Compassion and the Alchemy of Healing and Transformation.
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
"THE FOCUSING OF ATTENTION ON THE CENTER...AND THE WARNING ABOUT "RUNNING AWAY" HAVE CLEAR PARALLELS IN THE OPUS ALCHYMICUM: THE NEED TO CONCENTRATE IN THE WORK AND TO MEDITATE UPON IT IS STRESSED AGAIN AND AGAIN. THE TENDENCY TO RUN AWAY, HOWEVER, IS ATTRIBUTED NOT TO THE OPERATOR BUT TO THE TRANSFORMING SUBSTANCE. THE VESSEL MUST BE WELL SEALED SO THAT WHAT IS WITHIN MAY NOT ESCAPE" (Jung). It is helpful to remember that the process of healing and psychological transformation is exceedingly difficult. The process itself is heroic in the sense that it will demand amazing courage, profound honesty, relentless determination, vigorous concentration, and endless sense of humor. Therefore, if we stumble, avoid, or run away from the process, let it be known that it is because of the inherent difficulties of the process of healing and transformation. Then, compassion toward ourselves is key.
https://kazinoatranka.com the Jung quote about the vessel needing to be sealed really stuck with me, because it flips the usual self-blame script by suggesting the running away belongs to the process itself rather than to us. I've noticed in my own life that the moments I judge myself most harshly for avoiding something are usually the ones where the work genuinely feels overwhelming. Framing compassion as a practical requirement rather than a soft option makes the whole idea far more usable.