Projections
I picked up the (now) ancient Spectrum of Consciousness by Ken Wilber at the library, and read through the chapter on projections. It had several good reminders there, especially as his examples are a little different that what comes most readily to mind for me in regards to projections.
For instance...
I have interest in and curiosity about the world, forget about and stop noticing this curiosity, and experience it now as the world's interest in me. So when I feel self-conscious, or experience other's attention on me as comfortable, I can take that as a reminder to reconnect with my own interest and curiosity of the world.
A desire to do or engage in something comes up in me, I disconnect from this desire, and experience it as pressure from the outside world. Again, this experience of pressure is a reminder to find my own desire to engage and act.
I have anger about the world, disown it, and experience it as the world's hostility towards myself, which in turn can lead to a range of responses including hopelessness, depression, fatigue and so on. When I connect with this energy in myself, I can find that it may not take the form of anger but of a directed and engaged energy - allowing me to engage in the world in a more active and engaged way.
I disown my own (limited although real) ability to control the world, and experience all control in the world - and myself as a leaf in the storm, helpless, weak, out of control. When I reconnect with my own ability to control, there is more of a balance - more of an active and dynamic engagement.
And so on... All useful reminders.
It may look as if we are turning the tables in the I-World relationship, but all that is needed is to reconnect with what is already there in us - the curiosity, interest, desire, engagement, anger, control and so on.
And this is of course all at the level of our human self, where there is indeed an inner and an outer. Here, a more active engagement with the process of integrating and living the projected quality seems needed. At the level of the Witness, we can just notice the same quality in the inner and outer world. And as Big Mind, the qualities are just happening - there is no inside or outside.
Labels: ken wilber, projections