The collective shadow, according to Analytical Psychology.

In the book Encounter with the Shadow, edited by C. Zweig and J. Abrams, these authors describe the collective shadow, which we will characterize throughout this article.

It is very important to recognize the shadow aspects of humanity today because they would allow us to do the integration and awareness work necessary to mobilize changes.

The personal shadow is all the aspects rejected, made invisible, or that have been left undeveloped because they are undervalued, in the psyche of an individual. We know our shadow by seeing it projected on others since it is difficult to access it in any other way.

Just as the personal shadow is, the collective shadow is found, which implies everything that is collectively rejected. How to recognize one's own shadow is not an easy task, because it would imply admitting one's own vulnerabilities and shortcomings; then there is a tendency to expel it outside, to project it onto other groups or figures. Thus, the less aware we are of this, the more that shadow grows, and the more aggressiveness it accumulates.

We can see it in the news and in the conflicts that humanity is currently going through. The ongoing witch hunts, racism, bombings, and wars are examples of this. He is the other one to blame for all evils. That spares awareness of one's own shadowy aspects.

The collective shadow makes itself seen, it shows itself in the miseries of the world, in excessive ambition, in acts of discrimination. It is displayed to offer the opportunity to be observed and perhaps integrated. But there is still great ignorance, and this perpetuates rejection.

The process of the collective shadow implies the appearance outside of everything that is rejected, embodied by another or others who would be the only ones responsible. Dehumanizing them, transforming them into monsters is a way to justify themselves and encourage hatred. If the others are guilty, this generates the illusion of purity and innocence in those who observe and accuse. Many dogmas have promoted this. Heresy and the witch hunt that we mentioned earlier occupy this place.

Art, literature, and cinema have long been responsible for showing the dark aspects of the collective. These resources sometimes allow us to see our own impulses reflected on safe ground.

The acceptance of one's aggressiveness is part of the integration process, but it does not imply giving it free rein. On the contrary, the correct awareness allows precisely moderating it and channeling it in a healthy way.

The collective shadow shows us everything that as humans we do not want to see, what we want to cover or deny, everything repressed we suddenly see in others and we use it as an excuse to fight. Another political party, another race, another religion, other ideas or ways of being. We place them on the sidewalk across the street and hold them responsible for all the evils we experience. This prevents us from seeing that we are all part of the same process and keeps us from recognizing the issues at stake.

The integration of the shadow implies being able to connect with one's own dark spots, with everything that we do not dare to observe, both personally and from a collective point of view. It is making visible and taking charge of one's own participation in what we live.

 

 

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