Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago · 3 min. reading time · ~10 ·

Blogging
>
Sara blog
>
"Me and My Shadow"*

"Me and My Shadow"*

There is no coming to consciousness
without pain. People will do anything, no
matter how absurd, in order to avoid
facing their own Soul. One does not

become enlightened by imagining
figures of light, but by making
the darkness conscious.

The internet is swarming with quotes about “being a light”. I, too, have used this theme on occasions (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/illuminating-shadow-sara-jacobovici?trk=mp-reader-card - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/secret-being-best-you-can-sara-jacobovici?trk=mp-reader-card). 

Then @Ali Anani sheds his own unique light. In his Buzz, Creative Reflections, Dr. Ali states: 

“…the importance of seeing issues from different angles, perspectives and light sources so that light may not throw us in the darkness of false assumption.”
Ali Anani

I have stared at these words; “so that light may not throw us in the darkness of false assumption”, so much that I can’t see straight.

This is what I am thinking:

My biggest recent epiphany about light came when I learned about how the flame of a candle allows the light source to pass through it and in so doing, the flame does not cast a shadow. Only if the light source were stronger than the light of the flame, does the flame produce a shadow. Why? Because, I learned that shadows are the results of objects not letting the light source through.

Shadows are not reflections but a blocking of light.

Does it make sense to say then that, by blocking light we are actually pushing ourselves into that “darkness of false assumptions”? For whatever reasons, there are times when we are so invested in our own scripts that we block the opportunity to see things any differently and so keep ourselves in the dark, in the place of false assumptions.

Shadows are dark places formed by the state of an object.

"The beginnings and ends of shadow lie between the light and darkness and may be infinitely diminished and infinitely increased. Shadow is the means by which bodies display their form. The forms of bodies could not be understood in detail but for shadow." - Leonardo da Vinci

A classic example for the discussion of forms and of the place one can refer to as “the darkness of false assumptions” is the metaphor of Plato’s cave. The metaphor “is probably related to Plato's theory of Forms, according to which the "Forms" (or "Ideas"), and not the material world known to us through sensation, possess the highest and most fundamental kind of reality.”

A group of people are forced to only look at the wall of a cave in front of them and are unable to look around at the cave, each other, or themselves. The people only see shadows of objects projected upon the cave wall in front of them from a fire that is behind them. Because these people have never seen anything else, the shadows are their false assumptions, their reality.
If one person is forced to turn and see the fire, the light would hurt his eyes and make it hard for him to see the objects that are casting the shadows. If he is told that what he saw before was not real and as he is struggling to see, he would not be able to believe what he is being told. Plato writes "...it would hurt his eyes, and he would escape by turning away to the things which he was able to look at, and these he would believe to be clearer than what was being shown to him." [Plato. Rouse, W.H.D., ed. The Republic Book VII. Penguin Group Inc. pp. 365–401.]
Plato continues: "suppose...that someone should drag him...by force, up the rough ascent, the steep way up, and never stop until he could drag him out into the light of the sun." The sun, an even stronger source of light, would blind and overwhelm the person until his eyes would be able to adjust to the light of the sun. At first, the person would only be able to see shadows. Only with time and experience could the person be able to see his new reality.
The person now compares his new reality with that of the cave and feels that he knows more than those in the cave. Wanting to communicate to the others about his new found reality, the person returns to the cave only to be blinded again, this time as his eyes cannot see in the darkened cave.
When the people in the cave see the person in this state, they assume that the person’s exit harmed the person and do not want to leave the cave.

Not a simple matter.

There is an element to these various forms of perceived realities and false assumptions that adds to the complexity of this discussion; each individual psyche projects their own view on the forms. It is false to assume that everyone in the cave saw the shadows in the same way.

As Jung said:

“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.”




* Judy Garland sings "Me and My Shadow".





"
Comments

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #27

#55
Thank you so much DILMA BALBI for taking the trouble to translate. I appreciate your share and your comment.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #26

#52
As always, debasish majumder, your thoughts and insights take a flight of their own into new directions that I didn't even think of when I originally put my thoughts down in this Buzz. One of the images left in my mind after reading your comment is related to how we walk (or not) with our own shadow. I am beginning to think of shadow and reflections as two different entities; shadow is the result or manifestation of the object blocking the source of light and reflection as a reproduction of an image. In this way, we can only walk with our won shadow as long as we are accompanied by a source of light. and when you write, "whether wisdom block's ones reflection", I experience not so much of a blocking but wisdom's influence on the image of us that is being reflected. Thanks for your most thought provoking comment.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #25

#51
I appreciate you taking the time and interest John White, MBA. Thanks for your encouragement!

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #24

#49
Dear @Dilma Balbi. I am sorry that the English translation I received could not express, what seems to be, an important insight. I regret my limitations.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #23

#46
#47 I knew it would still be an interesting comment Gerald Hecht. By the way SELA is a Biblical place-name, the original term for the city of Petra, which is now referred to as “The Lost City of Petra”: Archaeologists say: clues remain beneath the surface. "We have uncovered just 15 percent of the city. The vast majority—85 percent—is still underground and untouched." You're hunch was right Gerald! "I have a hunch exceeding the differential by a point or two wouldn't result in SELA imposed exile back in the cave " (Do I hear Rod Serling humming the theme of The Twilight Zone?)

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #22

#44
Hi Gerald Hecht, I am mature enough to say that I need your help to understand what sounds like a very interesting point. Can you expand or explain SELA? Thanks.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #21

#39
Simple for you @Max Carter. Thought provoking for me. Thanks.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #20

#37
thank you Mohammed A Jawad for your reflections and contribution to the discussion.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #19

#35
Much appreciated Jim Murray.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #18

#38
Thank you Shawn for adding this important relationship between the 2. It is interesting that I have always assumed that it is opposites that need each other and didn't think of that in relation to shadow and light. I always thought of the opposite of light as dark. Looking at light and shadow, I can see the value in focusing on their mutual needs.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #17

#32
You're incredible Margaret Aranda, MD, PhD. Thanks for taking the time to read and for your comment.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #16

#30
You did it again Deb Helfrich. Your "comment" holds so many thoughtful, insightful and profound ideas that I can not begin to respond at this time. Looking forward to continuing this discussion soon.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #15

#27
Thank you for your invaluable and insightful contributions to the discussion. I think of your concept of "moving through someone else's shadow" is amazing! Very thought provoking. Please let me think about this for a little while. I look forward to continuing to share and exchange our thoughts Jean.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #14

#19
Thank you Dean Owen for "thinking out loud" and sharing your thoughts and questions. Your "comment" can be a springboard to volumes of further exploration.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #13

#18
Thanks for the share and support Jim Murray.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #12

#17
Thank you for your generous response Jim Murray. Thanks, too, for sharing your secret, "Almost everything I write, I have first envisioned as a shadow of a thought in my mind where it is dark and cool." +1

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #11

#16
Thank you John White, MBA for your ongoing support. Much appreciated!

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #10

#15
Thank you Don Kerr for reading and for your very generous response.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #9

#14
Your support (and humour!) is much appreciated Phil Friedman.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #8

#13
Thank you for reading and for your response @Tahir Kashif.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #7

#9
Thank you Anees Zaidi for "seeing" the big picture.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #6

#8
Thank you @Laurent Boscherini for your kind comment and your shining a spotlight on the very important topic of education.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #5

#7
Your questions Ali Anani provide a valuable contribution to the discussion. I thank you.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #4

Thank you for the shares Anees Zaidi. Much appreciated.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #3

#4
Thank you for your very generous comment Melissa Hefferman and for your reminder to finish up my article on synchronicity!

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #2

Thanks for the share Melissa Hefferman. Much appreciated.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #1

#1
Thanks Phil Friedman for the link, for reading and commenting. I guess I just keep doing this as long as I feel it has the potential to be part of the 20 percent.

Articles from Sara Jacobovici

View blog
6 years ago · 2 min. reading time

Image credit: steveoatesblog - WordPress.com · With Q&A@beBee, I ask some of the most interesting pe ...

6 years ago · 7 min. reading time

Image credit: French Stack Exchange · INTRODUCTION · It is my job to help individuals “make sense” o ...

6 years ago · 6 min. reading time

I am posting this is an “Out of the Comment Box” buzz as I am catching up on the works of some of th ...

You may be interested in these jobs

  • Organon

    Marketing & Digital Manager

    Found in: beBee S2 IL - 5 hours ago


    Organon Tel Aviv, Israel Full time

    Job Description · We are a passionate, global community of thousands dedicated to redefining the future of women's health. Our mission is to deliver impactful medicines and solutions for a healthier every day. But what really makes it work at Organon is our people. · We're lookin ...

  • Philip Morris International

    Marketing Automation

    Found in: beBee S2 IL - 5 hours ago


    Philip Morris International , Tel Aviv, Israel Full time

    We offer an opportunity to Join our significant digital marketing team, you will have the opportunity to create, initiate, influence, and take a significant part in the way we talk with our customers.We are looking for a CRM and customer journey expert,Your day-to-day will includ ...

  • Gutman Hasama

    Требуется тех работник

    Found in: beBee S2 IL - 5 hours ago


    Gutman Hasama holon, Israel Freelance

    B Холон требуется работник с техническими навыками . · Базовое знание иврита преимущество. Работа с инструментами /пресс станок /резка /сборка и подготовка · Прямое трудоустройство. · Часовая оплата: от 45 до 50ш\ч · Хорошие условия. Иврит на разговорном уровне обязателен · Работ ...