“What was it like to rock climb in the Rocky Mountains?”
A statement like this one is common in our normal conversation. I brought it to your attention not because we will talk about rock climbing. But because we often ask each other “what was it like?” The way I phrased this question is important. I am saying, “Compare your experience to something I am familiar with. Don’t tell me exactly about the experience. Instead, create a parable of something I understand and can visualize.” We all think in symbolic terms even if we don’t realize we do.
When a public speaker wants to really connect with his or her audience, symbolism is often used. He might compare someone who is confused as “a deer in the headlights”. Immediately, that image is easy to visualize, and we fully understand the subject of the story. For someone who is awkward in a new job or social situation, we liken him to “a fish out of water”. The image of that fish on the bank flopping around and desperately wanting to be back in his home environment is a perfect analogy we all understand.
Your mind takes an idea and makes it visible. It brings it down to “the scale of abstraction” to something we can easily interpret. This is why our ancestors drew symbols on temple and cave walls. Regardless of what language you speak, the symbolic meaning remains constant.
If our conscious mind is heavily symbol oriented, you can conclude that symbolism is the ONLY language of your subconscious mind. To process complex feelings, ideas and concepts, the subconscious constantly generates symbolism and images to communicate with the conscious mind. The time when the subconscious “thinks” is when you are asleep and the outcome of all that thinking is a long string of images, scenes and “stories” which make up the bulk of those events we collectively refer to as dreams.
Learning to understand the hidden meanings of the subconscious will assist you in gaining useful insight from your dreams. For example, if you knew that your subconscious represents anxiety with a dream of you lost in a big building with lots of rooms, your dreams would become more relevant in your waking life. The symbolism of the mind is personal and cultural. It is based on common experiences you and your subconscious share.
On Sunday, March 17, 2019 we are hosting a webinar that will assist you in learning how to navigate the dream world. We will discuss the history of dreams, the language of the subconscious, symbolism, and how to interpret hidden meanings that can assist you in your waking life. If you are a dreamer, I highly recommend that you take part in this event. Non-members can get a Live Chat pass in our online store.
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