“Living in the forest” would mean sinking into one’s innermost nature and finding out what it feels like. —Marie-Louise Von Frantz—
Our innermost nature—that fearsome place where our dreams dwell—what would we find there? Crude passion, lust, rage, and selfishness, or a void, a sadness without end? Many people do fear themselves, and their personalities are built on a shaky foundation of mistrust. These people who don’t seem to confront their feelings very successfully. They may have troubles acknowledging resentments or desires,out of some sense that they ought to be above such human impulses. Unfortunately, it is often the very people who have such unrealistic expectations of themselves who surprise everyone with sudden violence. ” They were such nice quiet people,” everyone says, after the scandalous divorce or the suicide.
Getting to know our inner geography, our own pattern of needs and fears, is never dangerous. The danger lies in refusing to know. We can’t build solid self-confidence on ignorance and mistrust of ourselves; only by loving ourselves and acknowledging our kinship with needy, fearful humanity can we grow as individuals. My roots in the forest will keep my head out of the clouds.