Like a Phoenix Rising

To me, the phoenix is the resonating symbol of life after trauma.

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In ancient myths, the phoenix is a bird that burns into ashes at the end of its life cycle and is reborn from those same ashes. This cycle of renewal resonates with many in  trauma therapy, who go through the devastation of these unexpected and uninvited events, and who work towards a new version of themselves.

 

The symbolism of the phoenix does not deny that difficult experiences have occurred, but acknowledges that the experiences are part of the lived experience. Healing does not mean pretending the fire never happened; it means allowing transformation to grow from what remains.

 

The phoenix is not reborn as the same bird, it is inevitably changed. Post-traumatic growth can also lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. In finding a new path forward, discovering boundaries, courage and purpose that may not have been there before.

 

Ultimately, the phoenix symbolizes hope. It tells us that even when something in us feels completely destroyed, there is still the possibility of renewal. Not a return to who we were — but a new coming of who we are now.