Monday, October 12, 2009

Praying with the Shadow Self, Reflection I on Macbeth

I love October and Halloween. To celebrate, I reread Macbeth and spend some time throughout the month reflecting on its timeless themes. Murder, blood, conspiracy, corrupt power, guilt, hallucinations, prophecy, witches, cauldrons and spells... what's not to love about Shakespeare's gory tragedy that pulls us nose deep into our struggles with our own humanity.


In the Spirit of the approaching holiday from: Macbeth Act IV, Scene 1, William Shakespeare.
SECOND WITCH:
By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes:(45)
Open, locks,
Whoever knocks!


Enter Macbeth.


MACBETH:
How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags?
What is't you do?

May we come this week and pray that our hearts open their locks to the very human struggles, which we all share, with those parts of ourselves which we keep hidden even from ourselves. For it is only in bringing our secret midnights into the Healing Light of prayer that what it is we do can offer healing true healing for “Whoever knocks!” Amen.

Image credit cantueso.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

You say
"...hallucinations, prophecy, witches, cauldrons and spells... what's not to love about Shakespeare's gory tragedy"

Not to love?
But they are his art, his theater, his stage craft! But he is frank in his exaggerations; there is a distance, there is humor.

In that Shakespeare is miles away from New Age fads.