bluegreen17 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bluegreen17) wrote2004-06-22 09:36 pm
bluegreen17) wrote2004-06-22 09:36 pm
the scarab and the shadow
one of the books i got at the library today is called the dark side of the light chasers by debbie ford.
i've been aware of this book for quite some time (it came out in '98,i think) but i think i was put off by the 'light chasers' part.it made me think of people who call themselves 'lightworkers',which is a kind of out-there notion,even for me,though i can't say they're wrong. but i think it also disturbs me that some of these 'lightworkers' might think they're extra special...and there's that tricky ego trip thingie...
which reminds me that my therapist is really trying to boost my self-esteem. and i commented to her that psychology is about building up the ego and i'm looking to not have it dominate me any more. but maybe you have to build up your ego before you grow beyond it.
which is maybe my ego talking...because it makes me sound like i'm better or something. which i do think a lot of the time(what am i doing on this planet with all these rude and stupid people?),which is why i think i'm too dominated by my ego! it's like you have to individuate to go beyond the tribe,but after awhile you need to go beyond individuation to interdependence,which can look like the 'tribe' mentality but really is different. but i digress...
this book is dealing with jung's idea of the shadow,our dark sides,which we need to integrate rather than reject in order to become (w)holy.(my term,not ford's.)
i think the very beginning of the book is worth quoting here:
most of us set out on the path to personal growth because at some point the burden of our pain becomes too much to bear. the dark side of the light chasers is about unmasking that aspect of ourselves which destroys our relationships,kills our spirit,and keeps us from fulfilling our dreams. it is what the psychologist carl jung called the shadow. it contains all the parts of ourselves that we have tried to hide or deny. it contains those dark aspects that we believe are not acceptable to our family,friends, and most importantly,ourselves. the dark side is stuffed deeply within our consciousness,hidden from ourselves and others. the message we get from this hidden place is simple: there is something wrong with me*.i'm not okay.
i'm not lovable. i'm not deserving. i'm not worthy.
~~~~~~
*wow. i was just talking about that with my therapist yesterday. i think maybe i will be reading this book now.
and speaking of synchronicity (well,jung,anyhow),when i went to my eye doctor appt. this evening,i went up to the receptionist and told her my name and that i had a 7:00 appointment. she appeared to have a slightly odd reaction to that. as it turns out,the other patient who had just finished her appointment had the same name as me! granted,this is the wife of one of my dad's cousins,so that's why. but it's pretty funny that we were in the office at the same time!
i've been aware of this book for quite some time (it came out in '98,i think) but i think i was put off by the 'light chasers' part.it made me think of people who call themselves 'lightworkers',which is a kind of out-there notion,even for me,though i can't say they're wrong. but i think it also disturbs me that some of these 'lightworkers' might think they're extra special...and there's that tricky ego trip thingie...
which reminds me that my therapist is really trying to boost my self-esteem. and i commented to her that psychology is about building up the ego and i'm looking to not have it dominate me any more. but maybe you have to build up your ego before you grow beyond it.
which is maybe my ego talking...because it makes me sound like i'm better or something. which i do think a lot of the time(what am i doing on this planet with all these rude and stupid people?),which is why i think i'm too dominated by my ego! it's like you have to individuate to go beyond the tribe,but after awhile you need to go beyond individuation to interdependence,which can look like the 'tribe' mentality but really is different. but i digress...
this book is dealing with jung's idea of the shadow,our dark sides,which we need to integrate rather than reject in order to become (w)holy.(my term,not ford's.)
i think the very beginning of the book is worth quoting here:
most of us set out on the path to personal growth because at some point the burden of our pain becomes too much to bear. the dark side of the light chasers is about unmasking that aspect of ourselves which destroys our relationships,kills our spirit,and keeps us from fulfilling our dreams. it is what the psychologist carl jung called the shadow. it contains all the parts of ourselves that we have tried to hide or deny. it contains those dark aspects that we believe are not acceptable to our family,friends, and most importantly,ourselves. the dark side is stuffed deeply within our consciousness,hidden from ourselves and others. the message we get from this hidden place is simple: there is something wrong with me*.i'm not okay.
i'm not lovable. i'm not deserving. i'm not worthy.
~~~~~~
*wow. i was just talking about that with my therapist yesterday. i think maybe i will be reading this book now.
and speaking of synchronicity (well,jung,anyhow),when i went to my eye doctor appt. this evening,i went up to the receptionist and told her my name and that i had a 7:00 appointment. she appeared to have a slightly odd reaction to that. as it turns out,the other patient who had just finished her appointment had the same name as me! granted,this is the wife of one of my dad's cousins,so that's why. but it's pretty funny that we were in the office at the same time!