Life can be a labyrinth, offering choices of path for the seeker. A path that leads you to the center passing through all the twists and turns. A singular passage resonating and symbolic of our inward spiritual journey.
The only way out is IN and going through it. It is an image of what is sacred in our lives. Life is hidden in metaphor contained in everything that we encounter.
When we walk through Life’s path meeting trials and challenges we also experience our own emotions – fear, anger, envy, pride, prejudice, frustrations, failures, sorrows, our physical being or our intellect including our successes, experiences. It is part of everything that we are.
They challenge our wits taking the form of a Minotaur or as the popular saying goes “Facing ones’ inner demons.” And those who look upon it as powerful sources of creative forces in the form of a dragon.
The Dragon, the Minotaur and Demon are a representation of a certain part of our Being or Psyche. Revealing themselves in life’s circumstances grabbing us when we least expect it. Presenting a dichotomy in ourselves. Reconciling the opposites within and achieving harmonious balance is important.
Whether you want to look at it as powerful sources of energies as the Dragon or as the Beastly Minotaur with the untamed/baser instincts and the tamed/the human. Or just maybe the Angelic being as the evolving opposites in our nature as best – good and lesser – bad; Self-awareness is necessary.
Objectifying our emotions, or thoughts help us gain a balanced perspective, a better foot hold of the situation and respond in an unprejudiced manner to anyone and anything connected to it. Only then can one begin to make peace with ourselves and the circumstances around it.
The sudden outburst of emotions can bring out the either the best or worst part of ourselves. Manifested as turbulent fits of tantrums in childhood, displaced anger or irrational fears in adults. Emotions are neutral forces with the potential of turning them into something productive and creative.
Developing the art of channeling these forces is taming one’s dragon. As Angels and demons are of the same Spiritual Being able to intuitively determine t
he good and bad the thought of it helps decipher the divine and the mundane outcomes of emotions or actions. Wisdom in knowing the difference. The Minotaur on the other hand is half man and half bull. Finding balance between baser instincts and reason is necessary.
These are different approaches to emotions – the taming of the dragon, the Minotaur and the Angels and demons subjectively showing man’s evolving consciousness in the changing epoch.
As we respond to the world around in time where globalization diminishes cultural borders and identity. Coping challenges the capacity to grab the nettle or the changing times, the flexibility of the soul and the limits if the ego.
Openness makes way for dialogue and ultimately peaceful co-existence. Sharing with the understanding that we are looking at the same world from different sides.
Approaches can be channeled towards the same direction as one creative spirit. Recognizing what is good, the reason to look into our emotions and thoughts, we are better able to direct our energies into something positive that will give us the creative power.
Life is one huge labyrinth and we come across many travelers in time. Whatever one’s choice of path is, finding harmony is openness to allow others become the best person possible. The capacity to live in the present moment, live with and move forward brings the greater possibility of any occasion.
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MARIA LOURDES A. DE VERA is an artist-author, a registered nurse and a licensed professional teacher. Known to her students and other children under her tutelage as Teacher Marielou, she is friendly, unconventional and fun.
She is the author of “Art and the Creation Stories”, published by Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc., a very useful book not only for educators but also for anyone who is willing to revive one’s noble calling in a life of creativity.
Coming up with her second book Embraced by the Light, a journey to Love. It is a book on the care at the end of days.
