The moment a child first recognizes itself in a mirror begins a process that differentiates self and other.
So begins a lifelong schism between identity and alienation
Monday, August 28, 2006
Mirroring
The moment a child first recognizes itself in a mirror begins a process that differentiates self and other.
So begins a lifelong schism between identity and alienation
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Youth Culture and The Thirtysomethings
Youth Culture
What are young people like nowadays? What makes them tick? Are they the brats of today who simply refuse to grow up?
Rebels without a cause are definitely out and teenagers have long lost their status as outsiders. The clash of generations seems, at first sight, at least, to be no longer an important issue.
Becoming like your own parents doesn't seem like such a horrible nightmare any more, while rebellious urges similar to those of the mythologized generation of 1968 appear more and more like a historical curiosity. Heavy resistance is seen as pointless, because all the symbols of rebellious teenage behavior have been long deconstructed and absorbed by pop culture.
Youth culture today revolves around consumption and virtual, mediated worlds.If there are any remnants of protest left among the young people today, it is usually an "introverted private matter," which happens behind closed doors.
Youth culture today can also be seen as a system, which has paradoxically integrated change as its stabilizing factor. Fashion trends and new technologies, which are voraciously consumed by young people, simply feed into the needs of the capitalist market. Young people are always expected to serve a certain profile.
The post-adolescent thirtysomethings
The youth scene, which has been dominated since 1990s by electronic music, makes it quite obvious that the boundaries of so-called youth keep getting extended. It's not that hard to find 30-year-olds who are still dressing up young, living with roommates, and working as interns instead of pursuing steady jobs. You can also easily spot 40 year-olds clubbing all night long along with the new kids on the block. To grow up fully is becoming increasingly difficult. The sentence passed on popular culture today may read that "turning 30 is no longer cutting the invisible umbilical chord of our youth."
Although young people nowadays increasingly populate transitional spaces, such as vacation spots, airports or shopping malls, the "traditional" city takes up a central role in the exhibition as a stage on which various scenes, sounds and styles come into contact.
In today's urban space young people are attributed residual traces of consciousness, young people of today can be treated again as subjects and not merely consumers or regurgitators of cultural clichés.
article by: Soraia Vilela
What are young people like nowadays? What makes them tick? Are they the brats of today who simply refuse to grow up?
Rebels without a cause are definitely out and teenagers have long lost their status as outsiders. The clash of generations seems, at first sight, at least, to be no longer an important issue.
Becoming like your own parents doesn't seem like such a horrible nightmare any more, while rebellious urges similar to those of the mythologized generation of 1968 appear more and more like a historical curiosity. Heavy resistance is seen as pointless, because all the symbols of rebellious teenage behavior have been long deconstructed and absorbed by pop culture.
Youth culture today revolves around consumption and virtual, mediated worlds.If there are any remnants of protest left among the young people today, it is usually an "introverted private matter," which happens behind closed doors.
Youth culture today can also be seen as a system, which has paradoxically integrated change as its stabilizing factor. Fashion trends and new technologies, which are voraciously consumed by young people, simply feed into the needs of the capitalist market. Young people are always expected to serve a certain profile.
The post-adolescent thirtysomethings
The youth scene, which has been dominated since 1990s by electronic music, makes it quite obvious that the boundaries of so-called youth keep getting extended. It's not that hard to find 30-year-olds who are still dressing up young, living with roommates, and working as interns instead of pursuing steady jobs. You can also easily spot 40 year-olds clubbing all night long along with the new kids on the block. To grow up fully is becoming increasingly difficult. The sentence passed on popular culture today may read that "turning 30 is no longer cutting the invisible umbilical chord of our youth."
Although young people nowadays increasingly populate transitional spaces, such as vacation spots, airports or shopping malls, the "traditional" city takes up a central role in the exhibition as a stage on which various scenes, sounds and styles come into contact.
In today's urban space young people are attributed residual traces of consciousness, young people of today can be treated again as subjects and not merely consumers or regurgitators of cultural clichés.
article by: Soraia Vilela
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
A Child In Your Dream
The Child
This is a very common dream symbol and an easily recognizable archetype -- we were all children at one time and can remember the freedom of being a child, the unconditional love we received from our parents, the spontaneous laughter, how we innocently accepted things as they were and let our imaginations run wild.
The Child archetype reminds us of how we were as children.
When children appear in your dreams, ask yourself: "Have I forgotten how to laugh and enjoy life? Am I need of unconditional love (perhaps from myself)? Have I forgotten how to dream? When was the last time I played a game?"
Often The Child archetype is speaking for the "inner child" -- the part of you that never grew up and is in need of love, comfort and reassurance. Have you embraced or spoken to your inner child recently? It can go a long way towards healing and wholeness.
You may recognize several variations of The Child archetype, among others:
The Divine Child, The Wounded Child, and The Abandoned Child
The Divine Child archetype is often seen in myths. The most easily recognizable Divine Child is the symbol of the Christ Child. In your dreams, The Divine Child is your true spiritual self, capable of great transformations and could symbolize your spiritual growth.
The Abandoned (Orphaned) Child archetype can easily be seen in Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz or Oliver in Oliver Twist. If you lost a caregiver in your early life, the Abandoned Child may show up in your dreams.
The Wounded Child archetype is seen as fragile and shy and will most likely appear if you've been abused or neglected as a child. Even if you had a wonderful, loving childhood, the Wounded Child can appear when you are experiencing something in real life that reminds you of a time when friends laughed at you or Mom unfairly chastised you as a child.
This is a very common dream symbol and an easily recognizable archetype -- we were all children at one time and can remember the freedom of being a child, the unconditional love we received from our parents, the spontaneous laughter, how we innocently accepted things as they were and let our imaginations run wild.
The Child archetype reminds us of how we were as children.
When children appear in your dreams, ask yourself: "Have I forgotten how to laugh and enjoy life? Am I need of unconditional love (perhaps from myself)? Have I forgotten how to dream? When was the last time I played a game?"
Often The Child archetype is speaking for the "inner child" -- the part of you that never grew up and is in need of love, comfort and reassurance. Have you embraced or spoken to your inner child recently? It can go a long way towards healing and wholeness.
You may recognize several variations of The Child archetype, among others:
The Divine Child, The Wounded Child, and The Abandoned Child
The Divine Child archetype is often seen in myths. The most easily recognizable Divine Child is the symbol of the Christ Child. In your dreams, The Divine Child is your true spiritual self, capable of great transformations and could symbolize your spiritual growth.
The Abandoned (Orphaned) Child archetype can easily be seen in Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz or Oliver in Oliver Twist. If you lost a caregiver in your early life, the Abandoned Child may show up in your dreams.
The Wounded Child archetype is seen as fragile and shy and will most likely appear if you've been abused or neglected as a child. Even if you had a wonderful, loving childhood, the Wounded Child can appear when you are experiencing something in real life that reminds you of a time when friends laughed at you or Mom unfairly chastised you as a child.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
which child are you?
The Child
The mature personality of the Child archetype nurtures that part of us that yearns to be lighthearted and innocent, expecting the wonders of tomorrow, regardless of age. This part of our nature contributes greatly to our ability to sense playfulness in our lives, balancing the seriousness of adult responsibilities. The balanced Child is a delight to be around because the energy that flows from this part of our personality is positively infectious and brings out the best in others, as well as in us.
The Child also establishes our perceptions of life, safety, nurture, loyalty, and family. Its many aspects include the Wounded Child, Abandoned or Orphan Child, Dependent, Innocent, Nature, and Divine Child. These energies may emerge in response to different situations in which you find yourself, yet the core issue of all the Child archetypes is dependency vs. responsibility: when to take responsibility, when to have a healthy dependency, when to stand up to the group, and when to embrace communal life. Each of the variants of the Child archetype is characterized by certain tendencies, including shadow tendencies.
Wounded Child
The Wounded Child archetype holds the memories of abuse, neglect, and other traumas that we have endured during childhood. This is the Child pattern most people relate to, particularly since it has become the focus of therapy since the 1960s. Many people blame the relationship with their parents that created their Wounded Child, for instance, for all their subsequent dysfunctional relationships. On the positive side, the painful experiences of the Wounded Child often awaken a deep sense of compassion and a desire to help other Wounded Children. From a spiritual perspective, a wounded childhood cracks open the learning path of forgiveness.
The shadow aspect may manifest as an abiding sense of self-pity, a tendency to blame our parents for any current shortcomings and to resist moving on through forgiveness. It may also lead us to seek out parental figures in all difficult situations rather than relying on our own resourcefulness.
Orphan Child
From Little Orphan Annie to Cinderella, the Orphan Child in most well known children's stories reflects the lives of people who feel from birth as if they are not a part of their family, including the family psyche or tribal spirit. But because orphans are not allowed into the family circle, they have to develop independence early on. The absence of family influences, attitudes, and traditions inspires or compels the Orphan Child to construct an inner reality based on personal judgment and experience.
The shadow aspect manifests when Orphans never recover from feelings of abandonment, and the scar tissue from family rejection stifles their maturation, often causing them to seek surrogate family structures to experience tribal union. Therapeutic support groups become shadow tribes or families for an Orphan Child who knows deep down that healing these wounds requires moving on to adulthood. For that reason, establishing mature relationships remains a challenge.
Magical/Innocent Child
The Magical Child sees the potential for sacred beauty in all things, and embodies qualities of wisdom and courage in the face of difficult circumstances. One example is Anne Frank, who wrote in her diary that in spite of all the horror surrounding her family while hiding from Nazis in an attic, she still believed that humanity was basically good. This archetype is also gifted with the power of imagination and the belief that everything is possible.
The shadow energy of the Magical Child manifests as the absence of the possibility of miracles and of the transformation of evil to good. Attitudes of pessimism and depression, particularly when exploring dreams, often emerge from an injured Magical Child whose dreams were "once upon a time" thought foolish by cynical adults. The shadow may also manifest as a belief that energy and action are not required, allowing one to retreat into fantasy.
Nature Child
This archetype inspires deep, intimate bonding with natural forces, and has a particular affinity for friendships with animals. Although the Nature Child has tender, emotional qualities, it can also have an inner toughness and ability to survive--the resilience of Nature herself. Nature Children can develop advanced skills of communicating with animals, and in stories reflecting this archetype an animal often comes to the rescue of its child companion. Many veterinarians and animal rights activists resonate with this archetype because they have felt a conscious rapport with animals since childhood. Other adults describe being in communication with nature spirits and learning to work in harmony with them in maintaining the order of nature.
The shadow aspect of the Nature Child manifests in a tendency to abuse animals and people and the environment.
A love of animals is not sufficient to qualify for this archetype, however. A life-long pattern of relating to animals in an intimate and caring way, to the extent that your psyche and spirit need these bonds as a crucial part of your own well-being, is your best clue.
The mature personality of the Child archetype nurtures that part of us that yearns to be lighthearted and innocent, expecting the wonders of tomorrow, regardless of age. This part of our nature contributes greatly to our ability to sense playfulness in our lives, balancing the seriousness of adult responsibilities. The balanced Child is a delight to be around because the energy that flows from this part of our personality is positively infectious and brings out the best in others, as well as in us.
The Child also establishes our perceptions of life, safety, nurture, loyalty, and family. Its many aspects include the Wounded Child, Abandoned or Orphan Child, Dependent, Innocent, Nature, and Divine Child. These energies may emerge in response to different situations in which you find yourself, yet the core issue of all the Child archetypes is dependency vs. responsibility: when to take responsibility, when to have a healthy dependency, when to stand up to the group, and when to embrace communal life. Each of the variants of the Child archetype is characterized by certain tendencies, including shadow tendencies.
Wounded Child
The Wounded Child archetype holds the memories of abuse, neglect, and other traumas that we have endured during childhood. This is the Child pattern most people relate to, particularly since it has become the focus of therapy since the 1960s. Many people blame the relationship with their parents that created their Wounded Child, for instance, for all their subsequent dysfunctional relationships. On the positive side, the painful experiences of the Wounded Child often awaken a deep sense of compassion and a desire to help other Wounded Children. From a spiritual perspective, a wounded childhood cracks open the learning path of forgiveness.
The shadow aspect may manifest as an abiding sense of self-pity, a tendency to blame our parents for any current shortcomings and to resist moving on through forgiveness. It may also lead us to seek out parental figures in all difficult situations rather than relying on our own resourcefulness.
Orphan Child
From Little Orphan Annie to Cinderella, the Orphan Child in most well known children's stories reflects the lives of people who feel from birth as if they are not a part of their family, including the family psyche or tribal spirit. But because orphans are not allowed into the family circle, they have to develop independence early on. The absence of family influences, attitudes, and traditions inspires or compels the Orphan Child to construct an inner reality based on personal judgment and experience.
The shadow aspect manifests when Orphans never recover from feelings of abandonment, and the scar tissue from family rejection stifles their maturation, often causing them to seek surrogate family structures to experience tribal union. Therapeutic support groups become shadow tribes or families for an Orphan Child who knows deep down that healing these wounds requires moving on to adulthood. For that reason, establishing mature relationships remains a challenge.
Magical/Innocent Child
The Magical Child sees the potential for sacred beauty in all things, and embodies qualities of wisdom and courage in the face of difficult circumstances. One example is Anne Frank, who wrote in her diary that in spite of all the horror surrounding her family while hiding from Nazis in an attic, she still believed that humanity was basically good. This archetype is also gifted with the power of imagination and the belief that everything is possible.
The shadow energy of the Magical Child manifests as the absence of the possibility of miracles and of the transformation of evil to good. Attitudes of pessimism and depression, particularly when exploring dreams, often emerge from an injured Magical Child whose dreams were "once upon a time" thought foolish by cynical adults. The shadow may also manifest as a belief that energy and action are not required, allowing one to retreat into fantasy.
Nature Child
This archetype inspires deep, intimate bonding with natural forces, and has a particular affinity for friendships with animals. Although the Nature Child has tender, emotional qualities, it can also have an inner toughness and ability to survive--the resilience of Nature herself. Nature Children can develop advanced skills of communicating with animals, and in stories reflecting this archetype an animal often comes to the rescue of its child companion. Many veterinarians and animal rights activists resonate with this archetype because they have felt a conscious rapport with animals since childhood. Other adults describe being in communication with nature spirits and learning to work in harmony with them in maintaining the order of nature.
The shadow aspect of the Nature Child manifests in a tendency to abuse animals and people and the environment.
A love of animals is not sufficient to qualify for this archetype, however. A life-long pattern of relating to animals in an intimate and caring way, to the extent that your psyche and spirit need these bonds as a crucial part of your own well-being, is your best clue.
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