Through a Jungian Lens

With evening rains becoming a normal occurrence in the semi-arid region, I find myself taking a larger number of “puddle” photos as the images found within those puddles become a living alter world that draw one into a participation in the fantasy of those alter worlds.  How is it that in “looking down” into a watery underworld, I see the sky, clouds and trees?  In looking down, I am also looking up.  There is something “deep” in this awareness, something that I need to think about for a while.  While I am thinking, I want to share a few words about fantasy with you, words from Kahlil Gibran’s book, A Tear And A Smile:

“Life carries us hither and thither and destiny moves us from one place to another.  We see not save the obstacle set in our path; neither do we hear save a voice that makes us to fear.

Beauty appears before us seated on her thrown of glory and we draw nigh.  An in the name of longing do we defile her garment’s hem and wrest from her the crown of purity.

Love passes us by clothed in a robe of gentleness, and we are afraid and hide us in dark caves, or follow her and do evil things in her name.

. . .

Wisdom stands on the street corner and calls to us above the multitude, but we deem her a thing without worth and despise them that follow her.

. . .

We are near to earth, yet the gods are our kin.  We pass by the bread of life, and hunger feeds off our strength.

How sweet to us is life, and how fare we are from life!”  (Gibran, “Fantasy and Truth,” A Tear And A Smile, pp 61-62)

I could have written more of these words here, but it is time for my words.  I bought this little book in 1971, about two years after buying and reading Gibran’s book, The Prophet.  After choosing today’s photo, for some reason I reached for A Tear And A Smile which has been sitting on my bookshelf untouched for almost forty years, and almost immediately found this passage.  For me, it was a pulling together of quite a few of my thoughts posted here that have been following the innate spirituality of humanity and the presence of the Divine within.

I would imagine that few passing by the puddle posted above, would be drawn into its depths and find there life, beauty, love and wisdom.  Looking at the photo, one might get confused by the wall of asphalt that borders the sky, and likely deny its presence as it doesn’t “fit” preconceived notions.  Or else, what this puddle offers us in fantasy is rejected and dismissed as simply being a fuzzy reflection of reality found in an ordinary puddle.  When one walks through life blind to the numinous on the edges of almost all that is seen, felt, heard, touched and scented, one is barren.  One is left holding onto false truths, not even half-truths about who he or she is, about the purpose and meaning of life.  And in anger for not finding a purpose and meaning for life, one denies, dissembles and destroys.

I know for myself, truth about who I am is found when I enter into the realms of fantasy.  And there I find so much more than truth.  Thank you, Kahlil Gibran for helping me to remember.