As I have stated on so many occasions, I do not watch televised news. I find it to be insulting, self-limiting, frustrating and an obvious twist at best on the truth. It is created to sell airtime and whenever money is the motivating factor, we must use caution and not blind trust. I do of course “tune in” when major national or world events have occurred. I could hardly pass over the passing of three major personalities in three days time.
I am also well aware of the phenomenon of Carl Jung’s shadow projection. This is when we take our own negativity or “shadow side” and project it onto other people especially figures in the public eye, rather than accept that it exists within us, or within those we love. An example would be when a film star or politician has an affair, we shake our heads and damn them for it but in reality we may be in an unhappy relationship and considering one, or are involved in one already.
However the opposite is also true and I feel is even more damaging to the reason for our being. I am going to name it “Light Projection”, when you cannot accept the light within yourself and idolize a public figure or some one you know perhaps a minister, a leader of group, or a parent or coach. You place them so high on a pedestal, they are so perfect in your eyes, you feel you could never match it – would not even attempt it. Then it happens, they get caught stealing money or the minister has an affair with the organist, or the priest or coach is found to be a pedophile and we lose our faith, our hope, we decide nothing is right with the world, and in that moment, we lose ourselves and our connection to God and the seed of our own Light. It narrows done to a pinhole of energy and sometimes closes off completely. We find ourselves alone in the dark, wondering why we are here and see no good anywhere.
One of the statements I hear frequently from people reacting to a bad situation in their life is, “this behavior is not me”. What they are failing to recognize is that they are immersed in the darkness of a most defining and beautiful opportunity for spiritual advancement. And their denial of their feelings is the seed, of Shadow Projection. The truth is… it is you and it is, me. When we are brave enough to walk into the reason for our journey we can then use this incarnation as a vehicle to drive directly into the deeper meaning of what it means to be human.
What I find so compelling when public figures fall is we begin to revere and respect life again. Compassion is the healing salve between the light and the dark. Between the good and the bad. It is where we begin the journey to healing. Which brings me back to the three deaths that occurred last week. No matter what was the truth of their lives, the light that flickers within us all will not let us look away from the dazzling icon of beauty who had an innocence that was often made fun of, a mega talent that broke through many barriers that had been in obvious emotional pain his whole life, and a man who had an uplifting persona and a laugh that will always be remembered. It is our compassion that allows them and us to heal. When I look at these three people the common thread I see between them all is they left children. As we watch the video footage of a grown son shackled lying in bed face to face next to his dying mother, how can we not remember deep in our hearts that all children really ever want is for their parents to be proud of them and the compassion we feel for that boy in the pit of despair with his heart split wide open we can also feel it for ourselves and only hope he felt the divinity of his Mothers undying love, and fill ourselves up with it as well. We can look at the young children left without a father and even with all the rumors about him, realize that the only opinion of a man that matters, is the one his children have of him, and give that gift to ourselves and heal our relationship with our father. And finally, we can take solace in the fact that we can be remembered for such a simple joy as was contained within an infectious laugh that will not be forgotten, and know the importance of the lightness of our being. And hope that your children have and hold the memory of their fathers laugh and be thankful if you can still hear yours.
And so it would seem, that this past week took us a little deeper into the what it means to be human and the mystery of Life and Death continues. For myself I am realizing that without death, there would be no transformation. How can something transform if it stays the same? All material matter has a purpose and there is a small dose of death in everything we eat drink and breathe. Cherish life, but be fully conscious that it does not come without a death first. Ever notice so often when people are dying, they don’t always realize it? Maybe it is because they are really coming alive for the first time. Embrace the beauty that hides in ugliness and dive into the extravagant nature of being human.
~Cynthia www.CynthiaKJohnson.com
