In this ‘advanced’ materialistic society in which we live—at least in much of the world—it seems that only what can be observed literally counts. An object has a function, and that function defines its meaning.
This way of seeing the world is extraordinarily useful. It allows us to measure, classify, build technology, organise cities and design complex systems. It is the foundation upon which many of the structures that make modern life possible are built.
But it also has a hidden cost: it reduces reality to what can be weighed, counted or verified immediately.
This view is deeply linked to materialist thinking, which could be summed up in a rather popular axiom: ‘If I don’t see it, I don’t believe it’. Or, in its more sophisticated version: ‘If there is no empirical evidence, I do not accept it as real’.
And this is where everyday experience reveals something curious.
How many times, on a Bumble date, when I mention that I’m a witch, is the immediate response: “I’m more of a scientific sort”?
The interesting thing is that, in many cases, those very same people admit that what you’re telling them seems fascinating. It intrigues them. It raises questions.
But straight away they slot it into a convenient category: “it’s not rational”, “it’s not scientific”. And therein lies a small paradox.
Science, in its most rigorous essence, does not consist of dismissing something simply because it does not fit within the current framework. Nor does it consist of accepting any claim without evidence.
Science operates in a realm that is both more demanding and more humble: that of methodical doubt.
It does not say “this is impossible” lightly. Rather, it says: “We do not have sufficient evidence to affirm it”.
Now, here a delicate point arises. The evidence that science considers most solid is usually that which is observable, measurable and replicable. This does not mean that it denies the existence of subjective experiences, but rather that it has difficulty integrating them as proof of external facts.
On many occasions, the only evidence accepted within the scientific sphere is literal and material. Much evidence arising from the subjectivity of testimonies is dismissed or reduced to clinical or psychological explanations. Even though, if studied quantitatively and comparatively, it is likely that common patterns could be identified, which would help to better understand some of the mysteries that science is unable to explain within the current materialist framework.
Because there are human experiences—subjective, symbolic, difficult to measure—that do not fit easily into a laboratory experiment, yet do not disappear simply because they are ignored. They have always occurred, and will continue to occur. They shape humanity from the shadows of the unconscious, from birth to death.
Not only do they give meaning to many social structures (such as the days of the week), but they also act as a driving force behind behaviour. Human beings need material objects, but, beyond basic needs, on countless occasions, what drives them to move forward, to generate wealth or to take risks is not the object itself, but the symbolic meaning attributed to it.
The reward may seem material, but it often operates on another level: status, identity, purpose, belonging.
This is an example of how humans operate through different modes of thought, more or less consciously. The philosopher Ernst Cassirer argued that humans do not live solely in a material reality, but in an intermediate layer of symbolism through which we imbue everything with meaning.
A clear example of this is money. Literally, it is a piece of paper (or a number in a bank account). In itself, if an animal were to find it, it would hardly distinguish it from toilet paper. However, humans attribute a value to it that goes beyond the material. This value is a construct: it is real for human beings because it shapes behaviour, decisions and social structures, but it does not exist as such in nature, independent of that interpretation. Even so, this symbolic value has very real effects in the world.
The existence of symbolic vision can be traced back to the dawn of humanity. Archaeological evidence has been found of the use of signs, and other artefacts that are directly symbolic systems or constructs whose conception and use were linked to symbolism.
The symbolic dimension is part of the human experience; it is part of everyday life… although often, due to the prevailing materialist view, it is relegated to the background or to the unconscious realm.
As a person embarks on a path of self-knowledge, these symbolic elements can come to the fore. Like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that the individual must put together. At this point, it is worth clarifying the difference between a sign and a symbol.
“The sign is always less than the concept it represents, whilst a symbol always represents something more than its obvious and immediate meaning.”
Carl Gustav Jung, Man and His Symbols
A sign is the graphic or physical representation of a concept to which it refers. Its function is to point to or substitute for something directly.
A symbol, on the other hand, goes further: the forms in which it manifests are diverse, and its meaning is not exhausted by a single interpretation. It may vary according to culture or individual experience, but it usually points to a broader content, which is not fully defined by a single reading.
The spiritual dimension usually operates through symbolic language, so that anyone wishing to approach it must, to some extent, learn to ‘speak’ that language. Symbolic vision is, in itself, the ability to perceive, feel and interpret what surrounds us on the material plane, translating it into that language in our minds.
For example, viewed in materialistic terms, a tree is a living organism belonging to the plant kingdom. It captures CO₂, sustains the soil, absorbs water and minerals, and carries out photosynthesis. It can provide wood and fruit.
In its symbolic dimension, the tree is a bridge between heaven and earth. It refers to our own energy system (the tree of life), and can represent growth, knowledge, stability and also the different stages of life.
Whilst the materialistic view answers the question descriptively: ‘What is the tree?’, the symbolic view interprets what the tree is, its significance on an energetic, mental and even poetic level.
Art is based, to a large extent, on this perspective. The artistic interpretations of multi-million-pound works are made through the symbolic perspective. Through abstract forms, or through details with meanings beyond the obvious. Once again, like a puzzle reserved for the expert eye, for those who know what to look for to interpret art.
The quintessential canvas of symbolic vision is the world of dreams. When we sleep, our subconscious takes control of the mind, showing us a variety of stories. Whether implausible or realistic, the narrative may seem literal, but the significance lies in the meaning that emerges when we interpret it. It is in this interpretation that symbolic vision is actively exercised.
One of the best ways for any human being to train their symbolic vision is to attach importance to their dreams. Something I have experienced dozens of times is how, when I start writing down my dreams upon waking, I end up remembering more of them. In the days that follow, I will recall longer dreams with greater detail.
Not only that, but if I am lucky enough to have interested people around me, sharing dreams and trying to interpret them together is a very interesting exercise. This aids the development of symbolic vision, as it is practised from various angles. Bringing the symbolic narrative of dreams into the conscious realm gives it importance, and like almost everything in life, when we focus on something, it is amplified. Whether recorded in writing or audio, this helps us to structure what we have experienced, to begin interpreting it, seeking meanings that are often not immediately apparent. When we compare our narrative with the opinion of another—someone who will also draw on their symbolic vision—we find a perfect mirror. They will help us evaluate our interpretation through the reaction our mind has to their ideas, as well as delving deeper into the meaning through the perspective of this external person, with their own personal history and the symbols within the dream you are sharing with them. These interactions are enriching for both parties and a perfect way to consciously and powerfully hone this tool.
