We each have our own personal symbols, shapes, animals and objects that hold a deeper meaning, or message beyond what they literally are.
We find these images appearing again and again in our stories, our
paintings, our dreams, our photographs, our jewellery, our homes and our
lives.
Even though we know they repeatedly appear we can often be unaware of the conversations going on between the important things in our lives and ourselves. We figure we simply
like angels, cats, crosses, bird, houses bicycles or beautiful girls but what is it about these things that attract us?
Our collection of symbols are powerful
expressions of our spirit. connection to our selves, our aesthetic and also to the Universe.
Deepening our awareness of our symbology helps us to be more authentic and in touch witgh who we are and can lead to increased happiness because you know what you need to do to feel more fulfilled.
Create a Symbol Journal or Journal
Page
Create a special page or section in your journal where you
can gather your symbols. You may find you’d even like to dedicate an entire
journal to exploring your personal symbology.
List your recurring symbols
in words, drawings, photographs or snippets from magazines. Use what you have on
hand and what is easy for you. Don’t let supplies or perfectionism get in the
way of the process. Go ahead and draw an owl as best you can. Trust that you and
the owl will know one another better; that is the key.
Write about what each symbol means to you.
For
example, if one of your recurring symbols is a lighthouse…
- What are your memories of
lighthouses?
- What stories do you know about
lighthouses?
- What do you associate with
lighthouses?
- When did you start noticing
lighthouses?
- What does a lighthouse mean to you?
If you get stuck, do a Google search (e.g. “symbolism of
lighthouses” “meaning of lighthouses”). Trust your own reactions to what you
discover.
Getting to know your own personal symbology is an ongoing
creative practice that will allow you to understand and express your true self
in more and more powerful ways.
And if you don’t know your symbols yet, a
regular practice of dreamboarding can help you find them. Over time, I have been
able to see how again and again certain forms and figures find their way to my
boards. This has been my primary tool for connecting with my own sacred
symbols.
Some of My Personal Symbols
What are some of your personal symbols? What do they
mean to you?