Through a Jungian Lens

Looking through a window onto a farmyard, long abandoned.  The scene is found in the south-central part of the province.  But, when you think about it, it is a scene that is found within everyone of us.

Though most are loathe to ever admit it, we are all looking out from a dark place into a world that often feels slightly disconnected, more at distance than at our finger tips.  We then work hard to bridge this distance keeping our hands busy so that we can trick ourselves into thinking that we don’t live inside a darker place.  We focus on things; buying things, building things, studying things.  We stay as far away from our inner aspects as we can.

When things don’t work, which of course is understandable, then we shift to causes.  Perhaps the next church, the next volunteer project, the next environmental cause will “fill” the cracks through which the darkness, the unknown aspects of self, wants to escape.  In saying this, all of these activities have value to self and community, but the motivation for doing is what needs to be addressed.

In the quiet moments, when doubt creeps in and one again looks out as though wearing blinders, the truth of the dark inner spaces emerges.  One either faces these or one flees into more and more of the same or else tries to use drugs, alcohol, sex – anything, to shove the shadow, the unconscious, back into darkness.

In the end, if one never looks inward to acknowledge that big part of “self,” one loses one’s soul.  Daring to get to know “self” gives one a sense of peace.  It’s like turning on a light in a darkened room.  One discovers that inside, it really isn’t as bad as we had thought.  Rather, we discover so much hidden beauty.

This is the hero’s journey.