The word Metaphor is from a Greek origin, meaning "to transfer" or "to carry over" between literal and figurative.   Metaphor can be a thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, especially something abstract, as in "the amounts of money being lost by the company were enough to make it a metaphor for an industry that was teetering". Or "the lightening storm was like angry teeth in the sky."   Metaphor is usually considered a figure of speech which makes an implicit, implied or hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated but share some common characteristics. In other words, a resemblance of two contradictory or different objects is made based on a single or some common characteristics.   A closely related word, or idea, to Metaphor is SYMBOL: a thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract, as in the statement, "the limousine was another symbol of his wealth and authority."   As sentient humans, we exert our will into the world. By doing that, then observing unfolding life as Metaphor, a vast wealth of personal Symbols come forth from within, and are a profound personal experience. Metaphors, similes, parables, figures of speech—they have enormous power over us. There is something that tickles the mind and heart when we use them. We even kill or die for symbols. They serve us as a simple way to convey or describe a more complicated idea...  

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