I’ve been immersing myself in Bayo Akomolafé’s work lately, a balm really, I think you’d really appreciate him. He said that Martin Luther King didn’t live long enough to expand on his theory that (paraphrasing here) “the arc of a moral universe bends toward justice” but he did sense something was off about it, even after legislature for equal rights had been signed, he still felt like we were walking into a burning building. Bayo believes there is no arc, no path from problem to solution, from untamed to fixed, that the universe is frothing and tangled and living out its pendulum nature. And it’s in this tension of sway where we might eventually find ourselves in an emergent, non-binary existence. It’s wild and wonderful to read his philosophies. And really offers us a new perspective on duality. He says with absolute reverence, “We aren’t one. We are a tangled mess.”
Thanks, Kimberly. I’ve been aware of his work for a while but tbh I’m pretty intimidated by it. Can you suggest particular readings or speeches you like? 😊
I don’t consciously think I’m going to paint darkness today. It begins in my subconscious until it bursts out. Then I have to follow it wherever it leads. Let that idea simmer a while and see what arises.
Oh Julie, that is one of my favorite Indigo Girls' song: "Let it be me." I have belted out that line by myself in the car so many times. And I adore where you took us in this powerful piece of writing, to the power of mystery. Nothing equips us better to deal with the shadow side of life, and ourselves, than the understanding that so much will always be unknowable. This truth always helps me to integrate rather than avoid, and to bring the light wherever I am able.
Thank you so much for sharing these thoughts on the dark side/ shadow, Julie!
I am completely in alignment with David Oyelowo's assessment of horror stories or any depiction of evil 'for entertainment purposes' thereby effectively condoning the dark side, "because wallowing in darkness does actual damage".
I am also very much in favour of the 'Redemption Story'...
... with one caveat about the meaning of 'redemption'. I would like to suggest that the word 'redemption' itself needs to be redeemed first.
I very much resonate with Oyelowo when he says "He chooses roles that integrate the dark and the light.", and with your highlighting the verb 'integrate'.
REDEEM [= to buy back]
the verb implies many things associated with the negative (error, sin, evil, fault, bad behaviour, debt, slavery...) and most of the 'buying back' doesn't involve any integration. It simply returns someone or something to a neutral state, or the status quo, e.g.:
- compensate for the faults or bad aspects
- make amends for poor past performance or behaviour
- atone for sin, error, or evil
- save someone from sin, error, or evil
- gain or regain possession of something in exchange for payment
- exchange a coupon or voucher for goods, a discount, or money
- clear a debt through payment or fulfilling an obligation
- free oneself or another from slavery or captivity by paying a ransom
- FULFIL a pledge or promise
Only the last definition on this list — fulfil — leads to integration, where the shadow makes a genuine contribution and moves the story towards a higher level. In my understanding only this can be seen as a true redemption story.
Because the word 'redemption' in its contemporary connotations doesn't quite hit this spot, I am thinking, perhaps INTEGRATION STORY might be a better term?
What a rich reflection! It reminds me of the 12 Steps, and how “make amends” must come after the “fierce inventory.” Just meeting the shadow is a difficult start and doesn’t go far enough. Also good to bear in mind that there’s so much shame around our disowned parts, giving ourselves (and others) some grace is always a good idea.
of course, shame and fear always play a powerful role in keeping the disowned parts in the darkness. Therefore, any route towards integration has to lead through the dreaded portals of shame and fear...
This is not just a step, it's a quantum leap! and yes, loads of grace is a good idea.
Ahhh, Indigo Girls and Emily Dickinson, my kind of post, Julie. I love where you're taking us here. And I am heartened to hear someone from Hollywood say how I feel about horror/light. I choose where to put my energy (not horror) and I like how Oyelowo put that into words. Will have to check him out. "Shine my life like a light." Perfect quote for you.
Yes to all, especially Oyelowo's comments about not taking horror roles because he believes that it is wrong to celebrate unrelieved darkness. I believe in redemptive stories, because that is the lesson of this life: we are here to find the light and share it. Thank you for this post, Julie!
Dearest Julie, my relationship with words these days is tenuous, at best. Generating them feels like holding back the Red Sea of my deep resistance (darkness?) in order that at some may escape. Arduous. Diving in to the flow of your words gives me respite, a place to float in deep appreciation of your beautiful soul and profoundly relevant writing. Whatever "it is", you've got it. Big love.
Awww, this is such a dear thing to say, Becky. Many thanks for your encouragement. I’m delighted that the writing serves in some way. 🧡 It’s for all of us.
This is such a fascinating essay Julie. To create shadow there must be light. I think part of the reason I lost my way with my Earth Day story was because the ending I envisioned was one of redemption rather than destruction and I couldn’t find the way to make it feel right in this world of spiralling despair, but you’ve inspired me to give it another try! I’ve also been considering for some time the thought that drawing requires the dark and the light - you cannot create the image without the dark depths of shadow to bring the picture from the paper…
Beautiful insights, Emily. I read it while dawn quietly bloomed -- yet another reminder that light and darkness are intertwined. Thinking about dramatic endings, it's rarely all good, total vanquishment of evil. Something precious is sacrificed to carry forward changed by the experience.
Good articulation for me of why I dislike shows like House of Cards so much (the original UK show; I only saw a couple episodes of the U.S. remake): evil wins. While it's a good story about how corruption and power work, I want a better vision for what we're capable of in the end.
There's a YouTube channel I just came across called Betwixt, by a former therapist who's also a former MMA fighter. She does relatively short videos about Jungian psychology -- especially the shadow -- and archetypes in fairy tales and movies. I've done a lot of shadow work reading over the last few years, but the Betwixt channel is turning out to be one of the most enjoyable!
Oh, wow, that sounds marvelous! I’ll check it out. Thanks for the recommendation. And, yes, well said — a better vision for what’s we’re capable of in the end. If I want to witness evil winning, I only have to read the news or open social media. Boring.
One of your best, Julie.
Oh my, Mary! You made my day!
This is so interesting, Julie. Thank you. I so agree with what you say here.
As Carl Jung said, ‘One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.’
One cannot see the light without darkness but, as you say, to wallow in darkness causes actual damage.
Mr Oyelowo understands well.
Thanks for reading, Kay. Glad you enjoyed it. Jung was so wise about this stuff!
I’ve been immersing myself in Bayo Akomolafé’s work lately, a balm really, I think you’d really appreciate him. He said that Martin Luther King didn’t live long enough to expand on his theory that (paraphrasing here) “the arc of a moral universe bends toward justice” but he did sense something was off about it, even after legislature for equal rights had been signed, he still felt like we were walking into a burning building. Bayo believes there is no arc, no path from problem to solution, from untamed to fixed, that the universe is frothing and tangled and living out its pendulum nature. And it’s in this tension of sway where we might eventually find ourselves in an emergent, non-binary existence. It’s wild and wonderful to read his philosophies. And really offers us a new perspective on duality. He says with absolute reverence, “We aren’t one. We are a tangled mess.”
Oh! My pleasure. Reading this right now: https://www.northatlanticbooks.com/shop/these-wilds-beyond-our-fences/
And here are a few podcasts that were wonderful: https://youtu.be/x5dWvKHwWX8?is=DrIZa7txMOK259Tm
And
https://atmos.earth/podcast/bayo-akomolafe-on-the-nature-of-possibility-in-uncertain-times/
Thanks!
Thanks, Kimberly. I’ve been aware of his work for a while but tbh I’m pretty intimidated by it. Can you suggest particular readings or speeches you like? 😊
We’re tribal apes, yes,
with redeeming qualities.
We’re wise souls, too. No?
…
Shadow sister sayings: https://marisolmunozkiehne.substack.com/p/shadows-and-specters
❤️💜
Have you tried painting the darkness?
Ooooo! I don’t think so, not consciously, but now I’m intrigued. Hmmmm.
And remember from the other day Shadow comes in all colors 🌈
Word
I don’t consciously think I’m going to paint darkness today. It begins in my subconscious until it bursts out. Then I have to follow it wherever it leads. Let that idea simmer a while and see what arises.
Cool!
Oh Julie, that is one of my favorite Indigo Girls' song: "Let it be me." I have belted out that line by myself in the car so many times. And I adore where you took us in this powerful piece of writing, to the power of mystery. Nothing equips us better to deal with the shadow side of life, and ourselves, than the understanding that so much will always be unknowable. This truth always helps me to integrate rather than avoid, and to bring the light wherever I am able.
Beautiful, Stephanie. I hadn’t thought of that song in a long while so now it’s definitely on repeat. Thanks for being here. 💙
Thank you so much for sharing these thoughts on the dark side/ shadow, Julie!
I am completely in alignment with David Oyelowo's assessment of horror stories or any depiction of evil 'for entertainment purposes' thereby effectively condoning the dark side, "because wallowing in darkness does actual damage".
I am also very much in favour of the 'Redemption Story'...
... with one caveat about the meaning of 'redemption'. I would like to suggest that the word 'redemption' itself needs to be redeemed first.
I very much resonate with Oyelowo when he says "He chooses roles that integrate the dark and the light.", and with your highlighting the verb 'integrate'.
REDEEM [= to buy back]
the verb implies many things associated with the negative (error, sin, evil, fault, bad behaviour, debt, slavery...) and most of the 'buying back' doesn't involve any integration. It simply returns someone or something to a neutral state, or the status quo, e.g.:
- compensate for the faults or bad aspects
- make amends for poor past performance or behaviour
- atone for sin, error, or evil
- save someone from sin, error, or evil
- gain or regain possession of something in exchange for payment
- exchange a coupon or voucher for goods, a discount, or money
- clear a debt through payment or fulfilling an obligation
- free oneself or another from slavery or captivity by paying a ransom
- FULFIL a pledge or promise
Only the last definition on this list — fulfil — leads to integration, where the shadow makes a genuine contribution and moves the story towards a higher level. In my understanding only this can be seen as a true redemption story.
Because the word 'redemption' in its contemporary connotations doesn't quite hit this spot, I am thinking, perhaps INTEGRATION STORY might be a better term?
What a rich reflection! It reminds me of the 12 Steps, and how “make amends” must come after the “fierce inventory.” Just meeting the shadow is a difficult start and doesn’t go far enough. Also good to bear in mind that there’s so much shame around our disowned parts, giving ourselves (and others) some grace is always a good idea.
of course, shame and fear always play a powerful role in keeping the disowned parts in the darkness. Therefore, any route towards integration has to lead through the dreaded portals of shame and fear...
This is not just a step, it's a quantum leap! and yes, loads of grace is a good idea.
Ahhh, Indigo Girls and Emily Dickinson, my kind of post, Julie. I love where you're taking us here. And I am heartened to hear someone from Hollywood say how I feel about horror/light. I choose where to put my energy (not horror) and I like how Oyelowo put that into words. Will have to check him out. "Shine my life like a light." Perfect quote for you.
Thanks for being here, Mary Beth. Can’t wait to hear about the whales and everyone else. . . .
It's necessary to engage with both shadow and light to truly know ourselves (and our world), tho engaging with shadow is harder.
Rich and important questions, Julie. Definitely lots of stories we cling to re light and dark. So worthy of exploration! Thank you!
🙏🧡
Yes to all, especially Oyelowo's comments about not taking horror roles because he believes that it is wrong to celebrate unrelieved darkness. I believe in redemptive stories, because that is the lesson of this life: we are here to find the light and share it. Thank you for this post, Julie!
Thanks for reading, Susan. I’m glad you enjoyed it. 💜
Dearest Julie, my relationship with words these days is tenuous, at best. Generating them feels like holding back the Red Sea of my deep resistance (darkness?) in order that at some may escape. Arduous. Diving in to the flow of your words gives me respite, a place to float in deep appreciation of your beautiful soul and profoundly relevant writing. Whatever "it is", you've got it. Big love.
Awww, this is such a dear thing to say, Becky. Many thanks for your encouragement. I’m delighted that the writing serves in some way. 🧡 It’s for all of us.
It is, indeed for all of us--therein lies its power 🙏💞
This is such a fascinating essay Julie. To create shadow there must be light. I think part of the reason I lost my way with my Earth Day story was because the ending I envisioned was one of redemption rather than destruction and I couldn’t find the way to make it feel right in this world of spiralling despair, but you’ve inspired me to give it another try! I’ve also been considering for some time the thought that drawing requires the dark and the light - you cannot create the image without the dark depths of shadow to bring the picture from the paper…
Beautiful insights, Emily. I read it while dawn quietly bloomed -- yet another reminder that light and darkness are intertwined. Thinking about dramatic endings, it's rarely all good, total vanquishment of evil. Something precious is sacrificed to carry forward changed by the experience.
Thank you Julie, you’re right — that’s what I’m missing. The dark and the light.
Good articulation for me of why I dislike shows like House of Cards so much (the original UK show; I only saw a couple episodes of the U.S. remake): evil wins. While it's a good story about how corruption and power work, I want a better vision for what we're capable of in the end.
There's a YouTube channel I just came across called Betwixt, by a former therapist who's also a former MMA fighter. She does relatively short videos about Jungian psychology -- especially the shadow -- and archetypes in fairy tales and movies. I've done a lot of shadow work reading over the last few years, but the Betwixt channel is turning out to be one of the most enjoyable!
Oh, wow, that sounds marvelous! I’ll check it out. Thanks for the recommendation. And, yes, well said — a better vision for what’s we’re capable of in the end. If I want to witness evil winning, I only have to read the news or open social media. Boring.