We often find ourselves reflecting on the year gone by and envisioning the year ahead — a journey from shadows to creation. This month, let us explore a profound truth about ourselves: we are creators. To truly unlock our creative potential, we must confront and embrace the shadow aspects of ourselves—those parts we typically hide or suppress. This interplay between light and shadow is beautifully captured in ancient wisdom, notably Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching and biblical teachings. By understanding the role of darkness in creation, we can transform our lives from reactive to intentional.
Embracing Darkness as the Source of Creation
In the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu writes, “Mystery and reality emerge from the same source. This source is called darkness. Darkness born from darkness. The beginning of all understanding.” Similarly, the Bible’s creation story begins with God hovering over the depths of darkness before speaking light into existence. These ancient texts point to a universal truth: all creation begins in the void, the unmanifested, the unseen, the unknown.
Darkness, often misunderstood as something to fear. Avoid the void! But this is the fertile ground for creativity. It is the space where ideas take root, unencumbered by judgment or limitation. Yet, in our lives, we often repress this darkness. The parts of ourselves we hide—whether due to fear, shame, or societal expectations—still operate beneath the surface, shaping our perceptions, decisions, and creations.
The Shadow’s Influence on Creativity
When we repress parts of ourselves, they do not disappear. Instead, they manifest as resistance, self-sabotage, or misaligned creations. This is why so many of us live lives that feel dictated by external circumstances, rather than by our own intentions. In such moments, we may feel like victims of life rather than its creators. However, the shift from victimhood to creator begins with acknowledging and integrating these shadow aspects of ourselves. Those parts we have no approval for.
As Lao Tzu suggests, understanding begins with darkness. To create authentically, we must face what we fear, embrace what we’ve hidden, and allow our full selves—light and shadow—to participate in the creative process.
The Practicality of Creation
Some may view these concepts as overly philosophical, detached from everyday life. But consider this: every tangible creation began as an intangible idea. The Wright brothers envisioned flight before the first airplane existed. Their belief, coupled with relentless action, turned an abstract idea into reality. Similarly, every business, work of art, or innovation originates in the realm of the philosophical, the imagination, and is brought forth by individuals willing to act on their ideas.
This process of creation involves risk, self-trust, and persistence. It requires us to engage with the unknown, the “no-thingness” from which all things emerge. The power of creation lies in recognizing this dynamic, and consciously engaging and participating in it.
The Role of Language in Creation
Language is a powerful tool in the act of creation. Just as God spoke, “Let there be light,” and light emerged, we use language to breathe life into our ideas. When pitching an idea to investors, for instance, we translate a concept from the realm of thought, mediated into words, igniting the imagination of others and inspiring action. Words, beliefs, and agreements transform the intangible into reality.
Consider money—a construct based on collective agreement about its value. As it is, it is meaningless. We create the meaning and apply it to it. It exists because we’ve imbued it with meaning. This is a striking example of how creation stems from shared beliefs and agreements, underscoring our immense creative power.
Practical Exercise: Regressive Visualization
To harness your power as a creator, try this visualization exercise:
- Identify a Focus: Choose one aspect of your life to explore. It could be a relationship, a business project, your health, or any situation you’re currently navigating.
- Trace It Backward: Visualize the current state of this aspect and work backward in time. Recall the conversations, decisions, or actions that led to its creation. How did this person, project, or situation come into your life? What choices did you make along the way?
- Acknowledge Your Role: Recognize that, whether consciously or unconsciously, you played a role in bringing this aspect into existence. Even challenges can be traced to past invitations, actions, or beliefs.
- Embrace the Shadow: If the chosen focus is a source of frustration or disempowerment, delve deeper. What beliefs or repressed parts of yourself might have contributed to its creation?
By uncovering these patterns, you can reclaim your creative power and align your future creations with your authentic self.
Life is not something that happens to us; it is something we create. When we embrace both our light and shadow, we unlock the full spectrum of our creative potential. As we move through December, let us meditate on our role as creators. Let us courageously explore our shadows and invite them into the light, declaring, “Let there be light.” In doing so, we can transform our lives and step into our full power as intentional, authentic creators.
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Come as you are. Leave more whole.
