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Responsibility and Symbolic Interpretations

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
Personal Views on the Responsibility of Symbolic Interpretations

Personal Views on the Responsibility of Symbolic Interpretations

I’ve been offering perspectives into deeper symbolism for years.  Understandably, I’m constantly called upon to provide symbolic interpretations and personal consultations.  Although I do answer as many emails as I can (mostly referring inquirers back to the 1000+ online pages I’ve already written) about varying forms of symbolism…I feel a nagging discomfort with it.

This baffles a lot of my friends and colleagues.  They ask: “Why don’t you offer a symbolic consultation service?  You could help so many people.  You could make a great income and profession from it!”

That’s true.  Except…I have major moral conflicts about a) charging for interpretations and b) having the weight of this responsibility on my shoulders.

In a previous life (this life, but seemingly so long ago it feels like a different life), I served in the medical field.  At that time, I was a witness to new lives being born.  Conversely, I was witness to lives transitioning into so-called “death” too.  Each moment in my medical career proved overwhelmingly crucial and stood as a reminder of the responsibility involved with the process of healing the human condition – physical and spiritual.  I know those of you in the healing profession can relate 100%.

Some may argue that offering symbolic interpretations is not a life-or-death business.  I dunno about that.  I’m not so sure human energy differentiates between physical and non-physical.  We’re all an amalgamation of varying forces, entangled and interconnected. 

Perhaps one day I’ll evolve into a state of being that allows me to offer personalized readings, but for now my perspective is deeply planted in the contrary. 

Why?

Because I’m not convinced it’s my responsibility to tell folks what a symbolic phenomenon means to them, or what kind of message it holds.  I always figured this is the responsibility of the one encountering the phenomenon…not me. 

So, I continue to offer personal observations online about symbolic meanings.  But these are only my perspectives. 

The real key to lasting soul-evolution is deciphering symbolism for ourselves – to our own personal satisfaction.  Of course, there are situations in which an outside view is required.  But the majority of the work in understanding ourselves, our lives, our collective consciousness is up to each of us.  That’s why I’m forever touting the value of personal responsibility in interpreting symbolic events.

Furthermore, our awareness would not be drawn to a symbolic event if we ourselves were not equipped to interpret it.  It may take an investment in time, meditation, awareness, focus, research, patience, etc., etc….but I’m resolute in the knowing that every symbolic episode is unique to each of us.  Likewise, the meanings are unique and therefore the interpretations require personal reflection first and foremost.

Trust in the process.  Trust in your own ability to make sense of the deeper meanings that are inherent to life.  That’s what living  a symbolic life is all about. 

Be determined in mining for meanings in your own inner caverns of knowing.  You will reap gold eventually, and that’s a promise.

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You Are Not Alone

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

HandPrintOfAwareness

“You are not alone.”

Some of us know this instinctively.  We feel the presence of supporters – as close to us as our skins, as intimate as the inhalation of air. 

Whether we call them gods, goddesses, angels, higher selves, animal guides…by whatever name – we are aware of intangible energy buoying us with assurance and support.

However, others of us feel a ring of isolation, preventing us from feeling that consistent presence of energetic support.  Some of us incorporate techniques, rituals or healing habits in order to gain etheric unity for the purpose of becoming saturated by the varied presences of the divine. 

I was philosophizing on this with a friend of mine.  We discussed varying reasons why some people - even if they’re locked in a box on some remote island – will tell you they are never alone.  Why can some people feel the presence of supportive energy no matter how removed they may be from everything?  Conversly,  why do other people feel completely remote, and unable to grasp the presence of divine help, healing and guidance within their midst?

Those who find themselves feeling hermetically sealed in a vacuum of solitary confinement may wonder what the trick is to ripping off the lid and encountering divine accompaniment.  How to feel the buoying presence of profound support on a daily (or even moment-to-moment) basis?

Pulling ourselves from the attic of our minds helps.  Walk “downstairs” into the body. 

That means making connections with movement, breathing, heartbeat.  It means listening to our own blood as if it were an exotic music.  And if it is music, then we must acknowledge a composer, a conductor and a collaborative orchestra rendering that specialized music from within. 

Each cell within the body represents an individual life.  We forget the billions of individual consciousness’s residing within ourselves because they function so elegantly as a whole. 

To be sure, the body is a multiverse and tapping into that diversity of consciousness is a vital step to feeling less of a stranger in a strange land.  

One of the most (deceptively) simple ways I’ve found to dissuade the mind of its separation is to draw attention to the wilderness within the body. 

Try it some time.  If you’re feeling that ring of isolation squeezing the joy from you, and you’re seeking divine connection and communion – try a dreamtime ride within the subway system of your arteries.  Listen to your aortic tympani.  Start a discussion with your intestinal bacteria (don’t laugh! They can be stimulating conversationalists!).

My point is this:  Indeed, we are inseparable from all manner of divine energy whose presence and purpose is to accompany each of us on our life-journey.  Being alone is an impossibility. 

Nevertheless, some of us feel the austerity of seclusion more often than divine companionship.  So, if that’s the case with you, I’m suggesting a move out of the mind and into the body.  It’s an effective first step to becoming intimate with the reality of inclusion and consistent support.

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Symbolic Meaning of Labyrinth

Thursday, January 24th, 2008



The symbolic meaning of labyrinth is also associated with the various symbolic meanings of the spiral  in that we can trace our footsteps (both metaphorical and literal) back to and from the Source (center or core).

Labyrinths have been used for ages.  Native Americans used the labyrinth as a symbol that represents birth, rebirth and/or transition from one world to the next.  Specifically, as a Hopi symbol,  labyrinths are depicted with a cross near the center which represents the four cardinal directions and their attributes.  The spirals encircling this compass are symbolic of the waves or cycles of creation all of life experiences.

 On a philosophical level, the symbolic meaning of labyrinth is as complex as the symbol itself.  With many twists and turns, the labyrinth does not share its secrets easily. 

On the surface the symbolic meaning of the labyrinth deals with:

  • passage of time
  • spiritual growth
  • enlightenment
  • connection to source
  • rebirth
  • resurrection
  • emergence
  • evolution
  • progress
  • spiritual path
  • initiation

The labyrinth can be a powerful tool for inner enhancement and development.  It is designed specifically for this purpose.  When walking the labyrinth, we find our perspective constantly changing.  Our vision and physical bodies are never facing the same direction for long.  This is a technique to coax our inner knowing out from within.  

Further, the spiraling inward motion is a physical replication of our spiritual tendency to seek within the highest truths in order to find eternal freedom.  When we are moving outward from the source, it is an action that we have made the divine connection and now we are expressing our completeness outwardly – essentially sharing our highest good with all around us.

It is important to note that walking the labyrinth (mentally or physically) is not intended to be overly challenging.  There are no dead-ends with the labyrinth, only meandering waves of smooth lines designed to gently nudge us back to our destination. 

This is where labyrinths are often confused with mazes.  Big difference.  Mazes are designed to challenge intellect and strategic skills.  Whereas the labyrinth is an exercise in soul development.

Just thoughts.

There are plenty of labyrinths in Nature we can observe as an effort to encounter a richer understanding of the complexity of our consciousness.  Animals have helped me a great deal in meandering through personal cycles.  Here are a few animals associated with the labyrinth…maybe they’ll guide you too:

Further reference:

Symbolism of Spiral

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Brief Look at Native American Symbolism of Feathers (Sioux & Hopi)

Tuesday, November 13th, 2007


Feathers and Native American Indian Symbolism

Feathers and Native American Indian Symbolism

There are hundreds of Native American tribes who have evolved and developed their beliefs and rituals over the span of hundreds of years.  This being the case, it is difficult to pin point one single, specific meaning of feathers to Native Americans.

However, I have read legends in which the Hopi used turkey feathers in various symbolic placements and rituals.  The number of turkey feathers used is four.  The turkey is a symbol of the wildness of the Earth, and the number four represents the four winds.  Together, this is a symbolic message that the Earth is a wildnerness that man can never control.

I also know that the Sious used feathers in headdresses (reserved for the higher-minded or wiser souls, tribe noblemen, soothsayers, etc).  Twenty eight feathers were used in Sioux crowning rituals.  Twenty eight is sacred to the Sioux to represent the life of the Moon breathes within a span of twenty eight days.  There are also twenty eight ribs within the cage of the buffalo, which was/is sacred to this tribe.

Also among the Sioux, the Eagle (specifically, the Golden Eagle) was a sacred symbol, and twelve of her feathers were used in ritual, ceremonial events to signify the number of months in the year as well as the twelve symbolic rays of the sun.

Other information on feathers:

 

Symbolic Meaning of Finding Feathers on Your Path

Symbolic Meaning of Feathers (general/cultural)

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