Unicorns

When I think of purity, I think of unicorns, knowing full well I’ll get mercilessly mocked for it. But in truth the symbolism of the unicorn is complex even when–maybe especially when–this creature is mocked. Take a look at this recent essay and wonder, as I do, why the author has expended this much energy on his derision of the unicorn concept. If a unicorn is nothing more, as most of us would assume, than something that appears on puffy rainbow stickers collected by grade school girls, nothing more than a mythical creature with an obscure connection to the idea of virginity, why would anyone write about it with such scorn and contempt? It’s almost as if there’s something threatening or dangerous about whatever it is a unicorn represents.

Let me go at this from another direction. When I was teaching pre-kindergarten, there was a girl in my class who was very, very into unicorns. She’d wear sweatshirts with embroidered unicorns on them. She’d want to play Unicorn Family when we went out for recess. Most of her classmates took this in stride–they all had their own interests, like Star Wars or fairies or whatever–but one boy in particular repeatedly demanded an explanation. “Why do you like unicorns so much?” he’d ask her.

“Because they’re beautiful,” she’d answer in a tone indicating nothing was more self-evident.

What was clear to me, in observing this scene, was that unicorns represented something lovely, something worth her attention. Her classmate didn’t understand her interest–but it was the sort of not-understanding that isn’t satisfied at leaving it at that. It was almost as though he was more invested in unicorns than she was.

Why do I think about unicorns when I think about purity? It’s more than the aforementioned link with virginity, because purity, as a concept, encompasses more than sex. Purity is unmixed purpose, singularity of desire. And there is incredible power in it. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. Pursuit of the pure leads us to God, because He alone is completely set apart, completely unmixed–He is One and True and God.

A unicorn–a creature with a single horn–traditionally symbolizes purity and strength. The two symbols are linked for a reason. There is power and strength in having one purpose in mind. So much power, in fact, that others will feel threatened and may mock you for it, not realizing their mockery is coming from their own fear–or that the fear they are feeling masks their own desire to be pure.

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