A Logical Solution: Using Symbols and Myths

In the Dec. 24 issue of the Pathfinder, Nicole Williams, a Seeley-Swan High School student, wrote an article for the Junior Journal addressing a logical solution for harmoniously living with wolves. Her article introduced a number of psychological characteristics described in my previous articles. So, I thought it worthwhile to review these characteristics using Nicole's examples.

Nicole presented the idea that civilizations around the world and throughout time have portrayed the wolf as the enemy. She describes how stories and fairytales depict the wolf as "malicious, cunning and ruthless."

As an enemy that is ruthless, the wolf has clearly become a psychological projection. Remember that projection is a perception that forms from the unconscious (hidden) psychology. In other words, a person's unconscious psychology is projected onto an object, person or situation which is then seen, and experienced, through the projection as a reality. In this case, the wolf is experienced through the projection of evil. In fact, Nicole actually states that "Wolves are animals and projecting human qualities onto them does nothing but create unreasonable fear..."

This is an accurate, and wonderful, psychological explanation for the emotional fear that accompanies the unconscious projection of evil. Nicole quite cleverly reminds us that wolves aren't evil or good. If we are to realize this as well, we must get beyond our projections, as Nicole has done.

The stories and common, human experiences that Nicole refers to are important. The stories are familiar fairytales and myths. Recall that myths are symbolic expressions from the unconscious. This is the case for fairytales, too. We must also remember that symbols are images representing archetypes – those potential psychological elements in the unconscious used during human development. Archetypes form as a result of common human experiences throughout time. This is why the different civilizations mentioned by Nicole are important.

The archetypes associated with evil and good are represented by symbols within fairytales and myths. There is always an emotion associated with the archetypes, as well. In this case it is fear.

Reading, or hearing, these stories activate the archetypes of good and evil through the symbol of the wolf. When these archetypes are active, rather than arguing about and debating the evil, cunning wolves, we have an opportunity to become aware that our psychologies include both good and evil elements. This realization can help each person develop greater maturity and become a more conscious adult.

I don't know if Nicole was aware of the psychological elements she expressed in her article. However, we can be grateful for her clarity and mature solution to the wolf debate and for providing us with a practical, everyday example of psychology at work.