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When We Cast a Shadow

August 25, 2014 by Walter King Leave a Comment

Walter H King When I say “I think this…” or “I feel that…” and “I will do such and so…” a basic psychological consideration arises: Who exactly is the “I” that is presumably the subject behind these experiences? While one may suppose that there is only one subject, one “I”, it becomes clear upon deeper examination that the psyche holds a multiplicity of separate selves, rather like splinter personalities that drive the direction of psychic energy. The following examples illustrate how the human shadow phenomenon in a depth psychological inquiry bring the light of consciousness into those darker, more shadowy realms of our humanity:

__ A female manager prides herself on strong leadership skills and her fair, affirming treatment of her employees. One of her workers, who happens to be particularly attractive, draws considerable attention and favor from male coworkers. When the manager conducts performance evaluations on all employees, she judges the attractive employee more critically than the others doing the same kind of work at a comparable level of quality. She is unaware of her jealousy of the attractive worker since she herself has experienced painful rejections from a number of men in her personal life.

__ A prominent pastor portraying publicly behaviors of the highest moral and ethical level is discovered viewing child pornography on the internet in the early hours before dawn. The pastor is suddenly confronted with a darker part of his sexuality which now demands his attention.

__ A quiet, modest man toils at a low paying factory job. He is often ridiculed by others who see him as an ignorant and unskilled grunt. When he retires at age 62, his family members discover in his work shed a large collection of his oil paintings all of which show a striking quality of artistic talent and depth. The outward modesty and lowly patterns of labor of this quiet man is contrasted by his evolving gift of expressive resources which urge towards realization.

The very heart of a serious therapy commitment requires a person to bring a moral courage to face those aspects of one’s being which often is at odds with how one ideally professes to be. An openness to the shadow and the necessary work of its transformation, underscores the true task of individuation.

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Walter King Psychotherapist Hello, I am Walter King. I am devoted to the work of soulful living and healing. When I form a therapeutic alliance with my client, our work is a trusting in the self regulating capacities of the psyche. Our mutual work together is not concerned with perfection but a striving towards completeness. Through introspection and creative action we bring into awareness one's natural resources as well as the constructive confrontation of one's self defeating patterns. The authentic encounter with oneself in depth means that one not only identifies the historical causes of one's struggles, but also the purpose, meaning and intent of the soul's urge towards fulfillment. The adventure of one's path to completeness respects body, intellect, emotion, intuition, behavior, imagination, fantasy and dream.
Therefore the principle aim of psychotherapy is not to transport the patient to an impossible state of happiness , but to help him to acquire steadfastness and philosophic patience in face of suffering. Life demands for its completion and fulfillment a balance between joy and sorrow.
C.G. Jung
I was angry with my friend: I told him my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe: I told him not, my wrath did grow.
William Blake
Mankind owns four things that are no good at sea– Rudder, anchor, oars, And the fear of going down.
Antonio Machado
It is a bewildering thing in human life that the thing that causes the greatest fear is the source of the greatest wisdom.
C.G. Jung
The spirit of evil is fear….the adversary who opposes life in its struggle….For the hero fear is a challenge and a task for only boldness can deliver from fear. And if the risk is not taken, the meaning of life is somehow violated.
C.G. Jung
Unless I accept my faults I will most certainly doubt my virtues.
Hugh Prather

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Walter H King

When We Cast a Shadow

When I say “I think this…” or “I feel that…” and “I will do such and so…” a basic psychological consideration arises: Who exactly is the “I” that is presumably the subject behind these experiences? While one may suppose that there is only one subject, one “I”, it becomes clear upon deeper examination that the […]

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Walter H. King, M.Ed., MFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Depth Oriented Psychotherapy

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