One of the ways parts of us resist deep soul encounters is by projecting our repressed or disowned qualities onto others, people, places, or even aspects of nature. Just like a film projected onto a screen, these inner qualities are cast outward, drawing our attention away from the inner sanctuary where our essence resides.
The Nature of Projections
Projections can feel either repulsing or alluring, sometimes both at once.
- A repulsing projection makes us turn away, avoid, or even reject the person or thing we’ve cast our shadows upon. Racism is an extreme form of this projection.
- An alluring projection pulls us closer, sometimes into infatuation or dependence. Guru worship is a striking example of this dynamic.
Both extremes can distort relationships, leading to misuse or even harm, because what we are truly reacting to is not the other, but the hidden parts of ourselves.
Projections in the Retreat Space
At Lionheart Journeys, facilitators often become the target of projections, as they serve as mirrors in the underworld journey. Skilled facilitators are trained to recognize these dynamics and guide participants to withdraw their projections in a conscious and compassionate way.
Projections can also land on fellow participants. Unlike facilitators, they may not always have the awareness or tools to navigate such dynamics. This is why attentiveness to group energy and dynamics is a sacred responsibility of our guides and space holders.
The Gift Hidden in Projection
Ironically and beautifully, projection is not just a barrier, it is also a pathway to wholeness. Every projection carries with it an invitation: the chance to reclaim the disowned, forgotten, or exiled parts of ourselves. When we courageously acknowledge and re-integrate what we have projected, we grow. We heal. We become more fully human.
A Call to Consciousness
On this path, we invite every participant to take responsibility for their projections:
- Work with your facilitators if they help you see what you may not yet recognize.
- Be willing to withdraw your projections and reclaim what is truly yours.
- If harm or drama has arisen through projection, take conscious steps to make amends.
Beyond Ceremony
Recognizing and working with projections is not only for retreats, it is a life skill. Once you begin to see how common projections are in relationships, with lovers, colleagues, communities, even nations, you begin to see the world differently. You recognize that what repels or magnetizes you often holds a reflection of your own inner landscape.
Closing Reflection
Projection, though often uncomfortable, is one of the most powerful teachers on the path of growth. Each time we reclaim what we once cast outward, we step closer to our wholeness. We move from illusion to truth, from fragmentation to integration.
