Dancing with the Shadow
‘A man [or woman] who is possessed by his shadow is always standing in his own light and falling into his own traps … living below his own level’ ~ Carl Jung
Ah, this beautiful shadow!
So cleverly built, so intricate.
So many corners to sweep the uncomfortable into.
In corners, under shelving, stuffed up in the rafters,
Fantasies, fears, embarrassments, and ‘evil deeds’.
The ‘uglies’ hiding and frightened of the light.
The spotlight beam plays in through this space.
There is the young boy
who snuck into the late night desert dark
stripped to his bare skin and ran barefoot for freedom.
There the child who resented…
No, Hated…his family,
for the chains he felt on his soul.
(Not all jails have bars,
some have windows for escape.)
There the young shoplifter
stealing nudie mags
from drugstore racks.
There the forsaken man
stealing money for
food and hookers.
The steps to this dance are complex.
Drunk, philanderer, almost druggie, thief…
cultist, suicidal, selfish, wannabe,
survivor, angry-young-man, wild child,
poser. hider-in-shadow, gullible and distrusting.
The inability to be a ‘good person’ at the right time.
So many shadows ‘hidden’ in shadow.
So much life unacknowledged.
Marred facets of the gem of life.
This dance touches many corners
and finds lost treasures in the dust.
This dance finds beauty
and grist for the creative mill.
The dance frees and spreads light in the psyche.
Embrace the shadows, bow or curtsy, and turn on the music.
Sometimes we must dance with our shadow as though no one is watching.
Thank you for reading.
Dana Sanford ~ 1/21/2019
