Tag: Carl Gustav Jung

Treating Myself With Compassion

 

“What if I should discover that the poorest of the beggars and the most impudent of offenders are all within me; and that I stand in need of the alms of my own kindness, that I, myself, am the enemy who must be loved — what then?”
― C.G. Jung

 

A strange thing about actively seeking one’s own shadow self is how difficult it becomes to criticize others. I see in myself the cynical jaded parts, the sarcastic parts, the parts that may wish another ill or wish to take advantage of others. I seldom, if ever, act on these impulses but still I know they’re there. I also have a painful awareness of the criticism I have cast upon others for this very trait. At times I catch myself becoming critical of someone else’s unkindness. I have the temptation to be derisive until I sense the echo of myself and realize that the unkindness is something that has come up for me too. Oops.
As I said I catch myself. I cannot deny the negative parts of myself because all too often denial is the nourishment that the shadow thrives on. Still if I come down too hard on myself it is no good either. How can I learn compassion for others if I have not yet learned compassion for myself? So I step back and observe the process. I practice kindness, if not gentleness on myself..acknowledging even the rough parts that will one day shine.
Blessings, G

 

Click on images to see full-sized:

 

Origami MandalaOrigami Mandala by G A Rosenberg
 

intertwinedIntertwined by G A Rosenberg

Inner Population

 

“This I learned in the Mysterium: to take seriously every unknown wanderer who personally inhabits the inner world, since they are real because they are effectual.”
— C. G. Jung, The Red Book

 

In my mind live many beings. They populate my dreams and my imagination. Many have found their way into my art. When I am alone, I speak with them. Coyote tricks me into realizing how often I fight my own reflection. The Hanged Man tells me of reflection also and insight. The Creature in my Closet turns to mist to show me how insubstantial my fear is. Mother Cloud holds me to her breasts and calms my anxiety. Even the fox has his say for no one knows better than he how to escape tight spots.
The skeletal hand beckons and the Angel sings and then there is those tempting spirits. So many other make their appearance. Each one imparts their lessons, each one made necessary by the fact that they appear. The wisdom, comfort and occasional torment they offer all help me to become. While it appears to be a playful disassociation in reality it is anything but that. I realize that they are parts of me and that I contain them.
Blessings, G

 

Click on images to see full-sized:

 

Lifting the VeilLifting the Veil by G A Rosenberg

 

Violet PeaceThe Heart of the Crystal by G A Rosenberg

Accepting My Own Madness

 

“Be silent and listen: have you recognized your madness and do you admit it? Have you noticed that all your foundations are completely mired in madness? Do you not want to recognize your madness and welcome it in a friendly manner? You wanted to accept everything. So accept madness too. Let the light of your madness shine, and it will suddenly dawn on you. Madness is not to be despised and not to be feared, but instead you should give it life…If you want to find paths, you should also not spurn madness, since it makes up such a great part of your nature…Be glad that you can recognize it, for you will thus avoid becoming its victim. Madness is a special form of the spirit and clings to all teachings and philosophies, but even more to daily life, since life itself is full of craziness and at bottom utterly illogical. Man strives toward reason only so that he can make rules for himself. Life itself has no rules. That is its mystery and its unknown law. What you call knowledge is an attempt to impose something comprehensible on life.”
― C.G. Jung, The Red Book

 

When I was much younger, I realized how out of step I seemed to be with the world at large and questioned my sanity. As I grow older, I realize that most if not all of the people I know have their own flavours of insanity. We all have windmills that we tilt at and believe they are dragons. Many of us repeat our actions and methods endlessly expecting different results each time. I no longer question my sanity or lack thereof as much as embrace it. How I differ from each person brings an endless flood of self-knowledge and confusion. Now my main concerns tend to be around how much my words and my behaviour reflect my authentic self and with time even that concern fades for it seems more and more to be something that can’t be done and worried at at the same time.
Blessings, G

 

Click on images to see full-sized

 

Dreaming Under Red SkiesDreaming Under Red Skies by G A Rosenberg

 

Tie Dyed WebTie-Dyed Web by G A Rosenberg

Self-Creation — A Consciousness Stream

 

“But, if you have nothing at all to create, then perhaps you create yourself.”
― C.G. Jung

 

Of What do I create myself? Out of the sunrise I see in the morning, pink clouds and fiery majesty? out of the smiles of little children? out of the complaints online and off of how the government, entertainment industry, world, lives of people do not suit them and why (rarely how) they need to be different? Out of the satisfaction of my elderly neighbour as she manages to reaffirm to herself that she can still do little chores in the garden? out of teenage frustration? out of joy in the company of my loved ones? out of the walk in the grass running with my dogs? out of cyberspace whisperings and ceremonial art? of bad puns and old song lyrics and wordplay? out of the mountains overlooking the shore? out of the influence of deities? Of my lover’s embrace as we sleep at night and the back rub that feels so good? Out of the night skies?
Each day I create myself anew out of all of this and so much more and feel both full and replenished.
Blessings, G

Click on images to see full-sized:

 

True ExpressionTrue Expression by G A Rosenberg

 

Gossamer MandalaGossamer Mandala by G A Rosenberg

A Shadowed Word Walk

“I must also have a dark side if I am to be whole”
— Carl G. Jung

 

Casting shadows
Auditioning everything
that I’ve discarded
so it can play its part.
If I deny it
it clings to me
If I claim it
it sings to me
that I / Not I
the parts I defy
yet at night
I know they’re there
my fear
that people will know
what I contain
it throws my meter off
Acceptance rises
and so must I
and make a plan
and make a stand
and face
what I cannot erase
that hidden self
for as I’ve been casting my shadow
it has been casting me…
— G A Rosenberg

 

Blessings, G

 

Click on images to see full-sized:

 

Give It A SpinGive It a Spin by G A Rosenberg

 

Cosmic TimepieceCosmic Timepiece by G A Rosenberg

Quote of the Day – January 6 2012

“Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people.”
–Carl Jung

 

Who do you trust with your dark side?  I want people to see me at my best and most positive. There are relatively few people I feel safe enough to show my shadow, my ignorance, my dark and negative side. Why? What am I afraid of ? If Jung is right, doesn’t it work in reverse, by showing other’s my darkness, I allow them to encounter their own shadow? My claim up to now is that I don’t wish to offend but in reality isn’t it that I have not yet found the courage to do so? Do I really have that much fear that mommy will slap me for saying the wrong thing?
It seems of late as if I have been given more and more pieces of myself. Not all of them are pretty
Blessings, G

Click on image to see full-sized

Page of Swords

Tarot – Page of Swords by G A Rosenberg

All manner of things be Wheel

 

All Manner of Things Be Wheel by G A Rosenberg

Monday Mandalas

“In the products of the unconscious we discover mandala symbols, that is, circular and quaternity figures which express wholeness, and whenever we wish to express wholeness, we employ just such figures. ”
–Carl Jung

Click on images to see full-size

Green Sun Mandala by G A Rosenberg

In the Machine by G A Rosenberg

Stained Glass on Slate by G A Rosenberg