Archetapestry VIII: The Adversary

THE ADVERSARY

“The natural state of the human psyche consists in a jostling together of its components and in their contradictory behavior… The reconciliation of these opposites is a major problem. Thus, the adversary is none other than ‘the other in me.”
― Carl Jung

This work has been bubbling below the surface for months, in which I took a break from the Archetapestry series. It represents the resistance encountered on the journey of self-discovery and individuation, as I’ve begun to confront and grapple with my own inner darkness.

Inside me lies an enemy. A saboteur. An adversary.

Inside us all, if Jung is to be believed. According to his theories, the shadow can manifest as an adversary when it remains unconscious and unrecognized. It can take various forms, including projections onto others, inner conflicts, or destructive patterns of behavior

Although it is not a distinct archetype, by his definition, it is certainly an archetypal concept and I therefore felt it had a place in the series.

The adversary represents, to me, those various aspects of the unknown, as yet unseen, shadow self which are dark, repressed elements of my psyche that I will not accept and cannot acknowledge or love. In Jungian psychology, the shadow is the reservoir of the unconscious mind containing all unknown aspects of ourselves, and the adversary is how I see the parts that I deny or suppress, including traits, desires, and emotions that I find unacceptable or threatening. This unconscious aspect of the psyche can widely influence behavior, relationships, and personal development in ways that are detrimental or disruptive.

As Jung said:

“The acceptance of oneself is the essence of the whole moral problem and the epitome of a whole outlook on life…what if I should discover that the least among them all, the poorest of all the beggars, the most impudent of all the offenders, the very enemy himself — that these are within me, and that I myself stand in need of the alms of my own kindness — that I myself am the enemy who must be loved — what then? …we say to the brother within us “Raca,” and condemn and rage against ourselves. We hide it from the world; we refuse to admit ever having met this least among the lowly in ourselves.”

What I do know, is that the very core of self-acceptance and ultimately, self-love, hinges on identifying and bringing these things into the light of day. It involves not just seeing but accepting these them as part of who I am. My spite, venom, rage, jealousy, selfishness must all be acknowledged and give a place at table in my conscious mind. By allowing this to happen, I will not only find true compassion for self, but for others too. To quote Jung: “Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people.” – Carl Jung, “The Psychology of the Transference” (1946)

In Jung’s framework this adversary represents the shadow aspects of the psyche that pose challenges to individuation and self-realization. By acknowledging and integrating these unconscious elements, individuals can overcome inner conflicts and achieve greater wholeness and authenticity in their lives.

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” – Carl Jung, “Aion: Researches into the Phenomenology of the Self” (1951)