The Tao of Potter

Some say that our addiction to media (and technology) is divisive or designed to maintain a comatic state; it is what prevents us from living a 'whole' life, balanced and in harmony with ourselves and our surroundings. I would agree to some extent. However, when life (and media) is viewed through the lens of metaphor, it becomes a really useful healing tool.

Spotting the Metaphor

Remember Fluffy?

Do you remember the scene in the 1st Harry Potter film (The Philosophers Stone) where Harry, Hermione and Ron go through the trap door being guarded by Fluffy, the 3 headed dog? Consider first that Fluffy the 3-headed monster may well represent the (ego) voice of fear, confusion and distraction? It can instil enough fear in us that we abandon our inner journey right there!

Just below the trap door lies a soft landing for them on a bed of vines but the vines begin to attack the 3 of them and will certainly kill them (end their inner journey) if they don't figure out a way to drop through to the deeper level (the sub conscious). The vines represent ego state who's job is to maintain the status quo. The ego, when threatened with change can create noise and confusion (in this example, made mainly by Ron!). It's a fear based response that we need to work with rather than against.

NB: Teaching meditation to new students - after about the 3rd session they commonly experience 'blocks' to their learning. These blocks sound like excuses or, "I can't because......." This is oddly normal and reflects how the ego filter drops down to stop us expanding our mind and thus, our deeper understanding of self and world. 

In order for the 3 of them to drop through the vines, they have to do something that seems counter intuitive; they have to deeply relax and stop getting distracted. When they do this, they fall through to a deeper level before arriving at a doorway. It takes a spell (Alohomora - 'favourable to thieves') to open the door (dialogue with self; inner permission) and there they find a room full of flying keys. Only one of the keys (the really old, ancestral looking one) will open the door into the next chamber.

In the next chamber (deeper aspect of self), a quest or challenge has to be fulfilled. Harry needs to pursue the correct key while riding a broomstick and not getting distracted by all the other keys. In other words, he has to focus sharply and mentally separate the surrounding distractions in order to grab the key and get through the door before the other useless keys fly through. This process hints at working with clarity and courage; not finding excuses because it's too difficult or too dangerous and defiantly staying with the process no matter what the outcome.

The final part of their quest together ends in a dangerous game of chess where a life has to be willingly offered (Ron, upon checkmate) in order to gain access to the next level. This offering of life is a voluntary ego death; a willingness to heal, to understand, accept and let go of a past storyline that no longer serves and yes, it can hurt. This sets up Harry’s final adventure alone, where he meets duality and illusion. He meets the ‘hidden’ something that was affecting his story line; Voldemort or his darkest shadow aspect. We contain every aspect within us - it is our choices that define us - remember this as you carve out your own path.

In this final stand-off, Harry stares down his deepest fear. He challenges Voldemort and, using the alchemical philosophers stone, he turns base metal into Gold. In allowing Voldemort to pass right through him (and living to tell the tale) he raises his vibration enough to withstand the impact of such a strong shadow transition. Allowing shadow material to pass through you rather than holding on to it serves to make you stronger. This is the metaphor of turning base metal (shadow aspect) into Gold (highest vibration).

Harry helps us understand that giving energy to fear only intensify's that feeling of fear.

Do you remember when Harry's hands turned Prof. Quirrell to a crumbling stone? It's a cliché but Love conquers ALL.

Happy Inner Journey. x