Symbolism 2018

This special issue of Symbolism: An International Annual of Critical Aesthetics explores the various functions of metaphor in life writing. Looking at a range of autobiographical subgenres (pathography, disability narratives, memoirs of migration, autofiction) and different kinds of metaphors, the contributions seek to ‘map’ the possibilities of metaphor for narratively framing an individual life and for constructing notions of selfhood.

A Booklist Top 10 First Novels of 2012 pick A Bookpage Best Books of 2012 pick “A richly emotional portrait of a family that had me spellbound from page one.”—Cheryl Strayed, bestselling author of Wild The night before Janie’s sister, Hannah, is born, her grandmother tells her a story: Since the Japanese occupation of Korea, their family has lost a daughter in every generation, and Janie is told to keep Hannah safe. Years later, when Hannah inexplicably cuts all ties and disappears, Janie goes to find her. Thus begins a journey that will force her to confront her family’s painful silence, the truth behind her parents’ sudden move to America twenty years earlier, and her own conflicted feelings toward Hannah. Weaving Korean folklore within a modern narrative of immigration and identity, Forgotten Country is a fierce exploration of the inevitability of loss, the conflict between obligation and freedom, and a family struggling to find its way out of silence and back to one another.

This encyclopedic guide explores the rich and varied meanings of more than 2,000 symbols?from amethyst to Zodiac.

This special issue of Symbolism: An International Annual of Critical Aesthetics explores the various functions of metaphor in life writing. Looking at a range of autobiographical subgenres (pathography, disability narratives, memoirs of migration, autofiction) and different kinds of metaphors, the contributions seek to ‘map’ the possibilities of metaphor for narratively framing an individual life and for constructing notions of selfhood.

The historian author of Founding Fathers, Secret Societies offers a revealing analysis of America’s many symbols, icons, and monuments. America is young, but its symbols are old. Many of them—from the stars and stripes in the American flag to the strange images on our currency—have become so familiar that most of us don't give them a second thought. In United Symbolism of America, Robert R. Hieronimus will help you see the symbolic messages encoded for us by our Founding Fathers in the symbols they chose. Unlike other writers on this topic, Hieronimus discusses the historical background and artistic influences behind the design of our symbols and landmarks. United Symbolism of America includes revealing information about the symbolism embedded in The Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, and many of the monuments found in Washington, D.C. Putting to rest the erroneous notion that our country’s symbolism is rooted in Satanism, Hieronimus demonstrates that the symbols that have become our national icons represent hope, growth, and opportunity.

In this engaging introductory guide, a visionary psychologist explores the nature and importance of symbols in our lives. The fact that the human mind can recognize a symbol is proof that we perceive more than we consciously realize. But what exactly are symbols? And how can we use them to expand our consciousness? In A Little Bit of Symbols, visionary psychologist Henry Reed answers these and many other questions. Drawing on his own research, he delves into the symbolism of everything from shoes and animals to UFOs and dreams. He explores Jungian archetypes, imagery and metaphors, spiritual symbolism, and even symbol dictionaries. Along the way, he offers practical advice on how to recognize and interpret the symbols we encounter ourselves.

A classic encyclopedia of symbols by Catalan polymath Joan Cirlot that illuminates the symbolic underpinnings of myth, modern psychology, literature, and art. Juan Eduardo Cirlot’s A Dictionary of Symbols is a feat of scholarship, an act of the imagination, and a tool for contemplation, as well as a work of literature, a reference book that is as indispensable as it is brilliant and learned. Cirlot was a composer, a poet, an art critic, and a champion of modern art whose interest in surrealism helped to bring him to the study of symbolism. Carl Jung, Mircea Eliade, René Guénon, Erich Fromm, and Gaston Bachelard also helped to shape his thinking in a book that explores the space between the world at large and the world within, where, as Cirlot sees it, nothing is meaningless, everything is significant, and everything is in some way related to something else. Running from “abandonment” to “zone” by way of “flute” and “whip,” spanning the cultures of the world, and including a wealth of visual images to further bring the reality of the symbol home, A Dictionary of Symbols, here published for the first time in English in its original, significantly enlarged form, is a luminous and illuminating investigation of the works of eternity in time.

This year-long devotional invites you into simple, everyday practices and Scriptural truths to bring you hope in the midst of suffering and loss. “A stunning resource for anyone with fresh or lingering grief who doesn’t feel like they can even lift their head some days. This beautiful, everyday read has nourished my soul.”—Lisa Whittle, speaker, podcast host, and bestselling author of The Hard Good Whether your sorrow is recent, you’ve long felt the pain of a loved one’s absence, or you’re lamenting a difficult situation, this book is an honest companion, offering validation for the hard days and support through the psychological stages of grief. Author Mattie Jackson draws from her experience of grieving the sudden death of her young husband to walk with you from a place of heartache to one of healing and peace. Each one-page devotion provides a daily reminder that God is near to the brokenhearted, His mercies are never- ending, and He can be trusted. Along with helpful reflection questions and gentle prayers, the entries show you how to engage four essential practices on your journey: • Wail for what you’ve lost to overcome feelings of denial. • Connect with the world around you to defend against isolation. • Worship with honesty to push away bitterness and doubt. • Hope for your future to guide you through despair and toward acceptance. These devotions honor our human fragility and direct us to the God who helps us navigate our pain and restores our hearts. There are tears to be shed and is hope to be found even here in the valley.