The transformative beauty of metaphor: A journey into inner wisdom

My journey into the world of metaphor was entirely unplanned. It wasn’t a choice I made, but rather a path that unfolded for me through a series of profound, mystical, and even harrowing experiences. I became an advocate for a realm of non-ordinary beauty that urgently wants to be known—a realm accessible through the power of metaphor.

Growing up in a Midwestern, Norwegian farming family, creativity was far from valued. Like many in our culture, my family prioritized practicality and science. My siblings pursued traditional paths—my brother became an engineer, my sister a radiologist, and I chose computer science, eventually working for a Fortune 500 company in Chicago.

A Life-Altering Experience

But life had other plans for me. During a weekend trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a car accident shattered the path I was on. Another vehicle crossed the centerline at 65 miles per hour, hitting us head-on. I broke my back, displacing my spinal cord by 40 degrees. Airlifted to the Mayo Clinic, I was given less than a 5% chance of walking again.

Two moments from that night changed my perspective forever.

First, as I lay immobilized in excruciating pain, a nurse leaned over and said softly, “Imagine you’re floating on a cloud.” I closed my eyes, and the simple act of visualizing that cloud shifted everything. It calmed my mind and soothed my body. That was my first encounter with the transformative power of metaphor—a force that could move me beyond fear and pain.

Second, I realized that my recovery owed much to an unconscious decision. In the months leading up to the accident, I had been exercising intensely, as if preparing for something. Somehow, a deeper part of me knew what was coming and had stepped in to ensure my survival.

A New Direction

During my recovery, I had ample time to reflect on my life and passions. I realized my heart lay not in computer science but in the human, creative experience of learning. This realization led me to pursue a PhD in adult learning at the University of Chicago.

There, I was mentored by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. His guidance shaped my understanding of human creativity and learning. Together, we co-authored articles on the role of museums in learning.

Despite this intellectual fulfillment, my academic journey left me drained. By the time I graduated, I couldn’t even read without feeling physically ill. Words blurred on the page, leaving me searching for a new direction.

Discovering the Metaphoric Realm

This search led me to the Berkeley Psychic Institute, where I began giving intuitive readings. What I discovered was extraordinary: I wasn’t predicting futures or offering vague insights—I was accessing a metaphoric realm.

This pre-cognitive space allowed me to see the underlying images guiding a person’s life. For example, a muddy path might symbolize slow progress, while an open door could represent an imminent opportunity. These metaphors offered clarity and guidance that bypassed the limitations of logic.

Honoring Beauty and Creativity

Years later, while interviewing for a teaching position, the president of the school asked what I wanted to teach. The words “metaphor” came out of my mouth—words I hadn’t planned or expected.

That moment opened a new chapter in my life. I began teaching the psychology of metaphor, exploring its profound capacity to connect us with a realm of beauty and creative potential.

For years, I dismissed my own mystical experiences, brushing them aside to fit societal norms. But I’ve come to understand that these experiences are real, and they urgently want to be known.

As Gregg Braden wrote in Secrets of the Lost Mode of Prayer:

“The power of beauty is real. In its presence, we are changed… the power of beauty appears to be dormant until we give it our attention.”

It’s time to awaken this power. The metaphoric realm offers us an untapped resource of immense potential—a vibrant inner space filled with wisdom and creativity.

And it urgently wants to transform our lives.