Carry that weight
March 30th, 2024
I am a big proponent and believer in collective unconsciousness, something fundamentally common in the psyche of all human beings since the dawn of time. I do struggle with that idea from time to time, since looking around and seeing other people acting and thinking the way they do, I fail to see any commonality between them and me. Nonetheless, the alternative that we as humans share nothing between our beings is so scary that I reject that idea out of hand — just to keep my sanity.
I believe that we as humans, across all races and ethnic or religious groups, across all cultures and nations, and throughout all ages, share a common foundation that appears in our myths and beliefs and dreams. For most people, that collective unconsciousness is hidden so deeply that it might never come to light beyond childhood and its constant wonder and discovery. It might just infringe a little on their unexamined sense of life and no more than that. But it is still there as a gift from all the cumulative generations before us.
Recently I discovered an unexpected and uneasy thought on that matter. Collective unconsciousness is usually presented as a good and positive thing. But if we share the good and sublime, then does it mean we share the terrible and terrifying as well? Is the awfulness of violence and persecution common for all of us, just waiting within everyone to erupt, given a chance? Are the societal and behavioral norms the only things preventing the wholescale abuse of others? Seeing how easy it is still for normatively sane people to turn to violence against other groups of people, or work hard to find and present excuses for the said behavior, I believe that we all are capable of terrible and terrifying deeds. Do I carry the same awful weight within myself?
