“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light,
but by making the darkness conscious.”
Carl Jung
Audio narration by David Marlow
Definition.
Syzygy: (n)
syz·y·gy /ˈsizijē/
The alignment or harmonious conjunction of contrasting or opposing elements.
Jungian usage and meaning, the connection of opposites
Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to join." Greek suzugia, from suzugos' yoked, paired’ with many root elements, the same as the root words for zygote. Zygote being the fusion of two cells into one.
Risk
Our essence is a syzygy—the pairing together of shadow and light.
David Richo describes our shadow as “…that part of us that is incompatible with who we think we are supposed to be.”1
We risk fragmenting our identity without acknowledging and embracing our shadow and light sides. Denying our shadow aspects, such as fears, insecurities, and weaknesses, can lead to inner conflict and a fragmented sense of self.
Even within the shadow is both positive and negative aspects.
📌 All that we hate and consider unworthy of ourselves is included in the negative shadow.
📌 All our untapped creative potential is on the positive or bright side.
In the shadow is hidden potential waiting to be harnessed. Ignoring this aspect means missing out on opportunities for personal growth and self-improvement.
We may avoid confronting challenging issues or facing uncomfortable truths about ourselves, preferring to present a polished exterior to the world while harboring inner turmoil.
When we aren’t living with integrity, as in our integrated selves, we are disintegrating.
Opportunity🌀
Embracing the union that is our shadow and light sides brings harmony and integrity into our lives.
No longer compartmentalizing our experiences and emotions, we can embrace the entirety of our being.
We gain insights into our fears, insecurities, and past traumas, creating healing opportunities.
We begin to navigate complex feelings and reactions with grace and self-compassion, leading to emotional resilience and personal growth.
Acknowledging your shadow self allows you to live authentically. You no longer need to wear masks or hide your vulnerabilities. Your authenticity becomes a source of strength and a magnet for genuine connections with others.
The shadow self often houses the creative and innovative aspects of our personality. By embracing it, you unlock new avenues of creative expression, allowing you to explore talents and ideas previously hidden.
Story
I have a gift for seeing how to improve things. It wasn’t uncommon for me to walk into an area at work and immediately identify process failures and innovation opportunities.
Improvement opportunities jump out at me everywhere I go. That’s the upside.
The downside is I see opportunities where things need to be improved everywhere I go.
I can’t ‘not’ see it.
That can lead to frustration and, given the right circumstances, even anger if the terrible process keeps me from getting what I need.
Lousy customer service is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. It drives me crazy.
Keeping the Good while controlling the Bad
It’s not good to squash this part of me; it’s one of my gifts. I also can’t let it control me or take me to levels of frustration or aIt's.
Understanding this dark and light side of what makes me unique is essential.
With that understanding, I can tap into the energy while controlling the potential dark side.
Hiding the Shadow
As a child, I had to suppress my talent. The adults in my environment did not appreciate a ‘kid’ identifying solutions to problems.
As an adult, the work I engaged in prized this gift and helped me resurface it.
Unfortunately, the dark side of frustration and early rejection surfaced as well.
It would be years later when I achieved a point of balance.
Is there a portion of your personality that has been shot down, unrealized, omitted, or condemned? Something is possibly hidden on the dark side.
Maybe it is time to take a look.
Application.
Here are some practical approaches to exploring syzygy in your life:
Artistic Expression: Explore your shadow self through artistic expression. Whether it's painting, sculpture, dance, or any creative outlet that resonates with you, use art to externalize and understand those hidden elements. Art allows you to communicate with your subconscious in a unique and expressive way.
Nature Immersion: Spend time in nature to connect with your shadow self. Nature has a way of reflecting our inner landscape. While in natural surroundings, pay attention to your thoughts and emotions. Allow the sights and sounds of nature to trigger introspection and help you uncover and accept your shadow aspects.
Dive In: Self-reflection, shadow work, and even dream analysis can help uncover and redeem your shadow.
🌀Reflection.
Three books I recommend…
For something easy to get started with self-reflection, I like the book Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken: Transform Your Life With the Power of Authenticity by Mike Robbins.
For explicit shadow work, I recommend Shadow Dance by David Richo. It is not an easy book because shadow work is hard. I recommend reading it only when you are ready to be real with yourself.
Dream Work may sound a little woo-woo. I’m not a big fan of woo-woo stuff. I am a fan of Inner Work: Using Dreams and Active Imagination for Personal Growth by RobeI'mA. Johnson. I found it helpful in my own shadow work and self-reflection in general.
🌀 Remember: No matter what has come before, today is a fresh start. 🌱
Let’s make things a little bit better. 🌱
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David Richo, Shadow Dance: Liberating the Power and Creativity of Your Dark Side;
© 1999 Shambala Publications, pp 1
This hit home, I suffer from the same challenge (and I call it Kaizen) - I see process improvement opportunities "everywhere". This creates challenges in the work environment, as I'm the one who can never be satisfied, always finding mistakes or pointing out problems. And of course, it's not good for marital harmony :)
My evolution has been to not see these as mistakes/problems, come from a place to help, talk openly about it, see it from other person's perspective (I've been wrong often in jumping to conclusions too early), and lastly, raise the bar for mine speaking up.
I must admit, I'm still a work-in-progress
CeeBee