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In Advent Children, Aerith's presence was represented by water. Of course, we can draw the conclusion that this was meant to reference her lake burial in the City of the Ancients, but why else could it be associated with Aerith?

In philosophy, water represents things that are flowing, formless, adapt to their surroundings. Aerith easily adapted to her new existence as a wanderer of the Lifestream as can be seen in Maiden Over The Planet. If there is a way around something, she adapts herself to the situation and finds it. There was a way to stop Meteor, Aerith found it. There was a way around the boundaries of life and death, Aerith found it, appeared to Cloud, communicated with him and reassured him.

Also, water symbolises thoughts and feelings. Aerith is impulsive and follows her heart and emotions, speaks her mind. She obviously wasn't afraid to show her feelings while travelling with AVALANCHE, since when she was killed, Cloud spoke about how she would never 'laugh, cry, or get angry'.

Water traditionally signifies purification or regeneration, which is most obvious in the last scene of AC, where the water cures the children of Geostigma. Aerith's powers were all related to curing, true, but I think for Cloud, the water cleansed him of his 'sins', more than anything else. He had told Vincent beforehand that he was going to try and be forgiven for his sins. Aerith raining the healing water down on him could have been her way of showing him that he didn't need to try to be forgiven, his sins were forgiven. Not just his sin of 'letting her die', but also perhaps his sin of 'causing' Zack's death, since Zack died protecting him.

Being immersed in water is also associated with rebirth. At the end of AC, when Aerith and Zack send him back, Cloud is immersed in the water pool in the church. This could represent Cloud being 'reborn' without his sins, reborn as a person who can look to the future and live freely with no guilt to bind him to the past. I don't mean that Aerith and Zack themselves were binding him to the past, just his guilt over their fates. Their memories together are still important to him, and Aerith still lives on in Cloud's consciousness, of course.

Water also signifies life. Strange to associate such an image with Aerith, then? Well, not really. Aerith may not be a part of the 'upper world' any more, but as Maiden showed us, her death didn't mean that she would cease to exist. Her spirit is still very much alive, even without her physical body.

A little OT, but I love when Cloud just stands in the rain, looking so content. In an episode of Bleach I saw the other day, Orihime said something along the lines of "Rain connects heaven and earth, even if the two never touch". *Puts on pink-tinted glasses* Rain=Aerith's healing rain (Great Gospel); Earth=Aerith (I Earth); Heaven= Cloud (the heavens encompass the sky and clouds

both Lily and yellow flowers/Daisy (on Cloud's desk) in AC are quite Clerisy symbolisms!

And since this topic be mentioned....Here's one:
Advent Children/AC: A=Aerith; C=Cloud

Sorry if that's an old talk here...

further into the lily symbolism...

There's not a clear definition of what each flower means, but last night I was watching "Imagine Me & You" and the florist there tells her lover the lily means "I dare you to love me!" The lily is also shown being held by the florist in one hand with her lovers hand in the other on the cover of the DVD. It's a pink lily.

Looking a but more into it myself, aside from it meaning purity, virginity, it also means "it's heavenly to be with you" -- that's the white lily. The yellow one means "I'm walking on air".

[insert picture of a random painting here]
Here the lily is a symbol of good news and purity.
"Advent children"..."Mother"...the angel statue...the church...

It's also the emblem of French kings as Louis XIV. So lily is associated with royalty too.
Here a princess with lilies. But I'm not sure about this one lol.

Hope it might help you in your quest
(and sorry for spelling mistakes)

Odd Coincidence #1: Cover materia
You find this in Aeris's garden. The cover materia gives the user the ability to protect another character by taking the hit for them. The first time Cloud and Aeris go into battle territory is Sector Six. I'm not counting the church scene, because you have the option of pushing the barrels and preventing Aeris from doing any fighting. Usually when I get materia, I equip it right away. It's just a tiny bit coincidental, what with Cloud being Aeris's bodyguard and all, that I receive the Cover materia (bodyguard = protects) in Aeris's garden. Must've been meant to be.

Odd Coincidence #2: Landing in the Sewer
After Don Corneo drops everyone in the sewer, part of the date mechanism comes into play. Whoever Cloud talks to first, gets +3. Isn't it a little coincidental that Aeris just happens to be the one closest to Cloud when this sequence takes place? So naturally, most people who are unaware of the date mechanism, will talk to the one closest.

Odd Coincidence #3: Who is Cloud thinking of
Remember that scene we all love when Cloud and everyone has been captured in Shinra HQ. You go to the door and the options come up, "I wonder how [so and so] is doing." In every optional sequence the arrow points at the first option. This must be the exception because the arrow has somehow maneuvered itself and is pointing to the last option: Aeris. +3 for Aeris.

Odd Coincidence #4: Gongaga Village
So Aeris was in your party, heard about Zack, and she walks out. This is like a freebie pretty much, because when you talk to her, the options will come up, "Poor guy," and "(jealous... envious...)." No matter what you pick though, Aeris will get a + something. Tifa as well, but with Aeris you can attain +2.

I tend to look at the optional sequences as the first option being what Cloud is most likely to say (in most cases). The Date Mechanism really only feeds on the optional dialogues and actions, leaving a lot of what Cloud has done and said in regards to Aeris the real deal. "Are you all right?" "Aeris?! You safe?" "I just can't let you go in alone," "No Aeris! I can't let you get involved," "Aeris, I got you mixed up in all this." It's no wonder Aeris said, "Hey that's Cloud's line, 'It's too dangerous, I can't get you involved, bla bla bla.'" She picked up on that real fast, because in that short amount of time, Cloud's bodyguard status really took priority and he became very protective of her very fast.

In regard to odd coincidences, I'm not even gonna begin to question the fact that their names were written together in Parasite Eve, and that Square stealthily added in a reference couple to them in FFIX. Except I will say, I don't think it's just a coincidence, like with most everything I've gone through.

Sorry for bring up an old topic, but I still found Clotis use this as proof, so, maybe it’s not old after all.. Anyway, I want to offer an alternative thought to this topic; the so-called Yin-Yang symbol between Cloud and Tifa, which was (Clotis claim) they formed together in the church in AC.. Before anything, take note that I'm not an expert about what this 'essay' of mine is about.. So, if you found something mistakes from this, I hope you could point it out.. This 'essay' come from my findings, online and books.. And now I feel like I'm a fan of symbolism.. Well, I've treasured this theory for a very long time, because I'm afraid to tell anyone.. Yeah, I've a few theories, but I consider them as stupid.. I don't know, maybe mostly because they're really small and unimportant, or my English is poor, or it's just me.. Now I feel like I want to post all of my theories, one by one because it's one of my resolutions for 2008, posting more opinion in pinky forum.. hehheh.. geezzzz.. Enough rambling.. If I make so many mistakes of vocabulary or grammar in this post, please forgive me.. I seriously really try so hard to explain my opinions, although I'm super bad at explaining..


In my opinion, most happened in AC were not coincidences.. They have meaning behind them.. So do the 'Cloud and Tifa lying together in the church' scene.. Well, it's basically how we interpret the story.. Anyway, I must bring Nomura's quote first for this matter..
From FFVII:AC Prologue Book, 3Ns interview:
Nomura : "AC is piece of work made by Japanese people. In Hollywood movies, I think there is a tendency where the meaning of all the scenes have to be expressed clearly but, this isn't something like that. With our work, the viewer is free to decide how they interpret or enjoy it. The staff has their own answers to all the scenes in the movie such as the angel statue that makes an appearance many times. But, even if someone who have watched it interprets it differently then that is just another answer. I guess "comparing answers" with friends is one of the ways you can enjoy the movie. I think AC is a movie that makes those who have watched it, want to talk about it with others."
Source: http://one.xthost.info/ffwebnovel/, in Prologue Book & Interview section..

I want to share my finding about the so-called Yin-Yang symbol between Cloud and Tifa, in the church, specifically on the 'Cloud and Tifa lying together' part.. It seemed so wrong.. It looked like a symbol, but to easily say it definitely Yin-Yang? I don't think so.. I know(we all know) there's no way a Yin-Yang symbol in that scene.. I really wonder when I saw Clotis said they found a Yin-Yang shape like Cloud & Tifa formed there is only and definitely showing romantic connection.. Yet, they didn't even provide proof.. I know, we know, it's wrong.. Firstly, it was not even a Yin-Yang shape to begin with..
Secondly, Yin-Yang is not always shown as a shape, there are other ways to depicts Yin-Yang..
Thirdly, Yin-Yang doesn't necessarily indicates romantic love.. It can, but it also can use to indicates other relationships or connections in the Universe as well... Please, don’t turning this religious symbol into something easy like that..

YIN-YANG
~From reference.com:
”Yin and yang are generalizations of the anthesis or mutual correlation between certain objects or phenomena in the natural world, combining to create a unity of opposites. Liang Yi also known as Yin and Yang or heaven and earth, have a similar meaning.
The dual concepts of yin and yang which describe two primal opposing but complementary principles or cosmic forces said to be found in all non-static objects and processes in the universe. This paradoxical concept is the cornerstone of most branches of Chinese philosophy, as well as traditional Chinese medicine.”
[unity of opposites=a situation in which the existence or identity of a thing (or situation) depends on the co-existence of at least two conditions which are opposite to each other, yet dependent on each other and presupposing each other, within a field of tension.]
Free Encyclopedia of Thelema

The most important thing to remember about Yin-Yang is it's not simply about love or differences, but it's about two OPPOSITE natures that create balance.. It’s actually deeper.. Some good articles:
http://www.yinyangnature.com/yinyang.html
http://168fengshui.com/blog/2005/08/05/yin-and-yang-theory/


Yin-Yang???? No, of course.. Because..
---From cinematography-wise:
1)Lighting wasn't made to depicts the symbol..
2)Their clothing's color were similar; dark-mostly black..
3)Their condition, also similar.. They both injured and unconscious..
4)Their position, also wasn’t made to depict the symbol.. If we look closely, it's quite obvious that Cloud's position(especially his legs) was made to be quite far from Tifa, made a blank space between he and Tifa.. And it looked most likely a "T" shape.. If SE want to made it to be a Yin-Yang symbol, they were failed, IMO..
---Or from (hidden)traits/characteristic-wise:
-Well, I couldn’t find any opposite between them.. Could you?
If a scene was made to be a Yin-Yang symbol, there must be something that makes it looks like the Yin-Yang symbol, in at least whether one of the elements from cinematography-wise or (hidden)traits/characteristic-wise, in opposite states.. Which means it must contains two things/existences complementary opposites, not different or similar..

Check out a few examples about the Yin-Yang symbol(position-forming shape) from various animes that I’ve found.. These are examples which I assume similar to what Clotis might tried to imply to that CXT's scene:
1) Carossa & Melissa (Sorry,this pic is not clear, taken by HP) - From GunXSword..
This is the real yin-yang, see how perfect their positions make a Yin-Yang symbol.. And they were TWIN(male-female), with opposite personalities although they have the same looks and ending..
2)Saya&Diva - From Blood+..
This TWIN also have similarities(duh!), but complete opposite..
3)Kurau&Christmas - From Kurau..
This is also the almost perfectly formed Yin-Yang shape, they were also some kind of twins or pair(two energy entities, to be exact), and they were also have opposites in ways.. Actually the relationship between these two is far more complex.. But, if you have interest to know, read this review..

(Lighting)


QUOTE
Roger, in Black, is the dot inside the shining white, while Alex is the white dot within the shadowy black. It makes the Yin-Yang symbol. Each has a little of its opposite within them to maintain balance.

^This is from 1999's anime called The Big O.. I think this is the best usage of Yin-Yang so far, with a perfect used of lighting/cinematography.. If interested, read the discussion here:
http://www.paradigm-city.com/forums/thread...htuser=0&page=1

~~These examples prove that Yin-Yang is not necessarily indicates romantic love, like Clotis always claimed.. It actually depends on how the storyline goes, or how that characters relationship shown.. Try compared these to CxT’s scene one, and we can see that CxT's scene was not even a Yin-Yang shape to begin with..
But anyway, this shape always shown to depict a "complete opposites, but complementary to each other although have minor similarities(mutual correlation)" relationship, with a connection like Yin-Yang, I assume we also can use it to indicates "in mutual correlation(have something in common), but from that, emerge complementary opposites"..

***Why I used ANIMEs to be examples? Because, clearly, it’s the best simplest way.. Most animes(but not all) use symbolism, as examples above.. Japanese love to use symbolism, even as small as character's names, like we found in FFVII the compilation..

Actually, we also can use the Yin-Yang for Aerith vs Sephiroth; yeah, there's one connection between these two characters.. It symbolized by their elements, water & fire, holy & meteor.. Like I've said before, Yin-Yang not necessarily indicates romantic relationship.. It depends on how the storyline goes, or how that characters relationship shown.. As for Aerith & Sephiroth, good vs evil, that's the perfect way to explain their connection.. They not even being good to each other, you get what I mean? Sephiroth destroys, Aerith heals.. In Cloud’s case, Sephiroth is his darkness and Aerith is his light.. Sephiroth gave him sadness/pain, Aerith gave him happiness/health..
From Reunion Files:
Nojima: "Since Sephiroth exists, Aerith must exist. There was no doubt about that one (laughs)."
Aerith and Sephiroth’s connection is a Yin-Yang for Cloud especially and FFVII’s world generally.. Without Aerith, what Sephiroth destroys can’t be healed, and vice versa..


However, Yin-Yang can be used to represent love.. Some good articles..
Yin-Yang = LIGHT-LOVE
Yin-Yang and love compatibility
Yin-Yang usually used as to show relationship between lovers in many animes, games or even movies, BUT not simply shown as a Yin-Yang shape/pattern like examples above, but hidden.. There's so many of them.. If you're a fan of animes/games (especially action/ninja/warrior/samurai or "history-period" genre), you'll found this kind of relationship between two lovers: "complete complementary opposites to each other", like the Yin-Yang.. It always symbolized by their clothes, personalities, traits, qualities, strength, etc.. That’s why (for example) heroines always shown as weak physically, but strong mentally and great healer(or something similar to that), while heroes usually shown as strong physically, but weak mentally. Heroes protect their love interests(heroines) and fight while heroines heal hero’s wounds from that fight and also make their mental stronger.. That makes they complete opposites, complementing each other and dependent on each other..

A few examples from tons of examples usage of the Yin-Yang, in various ways to indicates love relationship:
1) Kenshin & Tomoe = From Rurouni Kenshin OVA (Samurai X)
2)Squall-Rinoa, Zidane-Garnet, Tidus-Yuna = From Final Fantasy series <~ FF_Goddess page, thank you!

If there's anything like this kind of Yin-Yang in FF7, it's blatantly Cloud and Aerith..
That is what I was trying to say in this thread.. Just gazing at those CG art of Cloud and Aerith, you'll get the true Yin-Yang.. Complete opposites, so complement to each other.. In special way..
~From pandapedia.com:
”In Chinese philosophy the yin and yang are generalized descriptions of the antitheses or mutual correlations in human perceptions of phenomena in the natural world, combining to create a unity of opposites in the theory of the ‘Taiji’. The term ‘liang yi’ , also known as yin and yang or heaven and earth, has a similar meaning.”

Like Cloud & Aerith, I suppose, but differs from Aerith & Sephiroth, or Cloud & Sephiroth.. They both have similarities, the messed and lonely childhood.. That’s made a mutual correlations.. But, aside from that, what they have, almost everything were opposites.. Exactly like the Yin-Yang..
It always symbolized by, for example.. Color of clothing(see all compilation);Aerith with bright/bland-happy kind of color, and Cloud with dark-gloomy kind of color..
Yeah, they have similarity, but from that, emerge two complete opposite kinds of people..

Accidentally, this quote quite explains Cloud and Aerith's relationship:
~From http://choosehealthnow.info/yin-yang-compatibility.html:
“The most common and natural attraction of opposites is between the introvert and extrovert. Like the attraction between Yin and Yang, introverts and extroverts recognize in one another the qualities and traits they require for balance."...."All relationship combinations can work if people understand the temperament dynamics and are willing to make adjustments as required. Whether it is a nation, a company, or a personal relationship, strength and balance are found in our complementary differences, not in our similarities.”


(this is pure pointless speculation, ignore it if you don’t like)
------------I think it’s interesting when looking at their CG arts for AC.. While Cloud&Aerith got an opposite CG renderings, the Sephiroth one not.. Obviously(if counts SE wants to gave a hint from CG arts) Cloud & Aerith’s bond/connection are more special than Aerith & Sephiroth, or Cloud & Sephiroth..
Besides, we even get one story if we merge these three CG arts.. Put these 3 CG arts together, and we(ok, no, it’s just me) also can get:
Sephiroth staring at Cloud & Aerith with smirk(because he killed Aerith to makes Cloud suffer, and he succeed on that), Cloud looks weigh down by something (because he suffer from losing something important, you know..) and Aerith calm with a little smile(because she still with Cloud even after she dead).. OMG.. It's rather scary though..---------------------------------------------------


-------------------------------------------------- MY THEORY ---------------------------------------------------------

THREESOME?
(No, no, nu uh, throw away that dirrrty images from head!! )
What if this scene shown the connection between all three of them? Yes, everyone but Clotis knew, this is not new.. What I mean is, the special relationship between them.. OK, let me start with what SE said about this scene..

From Reunion Files:
"There's some foreshadowing that the church is where Aerith is going to appear,"says Nojima. "There's a point in the plot where Cloud and Tifa are lying unconscious on the flowers here and their wounds are healed. Also, Aerith has a sort of 'watery' image about her, so we used water to convey her presence."

I mean, SE always reinforced that there are three of them there; Cloud, Tifa and Aerith.. Considering that all we saw in this scene, when 'Water' theme played was from Aerith's eyes, we can assume that Aerith did approach them before she floats.. The nearest and longest(time) spot she approached them was here(as shown in pink spot; blank space), and her sight when she was there is shown in that small pic..

It's the perfect spot to complete them three, make a situation that symbolize the 'threesome' relationship of them, represents the Japanese symbol; MITSU TOMOE (Mitsudomoe)

--various arts/sketches of Mitsu Tomoe—
~From dreamworlds.us/encyclopedia:
”Created from three joined tomoe, the mitsu tomoe is a popular symbol in Japan. Some view the mitsu tomoe as representative of the threefold division (Man, Earth, & Sky) at the heart of the Shinto religion.
Originally, it was associated with the Shinto war deity Hachiman, and through that was adopted by the samurai as their traditional symbol. The mitsu tomoe has been used in Japanese family crests (kamon) and corporate logos, and is a traditional symbol of Okinawa. Jeju-do's flag has a mitsu tomoe on it, as did the Ryūkyū Kingdom's flags.”
http://www.dreamworlds.us/Mitsu_tomoe/
~From penninetaichi.co.uk:
"Symbolically it can be seen as representing all trinities such as Heaven – Earth – Humanity, also the life cycle of Birth – Life – Death"
~From altreligion.about.com:
“A mitsu (triple) Tomoe reflects the threefold division of Shinto cosmology, and is said to represent the earth, the heavens, and humankind.”

Further informations about this symbol, where it came from, etc..:
http://www.nihonbunka.com/shinto/trinity.htm
http://www.sacred-texts.com/earth/boe/boe19.htm

Unlike Yin-Yang which symbol that has some important priciples to be fulfilled when we want to use it(especially the shape and complementary opposite part), Mitsu Tomoe is quite simpler.. As long as three existances that correlating one another join in one situation.. It will makes a Mitsu Tomoe.. So technically, Aerith doesn’t need to lying like Cloud and Tifa to make this symbol.. In this TxAxC’s scene case, it makes sense.. Man/Humanity/Humankind , Earth & Sky/Heaven DO sounds like Tifa, Aerith & Cloud to me..

****For those who didn't know why Aerith=earth..
Aeris (Aerith) Gainsborough (Gast)
The Latin word "aeris" translates into "air; atmosphere; cloud; aether".

-"Air" and "atmosphere": this seems to be an allusion to Aeris’ connection to nature and her importance to the planet. Without air and an atmosphere, there would be no life. C.f. her first Limit Break, the "Healing Wind".
~The translation "cloud" implies that there is some kind of mystical connection between Aeris and Cloud Strife; like Cait Sith says, they are "made for each other".
~"Aerith" is an anagram of "I Earth"
~The word Aeris is pronounced similarly to "heiress", which aptly illustrates Aeris’ role as the last Cetra and the rightful heir to the planet.****
Source:Final Fantasy characters name origins


Example usage of the symbol in anime:
http://hakubaikou.com/contributors/wombat/mitsutomoe04.html

Mitsu Tomoe also known as the World Triad
From crossroad.to/Books/symbols1:
“Originally an oriental symbol, it was "adopted by western Gnostics as an emblem of cosmic creativity, the threefold nature of reality or fate, and the eternally spiraling cycles of time... In Japan it was maga-tama or mitsu tomoe, the world soul....” “Like the Yin Yang , it also represents eternity.”

Hmmmm.. Eternity, huh... That’s why Clotis want their couple to be like Yin-Yang so much..

So, for conclusion.. In my opinion, SE use ‘Mitsu Tomoe’ in this scene to indicates their “threesome” relationship.. And it was explained by what happened afterwards.. Although they have complicated feelings towards each other, they still managed to combined, do something complicated together.. I’ll try to explain it as best as I can..

Begun from Aerith heals Cloud and Tifa.. That leads to Tifa finally managed to nag.. errr.. scold.. errr.. advice Cloud to beat his fear..(Oh, Aerith also encourage him to fight his fear or guilty back, didn't she?).. Means, Tifa finally get to 'advice' Cloud literally and Aerith also did it spiritually.. Then Cloud go fighting, for save the kids.. The continuity of they playing their roles each, leads to accomplish difficult mission, together..
It makes a connection like the 'Mitsu Tomoe'.. Like "play of forces in the cosmos"(altreligion.about.com).. Something like that..



Or maybe to indicates their love triangle?? hmmmm.. Who knows.. It’s another interesting possibility, I guess.. I'm just offering alternative thoughts, BTW..

Oh yeah, sorry for super long rambling above, originally, I just want to post about threesome, but it turns out like this..

What do you think?