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The Soul Of Winter: A Call To Deepen
Read More:
Archetypal Psychology, Dark Night Of The Soul, Dr. James Hillman, Soul Descent, Spirituality, The Inner Life, Thomas Moore, Winter, Winter Solstice,
Living News
Your response to my article on Winter Solstice a few weeks ago was heart-warming and inspiring. Thanks to those who took the time to read it and leave your thoughts.
In response to your comments, I promised to write more about the inner journey. This first post of the New Year seemed like a good time to begin, since winter naturally invites us to slow down and reflect. So pull up a cushion and settle in. The soul of winter beckons.
I wrote Winter Solstice: A Paean To The Pregnant Darkness, to invite readers into the deep, fertile well that dwells within each of us. Just as the meaning of "Solstice" is "standing-still-sun", and we know it as the time when our northern hemisphere has reached its outermost point in Earth's journey around the sun, it is therefore, the time when Winter comes, a time when the growing things also stand still.
Winter: a season of stillness. Plants go dormant now. What we see above the earth's surface appears lifeless and dead. Yet the roots survive, unseen by the human eye. In the darkness of the earth, they extend deeper, far beneath the earth's frozen crust, winding their way to the fertile place, where life is regenerated.
In winter, the human psyche is naturally drawn to sync up with the slower, quieter rhythms of life and to deepen. Indigenous people have always known this, yet modern man is far removed from his connection with the natural world. In our 24/7/365 multi-tasking lives, there is no time, or space for going dormant. Modern technology that keeps us always connected, also keeps us separated from ourselves, rendering us unable to hear the soul's call to deepen.
Our urban lives move at an ever increasing speed. Faster and more is assigned a higher value than slower and less. Slow is not a pace we know or a place we live from and we've come to look at less as a form of deprivation. And yet...
The soul continually calls us to make the journey to the farthest reaches of our own interior, to places the light of awareness has never reached so that we too, might be rewarded with the riches of renewal and restoration. However to do so, we must be willing shed the skin of the ordinary world in order to enter the darkness.
Dr. James Hillman, founder of Archetypal Psychology, an extension of the work of Carl Jung, has written many books on the subject of the soul including his most important work, The Soul's Code, a highly recommended read for anyone interested in learning more about this area. Archetypal Psychology is devoted to the study of world mythology, which includes soul process and evolution.
Two other important writers in this area: Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul and The Soul's Religion, (I've included a brief video of Moore's at the end of this article in which he speaks about the "Dark Night of the Soul" ) and Joseph Campbell, author of The Hero With A Thousand Faces , who became especially known for his PBS series with Bill Moyer. All speak of the soul's process as characterized by the necessity to descend repeatedly into this inner realm of darkness.
A "soul descent" or "dark night of the soul" is sometimes diagnosed as clinical depression, for indeed, on the surface of things, the descent process can exhibit signs associated with depression. Western medical doctors usually prescribe anti-depressants to alleviate these symptoms, which in some instances, renders a person unable to perform the daily tasks required by their life.
These symptoms can include an absence of motivation or desire to engage in normal activities, a sense of hopelessness and resignation, a need to isolate and disconnect from people. Loss of appetite and insomnia may be present.
These are hardly conditions one is inclined to embrace and move towards. And yet, might it not also be an invitation to consciously turn inward ? A season to explore what lies beneath? Could it be that loss comes as a "wake up" call, an attempt to get our attention?
What is far less familiar to us is our ability to actually embrace this descent process and fully experience it, to bring to the experience our conscious awareness, to be present with ourselves here, breath into it, allow the heart to open and receive the wisdom waiting to reveal itself. In the midst of the deepest pain lies the greatest awakenings.
Instead of seeing depression as a dysfunction, it is a functioning phenomenon. It stops you cold, sets you down, makes you damn miserable. James Hillman
The destination of this journey is the unexplored territory that lies beneath the surface of our conscious minds. It is not easily accessed, thus most people don't readily go there. Until, that is, life delivers an unmistakable call to deepen, thus in a way, "forces" one to begin the work.
The call may come in the form of a loss: perhaps the loss of a job or death of a loved one, the end of an important relationship or a life-threatening illness. Or perhaps it's a betrayal or deep disappointment that pierces the veil of our resistance and renders us ready to deepen. When all the usual outer-oriented coping mechanisms no longer work, when we've run out of ways to avoid or means to distract ourselves, the call to begin the inward journey can finally be heard.
Loss means losing what was. We want to change but we don't want to lose. Without time for loss, we don't have time for soul. James Hillman
Although most people fear the unknown, there's no need to fear this darkness. It's all you. However, be prepared to do the work that awaits you here. The work is why the soul calls us to descend. Soul work is demanding, and cannot be accomplished at the surface. There are some things that can only grow in the dark. Such is the work of the soul. Its purpose is to evolve, deepen and heal. Just as the heart has its own reasons, the soul has its own agenda.
The work is not for the feint of heart. But it's what you came to do. So sooner or later, you will take it on. And if not, your unfinished business will be right there with you when you take your last breath. You can choose to face it and move into your life with courage, freedom and passion or allow your fear to have the final say. It's about what kind of life you wish to live and whether or not you're willing to pay the price for freedom.
Know however, that the soul is infinitely patient. If we refuse the invitation to deepen, it will keep extending that invitation until we answer the call. And it might indeed be on that final breath. To the soul, there is no future, no past. It exists beyond time and space while we mortals are bound by both.
Stay tuned as we pick up this thread in future posts. Next time, we'll look at The Hero's Journey, exquisitely described in Joseph Campbell's work.
Have you experienced a "Dark Night of the Soul"? What were the circumstances and what did you learn? How did you handle it? Please consider sharing your experiences and/or comments in the Reply section below. And thank you for being part of this reader community.
If you have questions you'd like to direct to me personally, I can be reached at judith@theraisinyears.com.
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In the Winter cold,
The stone fruit seed is quickened;
Its casing is hardened
And the life germ goes into rest,
So it gains strength.
Then Spring warmth and rains,
Come and crack the seed.
Take shelter in the Winter
And store up your strength.
The seemingly distant Spring
Calls out to you.
Surely, you must long to be cracked again.
Hopalongpoppyseed
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing. A wonderful image to hold as the casings harden and the life germ goes into rest. The work continues, unseen, but not unfelt.
Many blessings to you,
Judith
Judith: Thank you for your beautifully written article. About 4 years ago, at the age of 49, I precipitously entered what I now see was a 'dark night' and I stayed there for nearly 3 years. Although initially I was desparate to 'make this stop', because it wouldn't, I clung to the words in a book by James Hollis, a Jungian analyst, and trusted that whatever was happening to me had a purpose. I now see so clearly that a dark night is the place where awareness and eventually, healing begins. (Suffice it to say I was finally able to remember being assaulted at age 14 -- an assault that others observed but did not stop. In retrospect I unknowingly lived with PTSD symptoms for decades; I think I assumed that everyone had nightmares -- terrors -- that left them unable to speak for a day or two; who knew.) I am so grateful now for those painful years because, having faced them and worked through them, I'm able to live in a state of understanding and peacefulness for the first time in my adult life. I no longer feel helpless and trust myself to take care of myself. I am not afraid of the night.
GAnne,
Wow, good for you! I'm happy you took the time to share this with us here. Thank you so much!
THIS is your heroine's journey. To be able to emerge from this darkness and know who you are, to know that you can take care of yourself, trust yourself, and to know that if and when more dark times come, you can face it and learn from it.... this is the purpose of the journey. To find these qualities in yourself, is where courage is born, creativity is born, freedom is born.
I hope you'll come back next week as we explore America's collective Dark Night of the Soul and our Hero's Journey to restore our national soul.
Many blessings to you dear woman,
Judith
Thank you my dear Judith for weaving this beautiful post. Your vantagepoint is as tender as dew drops on the web of wonder that is our experience. We are indeed being beckoned inward by the infinitely patientt source of Light. The question is are we are of the journey?
My sense is that this is one of the many blessings that will be emerging from the current paradigm shift on our planet. The outer worlds illusions are crumbling daily. Embracing the darkness is a key component of the richness of life. Loving it all is my aim...and I fall short daily.
Every day is a Goddess Journey. I was heartened by your wonderful work!
Blessings to You,
Eli Davidson
Hello Goddess of all that is Funky to Fabulous,
Are we of the journey? Brilliant question!! We're always asking, "Am I of the world?" But "Am I of the Journey" is a worthy inquiry for each of us. I think if we even ask the question, we're already "of the journey".
May we all be of the journey now as the soul of America beckons to be healed.
Love that you stopped by as always. May this year bring FABULOUSness to all that you endeavor.
Blessings,
Judith
Thank you Judith, for another beautiful post.
"The soul continually calls us to make the journey to the farthest reaches of our own interior, to places the light of awareness has never reached so that we too, might be rewarded with the riches of renewal and restoration. However to do so, we must be willing shed the skin of the ordinary world in order to enter the darkness. " What you write here reminds me of the descent of Innana into the Underworld, shedding her clothing as she goes. We are being invited to go deep and journey through darkness into those inner realms. A journey that is both frightening and empowering.
I am in the midst of shedding a relationship with an organization that I have been with for 12 years - a group that is not living up to its vision or agreements. For me, it is requiring an incredible amount of letting go - illusion, anger, saddness, desire for justice, wanting to be heard. It is a journey, to be sure.
I look foward to your next posts!
Welcome back, athenasword.......
Of course, you would know the story of Inanna and her journey to rescue her sister, Ereshkigal, from the underworld. Yes, she had to shed her skins and as we know, gave her life in the end. Just as we must give up our old skins and ideas of who we are in order to give birth to our authentic selves.
Mythology gives us such rich material from which to view our lives. I look forward to exploring more of it here.
As for your experience in leaving this group, it is a kind of divorce, isn't it? These people have been your community, perhaps even your spiritual family. And yet, rather than blaming them or making them wrong, perhaps you can view this as the time when you simply needed to move on in order to find new growth potential. Maybe you simply outgrew the vision that once served you.
What would serve you now, as you move in another direction? To hold them as having been an important part of your journey and honor their contribution to you or to be in judgment about them not measuring up? To leave them with gratitude for the lessons you've been given, even if they've been difficult ones, opens the way for you to move forward unencumbered by burdens and baggage from your past and empowers you to freedom.
Sounds like there are many lessons to integrate . Be gentle with yourself!
Many blessings on your new path,
Judith, many, many thanks. You have no idea how true your words ring for me. When I read the word 'divorce' I cried. This has indeed been my spiritual family and for many years I thought that we shared the same vision. The loss in finding this to be untrue has been so painful.
Your advice here is profound and so very appreciated. My future is bright and the new plans I have created are fantastic. and inspiring Yet there is all the "stuff" of letting this old part fall away. Ah, the lessons of the darkness and the journey inward.
Dear Judith,
Thank you for shedding more light into the dark corners of both the season and the soul.
Another great window into the dark night of the soul is the work of James Finlay, many related to the work of John of the Cross, who I believe was the first to offer up this phrase. His lectures can be found on Caroline Myss's website.
My own dark night came disguised as a typical quarterlife crisis - embroiled in self destruction and terror about how I could possibly make this life worthwhile. I think it would have remained a typical period of maturation that would have left me a semi-okay adult, if not for the fact that I really found my way out of it by purposefully plumbing my dark depths and starting to get acquainted directly with my soul's desire and purpose.
I am wondering how different such a journey would be when armed with the wisdom I have already uncovered and the further teachings of people like Thomas More. To know you are actually undergoing a vital spiritual process rather than simply experiencing the blues or a depression that should be medicated away must lead one to even greater, well, epiphanies. I don't think you can ever be "ready" for what darkness may come, but at least you can learn to recognize the signposts and know how to ask for a map out of those places.
Thanks and blessings, as ever,
Marisa
Hello again, Marisa,
So good to see you back here and to have your wisdom shared with these readers. I want to again, invite readers to your blog: www.epiphanygirl.blogspot.com. I hope I got that right.
Yes indeed, as you so adeptly point out, what a difference it makes to have access to wisdom or at least a sense that the soul descent process is a vital part of one's journey, not just something to medicate one's self to get over. I'll be writing more about this aspect of doing soul process work in future posts.
There's an entire world to be explored here in the dark and it requires courage and patience to remain there long enough to get the lessons. We're so inclined to be fearful of the unknown, we're not equipped to venture there. No wonder life has to deliver such horrendous blows to get our attention in order that we might surrender to the work awaiting us.
I'll be saying more about the distinction between the "shadow" and soul descent work. There is a difference. So please stay tuned and I look forward to more offerings from you in this area as well.
May the soul of winter bless you with its many gifts,
Judith
oops, I did get it wrong. Your blog address is: www.epiphanygirl.wordpress.com.
i was in college studying for a chemistry test when i first expeienced what might call the dark night of the "soul"(i don't believe in an individual soul, only the vast and profound Spirit of which we are all forms, not separate souls) i have always thought of it as clinical depression until now. Basiclly i lost all interest in studying, i wound up holed up in an apartment supported by my grandmother for a year, without recieving any treatment. A trip to Europe and two spiritual encounters lifted the depression, but after that i was a buddhist even though i didn't know what buddhism was for another two decades. i can say that i know there is an aspect of me that is pure, wholesome, compassionate, loving, peaceful, and eternal, and that was all due to my "depression" Who knew?
Indeed Arithrianos, (Love your name! Is there a story here?)
Who knew, indeed? It's usually that way with the soul descent. We're brought to a place within we had no idea existed. Based on what emerged, your "depression", I prefer the word "descent", was necessary for you to take the journey to discover not only the qualities you brought back but also Buddhism.
My own soul descent work has produced such gifts, including the writing. I never knew the depths of my own being until I'd been called over and over again to descend and do the work there. As James Hillman says, "The soul has its own agenda". The mind works and plans and tries to figure things out. The soul cares about none of this.
I do believe we are individual expression of the Great Soul, or whatever we choose to call it. I think of it like one of those mirrored balls hanging above a ballroom floor, with many facets that reflect different aspects of the same, one ball. We are those facets, with our own unique way of reflecting the whole.
I sound like a broken record, as I keep saying, this is a very "deep" subject with so much more to be written and explored. Space is limited here, so we'll take it in small bites.
Many thanks for sharing your experience here and may this winter gift you with many moments of depth and wisdom.
Judith
yes, there is a story to the name, a dorky one. The full name of the AD&D(2nd edition) chanacter Elf Mage/Thief is Arithrianos Xylanos Xylantium. As for why i don't like the term soul it has to do first with the idea of "an-atman" as expressed by Buddha. In other words, there is no induviduality to the clear light nature of mind, since anything which could possibly be called induvidual about you is in fact already part of the whole, and so cannot single you out. I know you probally have seen past that, and are not trapped by that idea, but many peaple are, and so maintain ego clinging to the idea of an individual soul.
I understand this so well. Many years ago, my own spiritual path became clear as a result of dealing with depression. Shamanic healing was the first step towards real recovery and if I was not truly desperate it is not a healing modality I would have ever considered. My intutive senses opened, and a path of learning and a connection to the Divine were all a result of the depression. I don't think that medications alone would have worked without this soul-level healing.
There is a term "the Wounded Healer". We all become stronger after facing an illness or other trauma. And having walked that road, we are more able to assist others.
For me, January is hibernation time. I look forward to it every year. It's such the perfect time to be still!
Thank you for your beautiful piece
I googled "when life began" and got blown away reading an interview with a leading geologist about when life began. Basically he was saying science will never know when life began or begins, that is life unique to earth and that Darwin did and Science can only concern itself with the infinite possibiliteis of how life after the Chicken and the Egg exist, but never will now how or why. There for no missing links, etc. that science has the capacity or opportunity to identify
I immediately rushed to google my great teach "Yogananda life begins" Another long and detail explanation mirroring the the limitations of physical science by explaining and quoting 4000 year old Veta's as well as Newton, Einstein and other of the west.
Then he talked about the light, before and including the Scientist portential and opportunities mentioned above. How dreams and waking state are reflections of the duality of the cosmic dream both in front of the absolute Omnipresent, Omniscience and Omnipotent light.
Reading his explanation of the light of meditation and I was surprised we share ,stimulated me to practice more and more often especially in this dark and dreary winter days and months. The light of day, the warmth of summer are mere reflections (waking state conscious and sub conscious states) of the enternal light super consciousness within and all around
Dear Judith,
I can't tell you how excited I am to see you writing about this subject. I too have studied Jungian Psychology and Hillman (at Pacifica), and have a fond relationship with the dark night of the soul - not because it is a cake walk in any way, but because it is the richest journey I know of. (I have been writing near to this subject here on the HuffPost myself, and I'd love for you to check my posts out.)
I feel that this country and its worldview has been over invested in "growth" and "progress" for a long time (maybe since the beginning?), and that It is time for the soul of this country to be ripened by something else. I know that this way of being in the world will bring about things that are very uncomfortable, and it will be challenging, but if we can all frame it in such a way that will allow us to see that we will be deepened and more grounded because of the experience, maybe it will help us through.
I'm glad to be part of your conversation here, and look forward to hearing more from you.
Hope you have a luscious winter in the dark.
Best,
Kelly
Dear Kelly,
What a delight to discover YOU here! I'll look forward to reading your posts and exchanging shares.
How very fortunate for you to get to study with Hillman and to have access to his delicious way of viewing the world. When I first read him, so many things fell into place for me. My mentor was the late Dr. Charles Bebeau, who started the Achetypal Institute in Boulder, CO and who was a devotee of Hillman's.
I feel so called by his work and by the soul process. I'm happy to know that you're one who shares this interest and look forward to your being part of our conversation here. As I'll be on your blog, too.
Looking forward to that luscious winter in the dark and to you as well,
Judith
Beautifully done, Judith. The United States has not entered into a Dark Night of the Soul for a long time, and it requires the patience, witnessing and grace by those who have a greater compassion and understanding of the process, to hold anchor.
Having survived many a Dark Night, I am now watching my husband swirl through his own. Patience is one of the only buoys I know of.
I have a dear and vibrant women's group who have been amazing and vigilant at holding one another through our Dark Nights. One woman this year was about to have both her breasts cut off after an out-of-the-blue cancer diagnosis only 2 weeks prior. Two weeks and your life turns upside down. We lept into action: in no time 20 women gathered and did a healing circle for her, cried, held her hand and called for higher powers. We made a cast of her chest before her surgery, so she would have a momento of her true body's form, and a celebrated artist in our circle offered to paint it for her.
She is now through the worst of it, and has said there is no way she would have made it through such a Dark Night without that ritual (and the ensuing trays upon trays of food everyone brought in droves).
So, here's a salute to the power of our closest girlfriends and soul families to carry our torches in the darkness.
Love to you
karbear
Karbear,
What a beautiful story of love and honoring one's process, right down to the bones of it. I'm so touched by what your group of women gave to your friend. To make a cast of her chest as an offering touches me beyond words.
What would we ever do, or who would we ever be without the steadfast presence of our soul sisters (and brothers)? As Clarissa Pinkoles Estes says, "We were made for these times". We were made to re-member ourselves, to be held in the dark and light times, and to hold the space for others to do so as well.
Thank you, thank you, for this beautiful share.
Much love to you dear, sister.
Judith
Dear KarBear,
So many things you say rings so true. Holding anchor in this country - so vital. And the work of your women's circle - if only all people could find and open themselves to that sort of support.
My husband too is going through a period of awakening now, a long slow process of peeling back layers and beginning to understand the shadowed corners that he always knew he had to avoid (well, he had to avoid them if he wanted his life to pass him by without the great disturbance of doing such deep inner work). It is challenging to be a midwife for him during this process, especially since he is very hesitant to call upon other resources during this process, be it a book or a counselor. I am doing as much energy healing work on him as he will lie still for and trying to let bits of wisdom about self discovery wind through our conversations. Everyone must move at his own speed. As a good midwife, I am trying to respect that. An awesome learning process!
Your comments about your friend and her gracious support group is inspiring
I wish to address your comments about us boys lack of patients, though. I know you realize behind the veil of our physical sex lies a spirit that has no sex. Otherwise how could you so greatly express the plight of America and I would a the World and the need to be sain and patient.
Being on who must spend most of his time in the male body I can relate to your fellow in respect to his inpatients. As I jump all over these post expressing discust. Scolding the wrong doers and shouting why can not you no see the light. I come to the LIVING link to redeem myself for all my wrongs of posting
In your vein I would like to share: http://www.yogananda-srf.org/writings/world.html
Dear Cayuse,
I enjoyed reading the Yogananda link you included. But, dear friend, if you really believe what he writes, then why the ranting and raving you speak of? Doesn't Yogananda implore us to "love the world as your own nation?" If we judge others for not being able to "see the light" don't we become as them?
We bring ourselves into ego when we judge others who may not think as we or see the world the way we do. How about practicing accepting others' viewpoints as not right or wrong, just different from yours? Seeing the world thru the lens of duality maintains the illusion of separation. And prolongs our suffering. Notice that you suffer when you judge.
Our true nature is to love. The world will work better when we all get that, don't you think?
I love that you share so readily of yourself and I appreciate that you come to the Living section to be restored.
Many blessings, dear friend,
Judith
Stumbling onto this piece is exactly what I need. My 28 yr old daughter has not talked to me in 4 months and she's getting married in two. I have been sick about it, but tried to maintain through the holidays. Now that they're over (thank goodness) I feel so lonely and sad as well as angry. I feel betrayed. I've been cut out of all her wedding plans and not know why or how to try and repair the damage. I questioned her about a wedding in Feb in the mountains in WA state...wait a few months and it will be spring, I said. That seems to be the catalyst for my total shut out from her life. I miss her so much and am trying to come to grips that my daughter doesn't like me anymore. She refuses to speak to me and wants to 'communicate' only through texting. I gave up on that because things are misconstrued and projections are made that aren't there. I've been introspective but fighting it due to my false feeling that I can fix something when I don't know how or why it was broken. I'm not fighting it anymore. Thank you.
Dear littlepuffycloud,
This is one big, unspeakable hurt. I've been there.
I can't know how this feels for you, but I do know for me, it was one of the most painful experiences of my life. To be shut out of your child's life is like having your heart torn out of your body.
The very best advice I received was from a dear friend who told me, "Just be a Buddha Mom". This experience stopped me dead in my tracks and forced me to pull back every expectation, examine every piece of agenda I had for my relationship with my daughter, and simply breathe and be present each moment for whatever came.
So I would say to you to trust this process, even though it's unspeakably painful. Know that your daughter is going through her own darkness now, and for whatever reason, she has to separate from you in order to do her work.
I encourage you to find in yourself, the well of deep compassion and generosity, where you can authentically allow her this time and space to heal whatever wound is arising in her now. Ultimately, it isn't about you, even though it looks and feels that way now. Trust in what cannot be seen. Use this time to heal whatever is wounded in you.
Miracles happen in the darkness........
With love for you as you find your own way now,
Judith
See Ed and Deb Shapiro's Profile
Hi Judith, I entered into my dark night of the soul many years ago when I was living in a 400 year old stone cottage on the south west coast of England, in a town called Dartmouth. The sea mist surrounded the cottage most of the time. At first I was thrilled by living in Dartmouth but after awhile the isolation and being confronted by being so alone caused me to fall into my shadow. It was a difficult period of time but eventually I came through.
It was a great teaching for me and has been a great help when Deb and I teach workshops and retreats as it has allowed me to be understanding and compassionate with others.
Big Love,
Ed
It's interesting, Ed. It seems the bigger the spirit, the deeper the soul work it calls forth. You are definitely a big spirit, so it's not surprising that you would be visiting the Dark Nights, for how could you be as compassionate as you are without having encountered your own shadow side?
I would love to meet you sometime. You have such a big, loving, generous presence. It's so good to know you're here, always standing for people's greatness.
Big love back to you,
Judith
I have been lucky to find help through Deborah King's book, "Truth Heals." Dr. King creates a roadmap for people to learn how to recognize and release emotional blockages, share truth in a safe and healing manner, and unlock the power of truth without reliving negative experiences or causing more harm.
It is a nice jump start for my new year!
www.deborahkingcenter.com
Thanks for sharing this resource, burnrunner. We are such a rich source of compassion and support for one another here in this community.
I appreciate you taking the time to share what works for you. I'll check out the website you included!
Many blessings your way,
Judith
See Anne Naylor's Profile
Dear Judith,
I absolutely loved reading your post - thank you!
If I had a dark night of the soul, I cannot recall it just now. One of the ways I have learned to re-find myself when I am feeling lost is to write - simply let the words spill out on to paper without reading them back. Once written down and released from me, I then destroy the paper - preferably burn it. The action of writing makes me feel lighter and freer.
Recently, I have created a small community of "witnesses" around me. When I am feeling stuck, I can make contact and talk, just to be heard without necessarily asking for any advice. I do the same for others. Sometimes, a person just needs to be heard. Making connections from the heart I find very enriching. Witnessing is also wonderful for simply talking about the good things that are happening.
Delicious post... I am looking forward to reading more you have to say on the topic!
With love and blessings to you,
Anne
Dear Anne,
Thank you much for your wonderful acknowledgement and contribution. It is clear that you come from a place of fullness and generosity. How wonderful for your group of "witnesses" to behold!
Yes, I too, find writing to be a solace and very freeing The writing by passes my mind and cuts directly to the creative source. We're very blessed to have this community with which to share our writing!
And I feel blessed to be getting to know you through this process. Thanks for your sweet, gentle, potent offerings here.
Blessing in this new year,
Judith
See Dr. Cara Barker's Profile
You are saying what needs hearing, Judith. The readiness to take them in, unfortunately, comes about after we've been 'leveled' by life. Yes, the losses, so often, are the way in. Of course, moving through that doorway, is just the first step. Thank you for your beautiful way of assisting.
As a Jungian Analyst, like Hillman, I am endlessly impressed by the courage mustered in those who come forward to grow from what they've suffered, rather than hang onto it as their identity. For me, loss is the compost, what comes from it, the garden.
Your readers might want to check out my blogs this week: "Beginning Anew," and "What To Never Say When Your Friend Loses a Child." Both involve the Dark Night answered.
With love and a Happy New Year your way,
Cara
Cara,
It was amazing to read your two posts today and see how, once again, synchronicity is at work.
If there's anyone who knows the process of traversing the darkness, it's you. You two posts today speak exquisitely to this process and your contributions these past 30+ years in this field are stellar.
Thank you for all that you are and all that you give in contribution to the turning the compost into the garden.
Many blessings
Judith
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