Author: Susan Schulte

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The Divine Presence

Many religious traditions teach the same or similar beliefs.  There’s an overlap in the truths they impart.  Some of these teachings are that there is an all-knowing and all-powerful divine presence and that having compassion, being humble, avoiding being judgmental, and helping others are qualities we should embrace.

Some people find it hard to believe in a divine presence.  In my work as a crisis line counselor, people sometimes call about their struggles with addiction and trying to maintain sobriety.  Although thankfully many people have been helped by attending Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings, some tell me they don’t consider attending those programs because they don’t believe in a higher power.  I understand having doubts.  Although I was raised in a religious tradition and attended worship services and religious instruction classes regularly throughout my childhood and teen years, I went through a period of questioning when I was in my 20s.  Questioning when a person is a young adult is natural to that time of life.  And it can happen at any age.  Most religious traditions have compassion for people as they struggle with their beliefs.

In modern western society, the rational/materialistic approach to life is emphasized.  Using our rational thinking abilities is essential for many tasks.  But the thinking, analytic function definitely does not provide all the answers.  There are many subjective, intangible aspects of life for which there are not clear, concise, objective explanations.  Some people ridicule a person who says there are not obvious explanations and that at times we do well to accept that there are mysteries.

Having faith is a gift from the Creator, the divine presence.  Although we are not directly in control of when we will be given that gift, it is important that we “prepare the soil,” so to speak, to receive it.  Trying to follow the almost universal teachings of having compassion, not judging others, having humility, and not thinking only of our needs and wants but remembering we are part of the human community are ways to do that.

Be open to the divine.  Then prepare the soil to receive the gift of faith, to care for it, and to help it grow.

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Being Patient

The other day when I was sitting at my desk, I noticed a slight movement outside.  I looked out the window, and I saw a small bird standing on a beam under the eave.  The movement I’d seen was the bird flying to that spot.  And right beside the bird was a nest which, as I was watching, the bird settled into.  It’s spring as I write this and perhaps there are eggs in the nest, or soon will be.

In addition to being impressed by the bird’s choice of a place to build the nest that is protected from wind and rain and predators, seeing that little bird in its nest reminded me of the quality of patience.  It is instinctual of course for birds to spend however much time is needed being still keeping their eggs warm until it’s time for their chicks to hatch.  For many people, such patience doesn’t come so naturally.  I consider myself to be a generally patient person, but then I catch myself at times when that isn’t so.  As when the person in the car ahead of me isn’t watching the light change and I feel some tension as I wait for them to get going.  Or when I go to a meeting and, because some people aren’t on time, the meeting starts late.

There are many life circumstances where having patience is essential.  Illnesses must run their course and we need to take care of ourselves as they do.  Injuries need a certain amount of time to heal, no matter how much we want to be active again.  Children at different ages and developmental levels are only able to do certain things, and it’s important for the children’s wellbeing that we as parents and caregivers recognize this.  Goals we set for ourselves require time as we work toward them.  These are just a few of many examples.

St. Augustine, a Christian theologian and philosopher who lived in the late fourth and early fifth centuries, wrote:  “Patience is the companion of wisdom.”  When life circumstances require us to be patient, it is in our best interest that we endeavor to be so.

Seeing that little bird in its nest is an example of how our connection with nature can provide moments of reflection.  For me, it also had synchronistic meaning.  Synchronicities are acausal meaningful occurrences.  I believe there is a reason I happened to be sitting where I was at a time the bird flew near the window and caught my attention.  For this took place during a period of time when some things are occurring that are not in my control, that may last for quite a while yet, and for which the outcome is uncertain, all of which require that I have greater patience than I’ve ever needed to have.  This synchronicity affirmed for me that waiting patiently is what I need to continue to do in my present situation.  Receiving that message helps me to do that, and I’m thankful the message was given to me.

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Going Though the Darkness

“But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.”

One of the things I pray for is courage, courage to face the challenges that come my way.  And courage to embrace the truth that challenges and difficulties are an essential aspect of living.  As much as I know intellectually and from experience that there are times when we all must grieve the passing of loves ones, feel the disappointment of unexpected setbacks, experience illness, and deal with other challenges, there is a part of me that questions why this must be so.  The words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. which I quoted above help me to see that there is a purpose to enduring hardship.

Dr. King and many other people displayed great courage during the civil rights movement.  Their brave words and actions and their perseverance paved the way for many people to have more opportunities and better lives.  Their example gives us guidance and hope.  As does the life of Harriett Tubman.  She endured much suffering when she was a slave, was able to escape, and then, at significant risk to herself, helped many other people escape slavery through the underground railroad.  Other people also risked their lives to help people gain freedom in this way.

The Jungian concept of individuation where we become more whole and self-actualized persons through the integration of unconscious content into consciousness certainly involves challenges.  We become aware of unconscious content from dreams, synchronicities, intuition, and meaningful life experiences, and this awareness often requires that we take actions that are difficult to do.  The difficulty is caused by our egos not wanting to follow the direction of the Self or inner voice.  It’s hard for our egos to give up control, even though in reality that sense of control is illusory.  In order to continue to grow in consciousness and therefore to have more meaningful lives, however, it is essential that we do our best to follow the inner direction we discern, despite our fears.  Just as Harriett Tubman, Martin Luther King, Jr., and many others have done.

By doing so, we go through the darkness that leads to the starlight.

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If you have read my other blogs, you know I think highly of the writing of John A. Sanford, a Jungian analyst, writer, and speaker, who also was an Episcopal priest for 19 years. In his book Dreams and Healing, Sanford writes: “Dreams also help us by showing us what it is upon which we should focus our attention. It is easy to be overwhelmed by our fears, the confusion of life, and the myriad small and great worries that beset us. A dream gives us an image of what it is we most need to ponder. In this way dreams can lift us beyond the narrow confines of our ordinary conscious life, and present us with a larger picture.”

I have found this to be true. In my experience, and based on reading I’ve done, some dreams are more clearly meant to direct a person to take some type of action. And when a person has a dream like that, trying to take the steps toward accomplishing what the dream is directing is what matters most. As Sanford says, that is where we should focus our attention. Because dreams when properly understood help us to learn about ourselves by bringing unconscious content to consciousness, each person becomes more whole as he or she tries to follow dream direction. This takes courage because we don’t necessarily know what will result from following dream direction.

A number of years ago I had a dream where several women were busy packing my belongings, putting them into boxes and sealing the boxes. For a few months before having that dream, I had thought it might be time to move to a different city, and this dream confirmed that yes, I needed to move. I didn’t particularly want to move; it would be costly, I would need to find a job, I would be leaving friends I cared about. But this dream was so clear in its meaning that I knew I would be going against what was right for me if I didn’t follow the dream’s direction. And I’m happy to say I have never regretted moving to where I live. My family and I benefited in many ways because I followed the direction of the dream.

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Nature’s Gifts Belong to All of Us

“The voice of my grandfather said to me, the air is precious. It shares its spirit with all the life it supports. The wind that gave me my first breath also received my last sigh. You must keep the land and air apart and sacred, as a place where one can go to taste the wind that is sweetened by the meadow flowers.”

These beautiful words were spoken by Chief Seattle, part of a speech he made during negotiations with the U.S. government on behalf of white settlers, “negotiations” where the Native people had basically no say. He was chief of the Suquamish and Duwamish Indians in the Pacific Northwest in the mid-1800s. Even as he and his people were having their land taken from them, he asked that those who would live there after them cherish and take care of that land and water and air.

I am sometimes reminded of Chief Seattle’s words when I’m spending time outdoors. It’s early spring as I write this. Some of the migrating birds have returned and I have the pleasure of seeing them and hearing their songs. In spring there is also the gradually increasing daylight, with the sun rising earlier and setting later. And there is the aroma of budding greenery and flowers. Although I live in an urban area, there is a small lake nearby that has a walking path around it, and I enjoyed taking that walk today. It was a sunny day and it was invigorating to take a brisk walk in the fresh air.

The cloudless blue sky today reminded me of these words from Chief Seattle’s speech: “How can you buy the sky? How can you own the rain and the wind?” For the sky and the rain and the wind and so many other aspects of nature belong to all of us.

Recognizing and valuing our connection to nature add to our wellbeing. Even if we live in urban areas and aren’t able to leave the city very often, we can see the sky and the sun and the clouds—they are a connection to nature too. I’m thankful that many urban planners and decision-makers recognize the importance of having green spaces within cities so those of us living there can walk along tree-lined streets and spend time in parks. We should value our connection to nature of which Chief Seattle spoke so profoundly and do our part to care for these gifts, not only for ourselves but for those who come after us. For he also said, “Preserve the land and the air and the rivers for your children’s children and love it as we have loved it.”

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Imagery in Dreams

I had a dream recently that I would like to share with you, because it’s such a good example of how dreams use imagery to present their messages. Here is the dream: I live in a small apartment in an older brick building. It has a small kitchen, a bathroom, and a living area where there’s room for a bed and some other furniture. A man I know and his family live in a house a few houses over from where I live. I go there and let myself in; it’s understood I may do that. Their home is spacious and attractive and has large windows so there is much natural light. The man’s wife sees me and greets me. There’s something I need to find in their home and it’s understood I have permission to look for it. Then the man comes in wearing pajamas and a robe and we greet each other. I hadn’t expected to see him, having assumed he had already left to go to work. I find what I was looking for (it’s not stated in the dream what that is). Then their two children who are about five and ten years old join us and we say hi to each other; they too are wearing pajamas and robes. I then say goodbye and go back to my place.

Although Jungian dream theory emphasizes the importance of each person’s own associations to dream images and doesn’t suggest that certain images always have one specific meaning, the image of a residence has often been found to symbolize the dreamer’s ego strength. By ego strength, I mean the ego’s ability and inclination to follow the direction of the self or the inner voice. In my dream it shows me living in a small apartment in an older building, which to me suggests limited ego strength. Dreams bring to consciousness information from the unconscious; they tell us how things are right now. So I believe one message of my dream was to let me know my ego strength was not as strong as it has been at other times, so that I could keep that in mind as I was dealing with situations going on in my life.

The dream also presents the image of another residence: a lovely, spacious, light-filled home where a man and his family live. What stands out, of course, is the contrast between where I live and where this family lives. Their home symbolizes considerable ego strength. In addition, the dream chose as an image a man who I know in physical reality who for me represents qualities that I value, some of which are spirituality, consciousness, courage, and creativity. The fact that the dream also includes the man’s wife and children seems to augment those positive qualities.

The dream also shows a comfortable relationship among us—it being understood I may enter the home without knocking, being greeted by the man’s wife and a little later by the man and then by the children, them wearing pajamas and robes—I see these as positive symbols for me in that they could be suggesting I am growing toward having more of the qualities I value. They are qualities of a person who is individuating, to use Carl Jung’s term. I believe this potential is further implied when the dream says I am looking for and find something in their home. In other words, I am seeking that which matters.

One of the many ways dreams are helpful to us is how they show what is happening “under the surface” in the present, and they also show what is possible going forward. They often use as images people and places to which we can make associations to help us have a sense of what the dream is presenting to us. I hope my sharing my dream and what it means to me will help you as you pay attention to your dreams.

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Driving Out Darkness

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” When I read these truths expressed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I thought about symbolism of light.

I picture a sunrise, the start of a new day. And how each new day is a new beginning and an opportunity to make good choices and do right actions. I think of the light of understanding, compassion, empathy, justice, and love. Just as the sunrise appears as the night ends and replaces the darkness with light, these qualities diminish and help to drive away close-mindedness, bigotry, complacency, selfishness, and hate.

History records many major movements where light drove out darkness: the end of slavery, peace accords, and civil rights and equal rights laws, to name a few. These achievements started with individual persons making choices and then working with others who had similar visions. It took courage, persistence, and empathy for the suffering of others. And those same qualities are needed today as we endeavor to make this a better world.

Each day each one of us can do our part to decrease where darkness is present. We do that by treating others with respect and by acting with integrity. We do that by trying to hear and follow our inner voice. And we do that through prayer and by growing in consciousness. Embrace each opportunity to add to the light and the love in our world.

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Inner Wholeness

“Our dreams seek to lead us to a kind of inner wholeness. But if we are to truly realize this inner wholeness it must be expressed in our outer life of work, relationships, love and commitment.” These words are from the book Dreams: God’s Forgotten Language by Jungian psychotherapist and Episcopal priest John A. Sanford. Dreams bring to conscious awareness information that helps us to grow toward the inner wholeness of which Sanford writes.

When a person reads about dream work and Jungian concepts, records in a journal his or her dreams and related thoughts and associations to dream images, and meets with a spiritual director or Jungian therapist, it might seem as though only that person benefits. And of course she or he does benefit. But Sanford makes clear that doing dream work and through it becoming a more conscious and whole person results in much more than individual personal growth. For becoming more genuine and grounded persons affects every aspect of our lives. It influences the work we are led to and how we approach that work, the people we know and love as well as all people with whom we interact, and the commitments we make, commitments that are based on direction we discern from our dreams, synchronicities, and other meaningful life experiences.

An example of inner wholeness being expressed in a person’s outer life in the form of work, commitment, and love for others is Sanford’s sharing of his knowledge through his writing. He chose to devote many hours to writing, while also being busy in his professions, first as a priest and then as an analyst, and also while raising a family, so that those of us who read his books will have more meaningful lives. This is true of other writers as well who write about concepts that matter, thereby helping those of us who read their books as we try to follow our paths to wholeness.

Our world is comprised of negative and positive, ugly and beautiful, evil and genuine goodness. By endeavoring to realize inner wholeness, we add to what is positive, beautiful, and good, both for ourselves and for others.

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Growing in Consciousness

“Every new breakthrough into consciousness has to struggle against opposition from human egocentricity and conventionality.” This quote is from John A. Sanford’s book Dreams: God’s Forgotten Language. Dr. Sanford was a Jungian analyst, Episcopal priest, and author of several books, many of which were about Christianity, spirituality, and Jungian psychological concepts, and their interrelationship. This quote points out two of the most common challenges people face as they try to grow in consciousness.

It is difficult for most, and possibly all, people to make changes. It’s especially difficult when the ideas for what to change and how to change come from a source other than ourselves. Growing in consciousness occurs as we hear our inner voice. Doing our best to follow the direction we are given by our inner voice requires courage and sacrifice. The “human egocentricity” to which Sanford refers gets in the way—questioning, wanting the direction to be different, wanting change to be easier. Each new breakthrough into consciousness is another step that leads to a more genuine and centered way of experiencing life, and thus to having a more meaningful life. It requires recognizing that our egos are not the most important part of our psyches. The self, to use Jung’s term, or the inner voice, to use a more spiritual term, is far more important.

Growing in consciousness leads toward our becoming the unique persons we were created to be, which results in living more purposeful lives. Being unique means not automatically doing what most people do, not “following the crowd.” There are times when following our own paths feels uncomfortable and even painful. Quite often people we know don’t necessarily like the changes they see in us and they let us know that either overtly or in more subtle ways. They are part of the “opposition from conventionality” about which Sanford writes.

As difficult as these forms of opposition are, doing our best to follow our path is what will bring a sense of peace and purpose. We only need to look at the problems of modern society to see that egocentricity and conventionality do not lead to happiness and calm. In addition to a sense of peace, growing in consciousness helps to develop compassion, selflessness, and wisdom—qualities that truly do matter.

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A Note of Appreciation and Thanks

As I have written in other posts, my elderly mother has lived in an assisted living apartment for about six years. Both she and I are thankful she was able to live independently in her home until she was 94 years old. She is now 100, which is quite amazing. However, as a result of both cognitive and physical changes this past year, my mother requires considerably more assistance from staff than she did the first few years living there.

I would like to say thank you to staff who work at assisted living facilities and nursing homes. There are aspects of their jobs that are very difficult and other aspects that are mundane and repetitive. Staff need to have patience, such as when they feed and bathe people who can no longer do those things for themselves. At other times staff need to act quickly, such as when helping someone who has fallen and been injured. Employees at these facilities do not earn very much money and yet the services they provide are essential. For we count on them to take care of the people we love who can no longer take care of themselves.

As in all occupations, some employees are more invested in what they do and more able to carry out their job duties well. So I am realistic and I do not suggest that all assisted living and nursing home staff are equally dedicated, qualified, and skilled. But many do have those qualities. I’m always impressed at how some of the staff are as positive as they are. They are “naturals” at doing the work they do. Their cheerfulness makes it nicer for the people they care for and helps them to feel better. For this I am very thankful.