‘We cannot change anything unless we can accept it.’ Carl Jung
Last night I had a very vivid dream in which I was traversing high bridges, descending tall towers, and wearing my beautiful Merry People boots. There were ladders, wires, and near-death experiences. In the dream, I remember thinking, that I was wearing the wrong boots – far too slippery for the surfaces I was trying to navigate – I should have worn my Dr Martens. Incidentally, I am not an ambassador for either of these fine bootmakers (other brands are available). Anyway, in the dream, when I descended one of the towers, I noticed a huge rip in the side of one of my beloved blue booties! Oh no! Not the Merry People!
I woke up hugely relieved that my real-life boots were safe and sound (I am wearing them now as I write this post) but a little perturbed by the possible meaning of my dream. You see, I often start my dream analysis with the uncomfortable thought that the ‘truths’ of the dream are probably not exactly what my ego wants to hear – which is possibly why they are hidden in these strange, sub-conscious, stories, and symbols. I’m sure we dream for many reasons. But this dream felt both perilous and empowering. It felt like a good dream.
I am sure there are lots of different ways of looking at this dream, with all its ladders, bridges, towers, and breaking boots – and this is not the place to explore them all – but it’s something to do with acknowledging how once valued vessels, containers, and vehicles of my life’s journey, might not be best suited for the next ascents, descents, and discoveries ahead. It’s too soon to talk about the possible details, directions, and insights of what this all means for me specifically (other than I will definitely use it as an excuse to buy some new boots!) – but I think, and I hope, that there are some universal themes in this dream’s message.
Incidentally, I had planned to write about something else this morning (it is the Saturday before this post goes out) - something based on another profound quote from Meditations for Mortals – but I can’t concentrate on that now – and funnily enough, it was about the wisdom of overlooking things! So, I took its advice to heart, and overlooked it completely. Fortunately, though, as I flicked through Oliver Burkeman’s richly wise reflections (I have already read his Meditations twice now), a quote from my chum Carl Jung popped out as-a-bit-of-a-perfect-fit.
‘We cannot change anything unless we can accept it.’ Carl Jung
I also think my dream follows nicely on from last week’s post – and in many ways may have been provoked by its contents being formulated and brought to the light of life. You see, my dream speaks to me of that strange backwards law of spirituality, recovery, and alchemy, when acceptance leads to change.
It seems to happen when you reach a certain crossroads of understanding, surrender, and even gratitude, concerning a situation or a problem you once wrestled with, resented, or tried to reject – and find yourself in that frightenedly free space in which change, new-beginnings, and new horizons feel more spaciously inviting, available, and possible. And that’s partly because now, you are not primarily motivated by escapism - which means, you don’t have to stay and face those dark forces which will inevitably follow you if you choose to fight or flight out of fear. Which means, you are free to fight some new battles, and climb some new mountains! But now, of course, you might want to stay in the comfort of acceptance. But the seams of this now beloved and comfortable vessel are starting to split, unstitch, and tear. So, do you wait for your merry boots to fall apart, or do you explore the possibilities of new shoes! Or is this all about some serious sole repair! In my dream, it wasn’t the sole of the show that was breaking – but the main body of the boot!
And that’s one of the really big questions of walking the line, the way, or the pilgrimage: when is it time to accept that the vessels of our life’s journey (jobs, homes, relationships, communities, expressions, artforms, therapies, liturgies, practices, policies, symbols, enterprises, roles, rules, and so on) are no longer fit for our soul’s purpose? – Despite loving them, finding them beautiful, feeling profound gratitude for them, or being deeply indebted to their faithful service in carrying us thus far!
Well, as I ask myself this question this morning, and offer it up in prayer, and stare at my beautiful Merry People boots, I am reminded of some words from my favourite alchemist, Christ, in The Gospel of Mark (2: 22):
“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”
When are we ready for a new wineskin?
Perhaps when we have learnt to sip the dark and bitter vinegar of our old wine, and receive its healing fermentation, can we wake up to its punchy kick, sting, and burn. And then, when we are satisfied that we can stomach its poison, handle its bite, and build up some immunity, we can know that we are ready for something new - because we are ready for something new.
‘We cannot change anything unless we can accept it.’ Carl Jung
Amen
