Every door is a portal leading through time as well as space. The same doorway that leads us into and out of a room also leads us into the past of the room and its ceaselessly unfolding future. People knew that once, deep within the ur-mind, the ur-imagination. You can still find those who decorate doorways, and reverently salute them, in every culture, from Ireland to Japan.

“If the door of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.” . . . William Blake

I have always been drawn to the symbol the door. The door can mean many different things. It can be an entrance or an exit. A door can represent a new challenge or opportunity, or it can be an escape. It can represent a closing of the past, or a passage to a new future. For me, the door represents looking beyond outward appearances to find what is essential. This going in is something to strive for or towards and ultimately represents finding the truth, which according to most spiritual texts was never lost. It is getting the door open that presents the problem.

"Knock and the door shall be opened to you.”

In The Book of Symbols, the door is described as a place of transition.

What is your personal meaning of door? What do they represent in your life now?

For me, they are Hope; opportunity; opening; passage from one state or world to another; entrance to new life; initiation;  the sheltering aspect of the Great Mother. The open door is both opportunity and liberation.

Think of doors being used as metaphors:

• In love: “He opened the door to his heart.”
• In support: “My door is always open.”
• In healing: “She closed the door to her past.”
• In opportunity: “That door is now shut.”

The doors that travelers are presented with on the road are more varied and “strange” than when at home — both literally and figuratively. So how do you decide which ones to walk through?

This is my ever present invitation when I travel. I’m always acutely aware of the beauty of each passageway I see. I’m invited into the mystery of beautiful old walls and curiosity for what lies beyond them. Old windows entice my sense of awe and wonder. When we travel, we learn to see the world through new eyes.

In my many travels, I've sought out the most beautiful walls, doors, and windows. They inspire me to see beyond what's in front of me. May these photos, from my heart to yours, from my many travels to your cozy home, remind you to be attuned to the beauty around you, and step through the doors of opportunity that the Universe opens to you.