Archetypes, Symbols & Signs

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Reflections on Archetypes, Symbols & Signs

I see archetypes as cosmic realities that connect us to each other and to the rest of the universe. These "cosmic realities" are qualities or characteristics that exist both in the world around us and in our own experience, as reflected in our thinking, feeling and behavior. Often they exist as dualities or pairs of opposites, such as masculine/feminine, flexible/inflexible or light/dark.

Have you ever heard someone described as "inflexible"? Similarly, you could compare one tree to another type of tree and find that one is less flexible than the other. Thus the archetype "flexible" is found in both humans and trees, creating a connection between the human realm and the tree realm. There is power in this connection.  

Symbols are objects that stand for something other than, or beyond, themselves. To continue with the comparison between trees and humans, an oak tree often symbolizes taking a strong position, as in "standing tall like an oak."

Finally, a sign is a symbol that communicates a very specific, personalized message to us from the universe. For example, perhaps a situation at work calls for us to take a strong stand, but we are hesitating to do so for some reason. As we are struggling with this dilemma, we come across a particularly distinctive oak tree, and we take this as a sign to be determined and take that firm stand afterall.

There is a perpetual, inexhaustible fountain of personal power available to us by connecting to the archetypes through our conscious awareness of both symbols and signs. The universe comes alive as we are alive; we are never again alone; there is archetypal wisdom to be found for daily living in the messages sent to us via symbols and signs, if we have eyes to see and ears to hear.

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Personal Power Symbols

The symbol in the banner of this website is my own personal power symbol. It incorporates important elements that mean a great deal to me. This symbol is my personal power symbol, which actually inspires and empowers me, in addition to representing my business.

If you are interested in having your own unique personal power symbol,  CLICK HERE.

This brief excerpt from a lecture by the famous expert on mythology , Joseph Campbell, provides a nice introduction to archetypes as found in mythology.