Читать книгу Close to the Bone - Jean Shinoda Bolen - Страница 36

I have told the story of Psyche in the underworld many, many times and know how powerful the story is when a listener has an Aha! recognition of its personal meaning. Three times, Psyche—whose name means “Soul”—is tested: will she say no each time and hold on to what she needs to make it through this part of her life when the outcome of the rest of her life depends upon it? Many listeners, especially women with selfish parents, partners, or others with narcissistic needs, immediately identify with this part of the myth and know that it applies to their lives, right now.

When we recognize that these symbolic figures may also be representations of who we need to say no to in ourselves, Psyche's story takes us to yet a deeper level of understanding and choice. Do you need to say no to a part of yourself that metaphorically acts lame or dim sighted or tugs on you and pulls you down.? A life-threatening illness takes us into the underworld where life as well as soul is at risk. Insights may make a crucial difference. Look to this myth: survival may depend upon saying no to self-pity and helplessness or to a tendency to weave worst-case outcomes or take on burdens that belong to someone else. These are qualities held by people who are susceptible to codependency, addictions, and depression.

I have found that once we have clarity to know what is right for us and what is wrong for us, we are invariably tested to see if we really got the lesson. Circumstances and individuals present themselves: Will we recognize that this is another version of the same pattern or person that has been destructive to us before? Will we stand tall and say no! this time around? Once we pass by the temptation as many times as we seem to need in order to be out of danger of succumbing, the psychological terrain and the emotional weather change. We find ourselves in a new phase of our lives and are able to say yes! wholeheartedly, often for the very first time, because we have come to know what we feel, to trust our perceptions, and to count on ourselves. There is a need to be able to say no that precedes a genuine yes, when our actions have previously been determined by compliance, conformity, or fear of the reaction of others.

When a story such as Psyche's is taken to heart, a person sees herself or himself as the protagonist in a version of the same story. It can be a force for change, if a myth provides the means to what is happening, inspires us, and gives us strength to act. The power of a myth lies in the application of it to real life. Personal stories have the same power to affect us, if we can identify with the situation and with the person.