-I'm-Bob-Bumble.-And-I'm-Jeanette-Ohung.-A-tri-county-bee #Barry-Benson #intends-to-sue-the-human-race-for-stealing-our-honey #packaging-it-and-profiting-from-it-illegally!-Tomorrow-night-on-Bee-Larry-King #we'll-have-three-former-queens-here-in-our-studio #discussing-their-new-book #classy-Ladies #out-this-week-on-Hexagon.-Tonight-we're-talking-to-Barry-Benson.-Did-you-ever-think #'I'm-a-kid-from-The-Hive.-I-can't-do-this'?-Bees-have-never-been-afraid-to-change-the-world.-What-about-Bee-Oolumbus?-Bee-Gandhi?-Bejesus?-Where-I'm-from #we'd-never-sue-humans.-We-were-thinking-of-stickball-or-candy-stores.-How-old-are-you?-The-bee-community-is-supporting-you-in-this-case #which-will-be-the-trial-of-the-bee-century.-You-know #they-have-a-Larry-King-in-the-human-world-too.-It's-a-common-name.-Next-week...-He-looks-like-you-and-has-a-show-and-suspenders-and-colored-dots...-Next-week...-Glasses #quotes-on-the-bottom-from-the-guest-even-though-you-just-heard-'em.-Bear-Week-next-week!-They're-scary #hairy-and-here-live.-Always-leans-forward #pointy-shoulders #squinty-eyes #very-Jewish.-In-tennis #you-attack-at-the-point-of-weakness!-It-was-my-grandmother #Ken.-She's-81.-Honey #her-backhand's-a-joke!-I'm-not-gonna-take-advantage-of-that?-Quiet #please.-Actual-work-going-on-here.-Is-that-that-same-bee?-Yes #it-is!-I'm-helping-him-sue-the-human-race.-Hello.-Hello #bee.-This-is-Ken.-Yeah #I-remember-you.-Timberland #size-ten-and-a-half.-Vibram-sole #I-believe.-Why-does-he-talk-again?-Listen #you-better-go-'cause-we're-really-busy-working.-But-it's-our-yogurt-night!-Bye-bye.-Why-is-yogurt-night-so-difficult?!-You-poor-thing.-You-two-have-been-at-this-for-hours!-Yes #and-Adam-here-has-been-a-huge-help.-Frosting...-How-many-sugars?-Just-one.-I-try-not-to-use-the-competition.-So-why-are-you-helping-me?-Bees-have-good-qualities.-And-it-takes-my-mind-off-the-shop.-Instead-of-flowers #people-are-giving-balloon-bouquets-now.-Those-are-great #if-you're-three.-And-artificial-flowers.-Oh #those-just-get-me-psychotic!-Yeah #me-too.-Bent-stingers #pointless-pollination.-Bees-must-hate-those-fake-things!-Nothing-worse-than-a-daffodil-that's-had-work-done.-Maybe-this-could-make-up-for-it-a-little-bit.-This-lawsuit's-a-pretty-big-deal.-I-guess.-You-sure-you-want-to-go-through-with-it?-Am-I-sure?-When-I'm-done-with-the-humans #they-won't-be-able-to-say #'Honey #I'm-home #'-without-paying-a-royalty!-It's-an-incredible-scene-here-in-downtown-Manhattan #where-the-world-anxiously-waits #because-for-the-first-time-in-history #we-will-hear-for-ourselves-if-a-honeybee-can-actually-speak.-What-have-we-gotten-into-here #isn't-it?-I-can't-believe-how-many-humans-don't-work-during-the-day.-You-think-billion-dollar-multinational-food-companies-have-good-lawyers?-Everybody-needs-to-stay-behind-the-barricade.-What's-the-matter?-I-don't-know #I-just-got-a-chill.-Well #if-it-isn't-the-bee-team.-You-boys-work-on-this?-All-rise!-The-Honorable-Judge-Bumbleton-presiding.-All-right.-Case-number-4475 #Superior-Court-of-New-York #Barry-Bee-Benson-v.-the-Honey-Industry-is-now-in-session.-Mr.-Montgomery #you're-representing-the-five-food-companies-collectively?-A-privilege.-Mr.-Benson...-you're-representing-all-the-bees-of-the-world?-I'm-kidding.-Yes #Your-Honor #we're-ready-to-proceed.-Mr.-Montgomery #your-opening-statement #please.-Ladies-and-gentlemen-of-the-jury #my-grandmother-was-a-simple-woman.-Born-on-a-farm #she-believed-it-was-man's-divine-right-to-benefit-from-the-bounty-of-nature-God-put-before-us.-If-we-lived-in-the-topsy-turvy-world-Mr.-Benson-imagines #just-think-of-what-would-it-mean.-I-would-have-to-negotiate-with-the-silkworm-for-the-elastic-in-my-britches!-Talking-bee!-How-do-we-know-this-isn't-some-sort-of-holographic-motion-picture-capture-Hollywood-wizardry?-They-could-be-using-laser-beams!-Robotics!-Ventriloquism!-Cloning!-For-all-we-know #he-could-be-on-steroids!-Mr.-Benson?-Ladies-and-gentlemen #there's-no-trickery-here.-I'm-just-an-ordinary-bee.-Honey's-pretty-important-to-me.-It's-important-to-all-bees.-We-invented-it!-We-make-it.-And-we-protect-it-with-our-lives.-Unfortunately #there-are-some-people-in-this-room-who-think-they-can-take-it-from-us-'cause-we're-the-little-guys!-I'm-hoping-that #after-this-is-all-over #you'll-see-how #by-taking-our-honey #you-not-only-take-everything-we-have-but-everything-we-are!-I-wish-he'd-dress-like-that-all-the-time.-So-nice!-Call-your-first-witness.-So #Mr.-Klauss-Vanderhayden-of-Honey-Farms #big-company-you-have.-I-suppose-so.-I-see-you-also-own-Honeyburton-and-Honron!-Yes #they-provide-beekeepers-for-our-farms.-Beekeeper.-I-find-that-to-be-a-very-disturbing-term.-I-don't-imagine-you-employ-any-bee-free-ers #do-you?-No.-I-couldn't-hear-you.-No.-No.-Because-you-don't-free-bees.-You-keep-bees.-Not-only-that #it-seems-you-thought-a-bear-would-be-an-appropriate-image-for-a-jar-of-honey.-They're-very-lovable-creatures.-Yogi-Bear #Fozzie-Bear #Build-A-Bear.-You-mean-like-this?-Bears-kill-bees!-How'd-you-like-his-head-crashing-through-your-living-room?!-Biting-into-your-couch!-Spitting-out-your-throw-pillows!-OK #that's-enough.-Take-him-away.-So #Mr.-Sting #thank-you-for-being-here.-Your-name-intrigues-me.-Where-have-I-heard-it-before?-I-was-with-a-band-called-The-Police.-But-you've-never-been-a-police-officer #have-you?-No #I-haven't.-No #you-haven't.-And-so-here-we-have-yet-another-example-of-bee-culture-casually-stolen-by-a-human-for-nothing-more-than-a-prance-about-stage-name.-Oh #please.-Have-you-ever-been-stung #Mr.-Sting?-Because-I'm-feeling-a-little-stung #Sting.-Or-should-I-say...-Mr.-Gordon-M.-Sumner!-That's-not-his-real-name?!-You-idiots!-Mr.-Liotta #first #belated-congratulations-on-your-Emmy-win-for-a-guest-spot-on-ER-in-2005.-Thank-you.-Thank-you.-I-see-from-your-resume-that-you're-devilishly-handsome-with-a-churning-inner-turmoil-that's-ready-to-blow.-I-enjoy-what-I-do.-Is-that-a-crime?-Not-yet-it-isn't.-But-is-this-what-it's-come-to-for-you?-Exploiting-tiny #helpless-bees-so-you-don't-have-to-rehearse-your-part-and-learn-your-lines #sir?-Watch-it #Benson!-I-could-blow-right-now!-This-isn't-a-goodfella.-This-is-a-badfella!-Why-doesn't-someone-just-step-on-this-creep #and-we-can-all-go-home?!-Order-in-this-court!-You're-all-thinking-it!-Order!-Order #I-say!-Say-it!-Mr.-Liotta #please-sit-down!-I-think-it-was-awfully-nice-of-that-bear-to-pitch-in-like-that.-I-think-the-jury's-on-our-side.-Are-we-doing-everything-right #legally?-I'm-a-florist.-Right.-Well #here's-to-a-great-team.-To-a-great-team!-Well #hello.-Ken!-Hello.-I-didn't-think-you-were-coming.-No #I-was-just-late-I-tried-to-call #but...-the-battery.-I-didn't-want-all-this-to-go-to-waste #so-I-called-Barry.-Luckily #he-was-free.-Oh #that-was-lucky.-There's-a-little-left.-I-could-heat-it-up.-Yeah #heat-it-up #sure #whatever.-So-I-hear-you're-quite-a-tennis-player.-I'm-not-much-for-the-game-myself.-The-ball's-a-little-grabby.-That's-where-I-usually-sit.-Right...-there.-Ken #Barry-was-looking-at-your-resume #and-he-agreed-with-me-that-eating-with-chopsticks-isn't-really-a-special-skill.-You-think-I-don't-see-what-you're-doing?-I-know-how-hard-it-is-to-find-the-right-job.-We-have-that-in-common.-Do-we?-Bees-have-100-percent-employment #but-we-do-jobs-like-taking-the-crud-out.-That's-just-what-I-was-thinking-about-doing.-Ken #I-let-Barry-borrow-your-razor-for-his-fuzz.-I-hope-that-was-all-right.-I'm-going-to-drain-the-old-stinger.-Yeah #you-do-that.-Look-at-that.-You-know #I've-just-about-had-it-with-your-little-Mind-Games.-What's-that?-Italian-Vogue.-Mamma-mia #that's-a-lot-of-pages.-A-lot-of-ads.-Remember-what-Van-said #why-is-your-life-more-valuable-than-mine?-Funny #I-just-can't-seem-to-recall-that!-I-think-something-stinks-in-here!-I-love-the-smell-of-flowers.-How-do-you-like-the-smell-of-flames?!-Not-as-much.-Water-bug!-Not-taking-sides!-Ken #I'm-wearing-a-Chapstick-hat!-This-is-pathetic!-I've-got-issues!-Well #well #well #a-royal-flush!-You're-bluffing.-Am-I?-Surf's-up #dude!-Poo-water!-That-bowl-is-gnarly.-Except-for-those-dirty-yellow-rings!-Kenneth!-What-are-you-doing?!-You-know #I-don't-even-like-honey!-I-don't-eat-it!-We-need-to-talk!-He's-just-a-little-bee!-And-he-happens-to-be-the-nicest-bee-I've-met-in-a-long-time!-Long-time?-What-are-you-talking-about?!-Are-there-other-bugs-in-your-life?--No #but-there-are-other-things-bugging-me-in-life.-And-you're-one-of-them!-Fine!-Talking-bees #no-yogurt-night...-My-nerves-are-fried-from-riding-on-this-emotional-roller-coaster!-Goodbye #Ken.-And-for-your-information #I-prefer-sugar-free #artificial-sweeteners-made-by-man!-I'm-sorry-about-all-that.-I-know-it's-got-an-aftertaste!-I-like-it!-I-always-felt-there-was-some-kind-of-barrier-between-Ken-and-me.-I-couldn't-overcome-it.-Oh #well.-Are-you-OK-for-the-trial?-I-believe-Mr.-Montgomery-is-about-out-of-ideas.-We-would-like-to-call-Mr.-Barry-Benson-Bee-to-the-stand.-Good-idea!-You-can-really-see-why-he's-considered-one-of-the-best-lawyers...-Yeah.-Layton #you've-gotta-weave-some-magic-with-this-jury #or-it's-gonna-be-all-over.-Don't-worry.-The-only-thing-I-have-to-do-to-turn-this-jury-around-is-to-remind-them-of-what-they-don't-like-about-bees.-You-got-the-tweezers?-Are-you-allergic?-Only-to-losing #son.-Only-to-losing.-Mr.-Benson-Bee #I'll-ask-you-what-I-think-we'd-all-like-to-know.-What-exactly-is-your-relationship-to-that-woman?-We're-friends.-Good-friends?-Yes.-How-good?-Do-you-live-together?-Wait-a-minute...-Are-you-her-little...-bedbug?-I've-seen-a-bee-documentary-or-two.-From-what-I-understand #doesn't-your-queen-give-birth-to-all-the-bee-children?-Yeah #but...-So-those-aren't-your-real-parents!-Oh #Barry...-Yes #they-are!-Hold-me-back!-You're-an-illegitimate-bee #aren't-you #Benson?-He's-denouncing-bees!-Don't-y'all-date-your-cousins?-Objection!-I'm-going-to-pincushion-this-guy!-Adam #don't!-It's-what-he-wants!-Oh #I'm-hit!!-Oh #lordy #I-am-hit!-Order!-Order!-The-venom!-The-venom-is-coursing-through-my-veins!-I-have-been-felled-by-a-winged-beast-of-destruction!-You-see?-You-can't-treat-them-like-equals!-They're-striped-savages!-Stinging's-the-only-thing-they-know!-It's-their-way!-Adam #stay-with-me.-I-can't-feel-my-legs.-What-Angel-of-Mercy-will-come-forward-to-suck-the-poison-from-my-heaving-buttocks?-I-will-have-order-in-this-court.-Order!-Order #please!-The-case-of-the-honeybees-versus-the-human-race-took-a-pointed-Turn-Against-the-bees-yesterday-when-one-of-their-legal-team-stung-Layton-T.-Montgomery.-Hey #buddy.-Hey.-Is-there-much-pain?-Yeah.-I...-I-blew-the-whole-case #didn't-I?-It-doesn't-matter.-What-matters-is-you're-alive.-You-could-have-died.-I'd-be-better-off-dead.-Look-at-me.-They-got-it-from-the-cafeteria-downstairs #in-a-tuna-sandwich.-Look #there's-a-little-celery-still-on-it.-What-was-it-like-to-sting-someone?-I-can't-explain-it.-It-was-all...-All-adrenaline-and-then...and-then-ecstasy!-All-right.-You-think-it-was-all-a-trap?-Of-course.-I'm-sorry.-I-flew-us-right-into-this.-What-were-we-thinking?-Look-at-us.-We're-just-a-couple-of-bugs-in-this-world.-What-will-the-humans-do-to-us-if-they-win?-I-don't-know.-I-hear-they-put-the-roaches-in-motels.-That-doesn't-sound-so-bad.-Adam #they-check-in #but-they-don't-check-out!-Oh #my.-Could-you-get-a-nurse-to-close-that-window?-Why?-The-smoke.-Bees-don't-smoke.-Right.-Bees-don't-smoke.-Bees-don't-smoke!-But-some-bees-are-smoking.-That's-it!-That's-our-case!-It-is?-It's-not-over?-Get-dressed.-I've-gotta-go-somewhere.-Get-back-to-the-court-and-stall.-Stall-any-way-you-can.-And-assuming-you've-done-step-correctly #you're-ready-for-the-tub.-Mr.-Flayman.-Yes?-Yes #Your-Honor!-Where-is-the-rest-of-your-team?-Well #Your-Honor #it's-interesting.-Bees-are-trained-to-fly-haphazardly #and-as-a-result #we-don't-make-very-good-time.-I-actually-heard-a-funny-story-about...-Your-Honor #haven't-these-ridiculous-bugs-taken-up-enough-of-this-court's-valuable-time?-How-much-longer-will-we-allow-these-absurd-shenanigans-to-go-on?-They-have-presented-no-compelling-evidence-to-support-their-charges-against-my-clients #who-run-legitimate-businesses.-I-move-for-a-complete-dismissal-of-this-entire-case!-Mr.-Flayman #I'm-afraid-I'm-going-to-have-to-consider-Mr.-Montgomery's-motion.-But-you-can't!-We-have-a-terrific-case.-Where-is-your-proof?-Where-is-the-evidence?-Show-me-the-smoking-gun!-Hold-it #Your-Honor!-You-want-a-smoking-gun?-Here-is-your-smoking-gun.-What-is-that?-It's-a-bee-smoker!-What #this?-This-harmless-little-contraption?-This-couldn't-hurt-a-fly #let-alone-a-bee.-Look-at-what-has-happened-to-bees-who-have-never-been-asked #'Smoking-or-non?'-Is-this-what-nature-intended-for-us?-To-be-forcibly-addicted-to-smoke-machines-and-man-made-wooden-slat-work-camps?-Living-out-our-lives-as-honey-slaves-to-the-white-man?-What-are-we-gonna-do?-He's-playing-the-species-card.-Ladies-and-gentlemen #please #free-these-bees!-Free-the-bees!-Free-the-bees!-Free-the-bees!-Free-the-bees!-Free-the-bees!-The-court-finds-in-favor-of-the-bees!-Vanessa #we-won!-I-knew-you-could-do-it!-High-five!-Sorry.-I'm-OK!-You-know-what-this-means?-All-the-honey-will-finally-belong-to-the-bees.-Now-we-won't-have-to-work-so-hard-all-the-time.-This-is-an-unholy-perversion-of-the-balance-of-nature #Benson.-You'll-regret-this.-Barry #how-much-honey-is-out-there?-All-right.-One-at-a-time.-Barry #who-are-you-wearing?-My-sweater-is-Ralph-Lauren #and-I-have-no-pants.-What-if-Montgomery's-right?-What-do-you-mean?-We've-been-living-the-bee-way-a-long-time #27-million-years.-Congratulations-on-your-victory.-What-will-you-demand-as-a-settlement?-First #we'll-demand-a-complete-shutdown-of-all-bee-work-camps.-Then-we-want-back-the-honey-that-was-ours-to-begin-with #every-last-drop.-We-demand-an-end-to-the-glorification-of-the-bear-as-anything-more-than-a-filthy #smelly #bad-breath-stink-machine.-We're-all-aware-of-what-they-do-in-the-woods.-Wait-for-my-signal.-Take-him-out.-He'll-have-nauseous-for-a-few-hours #then-he'll-be-fine.-And-we-will-no-longer-tolerate-bee-negative-nicknames...-But-it's-just-a-prance-about-stage-name!-...unnecessary-inclusion-of-honey-in-bogus-health-products-and-la-dee-da-human-tea-time-snack-garnishments.-Can't-breathe.-Bring-it-in #boys!-Hold-it-right-there!-Good.-Tap-it.-Mr.-Buzzwell #we-just-passed-three-cups-and-there's-gallons-more-coming!-I-think-we-need-to-shut-down!-Shut-down?-We've-never-shut-down.-Shut-down-honey-production!-Stop-making-honey!-Turn-your-key #sir!-What-do-we-do-now?-Cannonball!-We're-shutting-honey-production!-Mission-abort.-Aborting-pollination-and-nectar-detail.-Returning-to-base.-Adam #you-wouldn't-believe-how-much-honey-was-out-there.-Oh #yeah?-What's-going-on?-Where-is-everybody?-Are-they-out-celebrating?-They're-home.-They-don't-know-what-to-do.-Laying-out #sleeping-in.-I-heard-your-Uncle-Carl-was-on-his-way-to-San-Antonio-with-a-cricket.-At-least-we-got-our-honey-back.-Sometimes-I-think #so-what-if-humans-liked-our-honey?-Who-wouldn't?-It's-the-greatest-thing-in-the-world!-I-was-excited-to-be-part-of-making-it.-This-was-my-new-desk.-This-was-my-new-job.-I-wanted-to-do-it-really-well.-And-now...-Now-I-can't.-I-don't-understand-why-they're-not-happy.-I-thought-their-lives-would-be-better!-They're-doing-nothing.-It's-amazing.-Honey-really-changes-people.-You-don't-have-any-idea-what's-going-on #do-you?-What-did-you-want-to-show-me?-This.-What-happened-here?-That-is-not-the-half-of-it.-Oh #no.-Oh #my.-They're-all-wilting.-Doesn't-look-very-good #does-it?-No.-And-whose-fault-do-you-think-that-is?-You-know #I'm-gonna-guess-bees.-Bees?-Specifically #me.-I-didn't-think-bees-not-needing-to-make-honey-would-affect-all-these-things.-It's-not-just-flowers.-Fruits #vegetables #they-all-need-bees.-That's-our-whole-SAT-test-right-there.-Take-away-produce #that-affects-the-entire-animal-kingdom.-And-then #of-course...-The-human-species?-So-if-there's-no-more-pollination #it-could-all-just-go-south-here #couldn't-it?-I-know-this-is-also-partly-my-fault.-How-about-a-suicide-pact?-How-do-we-do-it?-I'll-sting-you #you-step-on-me.-That-just-kills-you-twice.-Right #right.-Listen #Barry...-sorry #but-I-gotta-get-going.-I-had-to-open-my-mouth-and-talk.-Vanessa?-Vanessa?-Why-are-you-leaving?-Where-are-you-going?-To-the-final-Tournament-of-Roses-parade-in-Pasadena.-They've-moved-it-to-this-weekend-because-all-the-flowers-are-dying.-It's-the-Last-Chance-I'll-ever-have-to-see-it.-Vanessa #I-just-wanna-say-I'm-sorry.-I-never-meant-it-to-turn-out-like-this.-I-know.-Me-neither.-Tournament-of-Roses.-Roses-can't-do-sports.-Wait-a-minute.-Roses.-Roses?-Roses!-Vanessa!-Roses?!-Barry?-Roses-are-flowers!-Yes #they-are.-Flowers #bees #pollen!-I-know.-That's-why-this-is-the-last-parade.-Maybe-not.-Could-you-ask-him-to-slow-down?-Could-you-slow-down?-Barry!-OK #I-made-a-huge-mistake.-This-is-a-total-disaster #all-my-fault.-Yes #it-kind-of-is.-I've-ruined-the-planet.-I-wanted-to-help-you-with-the-flower-shop.-I've-made-it-worse.-Actually #it's-completely-closed-down.-I-thought-maybe-you-were-remodeling.-But-I-have-another-idea #and-it's-greater-than-my-previous-ideas-combined.-I-don't-want-to-hear-it!-All-right #they-have-the-roses #the-roses-have-the-pollen.-I-know-every-bee #plant-and-flower-bud-in-this-park.-All-we-gotta-do-is-get-what-they've-got-back-here-with-what-we've-got.-Bees.-Park.-Pollen!-Flowers.-Repollination!-Across-the-nation!-Tournament-of-Roses #Pasadena #California.-They've-got-nothing-but-flowers #floats-and-cotton-candy.-Security-will-be-tight.-I-have-an-idea.-Vanessa-Bloome #FTD.-Official-floral-business.-It's-real.-Sorry #ma'am.-Nice-brooch.-Thank-you.-It-was-a-gift.-Once-inside #we-just-pick-the-right-float.-How-about-The-Princess-and-the-Pea?-I-could-be-the-princess #and-you-could-be-the-pea!-Yes #I-got-it.-Where-should-I-sit?-What-are-you?-I-believe-I'm-the-pea.-The-pea?-It-goes-under-the-mattresses.-Not-in-this-fairy-tale #sweetheart.-I'm-getting-the-marshal.-You-do-that!-This-whole-parade-is-a-fiasco!-Let's-see-what-this-baby'll-do.-Hey #what-are-you-doing?!-Then-all-we-do-is-blend-in-with-traffic...-without-arousing-suspicion.-Once-at-the-airport #there's-no-stopping-us.-Stop!-Security.-You-and-your-insect-pack-your-float?-Yes.-Has-it-been-in-your-possession-the-entire-time?-Would-you-remove-your-shoes?-Remove-your-stinger.-It's-part-of-me.-I-know.-Just-having-some-fun.-Enjoy-your-flight.-Then-if-we're-lucky #we'll-have-just-enough-pollen-to-do-the-job.-Can-you-believe-how-lucky-we-are?-We-have-just-enough-pollen-to-do-the-job!-I-think-this-is-gonna-work.-It's-got-to-work.-Attention #passengers #this-is-Captain-Scott.-We-have-a-bit-of-bad-weather-in-New-York.-It-looks-like-we'll-experience-a-couple-hours-delay.-Barry #these-are-cut-flowers-with-no-water.-They'll-never-make-it.-I-gotta-get-up-there-and-talk-to-them.-Be-careful.-Can-I-get-help-with-the-Sky-Mall-magazine?-I'd-like-to-order-the-talking-inflatable-nose-and-ear-hair-trimmer.-Captain #I'm-in-a-real-situation.-What'd-you-say #Hal?-Nothing.-Bee!-Don't-freak-out!-My-entire-species...-What-are-you-doing?-Wait-a-minute!-I'm-an-attorney!-Who's-an-attorney?-Don't-move.-Oh #Barry.-Good-afternoon #passengers.-This-is-your-captain.-Would-a-Miss-Vanessa-Bloome-in-24B-please-report-to-the-cockpit?-And-please-hurry!-What-happened-here?-There-was-a-DustBuster #a-toupee #a-life-raft-exploded.-One's-bald #one's-in-a-boat #they're-both-unconscious!-Is-that-another-bee-joke?-No!-No-one's-flying-the-plane!-This-is-JFK-control-tower #Flight-356.-What's-your-status?-This-is-Vanessa-Bloome.-I'm-a-florist-from-New-York.-Where's-the-pilot?-He's-unconscious #and-so-is-the-copilot.-Not-good.-Does-anyone-onboard-have-flight-experience?-As-a-matter-of-fact #there-is.-Who's-that?-Barry-Benson.-From-the-honey-trial?!-Oh #great.-Vanessa #this-is-nothing-more-than-a-big-metal-bee.-It's-got-giant-wings #huge-engines.-I-can't-fly-a-plane.-Why-not?-Isn't-John-Travolta-a-pilot?-Yes.-How-hard-could-it-be?-Wait #Barry!-We're-headed-into-some-lightning.-This-is-Bob-Bumble.-We-have-some-late-breaking-news-from-JFK-Airport #where-a-suspenseful-scene-is-developing.-Barry-Benson #fresh-from-his-legal-victory...-That's-Barry!-...is-attempting-to-land-a-plane #loaded-with-people #flowers-and-an-incapacitated-flight-crew.-Flowers?!-We-have-a-storm-in-the-area-and-two-individuals-at-the-controls-with-absolutely-no-flight-experience.-Just-a-minute.-There's-a-bee-on-that-plane.-I'm-quite-familiar-with-Mr.-Benson-and-his-no-account-compadres.-They've-done-enough-damage.-But-isn't-he-your-only-hope?-Technically #a-bee-shouldn't-be-able-to-fly-at-all.-Their-wings-are-too-small...-Haven't-we-heard-this-a-million-times?-'The-surface-area-of-the-wings-and-body-mass-make-no-sense.'-Get-this-on-the-air!-Got-it.-Stand-by.-We're-going-live.-The-way-we-work-may-be-a-mystery-to-you.-Making-honey-takes-a-lot-of-bees-doing-a-lot-of-small-jobs.-But-let-me-tell-you-about-a-small-job.-If-you-do-it-well #it-makes-a-big-difference.-More-than-we-realized.-To-us #to-everyone.-That's-why-I-want-to-get-bees-back-to-working-together.-That's-the-bee-way!-We're-not-made-of-Jell-O.-We-get-behind-a-fellow.-Black-and-yellow!-Hello!-Left #right #down #hover.-Hover?-Forget-hover.-This-isn't-so-hard.-Beep-beep!-Beep-beep!-Barry #what-happened?!-Wait #I-think-we-were-on-autopilot-the-whole-time.-That-may-have-been-helping-me.-And-now-we're-not!-So-it-turns-out-I-cannot-fly-a-plane.-All-of-you #let's-get-behind-this-fellow!-Move-it-out!-Move-out!-Our-only-chance-is-if-I-do-what-I'd-do #you-copy-me-with-the-wings-of-the-plane!-Don't-have-to-yell.-I'm-not-yelling!-We're-in-a-lot-of-trouble.-It's-very-hard-to-concentrate-with-that-panicky-tone-in-your-voice!-It's-not-a-tone.-I'm-panicking!-I-can't-do-this!-Vanessa #pull-yourself-together.-You-have-to-snap-out-of-it!-You-snap-out-of-it.-You-snap-out-of-it.-You-snap-out-of-it!-You-snap-out-of-it!-You-snap-out-of-it!-You-snap-out-of-it!-You-snap-out-of-it!-You-snap-out-of-it!-Hold-it!-Why?-Come-on #it's-my-turn.-How-is-the-plane-flying?-I-don't-know.-Hello?-Benson #got-any-flowers-for-a-happy-occasion-in-there?-The-Pollen-Jocks!-They-do-get-behind-a-fellow.-Black-and-yellow.-Hello.-All-right #let's-drop-this-tin-can-on-the-blacktop.-Where?-I-can't-see-anything.-Can-you?-No #nothing.-It's-all-cloudy.-Come-on.-You-got-to-think-bee #Barry.-Thinking-bee.-Thinking-bee.-Thinking-bee!-Thinking-bee!-Thinking-bee!-Wait-a-minute.-I-think-I'm-feeling-something.-What?-I-don't-know.-It's-strong #pulling-me.-Like-a-27-million-year-old-instinct.-Bring-the-nose-down.-Thinking-bee!-Thinking-bee!-Thinking-bee!-What-in-the-world-is-on-the-tarmac?-Get-some-lights-on-that!-Thinking-bee!-Thinking-bee!-Thinking-bee!-Vanessa #aim-for-the-flower.-OK.-Cut-the-engines.-We're-going-in-on-bee-power.-Ready #boys?-Affirmative!-Good.-Good.-Easy #now.-That's-it.-Land-on-that-flower!-Ready?-Full-reverse!-Spin-it-around!-Not-that-flower!-The-other-one!-Which-one?-That-flower.-I'm-aiming-at-the-flower!-That's-a-fat-guy-in-a-flowered-shirt.-I-mean-the-giant-pulsating-flower-made-of-millions-of-bees!-Pull-forward.-Nose-down.-Tail-up.-Rotate-around-it.-This-is-insane #Barry!-This's-the-only-way-I-know-how-to-fly.-Am-I-koo-koo-kachoo #or-is-this-plane-flying-in-an-insect-like-pattern?-Get-your-nose-in-there.-Don't-be-afraid.-Smell-it.-Full-reverse!-Just-drop-it.-Be-a-part-of-it.-Aim-for-the-center!-Now-drop-it-in!-Drop-it-in #woman!-Come-on #already.-Barry #we-did-it!-You-taught-me-how-to-fly!-Yes.-No-high-five!-Right.-Barry #it-worked!-Did-you-see-the-giant-flower?-What-giant-flower?-Where?-Of-course-I-saw-the-flower!-That-was-genius!-Thank-you.-But-we're-not-done-yet.-Listen #everyone!-This-runway-is-covered-with-the-last-pollen-from-the-last-flowers-available-anywhere-on-Earth.-That-means-this-is-our-Last-Chance.-We're-the-only-ones-who-make-honey #pollinate-flowers-and-dress-like-this.-If-we're-gonna-survive-as-a-species #this-is-our-moment!-What-do-you-say?-Are-we-going-to-be-bees #or-just-Museum-of-Natural-History-keychains?-We're-bees!-Keychain!-Then-follow-me!-Except-Keychain.-Hold-on #Barry.-Here.-You've-earned-this.-Yeah!-I'm-a-Pollen-Jock!-And-it's-a-perfect-fit.-All-I-gotta-do-are-the-sleeves.-Oh #yeah.-That's-our-Barry.-Mom!-The-bees-are-back!-If-anybody-needs-to-make-a-call #now's-the-time.-I-got-a-feeling-we'll-be-working-late-tonight!-Here's-your-change.-Have-a-great-afternoon!-Can-I-help-who's-next?-Would-you-like-some-honey-with-that?-It-is-bee-approved.-Don't-forget-these.-Milk #cream #cheese #it's-all-me.--And-I-don't-see-a-nickel!-Sometimes-I-just-feel-like-a-piece-of-meat!-I-had-no-idea.-Barry #I'm-sorry.-Have-you-got-a-moment?-Would-you-excuse-me?-My-mosquito-associate-will-help-you.-Sorry-I'm-late.-He's-a-lawyer-too?-I-was-already-a-blood-sucking-parasite.-All-I-needed-was-a-briefcase.-Have-a-great-afternoon!-Barry #I-just-got-this-huge-tulip-order #and-I-can't-get-them-anywhere.-No-problem #Vannie.-Just-leave-it-to-me.-You're-a-lifesaver #Barry.-Can-I-help-who's-next?-All-right #scramble #jocks!-It's-time-to-fly.-Thank-you #Barry!-That-bee-is-living-my-life!-Let-it-go #Kenny.-When-will-this-nightmare-end?!-Let-it-all-go.-Beautiful-day-to-fly.-Sure-is.-Between-you-and-me #I-was-dying-to-get-out-of-that-office.-You-have-got-to-start-thinking-bee #my-friend.-Thinking-bee!-Me?-Hold-it.-Let's-just-stop-for-a-second.-Hold-it.-I'm-sorry.-I'm-sorry #everyone.-Can-we-stop-here?-I'm-not-making-a-major-life-decision-during-a-production-number!-All-right.-Take-ten #everybody.-Wrap-it-up #guys.-I-had-virtually-no-rehearsal-for-that.