How Spirit Guides Present Messages Through Symbolism

Ever had a random image, song, or object pop into your mind during a reading and thought, “Well, that was weird…”?

Welcome to the language of spirit.

Spirit guides rarely deliver messages in full sentences like “Hello, it is I, your spiritual mentor, and here’s exactly what you need to do with your life.”

Nope.

Instead, they love to communicate through symbolism—quick flashes of images, words, objects, or even sensations that make you go, “Wait… what?”

And here’s the fun part: It’s not random.

So, how does spirit work with symbolism? And more importantly, how do you figure out what it all means?

Let’s dive in.

Why Spirit Uses Symbolism

First off, let’s clear up a myth:

Spirit isn’t being cryptic just to wind you up.

They use symbolism because:

🔹 It’s fast. Energy moves quickly, and symbols are a shortcut to delivering messages.🔹 It’s unique to you. Your guides know what symbols will trigger meaning in your brain.🔹 It bypasses your overthinking. If they spoke in full paragraphs, you’d probably start doubting it.

Think about dreams—how they use weird metaphors instead of spelling things out.

Spirit works the same way.

Common Ways Spirit Uses Symbolism

1. Mental Images That Make No Sense (At First)

Ever been in a reading and suddenly seen a pineapple, a key, or a goldfish in your mind’s eye?

And you sit there thinking, “Well, that’s useless.”

Except… it’s not.

Spirit will drop an image into your awareness because they know it will connect to something.

🔹 Maybe a pineapple reminds someone of a family holiday.🔹 Maybe a key represents unlocking a new opportunity.🔹 Maybe a goldfish is a direct reference to their childhood pet.

The key is to say what you see.

Even if it makes NO sense to you, it might be exactly what the sitter needs to hear.

2. Repeating Symbols in Everyday Life

Spirit doesn’t just talk to you in readings. They use real-world signs too.

🔹 Keep seeing feathers everywhere? Spirit might be reminding you they’re close.🔹 Hearing the same song lyrics on repeat? There’s probably a message in them.🔹 Spotting a specific animal over and over? That could be a guide trying to get your attention.

If something keeps showing up, don’t brush it off. It’s not a coincidence—it’s a nudge.

3. Sensations & Physical Symbolism

Sometimes, symbols don’t come in the form of objects or images.

They come as feelings, body sensations, or even temperature shifts.

🔹 A sudden pressure on your shoulder? Maybe a loved one in spirit always gave reassuring pats.🔹 A tightness in the chest? Could be grief or an emotional burden.🔹 A warmth or tingling on one side of your body? Your guide might always enter from that side.

The more you pay attention to what you feel, the easier it is to decipher the message.

4. Symbolic Characters (Spirit Loves a Bit of Theatre)

Your guides will sometimes present themselves in a symbolic way.

This is where people get confused.

🔹 Just because a guide shows up as a Viking doesn’t mean they actually were a Viking.🔹 If a guide looks like a butterfly, it’s not because they were once an insect.🔹 If they come in dressed as a Roman soldier, they’re probably just using that image as a metaphor for strength and discipline.

Spirit knows we love a good visual, so they present themselves in ways that convey meaning rather than historical accuracy.

The trick? Ask yourself: "What does this image represent to me?"

5. Objects in Readings That Carry Meaning

Ever done a reading and suddenly thought, “I need to mention a blue teapot”?

And then the sitter gasps and says, “My Nan had a blue teapot she adored!”

Yep. That’s spirit.

Spirit will use objects and personal items as symbols because they hold emotional connections for people.

They’re showing you something familiar to prove they’re there.

How to Get Better at Understanding Symbolism

1. Stop Dismissing What You See

If you see, hear, or feel something random, say it anyway.

🔹 9 times out of 10, it will make sense to the person you’re reading for.🔹 The one time it doesn’t? It might make sense later.

2. Build Your Own Symbolic Dictionary

Spirit works with your mind—so your personal references matter.

Try this:

1️⃣ Write down common images, objects, or sensations you get in readings.2️⃣ Next to each one, jot down what it means to you.3️⃣ Over time, you’ll see patterns and develop your own personal symbol dictionary.

It’s like learning a language—the more you work with it, the more fluent you become.

3. Trust the First Thing That Comes In

Spirit doesn’t hesitate—they drop symbols in fast.

If you find yourself going:

"Hmm… was it a red rose, or am I just making that up?"

Go with the red rose.

🔹 If it was from spirit, you’ve just validated their message.🔹 If it wasn’t? You still gave the sitter something that might trigger a memory.

Overthinking is the biggest block to understanding symbolism.

Final Thoughts: Symbolism is Spirit’s Short-Hand

Spirit is always communicating, but they do it in a way that’s quick, efficient, and personal to you.

🔹 Don’t get caught up in needing everything to “make sense” instantly.🔹 Trust what you get, even if it feels random.🔹 Remember that symbols are unique to YOU—so work with them, not against them.

The more you practice, the more you’ll recognize their patterns—and the easier it gets.

So next time a random pineapple shows up in a reading?

Say it.

Because trust me—it’ll mean something to someone.

Enjoyed this?

Want to develop your mediumship without second-guessing every symbol you get? Join The Gateway for live workshops, practice sessions, and a community of mediums who actually get it.

Ever had a weird symbol pop up in a reading that turned out to be spot on? Drop your story in the comments—I’d love to hear it! 👇