Lady Underground's Gift: Liberating the Soul Within Us

by Eileen H Simon

Overview

Imagine discovering that deep within each of us exists an immensely powerful, foundational source of energy for embodying our soul’s essence and for living a holistic life. Opening to this potential, influential energy for enriched development is awakening to Lady Underground, one image of the archetypal Dark Feminine, the “other side” of the Great Mother Goddess.

This is as true for men as for women; we all possess universal imprints which are woven in the relational web of all life. Moreover, dark night overshadows the inner and outer worlds that we inhabit at this chaotic time of evolving consciousness within the 14-billion-year-old Universe Story. The disorders operative in the external milieu are challenging us to turn inward to unearth a more grounded awareness. Integrating the dark and light aspects of the feminine is vital to furthering personal and global consciousness.

The Dark Goddess arises anew to summon us in this transformational process. This book presents keys to unlocking the gift of conscious ensoulment. The author provides the reader with engaging exercises for navigating this soul-directed, liberating journey, and empowers us as a culture and world community to discern a collaborative way forward in birthing the dawn of heartfelt, compassionate consciousness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781630517809
Publisher:	Chiron Publications
Publication date:	02/25/2020
Pages:	378
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.84(d)

About the Author

Eileen H. Simon, D.Min., is a Jungian analyst and body-energy practitioner in private practice for thirty-two years in Washington, D.C. Educated at Mary Manse College, University of San Francisco, Loyola University Maryland, Lancaster Theological Seminary, and the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts, she has been an instructor and workshop leader for over twenty years in holistic psychospiritual courses in Jungian psychology and adult spirituality. For more information, visit www.dreileensimon.com.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION TO LADY UNDERGROUND’S GIFT 1

CHAPTER ONE

LADY UNDERGROUND 17

Introduction to Our Lady of the Underground 17

Dark Feminine 19

Black Madonna of Chartres 24

Historical Perspective 25

Relationship to Isis 28

Symbolic Meaning of Lady Underground 33

Analytical Meaning of Lady Underground 35

Conclusion 45

INNER WORK 47

~Reflection, Discussion, and Journaling Questions 48

~Process Exercises 49

~Body-Energy Work 51

CHAPTER TWO

NEW PARADIGM 55

Introduction to the New Paradigm 56

When Gods/Goddesses Die 61

Attending Mystery 62

Quantum Physics and Analytical Psychology 63

Conclusion 69

INNER WORK 71

~Reflection, Discussion, and Journaling Questions 72

~Process Exercises 73

~Body-Energy Work 76

CHAPTER THREE

DARK NIGHT OF INITIATION 79

Introduction to Dark Night 80

Journey into Consciousness: Day of Development 85

Dimming the Light of Consciousness 89

Dark Night 90

Twilight of Dark Night of Initiation: Symbolic Significance 91

Twilight of Dark Night of Initiation: Psychologic Significance 107

Midnight of Dark Night of Initiation: Symbolic Significance 113

Midnight of Dark Night of Initiation: Psychological Significance 124

Importance of the Body in Lady Underground’s Dark-Night Initiation 130

Ancient Path Makers Inspiring Today’s Soul Seekers 135

Maturing Through Dark-Night Initiation in the Journey of Interiority 141

Formed Anew in Solitude of Dark Nothingness: Inexhaustible Wellspring 149

Conclusion 153

INNER WORK 155

~Reflection, Discussion, and Journaling Questions 156

~Process Exercises 159

~Body-Energy Exercises 164

CHAPTER FOUR

BIRTHING AND EMBODYING THE PROGRESSIVE DANCE OF DAWN 167

Dawn 168

Encounter With The Holy 182

Value of Intentional Solitude 190

Ongoing Process In Dawn 194

Befriending Deeper Depths In Ongoing Dawn 199

Value of Witnessing Religious Experience 204

The Return 208

The Return: Tale of the Black Nubian Woman 209

Encountering the Dark Feminine—the Old One and the Black Nubian Woman 212

Healing Path To Wholeness: Opening to the Inner Wellspring 214

Love Experienced As Ancient Recognition—Already/Always Present 218

Vast Potential—Birthing New Frontiers in Human Consciousness 220

Specific Directives from the Dark Feminine in the Return 225

Directive: Call to Nurture Soul-Divine Relationship and Embody Wisdom 233

Personal Reflections—“Drinking Deeply” 237

Dawn: Living the Extraordinary in the Ordinary 248

Conclusion 251

INNER WORK 253

~Reflection, Discussion, and Journaling Questions 253

~Process Exercises 257

~Body-Energy Work 263

CHAPTER FIVE

JOURNEYING WITH AWAKENED-PASSIONATE HEART AND COMPASSIONATE PRESENCE 267 Implications for Analytical Psychology 270

Theory 270

Practice: Somatic Awareness and Body-Energy Techniques 274

Furthering Jung’s Insight on the Interconnectedness of the Psyche and Soma 279

Exploring Psyche-Soma In the Analytical Relationship 281

Implications for Spirituality 289

Implications for Culture and World Soul 309

Conclusion 333

INNER WORK 337

~Reflection, Discussion, and Journaling Questions 338

~Process Exercises 341

~Body-Energy Work 345

Notes 347

References 355

Editorial Reviews

"Lady Underground’s Gift is a gift to us as a result of analyst Eileen Simon’s long work on herself, her years of experience with patients, and her reclamation of the 'dark feminine' from the lamentable history of oppression and repression. While based on solid scholarship, this work is flush with practice exercises, case examples, and provocative questions designed to make the book transformative for the reader. We are gifted by this re-membering work of the archetypal feminine in our bodies, our souls, and our imperiled planet.”

-James Hollis, Ph.D., Jungian analyst and author of Hauntings: Dispelling the Ghosts Who Run Our Lives and other books.

“This inspired work is a deep dive into psychospiritual self discovery, recognition and emergence. This book continues to penetrate our consciousness to reveal and empower us long after closing the pages. We come away more healthy, vulnerable and whole.”

-Lesley Carmack, MS coauthor of Radiant Awakening; Humanities Transformational Journey, and conducts seminars focusing on heart-mind integration.

From the Publisher