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The house of the soul is one of the fundamental metaphors of the inner world that determines the values and self-awareness of the individual.
As a psychological technique, the Soul House metaphor is a projective test and provides valuable information about the inner picture of a person’s life world. The technique was developed by prof. N.I. Kozlov.
Interpretation of test results
It is convenient to present a person metaphorically in the form of a House (House of the Soul). In this case, in this House:
- facade — something that a person puts on display to attract attention.
- courtyard for guests — a space of social communication, what a person occupies (attracts) casual acquaintances and friends,
- the first floor is the entrance hall and the hall — the space of interpersonal communication, what a person occupies (attracts) close acquaintances and friends,
- the first floor is distant rooms, the second floor is a space for trusted relatives and friends.
- basement — the space of the base of the personality and its problems,
- the upper floors are a space for exploration and growth,
- the personal room is the center of the personality.
While imagining their Home during meditation, everyone sees their own pictures. Each one is different. What details of the pictures say what?
Facade and area around
Is the house big or small? (status) Bright or nondescript? (image) Solid or cheerful, toy? (solidity or childishness) Standard or original?
Are the walls stone or wood? Protect or decorate?
Are the windows big or small? Shuttered or open?
Are there entrances to the house? Who can come closer to home?
The vegetation around the house is the people with whom you communicate. The forest is a natural attitude. What kind of people there are — they are, I communicate without complaints. Flower garden — I will communicate with those who I like and are interested in. Beds, sunflowers — we communicate only with the right ones.
Courtyard for guests
Pergolas, flowers? Is the garden well maintained or abandoned?
Ground floor entrance hall and hall
Who can enter the house? Only come or sometimes and live?
First floor distant rooms, second floor
Are there children there? Who is close? Which friends have access there?
Basement of the house — basic needs, earthly instincts. Ascetic — empty cellars. Many cucumbers are earthly needs. A lot of technology — mechanistic, lack of joy.
What’s in the basement? Warehouse of unnecessary things? Food pantry? Wine cellars? Torture chambers? Mysterious dungeons?
upper floors
Attic at home. Dreams, ideals, romance. If there is a functional (children’s, observatory) — this is very personal, and often a personal dream. And climbing in boxes — is there a lot of rubbish? Ready to throw away? Old albums, photographs, old manuscripts… Are there things related to the roots — things from grandmothers, from ancestors? Often the attic is something that is no longer needed, but it is a pity to throw it away.
Private room
Spacious, bright? What is the center of the room: the desktop? book chair? TV or computer for convenience? bed for relaxation or rich sex? window for thought?
The absence of a personal room is the absence of I. A person lives by patterns, has dissolved himself in the expectations of others.
Happiness is beauty in the house of the soul
To make life happy is to bring beauty to your inner home, the home of your soul. If the house is a heavy mess, there is no elementary order, then the task of restoring beauty is not timely. First, put things in order in your soul, gentlemen, and only after that think about beauty — about happiness!
Order in the house of the soul is mental health. I hope that in your house, in any case, the roof is in place — if the roof moves out and there is no soil under your feet, it is already a violation of mental health. See →
Growth prospects
What do you want to change in this House? Add to it?
By changing the metaphor of Home, you change your identity and your life.