My new article in Spirituality + Health magazine

“Most of us typically associate metaphor with the flowery language that poets use or with things that are made up: ‘That’s just a metaphor.’ In other words, we typically treat metaphors as outside of ourselves, when in fact they are the deep, sensory, intuitive language of the feeling center of our brain. To say that metaphor is “the sea we swim in” is not so much a metaphor as an observation of reality.

When we’re confused, uncertain, or going through change, we draw on metaphor to help us understand what’s happening: “I’m in over my head.” “That job feels too small for me.” “I’m on a new path now.” “He’s putting pressure on me.”

Metaphor is both an image AND a feeling. When someone says, “I’m on fire with my work right now,” we can imagine an image of fire, but we can also feel fire. We can feel what this person is experiencing.

When someone says they’re under pressure, that something is too small, that they’re on cloud nine, or that they’re depressed, we can feel what they’re saying. We understand their experience in a way that’s more than just cognitive. Thus, metaphor is a language that’s both compassionate and intimate.

Metaphor is also directly connected to our intuition and higher knowing. We may leave a conversation with someone and feel “lit up” or “down.” We might walk into a building and notice that it feels “heavy” or “light.” A project may feel “stuck” or “flowing.” That’s REAL energy…. it’s real intelligence from the Deep Creative.

article in Spirituality + Health magazine: https://www.spiritualityhealth.com/its-not-just-a-metaphor