Facing the Dragon

1. Evil is a Real Force, Not Just an Absence of Good

Evil is a reality with an agency of its own.

Active, not passive. The book challenges the modern tendency to downplay or deny the reality of evil, arguing that it is not merely the absence of good but an active, aggressive force with its own agency. This perspective aligns with ancient wisdom traditions that recognized evil as a tangible presence capable of influencing individuals and communities.

Marks of evil. The book identifies several characteristics of evil, including its deceptive nature, its ability to disguise itself in innocent forms, its contagious influence, and its tendency to erode the foundations of personal and social life. Evil multiplies itself on your energy, your lifeblood, your creativity, and co-opts your good and often magnificent energies and potentials, and makes them serve hatred, sadism, oppression, and the destruction of health and life.

Mythic imagination. The author emphasizes the importance of the mythic imagination in understanding and confronting evil, drawing on folklore, mythology, and even contemporary movies to illustrate its dynamics. By recognizing the patterns and themes associated with evil in these narratives, we can become more vigilant in discerning its presence in our own lives and in the world around us.

2. The Lucifer Complex: Grandiose Energies Within

Traditional mythologies often used the mythic image of the dragon to indicate an intuition of these great and dangerous forces that lurk within the human soul and turn satanic when left unconscious or treated with disrespect.

The Great Self Within. The book introduces the concept of the "Lucifer Complex," which refers to the powerful, grandiose energies that reside within every human being. These energies, when faced consciously and with respect, can be a source of creativity and transformation.

Existential idolatry. However, when the ego engages in a pretentious "unknowing" of the reality and significance of this presence, the result is existential idolatry and malignant narcissism. This denial of the divine presence creates a demonic alchemy that hijacks the sacred energies of the soul and twists them into destructive powers.

Manifestations of evil. These destructive powers manifest as addiction, racism, sexism, homophobia, political oppression, ritual violence, war, and ecological destruction. The book argues that both corporate greed and religious fundamentalism are fueled by these same grandiose energies.

3. Spiritual Warfare: An Archetypal Struggle

Our whole being is nothing but a fight against the dark forces within ourselves.

Inner and outer battles. The book emphasizes the importance of recognizing the archetype of spiritual warfare, which involves a constant struggle against the dark forces within ourselves. This inner battle is essential for personal growth and individuation.

The warrior archetype. The warrior archetype is crucial for mobilizing resources, organizing action, and directing energy toward transpersonal goals. Without a solid connection to the warrior within, individuals may engage in ineffectual, self-defeating behaviors.

Beyond the hero. The book distinguishes between the hero and the warrior, noting that the hero is still on a journey toward maturity, while the warrior has full command of their resources and abilities. The true warrior represents mature ego function.

4. Modern Secularism Can Fuel Pathological Narcissism

Existential denial of the divine presence creates a demonic alchemy that hijacks the sacred energies of the soul and twists them into destructive powers of hideous strength.

Loss of the sacred. The book argues that modern secularism, with its emphasis on autonomy and rejection of traditional religious structures, has led to a loss of conscious ritual contact with the realm of the sacred. This loss has contributed to an increase in pathological narcissism and unregulated grandiosity.

Unconscious sacraments. In the absence of conscious spiritual practices, people may turn to unconscious, destructive behaviors as substitutes for sacred rituals. These behaviors can include addiction, promiscuity, and the exploitation of others.

The need for myth. The book emphasizes the importance of rediscovering the mythic realm to contain and channel grandiose energies. Without a connection to myth, the inner grandiose self can become trapped in the human realm, leading to destructive consequences.

5. Ritualization: Containing the Dragon's Fire

The archetypal configurations that we do not ritualize consciously, we are condemned to act out unconsciously.

Conscious vs. unconscious ritual. The book highlights the importance of conscious ritualization as a means of containing and channeling archetypal energies. Unconscious ritualization, by contrast, can lead to destructive acting out and a lack of awareness of the forces at play.

Tribal rituals. Premodern tribal cultures often used conscious ritualization to limit aggression and conspicuous consumption. Modern culture, however, lacks effective rituals to regulate these impulses.

The need for new rituals. The book calls for the development of new planetary spiritual consciousness and concrete rituals to address the challenges of aggression and consumption in the modern world. These rituals should be led by competent ritual elders who understand the psychological and spiritual dynamics involved.

6. The Personal Shadow vs. The Archetypal Shadow

It involves learning how to tell the difference between the personal shadow that comes from your individual experience, and the archetypal forces which have access to your psyche from within, that you can never integrate, and had better not try to integrate.

Personal shadow. The book distinguishes between the personal shadow, which consists of repressed or denied aspects of the individual's personality, and the archetypal shadow, which represents universal patterns of human destructiveness. The integration of the personal shadow can bring peace and harmony to the psyche.

Archetypal shadow. The archetypal shadow, however, cannot be integrated and must be related to consciously. This involves recognizing the objective psychic reality of evil and developing strategies for confronting its influence.

Evil as possession. The book suggests that evil can be understood as a form of possession, in which archetypal forces invade and colonize the human psyche. This perspective aligns with traditional views of evil as an external agency that can seduce individuals into destructive behavior.

7. The Four Archetypes and Grandiosity

There is no one alive who does not have a grandiose, exhibitionistic self-organization, an actual psychological structure or entity that thinks it is God.

King/Queen: Grandiosity manifests as a need for control and domination, often disguised as a desire to protect or guide others.

• Example: A leader who believes they are the only one capable of making the right decisions.

Warrior: Grandiosity is expressed through workaholism, compulsive rage, and a sense of righteous indignation.

• Example: A person who is constantly fighting against perceived injustices, often to the detriment of their own well-being.

Magician/Magus: Grandiosity takes the form of intellectual arrogance, emotional detachment, and a belief in the superiority of one's own knowledge or understanding.

• Example: An academic who prioritizes theoretical correctness over practical action or human connection.

Lover: Grandiosity is characterized by a focus on personal feelings and needs, a sense of victimization, and a tendency toward addictive or codependent relationships.

• Example: A person who constantly seeks validation and attention from others, often through manipulative or self-destructive behaviors.

8. Transpersonal Assistance: You Are Not Alone

If you are cooperative, the Self with a capital “S” will see to it that you have helpers in your darkest hour.

The Self as helper. The book emphasizes the importance of recognizing the existence of transpersonal forces that can provide assistance in times of struggle. This aligns with Jung's concept of the Self, which represents the totality of the psyche and can offer guidance and support to the ego.

Providence and synchronicity. The book connects the Jungian concept of synchronicity with the Reformed Christian tradition of Providence, suggesting that there is a divine plan at work in the universe that will not leave anyone without reinforcements.

The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a transpersonal Helper available to you. It does not mean you can avoid what you have to do, but you are not in it alone. That is part of the genius of Jung, and one of the things that makes Jungian psychology such a powerful alternative to all other psychologies, for none of them work from the assumption that the ego has help from within the psyche.

9. The Importance of Discernment and Humility

The very minute she gets involved in relationships that are more hopeful, this thing mobilizes, gets aggressive, and seeks to destroy the new relationship.

Humility as a virtue. The book emphasizes the importance of humility as a means of regulating grandiose energies. True humility consists of knowing one's limitations and seeking help when needed.

Differentiating personal and archetypal. It is crucial to distinguish between the personal shadow, which can be integrated, and the archetypal forces, which cannot. Attempting to integrate the archetypal shadow can lead to psychological fragmentation.

The need for spiritual practice. The book argues that a spiritual practice is essential for dealing with archetypal energies and preventing them from overwhelming the ego. Without a spiritual practice, individuals may be more vulnerable to possession by grandiose forces.

10. Malignant Tribalism: The Social Expression of Unchecked Grandiosity

Social displacement of grandiosity still leaves the grandiose energies intact and fundamentally unchallenged.

Tribalism as a defense. The book argues that tribalism, with its emphasis on group identity and exclusion of outsiders, is often a defense against individual fragmentation. By projecting grandiose energies onto the group, individuals can avoid facing their own limitations.

The dangers of tribalism. However, this social displacement of grandiosity can lead to malignant tribalism, in which groups demonize and attack those who are not part of their tribe. This has been the engine behind all genocides, racism, classism, sexism, and religious warfare.

The need for a global consciousness. The book calls for the development of a new planetary spiritual consciousness that transcends tribalism and recognizes the inherent worth and dignity of all human beings. This requires a conscious effort to challenge and transform the unconscious forces that fuel hatred and violence.

Last updated: March 2, 2025