Wisdom & Mastery - 'Exploring Value' Series
SYMBOLS: YOUR PERSONAL NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM

For those who feel aligned with Cultural Creative values, or feel called to use their gifts and experience to make a more positive 'ripple effect' in the world, symbols, metaphors, and archetypes can be an invaluable 'guidance system.'

Many of the new ways of working, or yearnings for a new and healthier way of living in harmony with others and the Earth, don't conform to long-established norms or standards of what's been considered desirable or 'successful.'

So the old maps aren't quite as useful as they used to be, because many people are feeling called to different destinations altogether. In order to create new maps, many people are turning to ancient and inner Wisdom. And just how, exactly, might you access that?

"Symbols, metaphors, and archetypes represent a bridge to ancient and personal wisdom," says Anne Dumauthioz, founder of Innergateway, author of Be An Original, and an Ivy Sea collaboration network partner. "I like to think of symbols as the gateways to the essence of the soul, or Self, and to deeper personal and Universal knowledge."

Dumauthioz says that symbols, metaphors, and archetypes can be traced to ancient stories and mythology, and have often been carried forward through oral story telling, art, and mystical and spiritual traditions. "Like imprints within our collective Soul memory, they are threads that weave together the Universe, and all of us carry their hidden meanings within us," she says.

Used together, they help us to acknowledge the existence of unknown, hidden, or undiscovered parts of our personality, as well as wisdom from the 'collective consciousness'.

According to Dumauthioz, symbols, metaphors, and archetypes:

• Are the language of Source. They give form to the essence of an experience, and it’s out of that experience that creation can emerge, be re-created or redefined.

• Unlock creativity, and help us bypass logic and reason so we can perceive and define ‘reality’ in a new way.

• Help us balance intuition, creativity and intellect.

• Allow greater clarity on how to move forward with a project, or approach and resolve a problem.

• Connect us with the wisdom of the past, the present, and the future.

• Link us with our physical environment, and with the realm of the imagination - inside and outside the body.

Intangible? Yes, but infinitely practical.

Though it seems esoteric, such 'inner-state' practices are not only invaluable, but crucial if we're to fully experience the highest potential, joy, and prosperity of business, livelihood, or other aspects our of lives and wellness.

In other words, they work together like an inner navigational system or sorts, providing guidance and intuitive insight — if we seek it — that we can then interpret, translate, and apply for more conscious and purposeful action.

For example, in my own work and in my work with clients, symbols, metaphors, and archetypes are important 'road signs' when creating or revisiting one's vision, and for staying on-path as you implement that vision.

Symbols, metaphors, and archetypes can also help us to define and authentically express our highest values and 'the story' about our enterprise and livelihood in ways that attract and connect with those who are aligned with our values, or who see themselves in the stories we share through our communication.

When applied to 'transcendent leadership', symbols can provide important feedback, and serve as 'guiding stars' to keep us centered on the values and ways of leading that are most important to us.

"Symbolism, imagery, and metaphors can be transformational in that they help us to confront self-deception," agrees Dumauthioz. "And like any good mental, emotional, spiritual health or fitness program would, they can help us to accept and balance our own polarities, and expand our mind."

Symbolism is also one key to effective storytelling, upon which the best leaders rely. "Leadership is storytelling," agrees Dumauthioz. "It frames a meaningful issue with powerful images, archetypes, and symbols, which then evoke certain emotions and feelings."

As we become more expansive and aware, we can also become more open to vision and intuition, and more skillful in our interactions with others. We quickly learn the great value of continued 'inner-state' work, because we begin to see the positive effects and manifestations of our throughout our "waking lives."

How does one access this inner wealth?

Having the intention, and then following through with an open-mindedness and a childlike curiosity is a good start. Dumauthioz says that an excellent reminder comes from Michael Berman: "…it is emotions, not logic, that drive our attention, meaning-making, and memory."

The more you explore and increase your awareness, and the more you inquire of your inner navigational system, the more it will respond, and the more you'll learn about the symbols and communication style of your own intuition and inner-wisdom.

"Patterns will likely start to surface, and so will personal meanings. Just like pieces of a giant puzzle coming together," says Dumauthioz. "Setting an intention for more metaphors or symbols to appear, bringing another level of clarity and awareness, is very useful."

Practices for Symbol Play

"This guidance is available to everyone," says Dumauthioz. "It's one way to bring more inner peace, and to change and move from fear-based to love-based reality, changing not only our inner realities, but also the world around us" in more positive ways.

Dumauthioz offers the following suggestions for accessing and honing your own inner-wisdom navigational system, so you can read the 'symbol signs' to guide you on your journey.

• Start developing your own symbolic dictionary so you can interpret the messages you’ve received.

• Share your experiences with others who are receptive and nonjudgmental, and ask them to share with you (in whichever ways feel comfortable to them) what it evokes for them… listen carefully because there will usually be additional clues linking you to another layer of symbolism.

• Move from receptive/intuitive state to analytical state, and start uncovering the deeper meanings.

"The web is a wonderful playground, and of course such a great metaphor for the possibilities involved with this type of guidance," says Dumauthioz. "Symbols have led me to the most amazing resources – books that offered timely guidance, tools I ended up incorporating in my practice, individuals whose vision was aligned with mine, who ended up collaborating on mutually beneficial projects. Things like that."

Other suggestions:

• Scan through books about dreams symbols. This can be very helpful as we are developing our own interpretations and symbolic language.

• Practice 'beingness' and awareness in the moment – love, change, movement are stillness and 'beingness', like a star shining its light completely motionless. Stagnation is busyness, mental chatter is doingness — in other words running around in circle in one’s inner realms. When you become connected to what’s around you, you can grow into a different version of yourself.

• Meditate or reflect on certain symbols can help us notice where there is balance and imbalance between doing and being, they can keep us grounded, and give us direction, and expand consciousness.

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