The Symbol in Thought and Action

There is a sense of purpose and meaning which can only be experienced as a whole. Not as a sum of parts, but rather as an “allness”. Our desire is to experience our life, its situations in its entirety.

And this desire the mind can formulate in its symbolic essence.

When speaking about “symbol”, the risk is always that this evokes an image which is depicted somewhere. This is not what is meant here. The symbolic essence is the best possible reflection of what the mind comprehends as the whole of any given situation, feeling, opinion, relationship. This happens within the mind all the time. We just automatically select information from the symbol to translate it into “thoughts” and “feelings”, a linear, pre-selected, simpler, reduced version.

Still the symbol functioning of the mind is accessible to anyone everywhere, just by directing the mind to a certain topic and letting an image arise.

This image, which is often belittled as “imagination” is the symbolic essence of that topic. It is not just a mere fantasy but more complete, whole and alive representation of the topic.

It is actually the symbol which has a deeper understanding of the situation, than the abstract string of words describing the topic.

The words are there to compact the topic, make it “manageable” and “communicable”.

Within the symbol the rational, emotional, relational, and spiritual significance are all wrapped into one.

It is the most whole experience one can have of a complex matter, since it can be looked at, spoken to, listened to, painted, sung and danced.

This image, like any symbol, has a center and periphery, an up and a down, a left and right. Its elements are in relationship to each, either in tension, opposition or in complementarity. There is usually a “hotness” in the center and a “coolness” around the edges. From the center an energy emerges which is charged emotionally and relates to the elements around it, which are held in place like through gravitational or magnetic forces.

The emotional charge of the symbol is of significance. It can either be charged with happiness, joy, passion, lust; but also pain, resentment, disappointment, or fear. The higher the charge, the more potential the symbol has for the symbol holder.

All symbols can be transmuted, and usually the symbol holder feels joy and relief when a symbol with a “negative charge” can be transmuted and dissolved.

A symbol which cannot be transmuted keeps the symbol-holder captivated and motivated. In its static representation and high level of emotional significance it leads the symbol holder into the future, to be acted out and then in the future dispel of its charge.

The awareness of the symbol itself is what enables us to question it, to explore it and ultimately also decide to change it. And with that change and transformation the attitude of the symbol holder towards the topic also changes.

The interaction with the symbol, enhances the understanding of the symbol-holder of himself or herself. A symbol therefore is something alive, not just an abstraction.The symbol is the mind itself which can be observed at work in its entirety.

The symbol originates at the place where the conscious and the subconscious meet. That is how it can represent all the information available. It relates to one hand to the action, which is required, but also it relates to the spiritual significance of the topic. It consoles the opposites with each other and allows for a harmonious and meaningful life.

Within the symbol rests also the source of itself. Seen from a deeper perspective the symbol requires opposition and duality to come into existence. It’s like a flower blooming into several petals. The petals are needed for the flower to be seen, to replicate and live within an environment which it is not. The blooming itself however is what is beyond the symbol, beyond duality and beyond opposition. It is the source itself.