The shadows within.
On hearing the word shadow, so many things —so many definitions and interpretations, come to mind. Fortunately; or perhaps unfortunately, these definitions and interpretations differ from person to person, and indeed from place to place. So for Mr Stilles in London, shadows could be telling time. To Mr Pingdi in India, it could be something philosophical. Whereas to Mr Tunde in Nigeria, it could mean both, and yet, have a third meaning somewhat closer to the supernatural. Perhaps, the word shadow encompasses these three interpretations. Or, it is just an interpretation. Then again, the three interpretations could be wrong.
In the lexical definition of the word shadow, certain definitions strike out. They seem to complement each other; one exerting more meaning on the other, forming a powerful quartet, and giving shadow a clearer definition —personal opinion.
• A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object.
• Relative darkness, especially as caused by the interruption of light; gloom, obscurity.
• An imperfect and faint representation.
• An inseparable companion.
Taking into careful consideration these definitions, one might come to agree that they birth certain questions; questions which beg for answers. What is light? What does it mean for light to be interrupted and blocked? Could the blockage or interruption of light indeed cause a shadow? What does an imperfect and faint representation mean? Does this imperfect and faint representation hence become an inseparable companion?
Analytical psychology; amongst other channels, seems to answer these questions quite well. It defines shadow as an unconscious aspect of human personality that does not correspond with one’s ideal ego. leading to a resistance and projection of an imperfect identity.
Sigmund Freud’s topographic theory was the first attempt —in modern times, to map out the human psyche; Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis. Through his topographic theory, Freud tried to shed light on human consciousness, and in doing so, greatly shed light on the term shadow. He posited that there are three levels of consciousness: the conscious, the unconscious, and the preconscious. The conscious is the part of the human mind that is within one's immediate awareness, and in a present moment. It is the part of the mind that is evident to all, and understood. The preconscious on the other hand, is the part of the human mind that contains all memories that are within easy recall, but not in one’s present awareness. Lastly, the unconscious is the part of one’s mind that is hidden from awareness and difficult or; in certain cases, impossible to recall. According to Freud, the unconscious is a store of things that the conscious mind wants to keep buried, be it good, or bad. It acts as a storage for not just all the things one finds acceptable in oneself, but the unacceptable things too.
However, the conscious mind, in burying these things in its unconscious mind —particularly the unacceptable things, to seemingly protect itself, also forms a dark side; a place devoid of light. For consciousness; asides being the state of alertness and awareness, serves as light to the human mind. As it is only when alert and aware that a human can think and make decisions. So whenever something —be it an emotion, desire, issue, etc, is denied introspection, it has been denied light. Mind you, light, asides being consciousness —self consciousness, is also external opinion (opinion of other people). For in certain times, humans could exhibit certain conscious traits; for example procrastination, yet have no control over it. But for the fact that others can see it, help can be rendered. This dark side when abandoned for too long, eventually develops into a shadow, and a powerful force.
A shadow could wear many faces. Greedy, judgmental, lazy, hateful, jealous, angry, fearful, resentful, manipulative, selfish, weak, hostile —and so on. It is all the unacceptable thoughts, urges, emotions, desires and traits which the conscious mind does not wish to see, and which it does not want the world to see either. Lies about our identities, concealed just below the surface; below our consciousness, masked by our more “proper” selves. Remaining a hidden, tamed, restricted and unexplored territory for most of us, until it can no longer be hidden. It then becomes a dent on the hitherto “proper” self, bringing the earlier definition: an imperfect or faint representation into reality.
As with a simple experiment, involving a source of light and an opaque barricading material, the amount of shadow produced when the light source is barricaded by the opaque material, is directly proportional to the area of the light source barricaded. If you barricade a small portion of the light source, a small shadow is produced. If a bigger portion is barricaded, a bigger shadow is created. However, if the whole light is barricaded, it does not produce a shadow again, but full darkness. The same applies with humans. The less light available to our subconscious thoughts, urges, emotions, desires and traits —things in our unconscious mind, the more they develop into a dark side, then a shadow, and then a powerful force. But unlike in the aforementioned experiment where the shadow produced is always proportional to the area of light barricaded —and without any capacity to increase on its own accord and totally black out the light, the human shadow on constant neglect has the ability to grow. For a shadow eventually grows from that place of unconsciousness to preconsciousness, till it can no longer be held hostage in the subconscious. It then openly manifests itself in the conscious and not just becomes a reality, but an inseparable companion. One that perhaps, might need supernatural forces to separate. Deliverance —a religious person will call it.
In summary, the shadow is one's emotional and mental blindness, projected as negative thoughts, impulses, desires, traits and emotions that one doesn’t deal with. But just as a blind man requires a guide, and on temporary blindness; by sudden darkness, one seeks a light source, so should we humans endeavor to find and give light to our unconscious —our dark side. Taking pains to occasionally draw up those unacceptable thoughts, urges, emotions, desires and traits that we have pushed down our consciousness —into the storage of unconsciousness, and carefully dissect, analyze, fight, and do away with them. Seeking and getting due help where necessary —for no man is an island. Until the unconscious mind is empty, and the conscious mind is safe from overthrow by an imperfect, faint and vain representation.
