I am not an anthropologist but I am fascinated by the way ancient people lived and developed cultures, some aspects of which are now, centuries later, part of us in are overall way of being. I suppose for many of us we would, or may imagine, such ancient people as being’cavemen’ , hunter gatherers who lived in caves and provided for their families by hunting animals, and learning to use what the earth provided.
One could also imagine that they developed means of communication, language, and generally ‘norms’ and ‘mores’ which still form the basis of our own living. I have already stated that I am not an anthropologist so my remarks and reflections are based on imagination, taking my mind to possibilities, being curious.
The use of imagination is a marvellous way of extending our capacity to see and develop choices when recovering from trauma and its consequences, of course in serious trauma culminating in PTSD it may not be available to us, or wise to let go of the sense of holding onto a safe place within us.
In the story of Aladdin the young man finds marvellous treasure in a cave which enables him to magically gain the love of a beautiful princess and keep her in luxury. This story is the stuff of fairy tales which , so often can help us to hold something difficult ,or enable us to consider our own internal treasures and capacities to deal with difficulties.
Fairy stories cleverly hid moral values, and in this one it brings out many of these including courage,honesty,self-confidence, and kindness. These values have real significance in reflecting on recovery and ‘a cave syndrome’.
In the ‘down of the ‘cave syndrome’ we are in a survival mode, fearful, ‘on guard’ and afraid simply struggling to survive paranoia and unable to think clearly, but when we come up into the light we begin to see that capacity you have can see in the dark, no I haven’t gone mad The light in the external world can engage with the darkness within and open our internal eyes to new possibilities.
If you have, in recent times, been struggling to walk in recovery but are healthy enough to use your imagination, engage in the story of Aladdin down in the corner of your internal cave find your courage to be honest and kind to and with yourself and begin to see your treasure to start a new life.
COME ON COME UP FOR AIR DON’T LET THE SABOTEUR WIN!
aoibheann thoughtful reflections 