A favorite quote of mine is from Freud.  “Sometimes a cigar is ONLY a cigar.”  Of course, he was accused of sexualizing everything, and it seemed fair to call off students and critics from reducing everything longer than wide to a phallic symbol. Images become symbols when you charge them with emotional significance. Images or experiences can also be guideposts when they influence your actions or interpretations of life. A friend of mine feels that her mother, who died a long time ago, is with her whenever she sees a robin. This gives her more confidence about a decision. Can you think of an image or type of occurrence that you consider to be a guidepost in your life? How do you gratefully acknowledge such a moment of recognition?