I think Borges quoted the Koran to the effect of " The angel of death is terrifying, but when we embrace her her visage becomes beautiful." Change is often initially painful, but once that threshold is cross, often growth ensues. Great article, Alyssa.
I reckon saying once during a psychotherapy session I was receiving :
For this one it’s important no one gets in So Anubis and guardian dogs will guard the gates .
My psychotherapist was looking to me as an alien , it was later on I realised how many times my psyche was appearing in sessions talking through metaphors
I'm currently reading Kalsched's book Trauma and the Soul, and your account of the spider symbol and its morphing, reminded me of what he is saying about the protecting figures of the psyche and also the way they can transform the other way - into persecutors.
I suffered through night terrors, from as far back as I can recall & into my forties. I would wake-up to light beings hovering around my bed and hovering over my children. One night I proclaimed “it’s you again! Well, if you are here to help then help already. If not, go away for good.” I haven’t seen them since. It felt good to acknowledge their existence and to finally stand in my power.
My spirit animal seems to be the hawk these days. I do occasionally see ethereal spiders when coming to from meditation. To me they represent the matrix and its web being more visible and apparent.
Beautiful piece - thank you for sharing. I find your fear of spiders interesting because it was traditionally the same for me. When I went through a huge life transition 6 years ago - all of sudden they were everywhere. I decided to befriend the spider and over time it came to show me I was afraid of the feminine - the creative power of the feminine and in myself. Now I feel they arrive to remind me to write, to create, to bring to life my ideas, to embody their patience and tenacity as I weave my own web. I have a sense of awe when I see them now rather than fear.
I think Borges quoted the Koran to the effect of " The angel of death is terrifying, but when we embrace her her visage becomes beautiful." Change is often initially painful, but once that threshold is cross, often growth ensues. Great article, Alyssa.
I reckon saying once during a psychotherapy session I was receiving :
For this one it’s important no one gets in So Anubis and guardian dogs will guard the gates .
My psychotherapist was looking to me as an alien , it was later on I realised how many times my psyche was appearing in sessions talking through metaphors
I'm currently reading Kalsched's book Trauma and the Soul, and your account of the spider symbol and its morphing, reminded me of what he is saying about the protecting figures of the psyche and also the way they can transform the other way - into persecutors.
I suffered through night terrors, from as far back as I can recall & into my forties. I would wake-up to light beings hovering around my bed and hovering over my children. One night I proclaimed “it’s you again! Well, if you are here to help then help already. If not, go away for good.” I haven’t seen them since. It felt good to acknowledge their existence and to finally stand in my power.
My spirit animal seems to be the hawk these days. I do occasionally see ethereal spiders when coming to from meditation. To me they represent the matrix and its web being more visible and apparent.
Beautiful piece - thank you for sharing. I find your fear of spiders interesting because it was traditionally the same for me. When I went through a huge life transition 6 years ago - all of sudden they were everywhere. I decided to befriend the spider and over time it came to show me I was afraid of the feminine - the creative power of the feminine and in myself. Now I feel they arrive to remind me to write, to create, to bring to life my ideas, to embody their patience and tenacity as I weave my own web. I have a sense of awe when I see them now rather than fear.
Anubis, I have used his name in many metaphors .
Anubis stands tall like a tree I kind of sense he is rooted , in my perception 🙏
My (limited) experience with active imagination is symbolic images can often appear to transform.. is that something different?