Signs of Life: The Five Universal Shapes and How to Use Them

SIGNS OF LIFE offers a useful and valid means to discern where you (or your student) is in life: goals to be mastered, what has captured their energy, what needs attention, etc. The author wrote the text first as a dissertation for the Ph.D. degree, then published it in a more "user friendly" and less "scholastic" format. Each of the five signs is universal, found in all cultures across all time periods. The square (foundation), the cross (relationship), the circle (individuation), the spiral (growth and change), and the triangle (visions and dreams) can be seen in paintings, architecture, decoration, and so forth, but Dr. Arrien's mode is more clinical in approach. You number the signs from most liked to least liked using all the numbers (1 2 3 4 5); no ties allowed. Then you draw upon her metaphysical/psychological interpretation of not only each sign but also its special meaning in whatever position it is placed. The most telling is the third position, for that tells of work you need to do in this lifetime. I use this assessment often but have found the first, third, and last position to be the most useful of all. I combined this measure along with the four psychological colors (Jung) to produce what I term nonverbal creative/expressive intelligence. Have utilized this approach in two scholarly works, both of them dissertations ("Creativity and the Religious Science Practitioner" and "The Mind That Knows Not Itself"). Great reading, gloriously illustrated and richly informative!

The author has a way of writing in an easy and informative writing style

Nephew is pleased with this book as it is helping him to learn the basics of the cross-cultural universal shapes that is found in all Art especially Tarot that he is studying. He is very happy and so am I 😊.

Even though is a short book it is interesting to read and revealing. I didn't know the meaning of the different shapes in the drawings. It makes you understand why these shapes are repeated in different times and cultures. It was a revelation to learn that these shapes also can reveal your personality. I really liked it.

This is a fascinating book about five basic shapes found in life. If you’re interested in symbolism, this is a great book to have.

It has a wonderfully constructed content. It helps the reader reevaluate shapes and what they represent in one's life. If you are interested in reading signs, and learning what they teach us and how they impact us, this book will be a great guide.

Not impressed. Although the author expresses extensive research into these symbols from all over the world, many meanings were not included.

The test takes only a couple of minutes, but the information one can get from it is very helpful. I borrowed a friend's copy, then afterwards ordered one for my minister and one for me. It was used as a basis for a meeting of our women's group. Something you can go back to and re-do from time to time. Very clear and easy to do.

Utile per sapere come stai riguardo al tuo percorso di vita nel momento presente! Interessante e divertente fare il test

Un libro bonito, que conlleva un divertimento muy bien estructurado, basado en un estudio antropologico profundo y muy bien realizado.

Great insights stand the test of time and this work by Angeles Arrien is even more relevant today than when she first did the research. A unique and accurate road map for all.