BLAZON -
DESIGN ON A CREST AS PART OF A COAT OF ARMS
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Some families have coats of arms with crests that
were used by ancestors in Europe during the middle
ages; the time of the Crusades.  Many, many more do not.
A crest and the design (the blazon) can be created
for an individual or a family, today.  The person or
family's traits are interpreted through colors, special
geometric designs called shapes, and pictures called
charges.  These combine to display your personality,
your work, your ideals, and your motivations - the sum
of your being.  A good blazon should be a design that
reflects what you believe, what you feel and what you are.
I have designed my own and that is what is displayed
on my home page. 
This is the actual medieval English description of
the design of my herald crest.

"Azure a bend argent a crosier purpure in chief a
bugle-horn or and in base a chalice gules on a canton
argent a cross patonce sable."

The components of the crest and the meanings behind them:

-  Azure = the background color, bright blue,
chosen to symbolize loyalty; in academics, the
color of education
-  A Bend = the diagonal, upper right to lower
left for the wearer of the shield, upper left to
lower right for the viewer, also called bend dexter,
chosen to symbolize defense
-  Argent = the color of the bend, silver, chosen
to symbolize peace
-  A Crosier = also called a pastoral crosier,
a variant of the shepherd's crook, often carried
by medieval clergy, frequently the bishop
-  Purpure = the color of the crosier, purple,
chosen to symbolize justice
-  In Chief = in the top third
-  A bugle-horn = a variant of Gabriel's golden
trumpet, chosen to symbolize calling, teaching,
and the day of judgement
-  Or = the color of the bugle-horn, gold, chosen
to symbolize nobility
-  In base = in the lower third
-  A Chalice = a drinking cup, symbolizing Christ's
admonishment to share the "fruit of the vine" in
memory of His shed blood
-  Gules = the color of the chalice, blood red,
to symbolize martyrdom
-  A Canton = the small "flag" in the upper corner,
often used in medieval times to signify a charge
(orders, instructions) given by a sovereign
-  Argent = the color of the canton, silver, chosen
to symbolize peace
-  A Cross = contained within the canton, the
"marching orders" of the Christian, certainly part
of a pastor's call
-  Patonce = the description of the ends of the
cross, flared to three decorative points, symbolizes
the Trinity: God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit
-  Sable = the color of the cross, chosen to
symbolize constancy; in academics, the color of
theology