Gwen's message; shadow

[Guest guest]

Gwen--

Thank you for your lovely and thought-provoking message. While I think there are

things in it with which I disagree, you reminded me that, like with good soup,

letting things simmer changes the flavors.

Jeanne--

I appreciated the way that you pondered Jung's Shadow dream. It gave me pause,

since I am a bit of a physics dolt, but here are some other thoughts. If light

is around us, are we in a way standing on our Shadow? If we move to the other

side of the candle, our Shadow will be behind us where it cannot be seen. I

think lack of awareness of Shadow is the most dangerous thing. Elsewhere, Jung

referred to those things that are forgotten or unattended as being " glowing

coals under grey ashes. " I don't think that he believed it possible for the

light to go out completely, only to be hidden. I am reminded of " This little

light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. "

I am an Introvert myself, and I do find the world a bit scary at times, but not

in the sense that it can destroy me, only in the sense that it can distract me

so easily and make me temporarily lose my hard-won sense of Self.

As I was reading your missive, I was also reminded of something from one of the

Star Wars flicks. I don't remember whether it was Obi Wan or Yoda (or someone

else). Luke asked if the Light is not stronger than the Dark. The answer was

something like, " Oh, yes, Luke, but the Dark is quicker. "

I am not 100% in agreement with Jung either. He was, after all, just a man, and

I don't believe that we are meant to know it all in this time and space, and I

believe that it is in the search that we earn our stripes.

Pat