How to Use Symbols to Manifest Your Desires
All of us in some way or another, are connected to, or influenced by symbols. When a group of Rastafarians started carving a totem pole out of a tree in a New York park they made a statement that affected the whole community. Countless people passing through the park were drawn to the totem feeling the connectivity this project initiated. Unwittingly, they were challenged to question the meaning of symbolism.
Symbolic connections act like antennae that enable us to tune in to the whole and understand the self, almost like road signs connecting a traveler to a destination.
Imagine All the Symbols
Imagine all the symbols in life we are already familiar with. Everyone relates to a circle. For some, it may signify the constant cycle of changing life or unity, wholeness and infinity or eternity. A river represents life-force and the passage of time. It also represents yielding. The symbol of a cup shows that form cannot exist without space, and space without form. There’s the dove that represents freedom. Symbols are powerfully present in religion – the cross, the Star of David, the endless knot, the tree of life, or the plait is present and recognized in most of the world’s awareness.
A Source of Wisdom
Whether we wear our symbols close to our bodies inscribed in gold or silver, hang them in our homes or tattoo them onto our bodies they are strongly inscribed in our minds. Our symbols become a source of wisdom and power for us. They express things that cannot be explained verbally and we often call on them for healing, representation, and ritual. They’re said to appear to us to awaken the ancient wisdom in our DNA.
A Source of Positivity
Imagery and visualization are becoming more popular as a way to replace negative thoughts or fear and to actively draw in positivity. We can use symbolism in conjunction with imagery to create a powerful effect. Texan based psychologist Jeanne Achterberg explains that “Imagery is a wedge or an entrance into the ability to translate and transform the very nature of our being.”
Find Yourself Symbolically
When working with imagery Achterberg suggests finding out who you are symbolically. You may decide you have the nature and qualities of a certain animal, flower or element. For example, you may feel that wood best describes your personality or that you capture the essence of a fox.
A good exercise to do is to feel yourself through the elements. There will be certain elements or animals you feel naturally drawn to, these are clues you can use. It doesn’t matter if astrologically you are water, fire, Earth or air, see what you feel you are by absorbing yourself deeply in the idea of each of the elements separately and see which one you are most drawn to. Do this with animals, with flowers, with elements in nature like a river, tree, soil, sky, sun, mountain, moon, air or wind.
You could even do it systematically going through the plant kingdom starting with a list of different herbs, then flowers, then plants, then trees. Crystals have strong vibrations that usually call people to them quite specifically. You could look at insects, then animals, moving onto landscapes like desert, mountain, river, valley, lake, then the elements; wind, wood, fire, earth or water. Planets can also be included, and of course, shapes.
“Once we become aware of our symbolic nature we begin to identify our own story and wholeness. This process,” asserts Achterberg, “is a way to bring people to know their own full stories and to reinvent those stories if they wish. If the stories in the mind change, thoughts change, emotions change, and the body changes.” She explains that because thoughts are biochemical reactions – biochemistry influences thoughts.
Change or Adapt Your Story
Once you’ve found your story, see how you might want to change it. Using pictures and images, elements, animals and components of nature make it much easier for your mind to re-imprint the thoughts and images you feel are outdated. If you feel too serious and want a more playful aspect of your personality to emerge then using the image of a dolphin might work well for you. You can also use a symbolic version of an ant if you want to draw organizational and productive energy towards you.
Symbols are Pathways into the Psyche
Symbols act as connectors between different levels of awareness. These alternative levels or realities come to us to display hidden meanings and to serve as pathways into the psyche. They enrich the life of the mind. When we use a totem we have a link with another state of existence, which can assist us in conditioning our own.
Philosopher and psychologist Carl Jung found that when using dreams and art to assist in therapy, his patients often uncovered similar symbols. These, he maintained, came from the collective unconscious. He believes symbols generate themselves as an expression of a deep inner power of which we are aware, but which we cannot fully express in words.
Build on Your Understanding of Symbols
Old tribal medicine encourages building and developing an understanding of symbols to promote the wellbeing of body and spirit. Once the meaning becomes clear, new insights into the mind are revealed and often, meaningful symbols begin to show up with greater frequency. It is almost as if each symbol unlocks a door through which other symbols are then allowed to emerge.
By simply becoming more aware of symbolism you will automatically start to see more symbols and symbolic interplay in your life. Suddenly the emblem on the gate will become more apparent and more meaningful to you. You may notice a spear shape or triangle or any other shape seems to pop up in countless places, more often than coincidence can account for.
Meanings of symbols are buried deep in our psyche and we know what many of them mean without having to learn. You’ll see how easy it is to become familiar with the world of symbols.
It’s a language you learned at childbirth and left behind. When you start learning it again it just seems to come to you. More importantly, you can use them to guide you and enrich your understanding of life.
Using Tribal Symbols
Many symbols have centuries of thought and energy invested in them. We can ‘borrow’ specific symbols from different tribes and cultures to help us in important pursuits. If wanting to germinate an idea or project or to conceive a child, the African Ashanti tribe has a very strong symbol for fertility called Akua’ba. For protection, the Jain religion has used a symbol of the hand to represent non-violence and avoidance of harm to any living creature. In certain Native American tribes, the symbol of a big mountain represents abundance.
You may feel one of the ancient symbols has collective energy that will work more efficiently. You can draw it on a piece of paper and put it up around the house, you could get a silversmith to make up a piece of jewelry that depicts your symbol or you could sew it into a talisman or if you feel very strongly about it, turn it into a tattoo.
How to Use Symbols to Manifest
Achterberg believes we can create meaningful change in our lives by using a technique she calls specific imagery. This involves spending time getting into a completely relaxed state. Once that has been done, then, using all the senses, (not just the visual) imagine the outcome you most desire. See how it might unfold step-by-step. Experience what it looks like, how it feels, tune into the colors, the smell, the sound, be as present and as engaged as you can.
Then take the environment of where you are at that moment and turn it into a symbol. It’s basically creating a mental picture, focusing on it fully, then adding the intention of turning it into a symbol. See what emerges.
You’ll get a symbolic version that’s highly charged, filled with intention and very effective.
Practicing this kind of imagery for a few minutes daily will strengthen your ability to create the things you want in your life. If you have trouble visualizing, you may want to look at a dictionary of symbols and see if you can locate one that best represents what you are trying to conjure up.
If I imagine wanting to go on a beautiful long trip somewhere exotic, and I close my eyes and visualize this with the intention of turning it into a symbol, I see a beautiful big bird with wings outspread. I can see how this bird can carry my intention in a powerfully strong way. It captures my desire in a single picture and instead of having to visualize all the components of my wishes each time, they are all encapsulated in a neat package. Every time I think of what I want, I see the bird and know that it is adding a deep level of vibrational power to my desire.
About the Author
10 Examples of Limiting Beliefs and How to Overcome Them
Limiting beliefs are deeply ingrained thoughts that prevent us from reaching our goals and living the life we desire. In this article, we explore how to identify and overcome these beliefs to unlock our true potential and manifest our desires.
Table of Contents
- What Are Limiting Beliefs?
- 10 Common Examples of Limiting Beliefs
- How Limiting Beliefs Affect Manifestation
- What Is the Origin of Limiting Beliefs or Thoughts?
- How to Overcome Limiting Ideas
- The Importance of Empowering Beliefs in Manifestation
- 10 Examples of Empowering Beliefs
What Are Limiting Beliefs?
Limiting beliefs are deeply ingrained thoughts and convictions that act as barriers in our personal growth. These beliefs form throughout our lives, often stemming from past experiences, family and social influences, leading us to doubt our abilities. As a result, we set artificial limits on what we believe is possible, preventing us from reaching our true potential.
A limiting belief can be as simple as thinking “I’m not good enough,” or as complex as a pattern of behavior that keeps us stuck in an undesirable situation. By becoming aware of these beliefs, we can begin to question and challenge them, opening the door to new possibilities and opportunities.
Identifying our limiting beliefs is the first step towards overcoming them. This involves deep reflection to understand how these negative thoughts affect us and where they originated in our lives. By dismantling these beliefs, we can replace them with more positive and empowering thoughts that allow us to move forward towards our goals with confidence and determination.
10 Common Examples of Limiting Beliefs
Identifying our limiting beliefs is the first step towards overcoming them and unlocking our potential. Here are ten common examples of these beliefs:
- I’m not good enough: “I’ll never be as good as others.”
- I’m too old or too young: “I’m too young to be a manager.”
- I don’t have enough money: “I’ll never be able to afford that.”
- I don’t have enough time: “I don’t have time to pursue my dreams.”
- I’m not smart: “I can’t understand this, it’s too hard for me.”
- Success is for others, not for me: “They have what it takes, I don’t.”
- I must think of others first, even if it hurts me: “I must always put others’ needs before mine.”
- I’m not creative: “I never have original ideas.”
- It’s too difficult: “I can’t do it, it’s too complicated.”
- I don’t deserve to be happy: “I don’t deserve to enjoy life.”
How Limiting Beliefs Affect Manifestation
Limiting beliefs act as blocks in the manifestation process, preventing our intentions and desires from materializing. When we hold onto negative thoughts or doubt our abilities, we emit a low vibration that attracts experiences and situations aligned with these limiting beliefs. This creates a cycle in which our expectations are continuously confirmed, reinforcing our limitations.
Changing our limiting beliefs requires a conscious and practical approach. It is essential to recognize that these negative thoughts do not reflect reality, but rather a perception conditioned by past experiences. Through techniques such as meditation, the use of positive affirmations, and the practice of visualization, we can transform these mental patterns and align ourselves with our true capabilities. By modifying our beliefs, we not only improve our self-image but also create a mental environment conducive to manifesting our desires and goals.
What Is the Origin of Limiting Beliefs or Thoughts?
Limiting beliefs originate primarily in our childhood, when we are more susceptible to external influences. The messages and experiences we receive from our parents, teachers, and social environment begin to shape our perception of ourselves and the world. Phrases like “you’re not good enough” or “that’s too hard for you” can become deeply ingrained, forming the foundation of our limiting ideas.
In addition to external influences, our personal experiences also play an important role in the development of limiting beliefs. Failures, rejections, and traumatic situations can leave a lasting impression on our minds, leading us to generalize those negative experiences and believe that we will always fail or be rejected. This negative thought pattern is reinforced every time we avoid similar situations to protect ourselves from pain.
Limiting beliefs can also be the result of the culture and society in which we live. Social norms, expectations, and stereotypes can impose restrictions on what we consider possible or acceptable. For example, cultural beliefs about gender, age, or economic status can limit our aspirations and self-image, affecting our ability to manifest the life we truly desire.
Finally, limiting beliefs can originate in our own internal dialogue. Repetitive and negative thoughts can become a mental habit, continuously reinforcing our limiting perceptions. This critical internal dialogue can be especially insidious, as it operates at a subconscious level, influencing our decisions and behaviors without us even realizing it.
How to Overcome Limiting Ideas
Overcoming limiting ideas requires a conscious process of introspection and mental reprogramming. First, it is important to identify and observe these negative beliefs, recognizing their origin and how they affect our lives. Then, through techniques such as meditation, positive affirmations, and visualization, we can reprogram our subconscious and replace limiting beliefs with empowering beliefs that strengthen us and propel us towards our goals.
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Detection and Observation of the Belief
The first step to overcoming a limiting belief is to detect it and observe it closely. Reflect on your daily thoughts and emotions, and ask yourself what beliefs might be blocking your progress. Write these beliefs down and examine their origin, recognizing when and how they arose and how they have influenced your decisions and behaviors.
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Reprogram the Subconscious
Reprogramming the subconscious involves replacing limiting beliefs with positive and empowering thoughts. Use positive affirmations and repeat them daily to modify your internal dialogue. Visualization is another effective technique: imagine in detail what your life would look like after overcoming these beliefs, creating new neural connections that reinforce these empowering thoughts.
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Change the Limiting Belief for an Empowering One
To change a limiting belief for an empowering one, first identify a positive belief you wish to adopt. Write affirmations that reflect this new belief and repeat them regularly. Each time you detect a limiting thought, consciously replace it with the positive affirmation. This process requires consistency and daily practice so that the new belief takes root.
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Consolidation of the New Belief
Consolidating a new belief requires practice and consistency. Integrate your new beliefs into your daily routine through concrete actions that reinforce them. Keep a journal of your progress, record your successes, and reflect on how these new beliefs are transforming your life. Over time, these beliefs will become an integral part of your thinking and daily behavior.
The Importance of Empowering Beliefs in Manifestation
Empowering beliefs are essential for manifestation because they directly influence our ability to attract and achieve our desires. These beliefs propel us forward, creating a positive and receptive mental state. By maintaining empowering beliefs, we align our vibration with our goals, making it easier for our intentions to become reality.
In addition, empowering beliefs allow us to overcome internal obstacles and maintain a mindset of abundance and possibility. They reinforce our self-image and positive expectations, creating a mental and emotional environment that supports and motivates us. By adopting these beliefs, we visualize our goals more clearly and act with confidence and determination, transforming our reality in meaningful ways.
10 Examples of Empowering Beliefs
Adopting empowering beliefs is essential to manifesting our desires and achieving our goals. Here are ten examples of these beliefs that can transform your life:
- I am enough: “I have everything I need to succeed.”
- Age does not define my ability: “Every stage of my life brings new opportunities.”
- Abundance is within my reach: “Money flows to me with ease.”
- I have time for everything that matters: “I can manage my time to fulfill my dreams.”
- I am smart and capable: “I can learn and master any skill.”
- Success is for everyone: “I have what it takes to succeed.”
- Taking care of myself is a priority: “My needs are as important as anyone else’s.”
- I am creative: “I have original and valuable ideas.”
- Challenges are opportunities: “I can overcome any obstacle.”
- I deserve to be happy: “I deserve to fully enjoy life.”
