And if, from a spiritual perspective, despair contains a hidden blessing, then at times emerging from its depths may carry a danger of its own. I hesitated for quite a while before deciding whether to share this insight into the dynamics of inner processes—an insight that also comes from Jungian analysis, and more specifically from Marie-Louise von Franz, whom I have been quoting frequently of late—because of the risk of misunderstanding. Still, I chose to take that risk, because for some people this knowledge may prove crucial. The danger is real, and therefore it is important to be aware of it.
“As you know from Dr. Jung’s commentary on the divine child, whenever a hero is born—and the birth of Christ is no exception—there is always an influx of destructive forces. That is why, if someone has suicidal tendencies, these will be strongest at what might be called the crisis of healing. In deep depression or complete schizoid confusion, the danger of suicide is rare and exceptional. But when a person is on the threshold of recovery, then the risk of suicide is very high. At that point, the patient must be observed around the clock, as is well known in psychiatric hospitals.
This is merely an extreme illustration of something that also holds true for analytical work on a less dramatic level—what I call the devil’s last attack. He sees that he is losing the game and therefore makes one final, desperate assault. Precisely when a woman is fighting the destructive animus, when she is standing up to it, she has not yet won the battle, because it is still lurking around the corner; the devil has not yet been driven out and may still spit a little fire. Then comes the final attack, which is so severe that it seems as though everything must begin again from the start, because the situation feels as dire as it did in the beginning; everything appears lost, and the devil rages as never before.
Generally speaking, this is a very good sign, because it means that hell is now losing its power and therefore launches its last attack—the devil is using up his final reserves. To say farewell to a neurotic attitude is a very sad business, and no one has ever come through it without feeling sorrow, because unfortunately neurosis is a beloved condition and one does not wish to part with it. Thus, when one reaches the final phase and it becomes necessary to say goodbye to some form of infantilism or an animus opinion, there is always some kind of crisis. Mythology illustrates this by showing that whenever the savior child is born, all the forces of darkness attack more fiercely than ever—and in our Christian myth we see this in the form of the slaughter of the innocents in Bethlehem. Naturally, the divine child is always saved; this is the final convulsion of darkness against something so powerful that, even as a newborn, it cannot be suppressed.”*
— Marie-Louise von Franz, Alchemy: An Introduction to the Symbolism and the Psychology, p. 254
As this passage shows, the terms “devil,” “negative animus,” and “neurotic attitude” are used interchangeably by Marie-Louise von Franz. I personally find the word devil especially apt. Unlike the more clinical term neurotic attitude, it carries a warning. The warning is this: be careful—your inner destructive forces can seize power over you if you lack a strong inner center that can see and hear them, but does not follow what they say. They are dangerous precisely because they attack from behind, just when it seems that things are beginning to improve. What has long fed on your energy and attention will not easily relinquish what keeps it alive; it will not die without resistance. It is most dangerous exactly when it is closest to the moment of its death.
There are times when it is right to be comforted with the reassurance that everything will be fine, that everything happens for the good. And there are times when it is better to be warned that things are not easy—and may even be dangerous—and that vigilance is required.
If this message reaches you by way of synchronicity, consider whether it may be the second case. And stay alert. The battle we fight within our souls is difficult precisely because the enemy is hidden inside us. It can easily whisper lies that we may come to believe. Therefore, listen to it—but do not follow it. Apply one of the strategies used by warriors of the light, described also by Paulo Coelho:
“When the warrior of the light is pursued by evil, he calmly invites it into his tent. After listening to everything it has to say, the warrior rises and walks away. Evil has spoken for so long that it is exhausted and will have no strength left to follow him.”
— Manual of the Warrior of Light
The process of giving birth to the divine child within us is not easy, and it involves real dangers. Yet this myth carries not only a warning, but also a consolation: the divine child survives the forces of darkness and is born.
Kameliya Hadzhiyska
∗Note: The quotations are translated from Bulgarian and are not presented as verbatim citations.
