DOCUMENT 16 / THE DECOMPRESSION KEY
Begin with the literal record: history, language, etymology, material context, and the uses already attached to the symbol.
Then inspect sound, rhythm, geometry, contrast, personal association, and the contemplative tradition in which the symbol appears.
Allow technical and spiritual meanings to meet without pretending that resemblance is proof of causation.
The final product is an interpretation—a door into contemplation—not a decoded command from an external authority.
A successful decompression increases clarity and ethical depth. If it produces certainty, superiority, or fear, return it to the Ego-Guard.