Decoding the Meanings of Dream Symbols: Exploring the Depths of the Subconscious a Personal Tale
At the beginning of December 2013, I found myself at a breaking point. I had been feeling lost and stuck in my life, and the weight of my own confusion was starting to feel unbearable. I knew I needed to make a change, but I had no idea how to do it.
That's when I stumbled upon Meetup.com, a website that helps people find groups and events in their area. I started searching for courses and workshops that might help me deal with my existential crisis, and I found two that caught my eye: a Shamanic Drum Journey Class and a Rebirth and Renewal class. Both were being held in Oakland, California, which was a bit of a journey from my home in Redwood City.
Despite the distance, I felt drawn to both courses, and I decided to take a chance and sign up for both. The Shamanic Drum Journey Class was happening that weekend, so I packed a bag and headed to Oakland.
Peeling Away the Persona: Becoming Your Authentic Self According to Carl Jung
“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” Carl Jung
According to Carl Jung, the persona is the social face or role an individual presents to the world. The root of the word persona comes from the Greek word "actor's mask." When used under Carl Jung's model of the psyche, persona also means the social mask. Therefore our persona, much like a mask at a Masquerade, is designed to make an impression on others. It also conceals the authentic nature of the individual.
Understanding the Ego: Using it as a Tool, Not a Master"
"The ego is not a thing but a verb" - Alan Watts
The ego is a complex phenomenon that has fascinated psychologists and philosophers for centuries. It is a term that is often used in our everyday language, yet its function and importance are not fully understood. In this blog post, we will explore the concept of the ego and its role in our lives.
Carl Jung defined the ego as the center of our field of consciousness. Imagine an egg-shaped circle around our human body, and the ego is the yolk. The ego resides in our psyche and is part of our conscious awareness, although not all of the operations of the ego are conscious. Ego gives us our sense of identity and existence. The ego is the organized part of our personality and works as a command center performing defensive, perceptual, intellectual-cognitive, and executive functions. In layman's terms, the data organized by the ego comes in the form of sense, feelings, thoughts, intuition, and modulates our access to memories. The ego is the connection between the inner and outer world, which then sets the constructs on how we relate to the external world.
The Shadow: What It Is, Obstacles to Look Out For, and the Benefits of Doing Shadow Work
John Welwood coined the phrase "spiritual bypassing." In his words, it means "spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep personal, emotional 'unfinished business,' to shore up a shaky sense of self, or to belittle basic needs, feelings, and developmental tasks." I sheepishly admit I have done my fair share of spiritual bypassing in my day. It was always with good intentions, I promise. I wanted to focus on all the positive qualities within myself and shut out the rest. I thought it would lead me to be a better version of myself. However, just as the saying goes, "The road to hell is paved on good intentions."
It got to a point where I was living so high vibe that I found myself triggered by all that was opposite of that state. However, the time came when I had to sit with the dissonance growing in my heart. I had to face my shadow. The shadow is the repressed parts of ourselves that tend to show up in other people in present circumstances. However, if someone triggers you, it is not necessarily always your shadow. Regardless of what it is, the key is to explore the possibility that it might be your shadow. To better understand the trigger and what is happening within, inner reflection is required. The other intriguing thing about the shadow is that just like in real life, we don't see our own shadow well, but others around us can often clearly see it.
Decoding the Meanings of Dream Symbols: Exploring the Depths of Your Subconscious
"Carl Jung once said that the dream is a small, hidden door in the deepest and most intimate sanctum of the soul, opening to a primeval cosmic night that was soul long before there was a conscious ego and will be soul far beyond what a conscious ego could ever reach.
Dreams have a way of bringing to the surface what is buried deep in the subconscious.