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i’m a bit annoyed by this interpretation, because there’s so many easy quotes like it routing people towards avoiding the abyss https://t.co/RQ3UI7YeQY https://t.co/WGCocVFxN9
contrast with all the other quotes about how the only way out is through https://t.co/2HQQygF8xF https://t.co/aIgDbQX7cv
the same truth they are both part of is thus: 1. when you start staring into the abyss, it does start staring back 2. it corrupts you, terrifies you, tortures you, nihilifies you, all sorts of things — the abyss stares back but eventually, if you are resourced enough
3. the abyss stops staring back the abyss is emptiness. step 3 is the culmination of emptiness too is empty emptiness doesn’t have to mean nihilism, or terror, or fear—or, really, anything. really, everything should go on much the same way as before
what is happening when you stare into the abyss — the reason we use language like staring and staring back — is that what the abyss is is actually the emptiness of your own mind you are a consciousness, and you begin regarding Yourself
(or at least a reflection of yourself, symbolised by the night, or emptiness—the abyss) the abyss makes room for you to perceive yourself, including the parts you usually leave off self-consciousness, and so your self-image begins being destroyed https://t.co/SnK3rD5YvT
there’s “““shadows””” 😌, then there’s shadows 😖😖🔫😞☠️ the fun shadows are things like kinks, or socially unsafe desires, that you can express while still letting it integrate & morph into your self-image the 😞☠️ shadows are shadows that completely wreck your self-image
what happens when your self-image gets destroyed? you get self-conscious, that’s what you become aware of the problem of evil, or your feeling of love/meaninglessness, and all the things you were able to put off while you are still light/society-engaged https://t.co/QvAvCPyduL
the truth is none of that has to mean anything, but you don’t know that yet https://t.co/YCWp8adxrd
step 3 is the abyss stops staring back because it’s done. your consciousness perceived itself until there was no more left to perceive. it perceived itself until the abyss (the set of things that could harm your normal action-state if you came to know them) disappears
as you integrate more and more im so sorry, i think i just reinvented the concept of shadows. i’ve never actually read jung, we’re just perceiving the same thing anyway, that’s shadows https://t.co/2xMHt9LyXL