metaphysical approach to the bible

Reclaiming Scripture: A Metaphysical Approach to the Bible after RTS

metaphysical approach to the bible

If you’ve been through Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS), you know that even hearing certain Bible verses can feel like salt in a reopened old wound. The words that should have inspired love and connection may have been twisted into instruments of control, fear, and shame. For many of us, the safest thing at first was to walk away entirely. We locked our Bibles away and put the key “somewhere safe.”

Jump to Section

But for some, that absence leaves a lingering ache. We remember a time when Scripture spoke to something deep in us, before the trauma drowned out the music. This post is for those who feel ready—not pressured—to take another look at the Bible. But this time through a completely different lens: a metaphysical one.

Metaphysical reading frees us from literalism and opens the door to personal revelation. It allows us to see sacred texts as symbolic maps of the soul’s journey, not rules to obey, but invitations to awaken. A metaphysical understanding of the Bible is also a wonderful complement to any divinatory system, something we’ll explore further down in today’s post.

Understanding the Metaphysical View of Scripture

In very broad terms, there are three ways people tend to approach sacred texts:

  • Literalist: Every word is historically factual and binding.
  • Historical-critical: The text is studied in its historical and cultural context, often as literature or historical record.
  • Metaphysical: The text is read as allegory, symbolism, and spiritual principle—a mirror for the inner life.

The metaphysical lens asks, “If this passage were a dream, what might it mean for me?”. It’s not about denying history but about shifting the focus from what might have happened to what’s happening within you now.

Example: Exodus as an Inner Liberation Story

In a literalist reading, Exodus is the historical account of the Israelites escaping slavery in Egypt under the leadership of Moses. In a metaphysical reading, “Egypt” represents the states of consciousness where we are enslaved by fear, ignorance, or limiting beliefs. “Pharaoh” is the inner tyrant—the part of us that resists change. “Moses” is our awakened intuition or higher self, leading us toward freedom. The “Promised Land” is the realisation of spiritual truth and wholeness.

Through this lens, Exodus becomes your journey of liberation, playing out again and again in your life.

The Healing Potential for RTS Survivors — My Story

For years after leaving high-control religion, I couldn’t even open a Bible without feeling my stomach knot up. The words had been used as weapons, and my instinct was to push the whole thing away. It felt safer to cut ties completely than risk stepping back into old patterns of fear.

Then I stumbled upon Ariel Gatoga’s YouTube series on Psalm Magic. His approach was unlike anything I had seen before—blending a practical magical practice with a deeply metaphysical, symbolic view of the Psalms. Instead of being a list of commands or a ledger of guilt, these sacred poems became powerful affirmations and spiritual tools.

The shift was dramatic. Ariel showed how each Psalm could be read as an allegory of the soul’s journey—a dialogue between our human personality and our higher self, or between fear and divine love. I began to see that perhaps I didn’t need to “throw the baby out with the bathwater.”

From there, I widened the net. With the help of the Metaphysical Bible Dictionary, I started exploring the deeper meanings of names, places, and events in Scripture. Passages that had once triggered shame, rage or fear transformed before my eyes. They became allegories about spiritual growth, liberation, and inner transformation. Over time, I found I could read the whole Bible as a symbolic map of the soul.

How to Practise Metaphysical Reading

Here’s a simple process to begin:

  1. Choose a passage — ideally one that you’re drawn to or curious about.
  2. Read slowly, noting images, metaphors, and recurring symbols.
  3. Ask reflective questions:
    • “What part of my inner life could this be speaking to?”
    • “If this is a dream, what do these symbols mean?”
    • “What universal spiritual law or truth is being illustrated here?”
  4. Journal insights in your own words — not doctrine.

This is not about finding “the correct interpretation.” It’s about discovering the truth that speaks to you, in this moment, in this season of your journey.

Using Divination Tools to Go Deeper

Tarot and runes can be wonderful companions to metaphysical Bible study. They don’t foretell your future in this context. Instead, they act as mirrors and prompts, sparking your intuition and helping you engage in a living dialogue with the text.

Example: Metaphysical Scripture + Tarot spread

  • Card 1: Main theme in this passage for me now
  • Card 2: Hidden lesson or growth opportunity
  • Card 3: How to integrate this teaching in my life

Runes can work the same way: cast 1–3 after reading, and see which spiritual forces or principles they reveal.

The key is to remember: you’re not asking the cards or the runes to tell you what the passage means — you’re asking them to help you see what the passage is already awakening in you.

Try This Now: Psalm + Tarot Practice

This simple exercise combines a metaphysical reading of the Psalms with Tarot to create a living conversation between the text and your intuition.

Step 1: Choose a Psalm
Pick one that resonates with where you are right now. For example:

  • Feeling anxious? Try Psalm 23 (“The Lord is my shepherd…”).
  • Seeking clarity? Try Psalm 119:105 (“Your word is a lamp to my feet…”).

Step 2: Read metaphysically
Replace “The Lord” with “Universal Intelligence” or “Higher Self” and imagine the Psalm as a letter to—or from—that inner presence. Note any images, symbols, or feelings that arise.

Step 3: Pull three Tarot cards

  1. Main spiritual theme for me in this Psalm
  2. Challenge or shadow this Psalm reveals
  3. Practical step to embody this teaching now

Step 4: Journal your insights
Write freely about the connections you see between the Psalm’s imagery and your Tarot pulls. This is where the magic happens — you’re not looking for “the one right answer,” but for the meaning that speaks to your soul today.

Suggested Resources for Metaphysical Bible Study

Reclaiming Without Fear

Reclaiming Scripture after RTS isn’t about returning to the old ways; it’s about transforming your relationship with the text. Through a metaphysical lens, you are free to engage with it as a living, breathing source of wisdom, without fear or coercion.

If you feel called, start small. Pick a Psalm, read it through the eyes of your higher self, and pull a card or rune to start the conversation. You might be surprised at the beauty and empowerment you find where once there was pain or dread.

Lisa signature
My Services

Discover more from Angelorum Tarot

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Comment