Self-Introspection
Meditate on an external object that holds some symbolic reference for you. You can begin more simply by finding in nature something (real, imagined or illustrated) that holds particular symbolism for you. The symbol can be anything, so long as its associations are positive - you might choose a lake, a mountain, a river or a tree. You can connect with the symbols and use them as reflections of qualities in your own personality. In this way you gain a deeper understanding of the inner self. Whatever you find in these symbols will have correspondences within yourselves e.g. a lake might represent the quality of peace inside you, a mountain might represent maturity or high self-esteem, a river might represent flexibility (a river changes direction very easily depending on the obstacles in its path), a tree might represent generosity (a tree provides shelter and fruits to mankind), etc.
