Metanoia
Over the Beyond and Through the Woods
Metanoia (from the Greek μετάνοια, metanoia, “changing one’s mind”) was first introduced by American psycho-philosopher William James to illustrate a process of substantive change in a person's mindset or worldview. The Ancient Greek μετά (metá) (“beyond” or “after”) and νόος (noeō) ( “perception” or “understanding” or “mind”), may be translated in different ways depending on the context and theorist using it.
Carl Gustav Jung developed the idea of Metanoia to highlight a spontaneous leap of the psyche to nurture itself of untenable conflict by essentially imploding, only to be reborn in a more productive form — the “transfiguration” of consciousness into a deeper, more inclusive stage. These existential crises’ may be seen as a form of the restitution of self; as such Metanoia could be seen as a transformation in the semblance of the personality away from the persona, through the shadow, and ultimately towards Selfhood. Often times this idea is represented in a mid-life crisis, where a rapid, unexpected breakdown of self leads in turn to a greater, more “free” sense of Self.
In the Gnostic Christian lineage, David Hogan explains:
“Metanoia is the cause for realization. It’s the place in us that we call consciousness and awakening,” Hogan explained. “Metanoia is very much akin to redemption, or liberation in a sense. The goal is for wisdom to be so deeply embedded in us that it becomes unconscious, that it moves and flows through us. When you you start to free up your concept of self and your ideas, all of your perceptions and the gravity that they hold start to change.”
Rather than fight against or build barriers between one’s “normal” way of being, Metanoia allows for the dissolution to occur, with a deeper understanding that a more integral worldview is to come. The more we get to experience Metanoia, the more layers of self peel away, so long as learning is at the heart of the experience. There is no “good” or “bad” experience, rather an experience can be judged by how much education one receives from it, with the mode of “Learned Evolution” being a continual, ever-present growth cycle beyond good and bad.
To get to the Clearing in the forest, you have to use your own hands to cut through the thicket. You can’t go around the woods, you can’t bring a chainsaw, you can’t burn a path — at least not without reflected negative shadow consequences. The only way out of the Metanoia forest is through.
reaching the Clearing
calloused hands bleeding
with sun beating
pine scented air breathing
may Self be whole again!
Love,
jb
