It refers to oneself, as in the word somebody. Although it includes the totality of our experience, it seems to be most pointedly referring to our sense of identity. From this sense of ourselves we project meaning onto the rest of the world in some degree. Thus many symbols are stylised body forms. The cross is a standing figure with arms outstretched; a church’s structure a representation of the body, and the miracle of sexual reproduction – the mystery enacted within it; a maypole the penis. Therefore various things can represent our body or aspects of oneself. Seeds, swallowed teeth can be sperm; anything long and pointed, even a finger, can be the penis; anything hairy, a male; anything receptive like a bottle, bowl or cave, a woman or vagina.
October 3, 2013