What evil lurks in our hearts?
Psychoanalyst
Carl Jung developed the concept of the Shadow.
He believed that our shadow resides deep inside us, rich with life, and
on occasion our shadow pokes up through our psyche. Many of us subvert our shadow, hiding it deep
inside. Jung cautions “…the less embodied [the Shadow is] in the individual’s
conscious life, the blacker and denser it is.”
The “Other”
We
may deny unpleasant impulses, the evil, hidden in our shadow by attributing
them or projecting them onto others. We do this to keep ourselves from owning
them.
I can
feel my shadow rising when my reaction to something is much larger than it
should be. A poke from something in my
shadow tempts me to tarnish those whom I have named “other,” somehow different
from me. This poke is my unconscious well of own disowned darkness, my shadow.
The “Enemy”Projection can lead to identifying what you fear: your “enemies.” The enemy is something or someone who reflects our disowned darkness. When we react intensely to a quality in an individual or group--such as lethargy or ignorance, assertiveness or success, sensuality or spirituality--and that reaction consumes us with great loathing or admiration, this may be our own shadow showing. We have all done this.
The Critic
Have
you said at one time or another: "I
don't know how she could wear that outfit." "This is the third time
you arrived late without calling me."
“You look like something the cat dragged in—just kidding.” If you feel an overwhelming, powerful–though
not always negative—emotion, this could be your shadow. You can choose to not let it control your
reactions, and you can take the opportunity to reflect on the experience,
putting light into your shadow.
Our Secret “Wrongs”
As we
grow up we develop our ideas of right and what is wrong, what acceptable
behavior is and what is not, what is okay to think or say and what is
taboo. As we decide, we put certain
aspects of ourselves into some place deep inside ourselves—in our shadow. Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote, ". . . the
line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his
own heart?"
At
some point we may hear a message that causes us to some part of ourselves into
the shadow. It is not about what parents,
teachers, authorities say; it is about how we hear and how we make sense of
what we hear.
We
try to hide away our aggressive impulses, our violent rages, our selfish needs,
our deepest insecurities, our paralyzing pain.
Some of our aspects may truly be evil or destructive to others or
ourselves but many of our shadow aspects are our submerged shame, dreams, fantasies,
even talents.
To Be Whole is to Honor the Shadow
In
order to honor the shadow, to integrate our whole selves, we need to find ways
to develop awareness of all aspects of ourselves. To develop awareness of the shadow calls for
breaking old habits and cultivating dormant talents.
The
shadow reveals itself again and again, in our visceral responses to external or
internal stimuli or cues, and gives us the opportunity to learn more about
ourselves and grow emotionally and spiritually.
Our task is to refrain from becoming reactive or destructive when our
shadow rises, and instead notice it, learn from it, and integrate our shadow
into our conscious being in order to become more whole.
Embrace and Walk with Your Shadow
If
you seek out what is in your shadow, if you watch for it whenever it erupts,
and then embrace it,
I urge
you to courageously search for the emotional and spiritual nourishment,
enlightenment, passion, and redemption that is within your shadow.
Walking with your shadow, intentionally
and consciously, is an act of beauty and courage which can lead to loving your
hidden self.
Search
your shadow despite your fear, for the light of compassion, friendship, and
love is always with you.
Blessings,
Rev. Tom
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