issue 13: Shadowlands
As the light of day wanes and the veil between worlds grows sheer, we are invited to go more within and even dare to peer beyond that gauzy partition into… the Shadowlands… where death, darkness, “the devil”, lost souls and all manner of monsters reside… Shall we take a little ride?
Samhain, Halloween, Allhallowtide, All Saint’s Day, All Soul’s Day, Día de Muertos (rooted in the ancient Aztec Mihcailhuitl “festivals of the dead”), The Hungry Ghost Festivals of East Asia and Surva in Bulgaria… For many thousands of years and in all cultures around the world, connecting with the dead and contending with darkness is in our DNA. What I love most about these traditions and festivals is the playful and celebratory spirit with which all cultures have long confronted the darker side of life. As a humanity, we have always known darkness and we have always found a way to disarm it through basic acknowledgment, making light of it and partying alongside it in style.
Truth is, all those darker things we would rather avoid are alive and well just beneath the surface of our everyday lives. For those with a foot in two worlds, who perceive multiple layers beyond the façade, who’ve faced their own darkness and, through much toil and dedication, have earned their doctorate at the University of Hellenback… the Shadowlands are a familiar terrain and their inhabitants come to be regarded more friend than foe. The amicable acquaintanceship and good humor one necessarily cultivates when residing among these realms has a way of taming the dragons, befriending the devils, subduing the serpents, declawing the demons, defanging the vampires, turning werewolves into puppy dogs and generally neutralizing the spook factor of it all. Those who’ve been to the dark depths and returned empowered with greater wisdom, discernment and confidence make very good guides, a bit like Rick Steves of The Underworld. These are the shamans, mystics, sages and pioneers of the mind who’ve come to see and appreciate the deep and vast interrelatedness of all things.
Why, pray tell, would anyone want to explore the Shadowlands? When we are not facing our Shadow it is being projected before us from behind, appearing as other people and situations outside our locus of control. We end up engaged in endless shadow boxing matches to the point of mental and emotional exhaustion rather than using that valuable energy toward our own evolution and the upliftment of others. To begin confronting the Shadow is to start claiming our sovereignty and free agency. When we better know ourselves within, we also become more discerning about the world without; the construct of consensus reality no longer has the same sway over us; no longer can narcissistic vampires drain us of our vital essence nor psychopath werewolves lure us into their dens of sadistic fantasy. To dance with our shadow, dine with devil, confront our carnal nature and ultimately prevail over our own baser instincts gives us access to higher realms of conscious awareness where we are endowed with greater sovereignty and a wellspring of creative energy.
Is there a map at least? Shaman psychoanalyst Carl Gustav Jung refers to the great adventure of deep introspection as the process of Individuation. It is a lifelong journey of becoming a whole and distinct individual by uniting the unconscious with the conscious self. The process involves confronting and integrating aspects of the personality such as the "Shadow" (repressed traits) and the "Anima/Animus" (contrasexual archetypes), and balancing the external "Persona" (social mask) with one's inner life to realize one's own unique purpose. The process aims not to achieve perfection but to realize a more complete and authentic self, one that is ever learning and discovering because of its imperfection.
How does this relate to community? In the Hero’s Journey (representing the basic map or template for Jung’s Individuation process), the hero must face a fearsome dragon that has been the source of torment and malignant darkness in the world. This formidable beast happens to also be hoarding and fiercely guarding piles of gold and a hostage maiden (the soul or ‘Anima’ in the male psyche, ‘Animus’ in female) in its dark lair. To liberate the maiden and retrieve the treasure, the dragon must be slayed or subdued. The great treasures are then taken back to the place of origin and shared among the community. The hero and maiden are married (integration of the Anima/Animus) and the community is enhanced by the great offering won through the hero’s steadfast commitment to his own courageous quest for wholeness. At least, this is the general idea. The greatest adventure of all is how we live our own stories of this process, both individually and collectively. What parts of us must we liberate and integrate, what dark caverns must we brave and what inner dragons must we conquer to gain the great treasures hidden within?
Now that we have a basic map in hand and our “why” compelling us from within, it’s time for a little adventure. With Jung as our guide, let’s go spelunking into the deep and expansive caverns of our own human psyche! (and perhaps we’ll slay a few vampires while we’re at it).
In Truth, Beauty and Goodness,
Brandy “The Vampire Slayer” Monique
Find the full issue 13: Shadowlands newsletter here.
