Daily life is a symphony created
by the melody of our conscious living and the harmonies and cacophonies of our
unconscious living. Despite our intentions and will power, much of what happens
in our lives seeps up from some uncontrollable place, and often yields chaos.
While it is natural to choose who we want to be, Carl Jung warns us against
completely denying our shadow parts and says that our unconscious seeks to
communicate even when we try to ignore them. He advises that we embrace the
parts of our psyche that we bury in the shadows, so they do not start pushing
their way into our lives uncontrollably. By bringing them out into the light of
our conscious acceptance, we honor and balance them.
Our unconscious frequently
reaches out through our dreams, but it also reaches out in our waking life. We
are living a personal myth, and with a little help, we can read the bleeps and
burps of our unconscious to understand its cryptic messages before it must
scream out in big ways to get our attention. Have you noticed certain patterns,
like repeatedly losing or breaking
things, seeing similar shapes, hearing similar sounds? Did some image catch
your attention? Those weird repetitions and oddities that draw our intense
awareness are Soul Speak: essentially a divine code. When you begin to take
notice of patterns and attention-catchers, then you can begin to hear what they
want to say.
The same kinds of archetypes and
symbols that show up in dreams will also show up in life and for many Soul
Speak situations, symbol dictionaries and dream tending techniques can be
applied, as well as familiar meditation or active imagination techniques, or
you may want to try the techniques suggested below. Remember this is a
symbolic, energetic, and intuitive process. Seek insight rather than answers.
1. Become aware of repetitive patterns or potent images.
When something arouses unusual interest or confusion for us, we want to target
that for a dialogue.
2. Dialogue with the pattern or image (suggestions):
·
Journal writing (or
meditation): begin a conversation with the pattern or with yourself or your
guides by asking simple questions. Write whatever seems to flow, over one or
more sittings.
·
Artistic expression:
paint, draw, play music, write a story, or any other form of artistic
expression that you love. Set your intention and then enjoy your art.
3. Devise a healthy and safe ceremony or act that allows
you to interact with your insights. This may be a one-time or periodic ritual,
or it may need to be a regular part of your life.
·
Write or draw
something on a piece of paper and burn it in a flame.
·
Make an altar, just
a small space on a shelf can work, where you honor the archetype. Use similar
techniques as for a sand painting, opening sacred space and checking in
periodically.
4. Express self-love: Honor yourself in a small but
significant gesture, embracing your wholeness.
5. Go to an energy therapist and work the issue on the
energetic level, in addition to working through it mentally and physically.
