Human Potential and Its Shadow:
the THEORY: the POEMS: theBOOKS: the ART:
the SCRIPTS : the SUGAR ART
by Mary Angela Nangini
Being Metaphor: developing human potential
A Metacognitive Strategy
Being Metaphor: From Attribute Sense-ing, to Analogy, to "Being Metaphor"
"Metaphorical thinking refers to transferring ideas from one situation to a new context, thus producing a new relationship." Gary A. Davis
Janusian thinking or mental mobility is a characteristic of creative people who have a "strong tendency to think in terms of opposites and contraries while they seek a new synthesis of ideas. They often think in analogies and metaphors, and as a matter of course, challenge assumptions." (OMNI, 1989, p.101)
Metaphor or "the transfer" of words or objects is called "meta-language" because it is about language itself. In the theories of the Julian Jaynes, metaphors or analogues of behaviour in the physical world are lexical fields of consciousness. "The metaphor of our being is literally stretched like a screen between brain hemispheres and between referents like growing, breathing and standing out" (Hampden-Turner, p.144).
From the metaphor or analogy, I worked backwards and retraced the steps to get to it. By reversing the process, I reached the common denominator of the contextual references -the attributes.
Attributes are compared and contrasted and questioned, reversed, and opposed, to find the best fitting relationship between two references. When using one's senses to grasp the attributes about an object, or quality of a person, or symbol of interpretation for a place or song, observational skills are being honed to catch and read the particular uniqueness of what is being observed. Using this strategy, we grow in understanding from concrete to abstract, and from simple to complex. It can be extended to consciously slide-rule the concepts found, so that complex-simple can be turned into simple-complex as needed and with ease in either fields concrete or abstract, and in either modes random or sequential.
1. This strategy is compatible with the Anthony Gregorc Model. (See also Learning Styles)
2. Gregorc's Model is based on Kolb's Learning Styles
3. Also based on Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle is Hunt's C-RE-A-TE Cycle.
Gregorc's Learning Styles, Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle, and Hunt's C-RE-A-T-E Cycle are incorporated harmoniously to The Four Phases of Being and the metacognitive strategy Being Metaphor assists with the development of a fundamental literacy of 'Being' through the celebration of uniqueness of attributes in our individuality (autopoiesis), interrelatedness and connectiveness through analogy in our evolutionary history (differentiation), and through a reverent, empathic, sustainability of caring for our community (communion): The Cosmogenetic Principle in action. (Swimme & Barry in the Universe Story, 1992)
"As if" - Play
The term "Being Metaphor" burst into my mind as Professor Richard Courtney (1989), described the child's play in the "as if" mode, as the rehearsals for real life. In "Being" the metaphor, the rehearsal of the attributes of that metaphor are "Being Burned" into our consciousness whether as a child or as an adult. Playing at "Being Dragon", "Being Ball", "Being Astronaut" help the child try out different ways of being we call roles. However, in real life, this same learning occurs when "Being" is played out in the negative. The more rehearsals at "Being", the more comfortable at "Doing". We know this process builds habits and character, good or bad. The "as if" mode in Decartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain, (Damasio, 1994) is a neurological "bypass device" that loops the body reactions out of the process in order to avoid the triggering of the limbic system in the primordial "fight-flight" response. This is why "Being Metaphor" works to build and develop human potential; When faced with situations or "Provocations" that arouse the "Being Metaphor Shadow" responses, the imaging of the metaphor in its shadow state, allows for the "Metaphor of Being" to be transformed from the shadow potential to positive energy-forces. To learn to use this metacognitive strategy or as a Teacher or Parent, please visit "Being Metaphor" and Being Metaphor Shadow links above.
Vini - Vidi - Vinca!
Embodying the Metaphor of Being
1.
"Being Metaphor"
As Ombudsman
"Being Metaphor" bi-passes
the limbic system
with its in-built trigger-reaction
function
in dealing with fear and fright
because it allows persons
to personify perceptions
other than their own
as seen from the many
different perspectives.
Nature sifts us
sky. land. water
fire. wind. ice
Then offers the choice:
hate...greed...malice...
or bridled love's chalice.
Mary Angela Nangini
2.
"Being Metaphor"
-a tool to tap into
the dynamic forces
acting upon the Universe
and all of creation
great or small
Micro-Macrocosm
Serendipity
leads towards
a bursting forth
of creative energy
Amoral enervates
into entropy
the strangling of
creative energy
Even when under amoral tenets
grace is available
to change route
and travel a new course
as when skidding on ice
and experience loss of control
we steer back onto the road
on our own
or crash
Its at that point of no return
That we begin again
Mary Angela Nangini
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