Making Friends with Lucifer - 20 Massages in 2 Months (Massage #19 continued)

This conversation with Avery reminded me of a small museum in the city of Antigua. I had the pleasure of visiting this museum in 2008 when traveling in Guatemala.  The museum was dedicated to the work of local artisans who, though once Mayan, or other indigenous tradition, now practice a "blended" form of Catholicism in which indigenous rituals and understandings are “hidden in” Catholic symbols, saints and rituals.   

For instance, households in Guatemala might carve a wooden statue of Christ. Each year the statue is repainted in a ritual which is also part of the annual Christmas celebration.  Over many years these statutes become beautiful pieces of folk art layered in ritual paint.

In the museum a platform of large, hand carved statues of Lucifer caught my eye.  These statues resembled the version of the Devil I grew up with one notable exception.  Painted in several layers of blood red paint, the statues had horns, large pitchforks, pointy tails, menacing facial expressions and over-sized red phalluses that protruded from the pubic area of each statue with such prominence it was as if they were trying to make a point!

Equally striking was a phrase printed in the museum’s educational literature to the effect that in this "blended" tradition Lucifer was seen and related to as a teacher. 

This idea of darkness as a teacher made intuitive sense to me.  After all, if we believe that Loving Light is in fact stronger that the light comprising Lucifer, then the idea that Evil or Ego has something to teach those seeking the Divine is ultimately empowering. I suppose the New Age version of this teaching might be the command to, "embrace the shadow."

This idea of Lucifer or Ego or Shadow as teacher suggests that it is possible to relate to these less pleasant energies - energies provoking our greatest fear - in a healthy way that promotes enlightenment and a closer relationship with the Divine. If it is indeed the case that Ego need not overpower us, then it must be possible to relate to Ego in a way that “embraces” and also transforms it into loving energy.  In this idea of Lucifer or Ego as teacher is much hope and much power!

(If I have one regret about this trip to Guatemala it is that I did not bring home one of these Lucifer statues!)

As Avery finished her work on the Jin Shin Do release points in the shoulder and began side-lying work, I mentioned to her that as with Massage #18, my inner dancer (the feminine) had stopped preparing to dance, had left her studio and was now vociferously demanding change from the inner-attorney (the masculine).  Likewise, as with Massage #18 my inner-attorney lay restrained (and subdued) in a full body cast.

If Ego is my teacher, it follows that Ego, can help me understand my relationship to that which drives him - fear.  It follows that Ego can help me understand the ways I manage – and avoid confronting - my deepest fears through control of self, others and the environment. 

If Ego is my teacher, what then am I to learn from my inner-attorney and his current interlude with the body cast?  This is my question.

(for more, see next post)