[Subselves] The Shadow

[schlondark]

His name is Mr. Black, I know now. He's popped up not just in his room but in my wonderland, which made me physically jump (he's even spookier outside of his place), and I confronted him, explained to him what parts of me he was (cowardly, angry, unforgiving, self-hating, unmerciful etc.) which infuriated him, but I told him that we can get along. I said he needs to not harm my tulpae, which he agreed to do. Before this, he had actually "killed" two of my tulpae, but I revived them (I had been unsure if I should keep them or not because they were accidents but Mr. Black, unmerciful as he is, decided to do the dirty work for me). Now, he appears to have kidnapped the same two accidental tulpae, saying that he wanted some of his own. He's done something to them (for a while I could only see them black as him, with blue flames for eyes) and they aren't moving at all, save to stare at me, but I feel this wearing off and am pretty hopeful that they'll return to normal.

 

But yeah. What the fuck.

 

 

I would try to defeat it through some symbolism and 'purify' the tulpae somehow.

 

So, can tulpaa have shadows?

I think so.

[Pandoranomicon]

What does Mr. Black sound like?

[Lukenstein3D]

What does Mr. Black sound like?

 

Like a cross between Patrick Stewart and the snake from

.

 

He kidnapped and "infected" Red, but Rev and I managed to fight Mr. Black and get him back. He recovered in an ambulance last night that I made for him and, around 3am, I helped him up and walk around (gave him a crutch, he's doing better now). He's still resting, but Rev's up; he's been a great help in all of this.

[Guest Anonymous]

Didn't somrone have an expeirience with a shadow while programming their tulpa?

 

And we need a better name. Alterselves?

[hakase]

So, can tulpaa have shadows?

 

I would assume so, but I also think that the tulpa in question would have to be extremely far in their sentience and general progress. I think that the vast majority of existing tulpae (at least considering those on this board), much like toddlers, can't have a shadow because they are unable to analyze and therefore deny certain parts of themselves. A non-sentient tulpa would certainly be unable to have a shadow, although I am incapable of offering any speculation as to when a tulpa might gain the possibility of having a shadow. I honestly do think it would be a very rare sight to see a tulpa so far advanced that they can begin denying parts of their personality and inadvertently create their own shadow, though.

 

And we need a better name. Alterselves?

 

Both this thread and the Jungian philosophy are concerned with an entity called a 'Shadow', so that is what we are calling it.

[Fuliam]

 

I would assume so, but I also think that the tulpa in question would have to be extremely far in their sentience and general progress. I think that the vast majority of existing tulpae (at least considering those on this board), much like toddlers, can't have a shadow because they are unable to analyze and therefore deny certain parts of themselves. A non-sentient tulpa would certainly be unable to have a shadow, although I am incapable of offering any speculation as to when a tulpa might gain the possibility of having a shadow. I honestly do think it would be a very rare sight to see a tulpa so far advanced that they can begin denying parts of their personality and inadvertently create their own shadow, though.

 

 

Both this thread and the Jungian philosophy are concerned with an entity called a 'Shadow', so that is what we are calling it.

 

I think 'Shadow' works fine. As you stand the light hits you and your shadow is a lack of light. Which is fairly accurate to what most people shadows are/ would be like. Not many people repress the happy go lucky light side of them.

[motorheadlk]

 

I think 'Shadow' works fine. As you stand the light hits you and your shadow is a lack of light. Which is fairly accurate to what most people shadows are/ would be like. Not many people repress the happy go lucky light side of them.

 

Why not "shadowself" then?

[CyberD]

The persona series is heavily driven by an idea that sounds like the one being discussed here. They even call them shadows. Persona 4 in particular would completely fall apart without the shadows.

 

"I am a shadow, the true self."

 

Each of the main characters faces their shadow at some point. Their shadows have the same face and the same voice. Each shadow over-exaggerates a part of the characters personality that they ignore or deny.

 

Some of the characters are difficult to explain out of context but one of them is very simple.

 

Kanji is gay, he doesn't know why and he gets defensive about it when other people begin to suspect.

His shadow appears as a stereotypical flamboyant gay. When Kanji confronts his shadow he has several choices. He can try to fight it or he can accept it.

By fighting it the shadow grows stronger. The shadow becomes emotional and usually angry. It becomes a boss character that has to be defeated.

By accepting it the shadow turns into a persona. The character then uses their persona to fight other shadows (and later save the world)

 

If the character outright refuses to accept the shadow then it simply disappears. It goes back into the subconscious and the character doesn't change. They are still the same as before, living in denial of the particular part of themselves.

 

Accepting the shadow is seen as a good thing, it's what the game teaches the player to do. By accepting the part of themselves they once denied the characters get stronger.

 

I've never really thought too much about it in terms of real life but I suppose it really works the same way. Except instead of getting a superpowered persona you just learn a little more about yourself. Whether or not you accept your shadow in a dramatic way or not is really up to you.

 

Persona itself doesn't touch on tulpa. Maybe it will in the future though. A tulpa would require both a large presence and enough "sentience" (for lack of a better word) to deny parts of its own personality. Nova, my tulpa, isn't so complicated that he has his own dark side. Maybe one day we'll encounter something like that but we'd be far more likely to encounter my own shadow.

 

Encountering your own shadow (be it in a dream or wonderland) doesn't sound like something that would happen unless it had good reason to appear. Something would have to change, you'd have to really start denying it or worrying about it otherwise your subconscious isn't going to give it form and bring it to your attention. Should you ever encounter it don't deny or fight it. That'll probably just make it worse. Because subconsciously you know that denying it further won't resolve anything.

 

You can accept your shadow without revealing it to anyone.

[hakase]

 

Why not "shadowself" then?

 

Both this thread and the Jungian philosophy are concerned with an entity called a 'Shadow', so that is what we are calling it.

 

The notion that a Shadow is a part of the same 'self' is evident in the fact that Jung's entire Archetype philosophy is concerned with different facets of one's personality and being. There's no need to specify 'self' because when one speaks of their Shadow, or of another's Shadow, it is already obvious enough what it is and who it belongs to. If you say "The Shadow" in the context of Jung's archetypes, than it's clear that you're just referencing the archetype itself, and not any one person's shadow.

 

_____________________________________________________

 

The persona series is heavily driven by an idea that sounds like the one being discussed here. They even call them shadows.

 

"...the Persona series centers around groups of teenagers who have the ability to summon facets of their psyche' date=' known as Personas, into being. [u']The game draws many elements from Jungian psychology and various Jungian archetypes.[/u]

 

lol because it is

[CyberD]

Exactly, thats why it's relevant. I just couldn't be bothered looking it up to see if it was directly referred to.