Discovering the key image that shapes your life and guides your journey

The French writer Albert Camus wrote, “A man’s life is nothing but a slow trek to rediscover through the detours…those one or two images in whose presence his heart first opened.” Similarly, poet Stanley Kunitz believed that writers are often drawn to key images that captivated them as children, revisiting and reworking these images throughout their lives. Mythologist Michael Meade suggests that at the core of each life lies an image that first “moved us” into the world, while Walt Whitman poetically observed, “There was a child went forth, and the first thing he looked upon, that object he became.”

These thinkers point to a profound idea: as children, we encounter certain images that leave an indelible mark on our hearts—shaping how we see, feel, and engage with the world. Could it be that these early impressions provide us with a foundational lens through which we experience life? While psychology often highlights how early negative experiences shape us, it’s equally plausible that our hearts hold on to images of beauty and wonder. Perhaps these cherished images become a thread we weave through our lives, revisiting them in times of inspiration or challenge.

For instance, a friend of mine, who grew up near the sea in England, finds that oceanic waves subtly flow through her work as a scientist. Another friend, a somatic therapist, has developed a body of work called “Clearing Clouds,” inspired by imagery she’s carried for years. The cosmologist Brian Swimme has devoted his life to telling the “creation” story—a natural evolution of his own key images. And one of my clients from Mexico holds a deep connection to the bustling marketplace of her childhood, a vibrant world she experienced while accompanying her parents as they sold their wares.

For me, the key image that runs through my life is tied to my father, an Iowa farmer. Watching him plant seeds and nurture them into life remains central to how I view the world. The act of planting, growing, and digging my hands into the rich soil continues to ground me, even after decades of living in cities.

What is the key image that lies in your heart? How has it shaped the way you see the world? How does it replenish and guide you, particularly during difficult times? What wisdom does it hold for your future, and how might it nourish others or contribute to the larger world?

If these questions spark your curiosity, I invite you to explore them further in a Doorway Session. To help new clients experience this transformative process, I’m offering a free introductory session through January 31, 2013. Let’s step into the images that guide and inspire your life.