About Metaphors of Movement
About Metaphors of Movement
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
"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.
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
