A Guide to the Arts of Flirtation

Mistress Harper Cavatica

Speaking openly of one’s affections can lead to entanglements and intrigues one may not desire. One may wish to send discreet messages across a room, or may wish to discourage a potential suitor without discussing the situation awkwardly.
The most useful and codified forms of silent flirtations involve flora, the usage of hand fans, or in the case of letter writing, the positioning of postage stamps. Other guides sometimes include flirtations based on gloves, handkerchiefs, hats, or parasols, but the author finds that these can be easily misconstrued; objects of apparel and frequent usage are more likely to be handled under many situations, whereas the hand fan is a decorative object, and as such is more suitable for communications.

With Flowers

For the language of flora, the articles have been divided into those ideas the sender may wish to convey. If a flower has multiple color options, the color precedes the name of the flower within brackets. If a flower has a more specific meaning than the general category, the specifics are placed behind the name of the flower in parentheses. Example: Desire: [Pink] Camellia (Longing)

For Aspirations

Celandine (Future Joy)

Hawthorn (Hope)

Heather (Good Luck)

Lady’s Slipper (Win Me)

Pansy (Merriment)

Peony (Happy Marriage)

Snowdrop (Hope)

Spider Flower (Elope With Me)

Stephanotis (Happy Marriage)

Sweet William (Grant Me One Smile)

For Desire

[Pink] Camellia (Longing)

[Red[ Camellia (Heart Fire)

Dill (Lust)

Dog Rose (Pleasure and Pain)

Jasmine (Sensuality)

Poppy (Pleasure)

[Orange] Rose

Tuberose (Dangerous Pleasure)

For Disdain

Aconite (Beware)

Barberry (Bad Temper)

Buttercup (Childishness)

[Purple] Carnation (Capriciousness)

[Yellow] Chrysanthemum (Slighted Love)

Columbine (Folly)

Geranium (Stupidity)

Nightshade (Falsehood)

[Yellow] Hyacinth (Jealousy)

Narcissus (Egotism)

Petunia (Resentment)

For Farewell

Cyclamen (Resignation)

Daffodil (Unrequited Love)

Tea Roses (I Will Remember Always)

Rosemary (Remembrance)

Sweet Pea (Departure)

Trumpet Flower (Separation)

Zinnia (Remembrance)

For Friendship

[White] Acacia

Freesia

Iris

Ivy

[Yellow] Rose

For Love

[Yellow] Acacia (Secret Love)

[Red] Carnation (Admiration)

[White] Carnation (Adoration)

[Red] Chrysanthemum

Daisy (Loyalty in Love)

Forget-Me-Not (True Love)

Gardenia (Purity in Love)

Lavender

Lily (New Love)

Morning Glory (Affection)

Primrose (I Cannot Live Without You)

[Red] Rose (True Love)

[White] Rose (Pure Love)

Sunflower (Adoration)

Tulip (Passionate Love)

For Regrets

Balm (Sympathy)

[Purple] Hyacinth (Please Forgive Me)

Marigold (Grief)

Yew (Sorrow)

For Thankfulness

Agrimony

Hydrangea

[Pink] Rose

For Virtues

Amaryllis (Pride)

Azalea (Temperance)

Begonia (Fanciful Nature)

Bluebell (Humility)

Cornflower (Refinement)

Crocus (Cheerfulness)

Dahlia (Dignity)

Heliotrope (Devotion)

[White] Hyacinth (Playfulness)

Mullein (Good Nature)

Orchid (Beauty)

Violet (Faithfulness)

With a Hand Fan

Hand fans serve little purpose except to be decorative props. As such, they are the perfect accessory for communicating silently across ballrooms, theaters, and other crowded social functions. However, one must take care to always be aware of what message they are sending with their fan.

Affirmative Gestures

Yes -- Touch your right cheek with your fan and leave it there.

I desire to be acquainted with you -- Place the fan in your left hand in front of your face.

You have won my affection -- Place the fan over your heart.

Do you love me? -- Present the closed fan to them.

I love you -- Draw the fan across your cheek.

Kiss me -- Press a half-open fan to your lips.

We will be friends -- Drop the fan.

Negative Gestures

No -- Touch your left cheek with your fan and leave it there.

I love someone else -- Twirl the fan in your right hand.

You are cruel -- Open and close the fan several times.

I hate you -- Draw the fan through your hand.

Go away -- Hold the fan over your left ear.

Do not be so imprudent -- Make “threatening movements” with closed fan.

Miscellaneous Gestures

I am married -- Fan yourself slowly.

I am engaged -- Fan yourself quickly.

Follow me -- Place the fan in your right hand in front of your face.

Wait for me -- Open your fan wide.

We are being watched -- Twirl the fan in your left hand.

Forgive me -- Hold the fan open in both hands.

I am sorry -- Draw the fan across your eyes.

Do not betray our secret -- Cover left ear with fan.

With a Postage Stamp

There may be occasions where one wishes to express sentiment with a written letter, but does not wish to write their feelings in plain Common. In such cases, the position of a postage stamp on an addressed letter is a grand way of conveying one’s intentions.

Affirmative Placements

I love you -- Upside down on the top left corner of the envelope

Write immediately -- In the middle of the right hand edge

Yes -- In the center of the top edge

Do you love me? -- Sideways on the top right corner of the envelope

I wish for you friendship -- In the bottom right corner of the envelope

Accept my love -- Straight up and down beneath the address in the center of the envelope

I long to see you -- Sideways beneath the address in the center of the envelope

Negative Placements

My heart belongs to another -- Sideways on the top left corner of the envelope

Goodbye -- Straight up and down on the top left corner of the envelope

Write to me no more -- Upside down on the top right corner of the envelope

No -- In the center of the bottom edge

I hate you -- In the bottom left corner of the envelope

I am engaged - Upside down beneath the address in the center of the envelope

Related Organizations

• Eisen