Part 150: Lesson 5: The Nature of the Shadow

-Specialist-




"Everyone Loves Jungian Psychology!" An invitation to the you that you don't know. It's already our fifth installment: "The Nature of the Shadow."


For today's lesson, I want to pick a single archetype and discuss it. That archetype is the "Shadow." Quite a charmer, hm? Now, let's begin the lecture. Solve et coagula...


An archetype is a basic element of pattern recognition within the mind. With that ability, the mind can create images. There are archetypes such as the "Great Mother" and the "Wise Old Man"...The "Shadow" archetype conjures the image of a "creepy, unfamiliar person." A creepy, unfamiliar person...That doesn't exactly sound like something that gives off good vibes, does it? That's right: the Shadow is the archetype that represents the undesirable.


In other words, the "evil" within a person that he or she denies. We all have "evil" that we deny buried within our unconscious; that is the Shadow. I'm sure you can all understand that the Shadow is hated by all...But let me explain it a little more, comparing it to your everyday life.


In that situation, which do you choose: work, or play?
Work, as usual.
I see. In other words, to you, "good" is having the diligence to do your homework. On the other hand, you abhor the laxness of going out to play. Laziness is your "evil." That is, you did not want to become the "lazy guy" you hate...! Even though you weren't lazy, you chose not to be. This imaginary "lazy person" that you don't want to be is part of the representation of your Shadow...Oh, just to let you know, I meant this question as a hypothetical. I'm not going to draw any conclusions about your Shadow. But you see, this question has shown how you use your Shadow as the standard for interpreting your own "good" and "evil." But there's another, deeper meaning to this.


And the natural, logical conclusion is that you fear and despise either work or play.
And, consequently, you didn't pick the other. However, it's not impossible that you might have picked it. The other path was certainly a logical choice. Your Shadow is the path that you didn't take. In other words...It is another you. The Shadow is the "you that wasn't picked."


But can one's Shadow truly be erased? First off, it would be very difficult, considering its location inside the unconscious. Furthermore, the Shadow makes us recognize ourselves and gives our value judgments more meaning. To erase one's Shadow is to weaken one's own mind. Jung realized this, and advised against trying to eliminate your Shadow, in favor of facing it and accepting it. By accepting one's Shadow, a person's mind can grow further. If you accept this mental image as "another version of you," maybe it'll be easier to face your Shadow, hm?


I'll explain a bit about the "Shadow of the people"--a group psyche as opposed to an individual--and end this lesson. Jung's studies of mythology noted the existence of the Shadow. The Shadows of myth...they are evil beings better known as "demons." From the viewpoint of Jungian psychology, the common Shadow of the people took on the forms of demons. You don't have to be an exorcist to want to rid the world of demons...But, after this lecture, is it a good thing to eradicate demons?...It makes you think, doesn't it? If I follow my schedule, the next lecture should be on the "Persona." That is also another version of yourself. And that's it for today.