The Guest House

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

– Jalaluddin Rumi

A few words about Jalal-al-Din Rumi of whom many have at least a passing familiarity with the simple and better known name of Rumi. He was a Persian poet, theologian, jurist, and Sufi master living in the 13th century (1207-1273) writing on themes of human nature, love, and God in a manner which might lead one to think he is a modern poet. His style of free nonrhyming verse with unusual and memorable imagery has been said to make this medieval poet not only of his time but equally for all time. Indeed, he remains one of the most popular poets in the world. And what a prolific writer…hundreds of poems and in addition to prose sermons.

In these days of chaos and upheaval seemingly everywhere on our planet it’s no wonder we feel anxious. This is a summer of dread. Warming oceans, melting ice shelves, record setting high temperatures, hatred of the other in political parties especially in the United States as we count down to a Presidential election, wars, sensationalism of crimes which lead us to believe we could be in danger if we leave our homes and haunts, unbelievable price increases for food and utilities, on and on.

How do we manage this time when “each morning is a new arrival”? I know some will view the news, scroll their phones, lament each situation, blame politicians, and find like-minded souls to commiserate with. Others will sharply curtail their ingestion of current events and instead consume TikTok and Instagram. Some will use writing platforms including this one to tout their political and social opinions and reactions in a manner to persuade readers toward their views. Others will immerse themselves in nature writing or actually get out there and be among the trees when the weather allows.

Some such as myself will remind ourselves that all of humanity has a dark or shadow side. Carl Jung psychologist, psychiatrist, and analyst was the first to write extensively about Shadow. What is Shadow? It’s a part of the unconscious which appears as the sum total of the most flawed, the weakest, inferior, disgusting aspects of humanity. No matter how intelligent, beautiful, successful, philanthropic, church-going, or just plain ‘nice’, we all have a Shadow. The contents are our blind spot which we manage by projecting or attributing those aspects to ‘out there’ in ‘those people,’ ‘them’.

Coming to a place of acknowledgement that we are not only able to show love and kindness, but also capable of violent base acts given the ‘right’ situation, the tipping point, is important. I often think we are at or on the verge of this tipping point. Not allowing ourselves to look into what Joseph Conrad called our ‘heart of darkness’ solves nothing.

I could go on and talk more about Jungian thought and the approach one can use to come to know Shadow and how to incorporate it as part of our psyche where we can deal with it safely and responsibility but there is enough written and many videos available by reputable Jungians on YouTube. If you are interested in exploring this, an accessible place to start is with This Jungian Life hosted by “three good friends and analysts.”

We know there are a myriad of ways to distract ourselves in these times. Some will go shopping, party, watch Netflix or movies about the ‘good old days’, read ‘fluff’…you know. None of these things are inherently bad. They serve a purpose for awhile or for ever long we do one after another. It’s a better choice than numbing out with alcohol or illegal substances.

I could say I don’t judge but that’s untrue. I do, both myself and others. I do project outward those things I don’t want to see in myself although it’s less and when it happens I say to myself, “Whoa, what’s this about?” And I remind myself that we never do get rid of Shadow completely but continue to do the work of looking within ourselves. Do you remember the American comic strip Pogo? Pogo, the central character, had a memorable phrase, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Yes, we have shared culpability and responsibility. It begins with ourselves, not ‘them.’

I’ll close with a couple of my favorite Rumi quotes:

“Many of the faults you see in others, dear reader, are your own nature reflected in them.”

“Yesterday, I was clever so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise and so want to change myself.”

And three Carl Jung quotes:

“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.”

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

“The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.”