Shadow Dancing

Dr. Toni choreographs the Psyche

Hello, fellow explorers of the psyche!

This week I was listening to series of old radio shows that was being broadcast on a local public radio station. I was happy hear some great old music broadcasts from the 40's along with some wonderful comedies and mysteries. Then I heard the chilling laugh of a man who questions us, "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The SHADOW knows!!"

I thought to myself, "Now there's a show for a Jungian!"

The understanding of the archetypal Shadow is a difficult one because much of the understanding comes from recognizing the SHADOW in one's own psyche. Like many Jungian concepts, this one requires one to look within, not only read a book. If you can't dig deep and accept your own Shadows then you'll never get the idea.

One of the interesting facts regarding the Shadow, is that Shadow qualities are not always Dark and Destructive. Sometimes we are dealing with a long denied CREATIVE side. Potentials that we have not yet manifested can sit in the unconscious waiting for recognition. There are so many reasons why these functions are ignored, the main one being a person's conscious BELIEF. Lack of Belief in one's own capabilities is the biggest roadblock to manifestation of the creative self. When not manifested and explored, this creative side becomes "shadow" and can become destructive. It can also find itself "projected" onto the "real" world, and recognized through the eyes of "envy", "jealousy" or plain "attraction."

My friend, Jeff, always found himself attracted to women who could dance. It's not that he was attracted to the dancer's body, it's the act of dancing that attracted him. With this attraction, do you think he attempted to dance himself? He sat out every dance at every party and, oh, how much fun it was for his dates, the variety of dancers.

I knew that if he did attempt to dance he would tap into an energy that had been coiling itself in his psyche for too long.

Jeff's relationships were failing. Oddly enough, it was because he was not expressing himself physically.

One night, I suggested to Jeff that he dance. Right then and there. I put on some wild rhythmic music and pumped up the volume.

"Dance!" I asked him.

He looked scared. "No. I can't"

I pointed invisible six shooters at his feet, "DANCE, Hombre!!"

He claimed he would look like an idiot.

"So, look like an idiot. Be the biggest idiot in the world you can be for a minute. Just a minute. I assure you, you will not die. "

I suggested the center of my living room.

"Cut up some rug, buddy."

He blushed and stood in the middle of the floor and did little more than tap his foot.

I have to mention here, as I have before, that RITUAL is so important when conversing with the unconscious. The unconscious does not understand words, it understand actions. It understands symbolic gestures. So this was his opportunity.

I told him I was going to go into the kitchen and boil some water for tea. I urged him to keep trying and to at least let go for a minute and dance.

I filled the tea pot and put the kettle on the stove. The pot began to dance a little from the heat. Then I heard a noise coming from the living room.

I walked silently into the living room to find Jeff jumping up and down, waving his arms and shaking his head. He was dancing. It was violent. It was actually frightening. He was possessed by his own shadow. I stood and watched for five minutes until the song was finally over. He stood in the middle of the living room panting and weeping with a big smile on his face.

"Woooo hooo! Wow! Play it again! Play it again!"

The energy that he had released was so great that he wanted to capture that feeling again and again.

Now Jeff is the first guy on the dance floor at any party. Granted his dancing is never as wild as that one evening, but he is now more alive and joyful than he's ever been.

Jeff, however, isn't ready for Broadway. (Sorry, Jeff)

Care to dance?

- Dr. Toni

(Dr. Toni is a practicing Jungian Dream Interpreter living in New York.)

OWN YOUR OWN SHADOW! Dr. Toni's recommendation:

  Owning Your Own Shadow  : ON SALE AT B&N

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