way out of this “spiritual deadlock”: a person can’t know the world without knowing himself first, which means that he has to admit his “poverty” and take the situation under control. No matter how hard this admission might be, man nevertheless keeps striving for self-knowledge making useless attempts to “find” himself through arts, religion, psychology and mystics. Every where he faces common patterns so different and yet so similar.
Besides, in search of himself man confronts another big danger. Jung states that ” whoever looks into the mirror of the water will first of all see his own face. Whoever goes to himself risks meeting with himself [1; 113]. True there’s always a doubt as to whether fear is the only obstacle for man on his way of researching deep into the “dark waters of his unconscious”. May be not fear but pride, one of the worst sins! “… The mirror does not flatter, it faithfully shows whatever looks into it; namely, the face we never show to the world because we cover it with the Persona, the mask of the actor. But the mirror lies behind the mask and shows the true face. This is the first test of courage on the inner way, a test sufficient to frighten off most people, for the meeting with ourselves belongs to the more unpleasant things that can be avoided so long as we can project everything negative into the environment” [1; 113]. It would seem like strong-minded natures are capable of almost anything, but with respect to “meeting” with their own unconscious their strength may work against them: “The Shadow reminds man of his helplessness and ineffectuality. Strong natures – or should one rather call them weak? – do not like to be reminded of this, but prefer to think of themselves as heroes who are beyond good and
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