Difference between revisions of "About Metaphors of Movement"

Revision as of 09:58, 23 September 2026

Metaphors of Movement (MoM) is an approach developed by Andrew T. Austin that explores how people describe their experience of problems, relationships and possibilities for movement. It pays particular attention to the metaphorical and idiomatic language of everyday life, including expressions of being stuck, under pressure or unable to move forward.

The work developed from Austin's background in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and hypnotherapy. Its emphasis is on the person's present experience and the patterns within their description of a situation. It has applications in individual work and in the exploration of organisational and business relationships.

Attention to present experience

A desired outcome describes how someone would like things to be. It does not, by itself, describe the situation they currently face. MoM therefore gives close attention to the organisation of a person's present experience, including their sense of position, direction, relationship and restriction.

This also distinguishes a change in how someone feels during a conversation from a change in the situation or in how they respond to it. Feeling better and living differently may be related, but they are not interchangeable descriptions.

Metaphor, idiom and interpretation

Everyday expressions can contain more detail than a general emotional label. To say that someone feels bad tells us less about their experience than the particular way they describe being stuck, weighed down or pulled in different directions.

MoM takes an interest in these distinctions. A person's description is considered in its own context, rather than being replaced immediately by an explanation supplied by the listener. The details of the metaphor matter, as does the difference between what someone actually describes and what another person assumes it means.

Idiomatic communication is central to this interest in language. Familiar expressions can communicate aspects of experience that might otherwise pass unnoticed. Their relevance depends on the particular description and context, rather than simply on whether an expression sounds apt or memorable.

The Movement/Historia Illius Itineris

Historia Illius Itineris, also known as "The Movement", is a related project developed by Austin. It explores connections between metaphor, psychodrama and Western esoteric traditions.

MoM was first presented in Colorado in 2009, and the name "Metaphors of Movement" was given to the work by Steve Andreas. By 2012, Austin had considered organising its growing subject areas into sections such as Metaphors of Business, Metaphors of Emotion and Metaphors of Music. That proposed structure did not fully materialise.

During 2012-2013, Austin developed a separate project around correspondences he identified between MoM and Western occult traditions. The Movement adopted the form of an initiatory order, with learning through dramatic experience. The Compass diagram forms part of its system of correspondences.

A May 2015 account recorded the completion of rituals for the first three degrees. For information about the project, see Historia Illius Itineris.

Using this wiki

This wiki provides background reading on language, metaphor, stories and cultural imagery. These resources complement the training; they do not provide a procedure for conducting MoM sessions. The literary and cultural associations of an image are useful subjects of study, but do not by themselves establish what that image means in a particular person's experience.

See also Metaphor Categories, Situational Relational Positioning and Metaphors of Emotion. Course information is available at Metaphors Training.

Browse the library

Concepts and language

Subject index | Stories and literature | All articles A-Z

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-Metaphors of Movement (MoM) is an innovative therapeutic methodology, conceived and developed by Andrew T. Austin. This therapeutic paradigm represents a significant evolution from traditional Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Ericksonian hypnotherapy. It has been adopted by a diverse range of professionals, including psychiatrists, psychotherapists, neuro-linguistic programming practitioners, hypnotherapists, law enforcement officers, educators, and business leaders.
+'''Metaphors of Movement''' (MoM) is an approach developed by Andrew T. Austin that explores how people describe their experience of problems, relationships and possibilities for movement. It pays particular attention to the metaphorical and idiomatic language of everyday life, including expressions of being stuck, under pressure or unable to move forward.
-The primary objective of MoM is to facilitate personal transformation and growth. It equips individuals with the tools to not only identify their personal metaphors but also to interact with them at a physiological and neurological level. This unique methodology is instrumental in overcoming states of inertia and facilitating effective progression towards personal objectives. It encourages individuals to confront the reality of their present circumstances rather than focusing predominantly on future outcomes or goals.
+The work developed from Austin's background in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and hypnotherapy. Its emphasis is on the person's present experience and the patterns within their description of a situation. It has applications in individual work and in the exploration of organisational and business relationships.
-MoM is characterised as a precision instrument that assists in pinpointing the exact locus of a client's impasse and the mechanisms by which they perpetuate their state of difficulty. It provides a platform for creative engagement with the client's unique metaphors, offering both the therapist and the client ample scope for exploration. Once clients gain an understanding of their metaphors and how to engage with them, they often experience a series of rapid, self-induced transformations.
+== Attention to present experience ==
+A desired outcome describes how someone would like things to be. It does not, by itself, describe the situation they currently face. MoM therefore gives close attention to the organisation of a person's present experience, including their sense of position, direction, relationship and restriction.
-The Metaphors of Movement models can be applied at both individual and organisational levels. The therapeutic process involves exploring four main themes: manifestations of the problem, emotional responses to the problem, the repercussions of the problem, and the classification of the problem. However, it transcends these to explore the potential solutions that are inherent within the problem system.
+This also distinguishes a change in how someone feels during a conversation from a change in the situation or in how they respond to it. Feeling better and living differently may be related, but they are not interchangeable descriptions.
-Upon engaging with their own Metaphors of Movement through these models, individuals often report a heightened sense of awareness or "awakening." They become more cognisant of their own communicative patterns and the metaphorical language they employ, which provide profound insights into their internal experiences and strategies for navigating their world. This heightened awareness illuminates the mechanisms by which they perpetuate their problems, thereby empowering them with the choice to instigate change.
+== Metaphor, idiom and interpretation ==
+Everyday expressions can contain more detail than a general emotional label. To say that someone feels bad tells us less about their experience than the particular way they describe being stuck, weighed down or pulled in different directions.
+MoM takes an interest in these distinctions. A person's description is considered in its own context, rather than being replaced immediately by an explanation supplied by the listener. The details of the metaphor matter, as does the difference between what someone actually describes and what another person assumes it means.
+[[Idiomatic, Literal and Figurative Communication|Idiomatic communication]] is central to this interest in language. Familiar expressions can communicate aspects of experience that might otherwise pass unnoticed. Their relevance depends on the particular description and context, rather than simply on whether an expression sounds apt or memorable.
 == The Movement/Historia Illius Itineris ==
-The Historia Illius Itineris, alternatively known as "The Movement," represents a distinctive evolution in the field of therapeutic exploration. This concept, the brainchild of Andrew T. Austin, emerged from the recognition that substantial segments of communication, particularly those of an idiomatic nature, were largely unexplored by contemporary methodologies and often remained imperceptible to both the communicator and the recipient.
+''Historia Illius Itineris'', also known as "The Movement", is a related project developed by Austin. It explores connections between metaphor, psychodrama and Western esoteric traditions.
-This exploration of idiomatic communication precipitated the development of "Metaphors of Movement," a pioneering field that intersects the domains of linguistics and therapy. The inaugural presentation of this work transpired in Colorado in 2009, with the moniker "Metaphors of Movement" being ascribed by Steve Andreas.
+MoM was first presented in Colorado in 2009, and the name "Metaphors of Movement" was given to the work by Steve Andreas. By 2012, Austin had considered organising its growing subject areas into sections such as Metaphors of Business, Metaphors of Emotion and Metaphors of Music. That proposed structure did not fully materialise.
-Over time, the work underwent significant evolution, and by 2012, it had expanded to such an extent that a more systematic organisational structure was necessitated. The proposed structure was modelled after university faculties, with distinct sections such as "Metaphors of Business", "Metaphors of Emotion", "Metaphors of Music", among others. However, this project did not fully materialise.
+During 2012-2013, Austin developed a separate project around correspondences he identified between MoM and Western occult traditions. The Movement adopted the form of an initiatory order, with learning through dramatic experience. The Compass diagram forms part of its system of correspondences.
-During a period of ill health in 2012-2013, Austin had the opportunity to delve deeper into the various facets of Metaphors of Movement. A striking observation emerged during this period: the inherent structures underpinning the metaphors of movement practices exhibited remarkable parallels with the Western occult sciences, colloquially referred to as "Magick". This observation led to the inception of a separate project, "The Movement," which was conceptualised as a psychodramatic embodiment of the principles that define Metaphors of Movement.
+A May 2015 account recorded the completion of rituals for the first three degrees. For information about the project, see [https://www.historiailliusitineris.com Historia Illius Itineris].
-"The Movement" was structured in the vein of Western initiatory orders, and it revealed the geocentric nature of the metaphoric experience. The correspondences of this geocentric nature are encapsulated in a diagram known as The Compass. These correspondences form the foundation of the rituals of The Historia Illius Itineris. Each ritual is structured as an initiatory experience, where learning primarily transpires through dramatic experience rather than direct instruction.
+[[File:Compass-steampunk-andrewtaustin.jpg|800px|thumb|center]]
-As of May 2015, the dramatic rituals for the first three degrees have been composed and finalised, and membership for The Historia Illius Itineris is now open to interested individuals. See: https://www.historiailliusitineris.com
+== Using this wiki ==
+This wiki provides background reading on language, metaphor, stories and cultural imagery. These resources complement the training; they do not provide a procedure for conducting MoM sessions. The literary and cultural associations of an image are useful subjects of study, but do not by themselves establish what that image means in a particular person's experience.
-[[File:Compass-steampunk-andrewtaustin.jpg|800px|thumb|center]]
+See also [[Metaphor Categories]], [[Situational Relational Positioning]] and [[Metaphors of Emotion]]. Course information is available at [https://metaphorstraining.com/ Metaphors Training].
 == Browse the library ==