diff --git a/reclass/datatypes/parameters.py b/reclass/datatypes/parameters.py
index ea803251..d6965c11 100644
--- a/reclass/datatypes/parameters.py
+++ b/reclass/datatypes/parameters.py
@@ -325,6 +325,7 @@ def _interpolate_inner(self, path, inventory):
 
     def _interpolate_render_value(self, path, value, inventory):
         try:
+            value.path = path # pass the path to the resolver to support relative paths
             new = value.render(self._base, inventory)
         except ResolveError as e:
             e.context = path
diff --git a/reclass/utils/dictpath.py b/reclass/utils/dictpath.py
index 70c7bb51..73c18459 100644
--- a/reclass/utils/dictpath.py
+++ b/reclass/utils/dictpath.py
@@ -59,8 +59,9 @@ class DictPath(object):
     level down the nested dictionary.
     '''
 
-    def __init__(self, delim, contents=None):
+    def __init__(self, delim, contents=None, path=''):
         self._delim = delim
+        self._refpath = path  # path where the reference lays
 
         if contents is None:
             self._parts = []
@@ -122,6 +123,34 @@ def new_subpath(self, key):
         return DictPath(self._delim, self._parts + [key])
 
     def get_value(self, base):
+        """
+        get the value from a given key (in self._parts) and a dictionary (base)
+        relative references are allowed, e.g. ${:start:from:here}
+        """
+        # only apply relative paths if keyword is specified 
+        if self._parts and self._parts[0] in ("", "~", ".self_name"):
+            parts = str(self._refpath).split(":")
+            for part in self._parts:
+                if not part:  
+                    # e.g. ${::key} --> go one level back
+                    parts = parts[:-1]
+                elif part == "~":  
+                    # e.g. ${~:key} --> go to root (parameters)
+                    parts = []
+                elif (part == ".self_name"):
+                    # e.g. ${:.self_name} returns parent key name
+                    try:
+                        return parts[-1]
+                    except IndexError:
+                        # You can't access values outside of '.parameters'. Using 'parameters'.
+                        # We could throw a more precise error ...
+                        return "parameters"
+                else:  
+                    # you can mix normal key stepping with new features
+                    parts.append(part)
+            self._parts = parts
+
+        # get the value from the dictionary
         return self._get_innermost_container(base)[self._get_key()]
 
     def set_value(self, base, value):
diff --git a/reclass/values/refitem.py b/reclass/values/refitem.py
index 64bf4503..8b5646d8 100644
--- a/reclass/values/refitem.py
+++ b/reclass/values/refitem.py
@@ -24,18 +24,18 @@ def _flatten_contents(self, context, inventory=None):
         result = [str(i.render(context, inventory)) for i in self.contents]
         return "".join(result)
 
-    def _resolve(self, ref, context):
-        path = DictPath(self._settings.delimiter, ref)
+    def _resolve(self, ref, context, path=''):
+        refpath = DictPath(self._settings.delimiter, ref, path=path)
         try:
-            return path.get_value(context)
+            return refpath.get_value(context)
         except (KeyError, TypeError) as e:
             raise ResolveError(ref)
 
-    def render(self, context, inventory):
+    def render(self, context, inventory, path=''):
         #strings = [str(i.render(context, inventory)) for i in self.contents]
         #return self._resolve("".join(strings), context)
         return self._resolve(self._flatten_contents(context, inventory),
-                             context)
+                             context, path=path)
 
     def __str__(self):
         strings = [str(i) for i in self.contents]
diff --git a/reclass/values/value.py b/reclass/values/value.py
index 451617ec..6cee3950 100644
--- a/reclass/values/value.py
+++ b/reclass/values/value.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 from .dictitem import DictItem
 from .listitem import ListItem
 from .scaitem import ScaItem
+from .refitem import RefItem
 from reclass.errors import InterpolationError
 
 from six import string_types
@@ -20,9 +21,10 @@ class Value(object):
 
     _parser = Parser()
 
-    def __init__(self, value, settings, uri, parse_string=True):
+    def __init__(self, value, settings, uri, parse_string=True, path=''):
         self._settings = settings
         self.uri = uri
+        self.path = path
         self.overwrite = False
         self.constant = False
         if isinstance(value, string_types):
@@ -87,6 +89,8 @@ def assembleRefs(self, context):
 
     def render(self, context, inventory):
         try:
+            if isinstance(self._item, RefItem):
+                return self._item.render(context, inventory, path=self.path)
             return self._item.render(context, inventory)
         except InterpolationError as e:
             e.uri = self.uri