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[...] and I said to myself: Aha. George used to have a way…

“[...] and I said to myself: Aha. George used to have a way of coping." "When?" I said, confused. "You mean, when I was a kid?" "Have you ever heard," you said, "of the idea of the shadow self?" Sure, I told you. It was one of the Jungian archetypes—one of the symbols of the collective unconscious…” quote by Justin Evans
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““[...] and I said to myself: Aha. George used to have a way of coping." "When?" I said, confused. "You mean, when I was a kid?" "Have you ever heard," you said, "of the idea of the shadow self?" Sure, I told you. It was one of the Jungian archetypes—one of the symbols of the collective unconscious. That was pretty much all I remembered from college. "Not bad. Do you know what function it plays, in analysis?" you asked. I shook my head. You continued. "The shadow is a frequent figure in dreams. It can appear as a kind of doppelgänger; an evil twin. It embodies our repressed desires. The dark stuff. The shameful stuff. The you-want-to-fuck-your-mother stuff." (48)””

Justin Evans

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The shadow self represents repressed aspects of personality, often emerging in dreams as dark or taboo symbols.

In simple terms: Our hidden side shows up in dreams.

Key Takeaway

Explore and integrate your shadow.

Themes

psychology dreams shadow Jungian self‑awareness

Mood

introspective thoughtful

Type

educational inspirational

When to use this quote

  • therapy sessions
  • dream analysis
  • creative writing
  • personal growth
  • mindfulness

Key Concepts

collective unconscious archetype repression integration

Questions to Reflect On

  • What parts of yourself have you hidden?
  • How can acknowledging the shadow improve your life?
A Different Perspective

Focusing solely on darkness can ignore the potential for positive transformation.

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