A Deeper Way of Seeing: Part VI – Symbols to See By

The Universal Symbol of the Spiral

Journey is often represented by a linear symbol of some kind, a road or a route shown on a map, which can give a sense of accomplishment and of finality. Yet the destinations we reach are often only gateways of invitation to something more. The phrase “full circle” describes a series of developments that leads us back to the original source. The circle is a symbol that represents wholeness and unity.

The concepts of journey that I’ve covered in the past several weeks have been mostly taken from Frank MacEowen’s book, The Celtic Way of Seeing: Meditations on the Irish Spirit Wheel. They have centered around a journey that begins at the place of our hearth, our soul’s home, moves through the place of creativity, on into vision, through the realm of the enlightened warrior and then circling back again, finding ourselves at home’s hearth once again. This circular journey reflects the inevitable experience of coming home to ourselves.

T.S. Elliot touches on this theme acknowledging its universality.

We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time.

T.S. Elliot

Little Gidding

The spiral symbol can be seen as a variation on the circle indicating expansive and even unending growth. In Deidre Combs' book, The Way of Conflict: Elemental Wisdom for Resolving Disputes and Transcending Differences, Vladimir Nabokov, the Russian novelist described the spiral as a circle set free, unwound, uncoiled and no longer “vicious."

As we round the circle of our journey, coming home to ourselves, arriving at the place where we started, the spiral invites us both inward, to a place of centering and stillness and outward into the expansiveness of unlimited possibilities.

Symbols have an innate power to enrich our understanding and to help us to be more awake and aware. Language can become worn out, losing its ability to communicate the most essential messages, the messages that are core to meaning and purpose. Symbols can act as a language that overcomes the roadblocks of preconceived ideas, ignorance, and lack of context. Symbols can act as an invitation urging us to re-engage in the great story of our lives and the Great Story of the Universe. In doing so we become better storytellers.

The symbolic language used to describe the sacred directions of the Irish Spirit Wheel in MacEowen's book have become an invitation of this sort to me, an invitation into a deeper understanding of myself, a greater sensitivity to the inspiration that surrounds me, more openness to a visionary way of being and greater passion to overcome the obstacles that prevent fullness of potential.

What do you find when you come home to yourself?

Writing Prompt for the Week: Symbols