As mentioned earlier, the practice of active imagination includes coming into relationship to the full spectrum of one's self. The African Ancestors helped me to do this by teaching me to focus my attention in much the way a camera's zoom lens functions. Thus I was able to gain perspective via the panoramic view and then engage more objectively during the face to face encounters with my various shadows.
Although "Shadow" commonly connotes a dark, negative element, in this work it refers to all qualities of one's self that are pushed out of sight and out of mind for numerous reasons.
On November 16, the Ancestors gave me a visual review of my life, dreams and visions. As I began to connect the dots I turned to them to ask how I could be such a slow student. They laughed and then zoomed my attention in to see the sorrow I have carried, showing me what a constriction it has been on both my ability to see as well as to guide others to their own seeing. That led to facing my vanity and the belief that I could do any of this alone, or that I was ever alone. I admitted that I didn't know where that wiliness came from, but that it was best to see it for what it is; that I cast a shadow like all the rest.
On that cue the shadow made her entrance from the left…
Ma'tuk peers around me from his place at my right. When he sees who is there he returns to his position. She is mine to meet. She is sharp-angled and glaringly brilliant. She trusts no one and knows how to gain the upper hand in a moment. She is scoffing at this process and begins to tell me that we have been here before. She asks what I want to do by repeating the old story.
I tell her that I need to enlist her keen abilities to discern and prevent our getting stuck in my sentimentality. She leans a little closer to see if I (literally) have something up my sleeve. She leans back when she sees that I am without guile. She laughs bitterly at my defenselessness and begins to rant about all the times I have endangered her. I ask her to help now, to lend her talents. Her form becomes more defined as she becomes more present. She shifts her weight to balance and nods her assent.