Going Deeper

Plenty of myths and legends exist about the descent into the self. For example, Persephone is snatched down to the underworld by Hades, and returns for only half of each year to bring fertility to the fields. Dante descends to hell, but re-emerges, cleansed by the adventure. Orpheus used his powers as a musician to descend to the underworld to rescue Eurydice. The trouble is that Eurydice glances backwards, despite being forbidden to do so, and so is whisked back to the underworld forever. Orpheus is unable to live a meaningful life ever afterwards.

It’s that glance backwards that catches our attention.

We need to see it as a powerful metaphor. At its core it seems to be saying this: if you’ve been in a place of hell, or trauma, of loss, then art or music or love can help heal you. But if you choose to look backwards towards your experience, then you will be unable to let it go. You will be trapped by it and you will sink into its powerful grip all over again. If you choose to dwell on the pain you are leaving behind you cannot be saved.

The myth says it clearly – as myths tend to do. Being a victim is not the problem. Choosing to stay as a victim is. Remember what you have seen, but don’t look back.