Public speaking skill isn't the one you're born with, but is the skill anyone wants to develop. With many tactics and approaches to public speaking known, one of the most underestimated ones is adding symbols to your speech. A well-prepared symbolic speech can help foster any revolutionary idea and build a bridge between you and your audience. 

Our article will help you realize how the power of symbols enhances your message in public speaking. We will discover various symbolism of modern tarot decks as an example to illustrate the idea of interpretation of symbols in speeches. 

What is Symbolic Speech?

Let's define what symbolic speech means. In public speaking, transmitting the core of each idea becomes crucial. The purpose of any speech is to make a difference by explaining to the audience something that will reach their minds and impact their vision. In these conditions, using symbolic speech is an effective way to explain your idea by incorporating pictures, actions, and other symbols to illustrate it. It's essential to recognize the core characteristics of your audience and use specific symbols that will be familiar to the audience. 

With the help of a well-thought and prepared symbolic speech one can transmit the most powerful messages and impact the audience. 

The Power of Visual Symbols in Public Speaking

Before adding specific symbols to enhance your message in public speaking, you must clarify how visual symbols work in speeches.

What do visual symbols mean?

Most people consume information from the outer world visually. Hence, we can say that our world is image-driven. In this context, visual symbols are great instruments for communication. The symbols allow us to explain complex ideas through illustrations. 

Visual symbols carry different meanings and contexts depending on culture, country, area of knowledge, etc. Examples of visual symbols are logos, icons, pictures, and more elements. People decode visual symbols according to their background and cultural context.

The components of visual symbols

Each symbol one might use for public speaking represents different meanings. Considering the area of use, for example, business, art, design, and so on one can understand the components of visual symbols.

Shortly, visual symbols include such components as:

• Communication. Understanding the nature of transiting specific messages through visual objects instead of words and sentences. It assumes building an intellectual and emotional bridge between a creator and a viewer. For example, emojis, traffic signs, and so on.

• Symbolism. The use of visual elements to illustrate and explain ideas and concepts. It helps to add objects with emotions and additional meanings. For example, allegories in different art movements.

•  Iconography. The aspects of description and interpretation of visual elements in art involve different levels of understanding, identifying, and interpreting stories with the help of visual objects. For example, in historical art.

• Semiotics. The process of creation, understanding, and cultural background of symbols. Each element of a symbol serves a specific role creating meaning through various forms and concepts. For example, in movies, advertising, and so on.

Implementation of the Symbols in a Speech

A correctly chosen symbol incorporated in a speech is a powerful tool to represent one's ideas. By adding visual elements one can speak the language of their audience even when being a part of another culture. Illustrations make any storytelling more impactful and remarkable. Hence, implementation of the symbols in speeches makes the communication of any message more effective.

To convey any type of messages from your speech and memorably deliver your ideas, follow these tips:

• Use symbols you understand well. Implement specific symbols that meet the purpose and highlight your message.

• Any symbol you use must add meaning to your message, as well as fit the context of the whole speech. 

• Be consistent when using symbols. For example, you can add more symbols to highlight each new idea that maintains your previous message. 

• Allow symbols to tell a story and add it with more meanings. Some symbols include different options for interpretation. By using one powerful symbol you can deliver more information during storytelling.

• Read your speech out loud to test how incorporated symbols add meaning to your messages. If you have doubts, remember that overloading the speech with symbols will not work for you. The less is more.

By following these hacks you will master the art of using symbols in any speech to deliver powerful messages.

The Diversity of Symbolism in Various Forms

A good example of how symbolism works to enhance messages is the deck of tarot cards. The genesis of a modern tarot deck counts hundreds of years. The cards as we know them today have ancient prototypes that didn't even look like pieces of paper. The history of tarot includes absorbing cultures of Ancient China, Ancient Egypt, France, Italy, and Great Britain. Every culture enriched the symbolism of tarot with new concepts and ideas.

Nowadays hundreds of tarot decks exist and allow everyone interested in self-learning through this diverse instrument, to choose the one they prefer. However, the most popular, classical tart deck is the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot, which became a base for many latest versions of different decks.

How symbols add context to tarot cards’ interpretations

Tarot masters are people who utilize cards as a tool for divination for self-learning. Through the lens of tarot symbolism and a variety of different meanings, they can use the power of symbols that help enhance any message. However a variety of tarot decks added new symbols and their interpretations to the tarot culture, and certain symbols and patterns are repeated more often. 

Learning about symbols in tarot is impossible without an ability to read the context. Such a skill is crucial for any area where we express our thoughts and incorporate additional symbolic meanings into our words. The ability to read various symbols teaches us to combine and interpret meaning, expose and develop ideas, and come up with new visions.

One of the skills that come to us with an ability to read the symbols we know is seeing connections between them. By widening your knowledge about symbols using the tarot deck as an example you can sufficiently boost your skills in storytelling and develop the ability to illustrate ideas in speeches.

Afterall

Symbols have a special place in communication between people. Any type and style of communication involves using various symbols and their combinations. Each language has its own set of symbols that play various roles in different situations. By mastering the art and skill of implementing symbols in your public speaking you can boost the power of any message and establish a strong connection with any audience.

The power of symbols is in their uniqueness and versatility. By using well-known symbols we can communicate with people who speak different languages and still understand them well.

For example, one of the popular instruments for self-learning and divination, a deck of tarot cards, is very rich in symbolic meanings, archetypes, and different cultural codes. Tarot readers use the symbols on tarot cards to combine ideas and interpret various contexts. Among the skills you can apply in different situations and areas of life is the ability to read between the lines and use the power of your intuition.

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