Although it is natural to retreat into and employ our darkness as a chrysalis for rebirth, romanticizing the darkness or our shadow is prone to render it drug-like, addictive, and seductive.

Bear in mind that the natural aspects of relation with which we engage these inner processes of chrysalization and metamorphosis have no use for the cultural and symbolic aggrandizements we heap upon it.

But the reactive, grasping aspects will be seen to employ various shiny accoutrements to hypnotize, fascinate, and distract us from what is actually going on, which is, almost precisely, a kind of nefarious autoparasitic drama.

Yes, the darkness is our chrysalis…
and since it is thus sacred…
may we keep it free of such ephemera…
clear and clean and open.