I’ve never witnessed it before in real life (and I bet you haven’t either).
In fact, the only instance I can recall of someone doing something remotely like this was in an episode of Sex and the City.
Specifically, Samantha, after discovering Richard cheating on her, plasters the city with posters.
Things at our baseball field dog park this week took on a new level of Coen Brothers drama: absurd situations, dark humor, and quirky existential crises.
All of it, interestingly enough, focused on our own poster drama.
In the last two weeks, an oddball character with two dogs has been dropping by, with one of the dogs invariably getting into multiple scuffles with the other canines.
Apparently, this woman––let’s call her Griselda, an appropriate enough name for a villain––essentially ignores the situation, neither apologizing nor intervening.
Twice, although our paths have barely crossed, Vlad and I had just exited and were heading for our coffee shop, but still within earshot to hear Griselda’s dog going after another pup.
Things reached an entirely new level, however, when it was revealed that at the dog park nearest ours (a 15 minute walk away), this problem had escalated to the point that some owners had actually put up posters warning dog owners about her.
But it turns out that’s just the tip of Griselda’s villainy.
I had already selected this month’s theme––Embracing the Shadow, New Meditation HERE––before I consciously realized that April begins with that rare Solar Eclipse that’s dominating the news.
I was thinking more of inner Jungian wisdom, but it’s fitting that the heavens are embodying these concepts for us with a cosmic demonstration.
(By the way, this may be the perfect time for me to announce that I’m opening up a few coaching slots; we can start the conversation HERE.)
As a refresher, ”Embracing the Shadow” refers to the process of acknowledging, understanding, and integrating the darker, unconscious aspects of oneself.
The “shadow” involves the parts of our psyche that we repress, deny, or ignore because they don’t fit our self-image or societal norms.
Thus, exploring our Shadow is powerful, even essential, inner work.
This is particularly true for those focused on personal growth and transformation, and frankly anyone actively on a spiritual path.
Indeed, as Jung himself said:
“The brighter the light, the darker the shadow.”
Two of my dog park friends, both of whom had dogs who were attacked by Griselda’s, did a little research.
They quickly found not only the original poster but also a dedicated instagram and even a website warning people about her.
Griselda’s not only a negligent dog owner, but she’s also apparently involved in some kind of squatting scheme that involves tricking refugees via Craigslist and then evicting them.
While I firmly believe in “Innocent until Proven Guilty,” all of this is so well-documented online in YouTube videos complete with police reports that it’s clear something is definitely seriously amiss.
Increasingly alarmed and concerned for their pups, my friends simply recreated the other dog park poster and placed copies in plastic slipcovers at the various entrances to the field.
It was, as you would guess, quite the topic of conversation, particularly since we all wondered what would happen when Griselda next appeared.
Although Jung also said…
“To confront a person with his own shadow
is to show him his own light”
…It was unclear, however, whether seeing her likeness plastered around another park would have the same illuminating effect on Griselda.
I’m a lot less interested in the physical experience of the eclipse than it seems many people are.
I am, however, very excited by the astrological implications, whether those are self-fulfilling prophecy or not, which interestingly underscores the actual science.
According to NASA’s website:
“Total solar eclipses provide an opportunity to study Earth’s atmosphere under uncommon conditions. In contrast to the global change in light that occurs every day at dusk and dawn, a solar eclipse changes illumination of Earth and its atmosphere under a comparatively small region of the Moon’s shadow.”
Thus it’s not just a “cool phenomenon” but a chance to gain a unique perspective.
Again, NASA informs us that
“Studying the innermost part of the corona – visible only during total solar eclipses – is key to answering fundamental questions about how heat and energy are transferred from the Sun out into the solar wind, the constant stream of particles that the Sun spews into the solar system.”
I find it striking that this proves Jung’s psychological/spiritual paradox: that we can more deeply understand the light only by exploring it through the shadow.
Our own shadow aspects involve those traits, desires, or emotions that we deem unacceptable, shameful, or morally wrong.
For example, anger, jealousy, greed, or selfishness are typical shadow elements.
Sometimes, instead of confronting and integrating these aspects within ourselves, we may project them onto others, leading to conflicts, prejudices, and lots of interpersonal drama.
Embracing the Shadow (again, New Meditation HERE), means we’re brave enough to face these hidden aspects of ourselves with compassion, curiosity, and self-awareness.
Only by acknowledging that these traits exist within us, understanding their origins, and accepting them as part of our whole self can we reclaim the fullness of our power and authenticity.
Astrologers are, of course, having a field day with the eclipse.
(Astrology, by the way, is having quite a moment with Ariana Grande, SZA, and Kacey Musgraves all singing about their Saturn returns on their new records.)
Anyway, Chani, one of my favorite astrologers, advises
“Spending time in nature, with pets, or roaring into a pillow can reset your system and help you access the transformational possibilities crackling throughout the ether during this time.”
Or, if you want to go super-populist, BuzzFeed’s astrologer describes the period as akin to when a baby bird is too confined and cracks open its shell, and that “eclipses speed up this process tenfold.”
It’s all about Transformation, in other words, and since change is inevitable, ultimately our only choice is to resist or embrace it.
(And again, if you’d like to exploring working with me re: Transformation, we can start the process HERE.)
I have much more to say about Embracing the Shadow this month, but I cannot leave you hanging re: Griselda, our newly arrived Shadow Villain.
The eclipse moment of orbits coinciding actually happened:
Posters displayed at all entrances, Vlad and I were again exiting the park at the same time as she arrived.
Walking towards our latte, looking back, it seemed as though she simply didn’t notice the one at the entrance.
Passing by the park on the way back home, I learned that she’d spotted them at the other exit on her departure but that nothing untoward had happened.
In fact, it took a full two days before she returned to take them down during a rainstorm, probably hoping that no one would see her.
Interestingly, another dog park friend actually captured the moment on his iPhone.
Thus a further Coen Brother’s plot twist has arisen:
There is now a discussion in the WhatsApp chat about replacing the old poster’s image of Griselda with an action shot of her taking down her previous wanted poster.
Just Imagine It:
A poster that depicts the villain
taking down their own wanted poster.
Honestly, I can’t imagine a more Meta Shadow Moment than that.
Fortunately, most of the “Villains” in my life are villains in quotes only.
They may no doubt reflect disconnected parts of my shadow side, but none of them are doing anything close to scamming refugees.
None of them, however photogenic, merit wanted posters.
In fact, my Shadow Work––and I suspect yours, too––is almost entirely internal.
Even so, diving deep into this is compelling for, once again as Jung tells us:
“Until you make the unconscious conscious,
it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”
That’s why although I have no intention of staring at the sun’s corona on Tuesday, I’ll be diving deep into my own Shadow instead.
I know that gazing within will offer a more challenging, interesting, and ultimately a vastly more illuminating view.
Namaste for Now,
