Flight 901
Conversation with a devil
“The shadow is a moral problem that challenges the whole ego-personality, for no one can become conscious of the shadow without considerable moral effort. Becoming conscious of it involves recognizing the dark aspects of the personality as present and real. This act is “the essential condition” for any kind of self-knowledge.” — Carl G. Jung
The alarming truth is there are few people brave enough to engage in self-analysis, which is the criteria for acknowledging and working with one’s shadow aspects. There are fewer still who occasionally think to themselves and ponder the results of their thoughts, behaviors, and actions. The reason is that it is simply painful to see and admit one’s flaws and inadequacies. It is far easier and more entertaining to see them in others.
Everyone dreams. We spend much of our lives in a strange mystical realm, complete with its own characters, storylines, conflicts, and convoluting physics. Today, dreams remain a mystery. According to Dr. Julia Mossbridge, a neuroscientist whose research at Northwestern University over the last 15 years concluded that up to 30% of people have precognition and precognitive dreams about future events. These dreams are real and will become accepted in 21st-century society.
This story is based on true events for the sole purpose of offering some explanation for the dark side of human nature that needs to be addressed and understood in today’s society.
During the evening that proceeded my flight to Texas, I had a precognitive dream, which predicted a foreboding change of events that I would soon discover would take place the following day. I awoke with dread and a knot in the pit of my stomach; something ominous was headed my way.
At first thought, I called my friends in Texas and explained my foreboding dream, which made me question the safety of the flight. They shared their disappointment, and ask me to face my fears and board the flight; schedules had been coordinated, plans had been made, and people were waiting for my arrival. After spending some quiet time with my thoughts in meditation, I proceeded with my evening flight. As I boarded the jet, I briefly glanced at the surrounding beauty of the landscape. I was indeed fortunate to live in such a pristine, lush area filled with trees, forest, and green meadows, surrounded by wildlife.
After boarding the jet, I found my seat, nestled in with a book, and got ready for take-off. There were approximately 400 hundred people on the jet and all were seated. As we climbed higher in altitude, the clouds and the jet seem to become in sync. We finally leveled off from our climb and the passengers were told they could remove their seat belts. I glimpsed through the window of the plane as we floated above the ground into an endless abyss. At that moment, a man who appeared to be around 6 foot, and 3 inches, weighing around 225 pounds, jumped out of his seat; and began yelling and drawing attention to himself. He stared directly at me and began talking to me. I promptly ignored him, hoping he would sit down and be quiet. This strategy did not work; he became more aggressive, yelling louder while making every attempt to engage my attention. I realized I had no choice but to deal directly with this threat, and so I did. I faced him directly, eye to eye, and felt no fear.
I began asking this man questions about himself. What was his name, where was he from, and why he was so upset? As he talked, his voice lowered, and he seemed to become calmer, yet, was not giving up his intimating demeanor. We began our discussion as I learned more about his life and why he had boarded the jet. I became aware at that moment that no one was talking; it was as if all movement had ceased, and every person was staring forward in silence. The flight attendant attempted to ask the man to sit down; he refused and brushed her off with his threats.
He continued to want to talk with me for the next 2.5 hours. We might as well have been in a room by ourselves because there was no movement or sound from anyone. I knew the people were terrified, and I was on my own to handle the situation as best as I could. I purposefully made every attempt to be calm, supportive, and friendly. My behavior had a soothing effect on him, as well as his need to talk about himself and his life. Finally, I rose from my seat and stated I needed a bathroom break; he said empathically, that I must return to my seat after my visit to the restroom, and we would continue our discussion.
Fortunately, unknown to me; there was a plan for my escape in place. As I left the restroom, four flight attendants surrounded me and I was escorted to the front of the jet where I was approached by the Captain and the other flight attendants; who were graciously thanking me for my role in dealing with this man’s threat. Immediately, the man began screaming and yelling for me to come back to talk with him, and he threatened to come after me when the plane had landed.
The Captain informed me that everyone in the air and on the ground was on high alert to the situation and the man would be taken into custody upon landing and a swat team would escort me to my destination.
My sincere thanks for the protocols that ensured my safety and the safety of the other passengers at this unexpected turn of events.
This situation is exactly what Carl Jung would call dealing with another person’s shadow side. The man was using intimidation and control to terrify every passenger on the jet. He wanted to express his negative, dark side so that he could feel powerful. I was forced to deal with this man and his expression of his shadow side.
I had been engaged in inner work, self-analysis, and therapy since I was nineteen years of age, trained as a counselor/therapist; this was my life’s work. Therefore, I was not repelled or repulsed by the man’s behavior. Carl Jung states in his work of self-analysis that the best person to deal with another person’s shadow side is one who has dealt with their own shadow. His theory proved correct in this situation. Had I not been prepared through self-analysis and inner work, I certainly would not have been able to deal with this man’s anger, threats, intimidation, and behaviors.
In Jungian terms, our “SHADOW” or the “Devil,” in each of us, must be observed, confronted, and dealt with. Our nature is both light and dark, good and bad. Our shadow represents repressed fears and feelings that are a part of our personality and psyche that, if not accepted, prevent normal growth and development of the personality. Ignoring these aspects of ourselves becomes the benchmark of what we see in everyone else but never in ourselves. Thus, we accumulate many inhibitions, phobias, addictions, and dysfunctional, toxic patterns of behavior. When people refuse to look at themselves honestly and reflect on undesirable behaviors and attitudes, they suppress the negative aspects of themselves. They project these undesirable traits, attitudes, and behaviors onto other people. They use other people as scapegoats to keep from owning and accepting their negativity and negative traits. Without acceptance of the shadow, one continues on a path of childlike denial and a refusal to integrate into fully mature adulthood. Thus, always searching for someone else to blame, always proving to themselves and others their superiority, and self-righteousness while never owning or taking responsibility for their lives.
A deflective tool that we all use is projection. When we cannot understand how we are ignoring the negative aspects of ourselves, we project onto others exactly what we refuse to face in ourselves. Of course, we do most of this on an unconscious level, so many of us are NOT even conscious of the fact that we are taking part in such a destructive process. As one works on oneself while noticing and accepting his/her own shadow, one feels more tolerance, acceptance, empathy, and less blame toward others. As a person feels an understanding of his very nature, the good and the bad, the light and dark, he can accept human failings and limitations.
The blocks that have prevented a person’s growth will dissipate. It is at this intersection that a person may continue to mature and grow into a deeper, wiser human being that has deep tolerance and compassion for other human beings. Tolerance and compassion replace criticism, judgment, ego, pride, and self-righteousness. The process allows the human to become authentic as the masks of the personality eventually fall away.
Basic education provides a framework for learning, but it does not provide one with the ability to think. Experience is always the best teacher, providing one can learn from one’s mistakes.
People (of all ages) in our society, have become more neurotic, and chaotic. They display child-like, adolescent behaviors. As one realizes the negative aspects of oneself, one realizes that this awareness is critical in order to grow into healthy adulthood. Otherwise, child-like adolescence prevails, which maintains a pleasure-seeking, narcissistic, hedonistic, selfish, immoral, immature, population who wants someone else (BIG BROTHER) to take care of them. This type of population provides the Perfect Storm for tyranny, totalitarianism, fascism, and dictatorship.
Carl G. Jung (1875–1961) was a Swiss physician, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst who founded analytical psychology. His work influenced psychiatry, anthropology, archaeology, literature, philosophy, and religious studies. His contributions and insights into the personality and psyche of human beings were extraordinary and genius. One of his greatest insights and quotes is, “WE SHOULD NOT PRETEND TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD ONLY BY THE INTELLECT; WE APPREHEND IT JUST AS MUCH BY FEELING.” Therefore, the judgment of the intellect is only half of the truth, and must, if it is honest, also come to an understanding of its inadequacy.
The purpose of describing the “shadow” according to Carl G. Jung, is to present the concept that the current events involving religions, politics, world governments, world leaders, and politicians are failing humanity. The shadow has not been recognized, worked with, and accepted, so, therefore; it is reaping havoc on the world stage and the individual’s life.
THE EGO FEARS,
THE SOUL DOES NOT.
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email: denisekeever09@gmail.com
