Mind, Body, Spirit

Symbolic interactionism is a fundamental sociological theory that serves to analyze the manner in which one’s worldview is shaped through the interpretation of interactions with others. In essence, symbolic interactionism is the study of symbols. How is their meaning derived, and how does this influence the way we interact with and interpret others?

The world around us exists on a higher dimension than its objective existence, that being the dimension of created meaning. Thus, the world that we interact with is seeped in implicit meaning that is rooted in each individual’s interpretation as well as the collective interpretation of larger society. Interpersonal interactions are thus not, as many assume, simple exchanges of words and gestures—they are rich webs of symbolic meaning.

The implications of this reality are significant in the context of creation, specifically with regards to the arts. Art is commonly thought of as an endeavor for the pure 5 senses only to be judged against objective arbiters of “goodness”. But what makes art beautiful, what endows a work with depth and meaning, is the symbolic value attached to that which we perceive. Understanding this symbolic value is the work of the sociologist! In order to understand an artist’s creation, we must understand their mind, and this is done by means of context. Who is the creator? When and where are they from? How are they influenced by the artists and global conversations that inspire them? When we get in the mind of the creator, we experience what they experience. Their symbols become our own. The beauty of this for creators is that we can confidently pursue our own endeavors knowing that regardless of the material result, the perspective that is provided by our work is inherently unique and laden with meaning.

Symbolic interactionism offers further meaning in our interactions with the esoteric realm. When we learn to interpret symbols, we learn how to listen to Spirit. Spirit doesn’t communicate with direct conversation; it communicates subtly in alignment with our experience of the world around us. Synchronicities are an example of this, described by Carl Jung as “circumstances that appear meaningfully related yet lack a causal connection.” Synchronicities are a function of our subjective minds, which ascribe symbolic meaning to our experiences in a manner that can provide great clarity in our understanding of the self and our place in the world.

Tarot is an example of this as well! What makes Tarot reading as a practice so beautiful and powerful to me is the rich meaning endowed in the cards and their ability to reflect my own experiences with greater perspective. Tarot is about the storytelling, about the ability to consider our circumstances not as isolating and inescapable but as connections to Divine consciousness and opportunities for deeper understanding of the Self.