Carl Jung once said “…we have no symbolic life, and we are all badly in need of the symbolic life. Only the symbolic life can express the need of the soul – the daily need of the soul, mind you! And because people have no such thing, they can never step out of this mill – this awful, grinding, banal life in which they are ‘nothing but’…”

These words give way to many ponderings and reflections for me, mostly around this notion of the soul and what fills the soul and allows it to be expressed. What is the soul? Is soul even a thing; do we really have a soul? For me, the concept of ‘soul’ is not something that we can definitively define, measure or prove, but rather, it defies logical understanding. It’s something I believe, that is sensed and felt intuitively and this requires deep presence and attunement to self and the world around us. I wonder if ‘soul’ is connected to that part of self that makes us feel uniquely human, how we relate or feel connected to the natural and human world, and the reason for our place and drive to live within that world. And that, all comes down, I think, to presence and meaning. How one finds or creates a sense of meaning; the feelings we experience within ourselves that fill us up, inspires reflection, wonder and awe, that stirs and moves us deeply – emotionally – that drives us forward, brings us a sense of hope, feeds our passion and desire and fosters connection with other humans,… this to me is soul. Hence, meaningfulness feels intrinsically linked to this notion of the soul.

So if meaning is an important way to express the need of the soul, how then, do we create or access meaning?

This is where symbols and symbolism come into play. So what is symbolism and where do we find it?

Put simply, symbols or symbolism is about representation. The idea that things represent other things. For example, the colour red is not just a colour but represents something more than the colour itself. That is, it has meaning that we attribute to it beyond just colour, such as passion, energy, anger or love. Symbols can be found in many areas of our lives from our dreams, objects found or acquired, religious and other spiritual beliefs and rituals, to the myriad of road and other signs that direct our day-to-day functioning. Some of the most profound symbolism can been seen and accessed through the visual arts; fine art, expressive arts, dance and cinema. Many symbols and their meanings are universal. But perhaps, it is the symbols and meaning we create for ourselves from things, that has the greatest value and power in how it expresses and feeds the need of the soul.

I wonder if we take this for granted, not ever really being present to the feelings that are elicited when we are experiencing meaningful moments, where we are subliminally responding to something that feels symbolic or meaningful deep within us. The arts have a particular way of eliciting and accessing meaning. We all feel it when we stand in front of great artwork or watch the credits rolls after watching a confronting or moving film. Art and music just seem to elicit and stir such deeply felt emotion be it joyful, inspiring, empowering, contemplative, sad or confronting. When this happens, is this symbolism expressing the need of the soul playing out?

Whenever we feel lifted and energised by something beautiful, amazing or poignant, whether man-made or of the natural world; a piece of music, a rare discovery, a spectacular mark at the footy, a beautifully crafted piece of furniture or garment, an exquisite flower or bird, a wild animal closely crossing our path, or a magnificent sunset, we feel something quite specific. Each of these things can create within us a sense of wonder, excitement, curiosity, joy and awe. Those Ooohh! Wow! Awwwwe! Aaahh! moments that leave us feeling truly alive. They speak to meaning and within the layers of that meaning, you will often find something about the moment that feels symbolic of something we can’t quite articulate.

Art Therapy is built around the idea of art, creative expression and representation as meaning-making. You can draw on these soul lifting moments as inspiration for expression and creative representation, and equally representing and expressing creatively can open up portals that allow you to access and express the subliminal needs of the soul. Either way, finding ways to notice and harness creativity and symbolism can drive us to step out from the “grinding mill of banal life” towards seeking and creating greater meaning in our day-to-day lives. I draw on the use of symbolism in my daily life all the time and represent it in many ways, from using symbolic cards for journaling and reflection, to wearing my favourite soft, pink merino poncho to envelop me when I know I am facing a challenging day. I also have a tree at home adorned with ornaments and ribbons that my husband and I decorated after losing our baby daughter. Hanging the ribbons and ornaments is a sacred ritual and symbolises for me, a sense of hope and connection with my daughter. Immersing myself in, and connecting with nature is also an important part of my day-to-day symbolic and soulful life. Being in nature fills and energises me but more importantly, it slows me down, and when I slow down, I am more present and I notice things I wouldn’t see if I was racing along in the crazy and banal existence we can so often become slave to. It is the slowing down, the presence, the noticing, the curiosity, and in turn, nature revealing surprises of wonder and awe and the feeling of being connected to something greater, that feels symbolic and meaningful.

‘Komorebi’ is a Japanese word used to describe the experience of seeing sunlight filtering through the trees.  How beautiful to have a unique word to describe this phenomenon.  There is something about light, and the play of light, that draws our attention and grounds us in the present moment.  Sunset and sunrise, rainbows, rays of light filtering and glistening through the leaves of trees, and the light of the sun sparkling on the surface of water like diamonds. These are all examples of the phenomenon of light reflection and refraction, giving off a wonderful sense of the transcendent, celestial and magical.  Another source of light reflection that fascinates me, is watching the sunlight reflecting shadows from outside foliage onto internal walls and surfaces, that appear to move and dance.

The play of light is one of those experiences that can feel symbolic and meaningful, igniting a sense of the magical, ethereal and spiritual.  Have you ever stepped into a hazy shower of sunshine and noticed particles of dust, light motes or tiny insects suddenly become visible?  Illumination from the shaft of light, allows us to see what’s hidden.  I find there’s something about illuminating the hidden that speaks of other realms and worlds bringing us in touch with our imagination but also our sense of spirit or soul.

The presence of a spectacular and awe-inspiring display of light reflection or refraction, be it, a double rainbow appearing against a grey sky or the distinct rays of light streaming down to the ground as if from a heavenly place, draws us closely and connects us to the natural and spiritual world, bringing peace, solace and a sense of “oneness” with nature.  Equally, the capacity to pause and notice light in its various forms can offer joyful moments and brings us into the present moment of human ‘being’.  When we pause and acknowledge these simple yet profound gifts of nature, we are filled with a child-like wonder, imagination, curiosity and awe – something that is so easily missed, or dismissed, in the hustle and bustle of our busy, rushed, and overstimulated lives.  Moments of peace, awe and wonder invite presence and connection, not only with nature but also with ourselves.  It fills that place within us we refer to as ‘soul’, with a tonic, that in turn, replenishes, re-energises and restores us physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

Take a few moments to step away from your work or screens and go outside.  See of you can notice moments of light reflection or refraction.  Be present to how you feel in the moment.  Journal what it stirs for you.

and discovery helps us in turn, develop insight and awareness. Without awareness, it’s hard to change behaviours and successfully work through and address the conflicts and problems that plague us. Looking at ourselves and addressing our struggle involves a level of vulnerability and, being vulnerable requires courage. Delving into the shadow parts of ourselves isn’t easy but the rewards are great when we see how much less stressed we feel as the heaviness of our conflicts and overpowering emotions start to shift and lift. And, when we feel more empowered over ourselves and our lives, perhaps the greatest reward is living a life that feels more liberated, authentic and meaningful.