January 16, 2012

Duality.

I think and I feel, in alternation. And then sometimes I write about it here, if my feelings and thoughts agree and the product can be described in a coherent manner.
After confiding in my friend Elizabeth recently about my fears and my less than flattering reactions to those fears, she send me a link to a text which contained the following:

"Full moons are often a time of madness on the planet. The crazies come out of the woodwork, people are more accident prone, impatient, reckless. At the heart of it, though, the hidden is illuminated – on both a personal and a collective level- and that can drive many of us to emotional extremes. 

Cancer is a nurturing, subjective, and family-oriented sign. It is highly intuitive, its feelings are easily hurt, and its energies are focused, directed. It dislikes emotional confrontations and, like the crab that represents this sign, it retreats at the first sign of conflict, withdrawing tightly into its shell."

I had to smile with amusement reading this as I could not better describe myself indeed and I recognize the way I am ruled by the moon and its cycles.

I feel has been used before to shortly summarize the sign of Cancer. My feelings are my greatest asset and yet they are simultaneously my greatest drawback. They give rise to my creativity, sensitivity and intuitive perception, making me see the world so vividly, while I notice hidden details that others might not see. Yet, when passionate emotions overtake me, they cloud my judgment, causing me to throw logic out of the window, shutting down my intelligence, while I become temporarily insane - and even cruel.

I wonder if we all harbor within us conflicting forces, which define our personality, making us unique and special. I assume we all carry an angel and devil within and at all times our actions are a product of an internal struggle between the good and the bad inside us. Sometimes the light wins, sometimes darkness take over.

I can be weak and scared. I am not always unconditionally good and I can certainly be selfish and possessive. Yet, I know I can also be loving and warm, empathetic and altruistic, pure and generous. This is human duality, defining our species, making us so extremely intriguing and so very dangerous as well.

I believe that no one is all good, as well as no one is all evil. I guess what decides which category we fall into is the way we choose to handle those opposites within us, allowing one or the other win the internal conflicts. By acknowledging fully and completely that we posses both positive and negative qualities, we can create a balance within ourselves and strive to always follow the light through the darkness of our lives.


(Images:Photobucket)

24 comments:

Rahul Bhatia said...

Very well written! The dark and bright side! A Dr Jekyll and Mr Hide!

Elisabeth said...

Too true, Zuzana, yin and yang, black and white, we are all made of mixed stuff, and all the greys in between. How dull it would be if it were not so.

Elizabeth said...

Glad I could be of help!

See you in a bit.

Ruby said...

Oh yes, there are conflicting qualities within us - only this would give us the varied, polychromatic views and senses. We choose our personalities depending on the situation, only we cannot always have full or even partial control of emotions but just try to make the best of it. Cheers!

Kath said...

what a great post. I loved the wolf!

Brian Miller said...

oh i agree...many have written on it...the pic of the wolf made me think of the story of the 2 wolves inside and which one survives....the one we feed...

i also understand the being driven by the moon as well...very nice zuzana...good to see you...smiles.

Jerry said...

I have never been one to give much credence to things Zodiac. But at the same time, being a Cancer, I find my Zodiac attributes describe me perfect. I do understand the inner conflicts you describe and sometimes wonder who and where I would be if I was able to rely more on my intellect rather than emotion and intuition.

But all in all, I think the ultimate rewards are greater to feel than to know.

Gail said...

I have had the same experience...and think, wow, that certainly is me they're talking about.

Yes, I do believe we have two sides and Native American legend that ends with the one you feed is so great. Thanks for reminding me!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful post Zuzana, I think too we all have both sides fighting against each other inside us. We are the ones to decide which side wins, by our actions and words, by the way we live and how we behave with others.
It's natural to feel unbalanced sometime, but may the good in you shines above all.
Take care.

Anonymous said...

Such a great post my friend. Don't you love when something hits the nail on the head like your horoscope sign, not to mention what the full moon can invoke in people. Margie

sprinkles said...

Interesting post!

I definitely believe the crazies come out when the moon is full. I remember working at the salon a bazillion years ago, all the crazies would call for appts.

There were parts of my life when the dark side definitely took over my life. Those were not good or fun times. It took me a long time to realize most of my situation was of my own making. Once I was able to turn that around, was so much easier and happier. The dark side comes out again once in awhile but I'm usually able to push him back.

Anonymous said...

So true...I definitely feel more emotional during the full moon. The force seems to stir our emotions. That is a good thing. We need to skake it up and bring things out. It's good for the soul.
I have heard the wolf story before, but never seen it with the wolf and yin yang symbol for the face. I like the way the symbol is used again in his eye.
I am a Pisces and it fits me to a tee.

Myrna R. said...

Such true thoughts Zuzana. I know we must accept that duality and often we must chose a side. Humanity's complexities are within us all.

Mimi said...

true, Zuzana.
"I assume we all carry an angel and devil within" I hadn't thought of it in these terms, but yes, I think within all of us we have this great strength that can also be our great downfall.
Still trying to work out what mine is!!
Good to see you again!

A Lady's Life said...

so true ,
We do carry both.
Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.Otherwise people don't understand. Sometimes hormones take over or sometimes the stress.Sometimes hunger. Sometimes being forced to take on too much pain
People are human not perfect.The thing is to try to know who you are and if you feel good about who you are then the things you do are probably for the positive.
We all do things we don't like and maybe even regret but then the sub shines, you feel better and life goes on. lol

Anonymous said...

This duality defines us all, although - as your poster suggests - sometimes one part wins through because we work so hard to groom that side of us.

Lovely thoughts.

Amanda Summer said...

as a fellow cancerian this really spoke to me. i really like what you said about the importance of how it all comes down to how we handle these conflicting feelings. a psychiatrist friend of mine once said that happiness and wellbeing are directly related to how well one deals with ambivalence.....and most of life is filled with ambivalence. i believe in buddhist thought the pure land sect is the place beyond opposites - i guess what all of humanity is seeking.

beautiful food for thought as always, zuzana.

xoxo
amanda

Margie said...

Dear Zuzana,
*By acknowledging fully that we possess both positive and negative qualities, we can create a balance within ourselves and strive to always follow the light through the darkness of our lives. *

Wonderful and insightful words there and I so agree with you!

Thanks for the post, very enlightening!

Margie xo

Rajesh said...

Wonderful post. You have found a good friend in Elizabeth.

bright star said...

I am sure your goodness is in charge Zuzana but ofcourse what you say is true. I am a Gemini so I am already dual before all the rest! I have Cancer rising and moon in Scrpio so there is always a bit of a fight going on inside!
Great post. lol Angela

adrielleroyale said...

Certainly there are many ways to describe the inner conflict, but in the end it is still always our choice to decide how we shall respond and from whom we shall glean our strength. May you work out the demons you're wrestling with and find the truth in love. Blessings!! :)

GypsyFox said...

Wonderful post, Zuzana!!

SandyCarlson said...

Those two wolves are as necessary as they are equally valuable. May we embrace them both!

Kat_RN said...

I know exactly what you mean! I really do think the struggle defines us. It is difficult, for someone who shy's away from conflict, to deal with battles within.
Kat