At the start of January, I briefly wrote about the significance of doors in this month. Today I want to share with you my fascination with windows and doors! Just going through my phone, I see several photographs I’ve taken of them on my trips. Today, let’s look through the glass and beyond the threshold for a bit!
Through The Look Glass And Beyond
I find something strangely beautiful about windows and doors. They are more than functional elements; they are metaphors for connection, transition, and perspective. Windows are fascinating—they show off the world, play with light, and have a quiet magic to them. Doors speak of possibility, of entry and departure, of thresholds, boundaries that define the spaces we inhabit. Together, they form the boundaries of our worlds, yet they invite us to step beyond them.
Every door is a portal leading through time as well as space. The same doorway that leads us into and out of a room also leads us into the past of the room and its ceaselessly unfolding future.
― Gregory David Roberts, Shantaram
To me, windows are symbols of perspective. A window dictates what you see and how you see it. Look through a narrow window, and the world feels confined; stand before a wide, open window, and the horizon expands. It’s no wonder they feature so prominently in literature. In Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë uses a window to reflect Catherine Earnshaw’s restless spirit as she gazes at the wild moors.
Doors, in contrast, I feel are symbols of action. They demand a choice—to stay or to leave, to open up or remain closed. In fairy tales, doors lead to otherworldly realms—hidden gardens, enchanted castles, or mysterious woods. I see doors as more than just openings; they promise something amazing and inspire me to be curious and brave.
In my view, windows, often adorned with curtains and offering glimpses of the outside world, and doors, heavy and imposing or light and airy, are partners in the art of framing life. A window allows me to observe, to dream, to reflect on what lies beyond. A door challenges me to act, to cross thresholds, to embrace the unknown. They remind me life’s all about balance—some stillness, some action, some staying put, some exploring.
We slice our life into
segments by rituals, each a door
to a presumed new phase. We see
ourselves progressing from room
to room…..– Doors Opening, Closing on Us by Marge Piercy
Whether it’s the glow of oyster-shell windows in Goa, the sturdy wooden doors of my childhood, or the countless frames and thresholds I’ve encountered in my travels, I find myself endlessly drawn to the possibilities they represent. Windows and doors are storytellers, ever-changing and ever-inspiring, framing life one view, one step, at a time.
Do windows and doors fascinate you too? Do tell.
PS: I’m writing this in response to Beth Kempton’s prompt on Substack – window.
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Enjoyed reading what all doors and windows symbolize. The pictures of doors on this post are so beautiful!
Glad you did, Madhavi. I didn’t realize I had so many pictures of doors and windows!
The snake is symbolic of Kundalini Shakti in the Hindu texts, Corinne. I don’t know exactly what Kundalini Power means but one interpretation says it is deep spiritual energy that rises from the base of the spine during a state of yogic meditation. It is always represented by a feminine from – Goddess Durga, Mother Kali and at least a hundred forms of divinity in feminine form. If it is your birth sign (even though in Chinese books), you will certainly connect to what it indicates.
Very interesting, Madhavi. I’ve heard of kundali power but haven’t read more about it.