This conference paper explores how what we perceive differs from what we believe. The authors bring three perspectives together with the aim of seeking meaning in our relationship with our natural “arena” through symbolic metalanguage:1) comprehending a gestalt approach to perception and narratives as metaphor; 2) gaining perceptual reciprocity to enhance our relationship with nature; 3) overcoming the obstacles of misinterpretation and unreliable narratives of the simulacra. It was presented at the 2022 Association of Philosophy and Literature Conference held May 25-28, 2022.