Everyday we are surrounded by symbols. We can "see" absolutely nothing in our own environment that we are not relative to. When you have an observation or judgement about another person, place or thing, ask yourself, "How does that apply to me?" I can guarantee you that it does.
Symbol awareness is part of the practice of yoga. That's because yogic techniques are largely psychological in nature. It's about understanding and retraining the mind. In addition to becoming aware of our projections concerning others, it is a helpful practice to consciously add symbols to the environment that serve as positive reminders for the subconscious mind. For example, if you want to have more joy, create a joyful environment. Which form of the divine do you attune to? If you are a Buddhist, you may want to hang a painting of the Buddha in a location where you will be reminded of your practice. If you attune to nature, perhaps a bonsai tree where you will be sure to see it. If you want to be more loving, select objects that symbolize love for your consciousness.
A powerful symbol for many yogis is Lord Shiva. I found an interesting webpage that goes into great detail about what this symbol represents. I thought this might be a good example to illustrate symbols. At the very bottom of the page is a video about Samadhi, the 8th limb of yoga.
http://www.sanatansociety.org/hindu_gods_and_goddesses/shiva.htm#.Vbbg-0XfiVq
I hope you enjoy reading about Shiva and will consider taking the time to learn more about the symbols all around us.
Namaste,
S.