Lower realms of the mind

Lower realms of the mind 

By Jimmy Henderson FRC

 ‘Evil can be likened to a low level of energy and consciousness that brings out the worst that already exists in us’ 

J. Henderson  

The expansion of the mind can be likened to a flower which is in the process of blooming and exposing itself to the Sun. 

However, even as the petals begin to open, the center of the flower is still largely bathed in shadows. 

The idea of a ‘shadow realm‘of the mind symbolically represents those areas of the Jungian Collective Unconscious which have not yet fully unfolded and still embody elements of the principle of original primal chaos. 

This less-evolved area of the collective unconscious, to which we all have access, is sometimes called the abyss, the arcane shadow, or the astral realm, and would be home to the more primal energies involved in human development, including basic instincts and drives.

According to those who have experienced this level of mind, it appears as populated by a host of elemental beings and archetypal personalities which I have chosen to call ‘shadow-entities’, and whom are certainly not hospitable. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, including chaotic states of mind or drug usage, the human consciousness can sometimes regress to these levels, which can be quite frightening.

As human beings, our present consciousness has now evolved to occupy its present position on the threshold of this realm. However, some more robust individuals are suited for work there, being able to move around within in the shadows and effect real change in those places where consciousness is trapped or not yet fully unfolded. Here I am referring to those who work tirelessly to reduce crime, violence and mental disorders.  

As mentioned, this area of the mind is usually populated with oppressively negative mental patterns, thoughts and emotions which can take on grotesque archetypal forms during dreams or visualisations, due to our symbolic processes of interpretation, and can include some of our more primitive archetypes, as well as other (mental) forms which embody the principle of chaos and thus remain on this level. This reminds one of the idea of the ‘underworld’ in mythology, as well as the notions of Hell or Purgatory as described in religious scriptures.

Here one may also encounter scattered disembodied images and personality-patterns of deceased persons still trapped in these deep recesses of the collective unconscious, and when it comes to meditation and deep mental processing, this area is best left alone (unless one is called to work on this level). 

Jimmy Henderson is a cognitive scientist who uses psychological principles to explain metaphysical phenomena. His books can be found on Amazon.com.