Re-imagining Your Journey
“Everyone around you expects you to describe your experience in purely personal or medical terms. In contemporary society we believe that psychological and medical language best conveys the experience we have of a dark night. You are depressed and phobic; you have an anxiety disorder or a bad gene. But perspective thinkers of other periods and places say that good, artful, sensuous, and powerful words play a central role in the living out of your dark night. Consider this possibility: It would be better for you to find a good image or tell a good story or simply speak of your dark night with an eye toward the power and beauty of expression”.
Thomas Moore, Dark Nights of the Soul
In the maze-like corridors of our psyche, the journey through anxiety, trauma, and depression often feels like an unending quest fraught with perilous trials and profound darkness. Yet, as we embark on this arduous odyssey, we are presented with a unique opportunity that invites us to reimagine our struggles through the rich tapestry of metaphors and archetypal narratives that have guided humanity's collective consciousness for centuries.
In fact, this shift from the traditional medical model to a narrative-based approach is increasingly gaining recognition as a powerful way to understand and address complex psychological states. By incorporating these timeless narratives into the framework of mental health care, we open up new avenues for healing and meaningfulness in our lives.
Within these metaphors lie the keys to psychological transformation: The Mythic Journey offers a path of inner strength and self-discovery, emphasizing the archetypal journey of the feminine. Alchemy, the art of transmuting suffering into personal “gold,” allows us to view our emotional turmoil as raw material for personal transformation. Fairy Tales and Myths, timeless narratives that resonate with our own struggles, become therapeutic tools, helping us make sense of our experiences and find meaning in them. The Dark Night of the Soul, a profound encounter with inner “demons” that can lead to spiritual grounding, shifts our struggles from a mere clinical diagnosis to a pivotal moment of potential growth and call for depth. The Shamanic Initiation, a sacred journey into the depths of the soul, becomes a profound metaphor for "breakdown" as the first step in a deep psychological and spiritual process. Lastly, The Seasons, as metaphors for life's cyclical nature, help us appreciate the ebb and flow of the psyche, fostering a deeper understanding of our connection to the pattern of life.
As we stand at the threshold of our own psychological transformation, let us embark on a quest that not only leads us out of the darkness but also helps us uncover the hidden treasures within, ultimately guiding us toward a deeper understanding of ourselves and our world. In doing so, we enhance the traditional medical model with a more holistic and narrative-based approach, embracing the power of metaphor and storytelling as essential tools in the realm of mental health and well-being.
Consider the following metaphors of psychological transformation:
Heroine’s Journey
The Hero's Journey, conceived by Joseph Campbell, represents the traditional path of a heroic figure, usually male, embarking on a quest to obtain a valuable prize or "Boon." This journey typically involves facing external challenges and achieving conquests. On the other hand, the Heroine's Journey centers around introspection, emotions, and intuition. It serves as a model that brings equilibrium to a society that historically prioritizes extraversion and action.
Here are the phases of the Heroine’s Journey, which often take on a spiral, non-linear path, with individuals not necessarily progressing through them in a strict sequence:
Separation from the Ordinary World: At the beginning of this journey, an individual is trapped in an everyday existence marked by psychological challenges. This could include states like anxiety, depression, or trauma. The ordinary world feels restrictive, joyless, and emotionally heavy.
The Call to Adventure: Within this challenging psychological state emerges a call to embark on a different path—a call rooted in recognizing the need for change and healing. It's a stirring awareness that something must shift.
Refusal of the Call: Despite the call, there is often resistance. The individual may doubt their ability to overcome their psychological challenges, facing fears, stigma, or judgments from others. This resistance can be a formidable obstacle.
Meeting the Mentor: The mentor offers strength, wisdom, guidance, and support in navigating psychological challenges. The mentor can be an inner archetypal figure we meet along our internal journey or can come through therapy, support groups, or self-help resources.
Crossing the Threshold: With newfound resources and support, the individual confronts their psychological challenges head-on. They begin the journey toward inner transformation, recognizing that change is necessary and possible.
Tests, Allies, and Enemies: Throughout this journey, the individual faces a series of tests and challenges. Allies emerge as support networks, guides, or personal resilience. Although it may seem that the symptoms are the adversary attempting to thwart progress, we begin to understand their true role as allies, helping push us toward our calling.
Innermost Cave: The innermost cave represents a pivotal moment of self-discovery within the psychological challenge. It's a phase where the individual confronts deep-seated fears, past traumas, and the root causes of their psychological state.
Ordeal: In a climactic moment, the individual undergoes a significant psychological ordeal—an ultimate test of strength and determination. This ordeal often signifies a turning point in the journey.
Reward: After surviving the ordeal, the individual reaps rewards beyond symptom relief. These rewards include improved self-awareness, coping skills, and a deeper understanding of themselves. They emerge stronger and wiser.
The Road Back: The individual begins their journey back to their ordinary world, but it's not without challenges. They face moments of doubt and potential setbacks as they reintegrate their transformed self into their daily life.
Resurrection: In this final phase, the individual faces a life-altering challenge or confrontation—determining whether they have truly transformed and can fully embrace their newfound psychological resilience.
Return with the Elixir: The Heroine's Journey through challenging psychological states culminates as the individual returns to their ordinary world, bringing the wisdom, strength, and coping strategies gained during their journey to their lives and the greater community.
Alchemy
Alchemy, historically associated with the transformation of base metals into gold, has also been used as a symbolic system for understanding inner transformation. Here are some ways alchemical concepts can be applied to challenging psychological states:
Calcination (Nigredo): In alchemy, calcination involves the burning away of impurities and the reduction of a substance to its basic elements. In challenging psychological states, this stage can represent a crisis or breakdown, where one's old beliefs, self-concepts, or ways of coping are deconstructed. This can be a difficult but necessary phase for personal growth as it allows for the shedding of unhelpful patterns.
Dissolution (Solutio): Dissolution refers to the breaking down of the purified elements into a solution. In psychology, this stage can be seen as a process of self-reflection and deep introspection. Challenging psychological states may prompt individuals to dissolve their defenses and explore their inner world, uncovering hidden emotions, fears, and desires.
Separation (Separatio): After dissolution, alchemy involves separating the valuable elements from the impurities. In psychology, this stage represents the differentiation of thoughts, emotions, and aspects of one's identity. It's about discerning what is healthy and worth preserving from what is harmful and should be let go of in order to find clarity and direction.
Conjunction (Coniunctio): Conjunction signifies the merging of opposites, often represented by the union of the masculine and feminine. In psychological terms, this can be seen as the integration of conflicting emotions, values, and aspects of one's personality. It's about finding harmony and balance within oneself.
Fermentation (Fermentatio): Fermentation is the process of combining and allowing elements to interact and transform. In psychology, this stage can symbolize the emergence of new insights, perspectives, and personal growth. It's a period of inner alchemy where wisdom is gained through the integration of previously separate aspects of the self.
Distillation (Sublimatio): Distillation involves refining the mixture to obtain the purest essence. In challenging psychological states, this stage represents the crystallization of insights and personal growth. It's about distilling wisdom from one's experiences, clarifying one's values, and finding a sense of purpose.
Coagulation (Coagulatio): Coagulation is the final stage of alchemy, where the purified elements come together to form a new, integrated whole. In psychology, this corresponds to achieving a sense of wholeness and self-realization after navigating challenging states. It's about becoming a more complete and authentic version of oneself.
Fairy Tales and Myth
Fairy tales and myths have been instrumental in conveying the timeless theme of psychological transformation, with each story providing unique insights into the human psyche. "The Handless Maiden" is a poignant tale of a young woman who undergoes a transformative journey marked by the loss of her hands, symbolizing her detachment from the external world. Her subsequent trials and the kindness of strangers demonstrate how inner strength can be cultivated through adversity.
The myth of Persephone and Demeter revolves around the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, much like the changing seasons. Persephone's Descent into the underworld metaphorically represents her psychological journey into the depths of her unconscious mind. Her eventual return to the surface signifies the reintegration of lost aspects of herself, leading to profound personal growth and transformation.
Innana's Descent takes us deep into the realm of the shadow self as the goddess Innana embarks on a perilous journey into the underworld to confront her own darkness. This myth is a powerful reminder that genuine transformation often necessitates confronting our inner demons and embracing our vulnerabilities.
The Nordic story of Ragnarok, the apocalyptic battle that foretells the world's end, touches upon themes of destruction and renewal. It represents a collective psychological transformation, symbolizing the necessity of confronting chaos and upheaval to pave the way for a new beginning.
These are just a few of the tales which collectively emphasize psychological transformation. They illustrate how this change is a profound and often challenging process, as well as how adversity, introspection, and the willingness to confront inner turmoil are integral to the human experience and the path toward finding and living your calling, your “acorn.”
Dark Night of the Soul
The concept of a "dark night of the soul" is associated with profound spiritual or existential crises. Originating from the writings of mystics like St. John of the Cross, it describes a period of intense inner suffering and spiritual despair.
In this view, trauma, depression, and anxiety can be seen as dark nights of the soul. Trauma forces individuals to confront the darkest aspects of their experiences, shattering their sense of safety and trust. Depression involves profound hopelessness and emptiness, while anxiety leads to relentless worry and fear. These experiences mirror the spiritual dark night's sense of disconnection from the divine and existential questioning.
Yet, viewing these challenges through the lens of a dark night of the soul underscores their potential for growth, transformation, and spiritual insight. It acknowledges their depth of suffering and despair while highlighting the possibility of emerging from the darkness with greater wisdom, resilience, and a deeper connection to oneself and the world.
Shamanic Initiation
Shamanic initiation is a transformative and spiritual process that individuals undergo to become shamans or healers in traditional shamanic cultures. While the specific stages may vary among cultures, several common elements often characterize shamanic initiation experiences:
Symbolic Death and Rebirth: Initiation often begins with a symbolic death, where the initiate undergoes a profound and sometimes terrifying experience of being dismembered, torn apart, or devoured by spirits or otherworldly beings. This represents the death of the old self and ego, a necessary step in the shamanic journey.
Deconstruction of the Self: During dismemberment, the initiate's sense of self is deconstructed. This process can be disorienting as the initiate's identity, attachments, and ego structures are dismantled.
Connection with Spirits: Initiation facilitates a direct connection between the initiate and the spirit world. The dismemberment experience often leads to guidance, knowledge, and power bestowed by spirit helpers, ancestors, or animal spirits.
Reassembly and Rebirth: After dismemberment, the initiate is typically reassembled or reconstructed, signifying a symbolic rebirth or transformation. The individual emerges from the experience with a renewed sense of self and purpose.
Empowerment: Dismemberment is also a source of empowerment. Through this ordeal, the initiate gains strength, resilience, and shamanic abilities becoming a more effective healer and communicator between the physical and spirit worlds.
Integration: Following dismemberment, the initiate must integrate the lessons and insights gained from the ordeal into their everyday life.
The Seasons
The seasons serve as a metaphor for psychological transformation and personal growth, reflecting different stages and cycles of life, emotions, and development:
Spring (Rebirth and Renewal): Spring represents new beginnings, growth, and renewal. It symbolizes the initial stages of psychological transformation when individuals awaken to new possibilities and the desire for change.
Summer (Growth and Abundance): Summer is a season of warmth, abundance, and flourishing. It signifies active personal development and expansion, where efforts and intentions bear fruit.
Autumn (Harvest and Letting Go): Autumn is characterized by changing colors and the harvest season. It symbolizes reflection, maturity, and letting go of what is no longer needed.
Winter (Rest and Reflection): Winter is a season of dormancy, stillness, and contemplation. It represents a period of rest, inner reflection, and preparation for the next cycle of growth.
The cyclical nature of the seasons emphasizes that personal transformation is an ongoing process. Just as seasons repeat year after year, personal growth is a lifelong journey marked by continuous cycles of change and renewal.
Reflection Questions:
Which of these models resonate with you the most and why?
What resonates with you within the model?
Which, if any, didn’t appeal to you?
How can you apply your current journey/ struggle to the model(s)?
Does it feel differently to view your journey/ struggle through this lens?
Image: Marta Orlowska
