The brighter the light, the darker the shadow

Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology and an astrologer, created many laws and concepts within his field.

One of these was Jung's law of compensation: intensity in consciousness is mirrored with depth in our shadow. Incredible genius/focused talent involuntarily creates an intense darkness. The path towards enlightenment means admitting each of these, as individuation involves integrating the depths of our shadow into our consciousness to balance this out - the more we step into the light and raise our awareness, the more we are met with all that's hidden beneath.

What's hidden in the shadow comes into our awareness and into our light in bits and pieces. Through our dreams in symbolic form, through visions and through our active imaginations (yes, you'll find that our imaginations are also meaningful realms of symbols for us, as they are in our dreams). We can also tap into it and access it through creative expression.

The shadow releases stuff as it tries to compensate for what the conscious mind is doing. The higher the heights, the more the 'guilty' stuff and things that aren't palatable for the ego in this heightened form are pushed down. So here comes the functions. There's the prospective function and the reductive function. The prospective function is the release of shadow bits and bobs to bring greater awareness and consciousness, in preparation for things of the future. Like a toolbox that the unconscious and divine self is releasing for you ahead of time. The reductive function releases all sorts of things to knock you off your high horse when you're getting way too ahead of yourself. If you achieve real greatness in the external realm without the emotional maturity that's required to uphold this, this is what might happen.

All is not lost. You can avoid falling if you work to consciously integrate your shadow and tease it out, achieving the psychological growth and wholeness that's needed between you and your deeper self.

@ThatWomanAgain11 So for example, somebody comes from a humble background where people aren't feeling too pressured to save face in public and they intently focus on a particular talent or genius they have throughout their life, then eventually become famous for it. In their fame they may decide that anything about them that could be perceived as bad or 'wrong' doesn't fit with their desired or perceived persona of themselves and therefore they may reject it and push it down into their shadow. The more a person wants to focus on a particular persona that to them is a good image for them (their ego) and all that supports it, the more they may push down whatever doesn't resonate or support that.

Posted by ThatWomanAgain11
@clare

Does that mean, the said person who comes from humble background would always try to push down any wrong perceptions from other people about him/her and those perceptions are stored in their shadow self?

Then, what happens for people who come from the opposite of humble background? Does that mean those people are feeling pressured to save face in public and therefore tried so many things but never master any of them? and so when they see someone as master, they would try to take down the said person from humble background?

No not necessarily. I think what I meant to say there is that with a humble background or humble reasoning (as opposed to fame or something similar), a person might more likely acknowledge the less desired traits of themselves, presenting as more whole in character. The analogy is the same, I guess, if from someone of a background of fame, who then rises to further fame or brilliance. It's more about the perception of self than those perceptions of others.

The last thing you said, that's definitely food for thought, because I have seen this in reality, where someone from a privileged background has bullied or pushed someone else down who was from a humble background, yet had something brilliant about them. This is a common theme, is it not?

We are all here with a soul urge to increase in light and consciousness. Of course, many privileged people and those who are brilliant or genius in some ways are consciously diving into their shadow to tease the contents out for integration with the whole character. Otherwise, what I call the 'ego bubble' creates a deep shadow, the contents of which will be coming out to play at times. There will be lots of triggers.

It works both ways imo. I've always felt the duality of both dark and light within my existence. I'm either at my best, or at my worst. I feel like living equally within these two life style s has made me understand and respect both aspects, while having a deeper understanding of the world as a whole. When at my worst I still respect and admire those who are at their best, and let their energy inspire me to do better. At my best I still respect and deeply understand those at their worst, because I've been there many times.

Its kind of funny because in all the mental wellness and sobriety groups I'm in I'm relating with people no matter what I'm going through. If I'm below rock bottom I'm having people's back and relating with people in the same situation, and telling them we got this. If above the clouds I'm trying my best to motivate, strengthen, and encourage people to stay strong. Sharing my faith and light. You have all these people who write 2 sentence like "Go to a doctor." "See a therapist." "Get on meds." Go to a meeting." Which i guess is better then nothing, but I put actually soul and emotion in my comments and motivation. So many people have thanked me for being so supportive and in-depth with my comments I sometimes feel it might actually make a difference. So I accept the duality of both light and dark within myself. Without it I probably wouldn't have the right words to say, or never felt every person going through the motions of life on an individual level.

The truth is always somewhere in the middle. Even though you didn't really ask a question.

Posted by WarAngel79
The truth is always somewhere in the middle. Even though you didn't really ask a question.

I guess I was going to ask, 'what's your experience of this/ how do you experience it'? I didn't quite reach typing it.

I have a mini version, I'm a perfectionist and I've been in ocd recovery for years (personally overcome rather than therapy or drugs). I go through periods of exploring my shadow but I always analyse dreams and visions anyway. Creativity.

I guess you could say that's somewhere in the middle. But take me (or I'll take myself) to those heights and I'll take those tests, I'm ready for it.

Posted by WarAngel79
The truth is always somewhere in the middle. Even though you didn't really ask a question.

Do you think Captain America has a dark side?

@Neves, is this what's happening with the comic book heroes in Bad Boys, do you think?

Posted by clare

Posted by WarAngel79
The truth is always somewhere in the middle. Even though you didn't really ask a question.

I guess I was going to ask, 'what's your experience of this/ how do you experience it'? I didn't quite reach typing it.

I have a mini version, I'm a perfectionist and I've been in ocd recovery for years (personally overcome rather than therapy or drugs). I go through periods of exploring my shadow but I always analyse dreams and visions anyway. Creativity.

I guess you could say that's somewhere in the middle. But take me (or I'll take myself) to those heights and I'll take those tests, I'm ready for it.

click to expand

You have an air of fragility about you

Posted by Wizardzzz

Posted by clare

Posted by WarAngel79
The truth is always somewhere in the middle. Even though you didn't really ask a question.

I guess I was going to ask, 'what's your experience of this/ how do you experience it'? I didn't quite reach typing it.

I have a mini version, I'm a perfectionist and I've been in ocd recovery for years (personally overcome rather than therapy or drugs). I go through periods of exploring my shadow but I always analyse dreams and visions anyway. Creativity.

I guess you could say that's somewhere in the middle. But take me (or I'll take myself) to those heights and I'll take those tests, I'm ready for it.

You have an air of fragility about you

click to expand

If so, it's something I'm going through right now. May I ask your intentions when sharing this please?

Posted by clare

Posted by Wizardzzz

Posted by clare

Posted by WarAngel79
The truth is always somewhere in the middle. Even though you didn't really ask a question.

I guess I was going to ask, 'what's your experience of this/ how do you experience it'? I didn't quite reach typing it.

I have a mini version, I'm a perfectionist and I've been in ocd recovery for years (personally overcome rather than therapy or drugs). I go through periods of exploring my shadow but I always analyse dreams and visions anyway. Creativity.

I guess you could say that's somewhere in the middle. But take me (or I'll take myself) to those heights and I'll take those tests, I'm ready for it.

You have an air of fragility about you
click to expand

If so, it's something I'm going through right now. May I ask your intentions when sharing this please?

click to expand

No intention at all

Posted by clare

Posted by WarAngel79
The truth is always somewhere in the middle. Even though you didn't really ask a question.

I guess I was going to ask, 'what's your experience of this/ how do you experience it'? I didn't quite reach typing it.

I have a mini version, I'm a perfectionist and I've been in ocd recovery for years (personally overcome rather than therapy or drugs). I go through periods of exploring my shadow but I always analyse dreams and visions anyway. Creativity.

I guess you could say that's somewhere in the middle. But take me (or I'll take myself) to those heights and I'll take those tests, I'm ready for it.

click to expand

It's not something that we really want to do naturally. We have to force ourselves to evaluate what has happened to us, and where we want to go next.

Most people don't have what it takes.

Posted by clare

Posted by WarAngel79
The truth is always somewhere in the middle. Even though you didn't really ask a question.

Do you think Captain America has a dark side?

click to expand

I do, and you can kind of see it in the movies. At some point, everybody breaks and following the rules (high morality) isn't so clear cut anymore.

Some people are natural troublemakers and they try to reform themselves. But after about the age of 35, you are who you really are. So if you're a shitbag by that age, there's no saving you.

You say the brighter the light the darker the shadow.. I say the darker the shadow the brighter the light.

Posted by WarAngel79

Posted by clare

Posted by WarAngel79
The truth is always somewhere in the middle. Even though you didn't really ask a question.

I guess I was going to ask, 'what's your experience of this/ how do you experience it'? I didn't quite reach typing it.

I have a mini version, I'm a perfectionist and I've been in ocd recovery for years (personally overcome rather than therapy or drugs). I go through periods of exploring my shadow but I always analyse dreams and visions anyway. Creativity.

I guess you could say that's somewhere in the middle. But take me (or I'll take myself) to those heights and I'll take those tests, I'm ready for it.

It's not something that we really want to do naturally. We have to force ourselves to evaluate what has happened to us, and where we want to go next.

Most people don't have what it takes.

click to expand

True. It's a lot of work leading to deep transformation. This is why I have reasoned with Saturn and Capricorn having some similarities with Scorpio and Pluto on another thread. Both are very much associated with the karmic rhythms of life.

Posted by WarAngel79

Posted by clare

Posted by WarAngel79
The truth is always somewhere in the middle. Even though you didn't really ask a question.

Do you think Captain America has a dark side?

I do, and you can kind of see it in the movies. At some point, everybody breaks and following the rules (high morality) isn't so clear cut anymore.

Some people are natural troublemakers and they try to reform themselves. But after about the age of 35, you are who you really are. So if you're a shitbag by that age, there's no saving you.

click to expand

YES! But there is always a way back if you can keep that door open. I will dip out and back in if I need to. I sure as hell am not going to allow some real-life villain to tear me down, and I sure as hell am not going to remain dwelling in the darkened, hellish forest next to them either.

I'm sorry, but I can't take this second one, because I'm over 35 and I like to think that I can still work on whatever I want to. However, I very much see it, because the majority can become more stuck in the mud the older they get.

Posted by Textosmoon
You say the brighter the light the darker the shadow.. I say the darker the shadow the brighter the light.

I certainly question it myself, too, some of what Jung says, especially this specific part. But what do you mean? I'm really interested in your take on this (after reading some of your other posts), 'the darker the shadow, the brighter the light.'

Posted by ThatWomanAgain11

I apologize inside myself...to other, myself, and God.

It's for all the times I felt awkward in the past-to everyone involved. Especially when I wronged others.

I apologized in person or on the phone when possible, but really most has to be interior or it doesn't happen.

Focusing on imperfections makes me more perfect I believe, and I can enjoy it sometimes before it's back to apologizing.

Posted by ThatWomanAgain11

In a world with Freud vs Jung, I'm Jung. I was surprised to hear that Jung was barely mentioned throughout a psychology degree, master's, and doctorate that a friend of mine accomplished. Freud was a lot though as his methods are used widely. Jung's spiritual leaning, his archetypes, plus the collective unconscious make so much sense to me. There's much more as well.

"I sense that I am spiritually busy and I am also earthly busy.." I like this and I can resonate with it. I very much need to have myself together before moving along. We do.

Posted by clare

Posted by Textosmoon
You say the brighter the light the darker the shadow.. I say the darker the shadow the brighter the light.

I certainly question it myself, too, some of what Jung says, especially this specific part. But what do you mean? I'm really interested in your take on this (after reading some of your other posts), 'the darker the shadow, the brighter the light.'

click to expand

Usually when you see the shadow in someone as the first thing about them it means they have had to admit it. Like a convict or something.

They have had to confront it.



Criminals who are described as geniuses often possess extraordinary intellect, such as Theodore Kaczynski (The Unabomber), a math prodigy with an IQ of 167 who also holds degrees from Harvard and the University of Michigan, or Andrew Cunanan, with an IQ of 147, who was fluent in multiple languages.

Instead of saying every angel has a dark side we could try to think every demon has light?

Posted by clare

Posted by WarAngel79

Posted by clare

Posted by WarAngel79
The truth is always somewhere in the middle. Even though you didn't really ask a question.

Do you think Captain America has a dark side?

I do, and you can kind of see it in the movies. At some point, everybody breaks and following the rules (high morality) isn't so clear cut anymore.

Some people are natural troublemakers and they try to reform themselves. But after about the age of 35, you are who you really are. So if you're a shitbag by that age, there's no saving you.
click to expand

YES! But there is always a way back if you can keep that door open. I will dip out and back in if I need to. I sure as hell am not going to allow some real-life villain to tear me down, and I sure as hell am not going to remain dwelling in the darkened, hellish forest next to them either.

I'm sorry, but I can't take this second one, because I'm over 35 and I like to think that I can still work on whatever I want to. However, I very much see it, because the majority can become more stuck in the mud the older they get.

click to expand

In the movies, Captain America ended up having to bend and break rules in order to keep doing what he believes is right. Essentially, he became a vigilante like Batman instead of the hero everyone looks up to.

It’s not always about choosing to dwell in darkness. Sometimes you have to make choices where neither is good choice and you have to choose between the lesser evil of the two.

Posted by Textosmoon
You say the brighter the light the darker the shadow.. I say the darker the shadow the brighter the light.

So the same thing then

Brighter light doesn't make darker shadows, they just SEEM darker in contrast

This reference to the shadow archetype also directly connects to the spiritual self. Attaining enlightenment (usually accidental) means you must also see the darkness in its rawest form.

Jung would have had some epic patients.

Posted by Textosmoon

Posted by clare

Posted by Textosmoon
You say the brighter the light the darker the shadow.. I say the darker the shadow the brighter the light.

I certainly question it myself, too, some of what Jung says, especially this specific part. But what do you mean? I'm really interested in your take on this (after reading some of your other posts), 'the darker the shadow, the brighter the light.'

Usually when you see the shadow in someone as the first thing about them it means they have had to admit it. Like a convict or something.

They have had to confront it.

Criminals who are described as geniuses often possess extraordinary intellect, such as Theodore Kaczynski (The Unabomber), a math prodigy with an IQ of 167 who also holds degrees from Harvard and the University of Michigan, or Andrew Cunanan, with an IQ of 147, who was fluent in multiple languages.

Instead of saying every angel has a dark side we could try to think every demon has light?

click to expand

Maybe what you think is a shadow when you first see a convict, it is actually their light.

Maybe serial killers are integrating their shadow with their conscious identity and therefore becoming whole. Maybe they're working on their individuation well.

I'm just throwing things around. Maybe there are better ways to work with it that don't involve hurting others.

Posted by clare

Posted by WarAngel79

Posted by clare

Posted by WarAngel79
The truth is always somewhere in the middle. Even though you didn't really ask a question.

I guess I was going to ask, 'what's your experience of this/ how do you experience it'? I didn't quite reach typing it.

I have a mini version, I'm a perfectionist and I've been in ocd recovery for years (personally overcome rather than therapy or drugs). I go through periods of exploring my shadow but I always analyse dreams and visions anyway. Creativity.

I guess you could say that's somewhere in the middle. But take me (or I'll take myself) to those heights and I'll take those tests, I'm ready for it.

It's not something that we really want to do naturally. We have to force ourselves to evaluate what has happened to us, and where we want to go next.

Most people don't have what it takes.
click to expand

True. It's a lot of work leading to deep transformation. This is why I have reasoned with Saturn and Capricorn having some similarities with Scorpio and Pluto on another thread. Both are very much associated with the karmic rhythms of life.

click to expand

Can you explain how Scorpio/Pluto is related to karma or karmic rhythms in life? I see them say it a lot, but only relate to Scorpio/Pluto as transforming.

We are living in strange times where there is a lot of darkness. I believe in being a light in such a dark world. I will read the rest of the thoughts in this thread and respond accordingly later on.

Posted by Bluemoon86

Posted by clare

Posted by WarAngel79

Posted by clare

Posted by WarAngel79
The truth is always somewhere in the middle. Even though you didn't really ask a question.

I guess I was going to ask, 'what's your experience of this/ how do you experience it'? I didn't quite reach typing it.

I have a mini version, I'm a perfectionist and I've been in ocd recovery for years (personally overcome rather than therapy or drugs). I go through periods of exploring my shadow but I always analyse dreams and visions anyway. Creativity.

I guess you could say that's somewhere in the middle. But take me (or I'll take myself) to those heights and I'll take those tests, I'm ready for it.

It's not something that we really want to do naturally. We have to force ourselves to evaluate what has happened to us, and where we want to go next.

Most people don't have what it takes.
click to expand

True. It's a lot of work leading to deep transformation. This is why I have reasoned with Saturn and Capricorn having some similarities with Scorpio and Pluto on another thread. Both are very much associated with the karmic rhythms of life.

Can you explain how Scorpio/Pluto is related to karma or karmic rhythms in life? I see them say it a lot, but only relate to Scorpio/Pluto as transforming.

click to expand

The karmic patterns involve the soul, soul growth, and deep transformation. What you dole out comes back to you, whether in this life or the next.

All of these criminals might score high in their IQ, but this doesn't take into account emotional intelligence. There isn't a serial killer who is an emotional genius. They will receive their karma when they are locked away in prison or when they meet their karma by racking up a hell of a lot more trauma than they bargained for, which they will learn as their emotional intelligence grows and they realise the extent of what they've done and the damage they've caused others. Emotional intelligence and compassion go hand-in-hand; you can't really have much emotional intelligence if you are incompassionate in general.

Furthermore, the soul grows in line with greater consciousness, emotional intelligence, and compassion. Thinking cognitively and overthinking get in the way of that. It's the thinking mind that pushes vital things into our shadow and away from our centre of compassion.

Posted by clare
Furthermore, the soul grows in line with greater consciousness, emotional intelligence, and compassion. Thinking cognitively and overthinking get in the way of that. It's the thinking mind that pushes vital things into our shadow and away from our centre of compassion.

💯