The White Swan Must Die: Lessons I learned from Natalie Portman
***SPOLIER ALERT***Don’t read if you have not seen it; unless you just want to; which is fine too. :-)
In the film Natalie Portman’s character, Nina, who is the epitome of the fictive character “white swan” that she must play in a ballet ( kind, meek, concerned with being perfect and being liked) endures a series of psychic delusions where she envisions the “black swan” ( another part of her role that she has been assigned, but has not been able to embody) enacting and moving through her actual life. The black swan role that Nina must play represents an erotic; wild, sexual power that Nina does not see as herself and also has a level of disdain for. However, Nina’s psychological projection begins to take a life of it’s own, inevitably being projected upon Mila Kuni’s character “Lily”.
1st Lesson: It is common with humans that the qualities and characteristics we choose to either deny or dismiss in ourselves we project onto others. The “other” then becomes our black swan, those who we “hate” or do not like or distance ourselves from. We cannot “perform” them or be “them” because they are so horrible or unlike us. However in actuality; they are us; and we desire to harbor those traits unconsciously. The othering is a safety mechanism for the ego; cause that way all of our consciously undesirable traits are far away from our fragile ego-centric view of ourselves. We can therefore still be “righteous” “good” or “politically correct” if we ourselves are not in possession of those traits that the “other/black swan” has.
EXAMPLE: In various trauma dynamics; such as parent/child we can see this clearly too. The child hates characteristics that the parent possess; more than likely those that have wounded him/her/them.Those qualities “become” the parent, and the child names themselves as not possessing those traits; in stark rejection. But Aha! The child’s healing does not come through dismissal or denial of owning those traits; but in recognizing that they do posses them; and often invariably have already been enacting them in a myriad of ways through various relational structures, however passive or subconscious. The child of course “can not”, or more appropriately “will not” see this, but the healing for the child does not come in rejection, but in acceptance of the parent as a form of their own reflection.
Back to the movie: In this film Natalie Portman’s character’s “black swan” is inevitably projected onto Mila Kunis’s character Lily. Perhaps not so subtly “Lily” is a name derived from “Lilith” a complicated mythological Goddess/figure associated in many texts as “queen of the demons or underworld”. She is also in Astrology; connected with the “Dark Moon”- the moon itself a symbol of the unconscious.
In the movie Lily is an aggressive, wild, sexually assertive and in touch with varying instruments that produce psychic barrier disruptions ( drugs).
2nd LESSON: The drugs, in this case “E” is important, because, beyond the realities of the dangers of the drug, it is a drug which, as many drugs do, rips through the psychic barrier of separateness that we as humans experience; producing a momentary undifferentiated high that it is easy to become addicted to. This high happens becomes a psychic barrier has been lifted.
Let me explain what I mean by “Undiffrentiated high”.. In Metaphysical Buddhist theory; we were once unable to see ourselves as spiritual entities who were “separate”. However, now, due to a number of phenom to deep to go into here, we conceptually see ourselves as separate and behave as so. Yet in order to achieve “enlightenment” (metaphysical terms) or “liberation” (social justice terms) we must be able to see ourselves as connected; as one. That one-ness is articulated through social justice via our shared social plight; that one-ness is articulated though metaphysics as the reality that we are apart of the same spiritual body. That same “one-ness” or feeling of being “undiffrentiated” is also created by many drugs.
Many become addicted to not the drug itself;but to the the experience of psychic undiffrentation. However the danger in these drugs is that they tear back the psychic veil violently. It’s like someone ripping back your skin. The long-term effects on the aura can be devastating, particularly in repeated use. It is important to note that humans seek undifferentiated inducing experiences in many ways; sex; communication; religion etc. “E” and many drugs are simply another medium that, like all of the listed above, has it’s own unique set of challenges and consequences. This is important because Nina’s character is seeking Separateness through “purity” and “perfection” ..even the absence of food….
So Lily is the black swan for Nina ; and towards the end we see a confrontation take place. One is sexual; Nina’s psychic projection of her own black swan ( Lily) attempts to have sex with her. Sex is among many others things a spiritual impulse to return to or integrate characteristics that another entity posses’ into our waking conscious selves. It is an attempt at her own “black swan” or shadow to become consciously integrated into the ego/self.
EXAMPLE: Sex is used like this in several ways. Especially with specific groups of people who have been dramatically and systematically “othered” from each other. Heterosexual men and women being a great example. To him, she is a psychological projection of several traits; emotionality; softness; and the social construction of “femininity”. He cannot see himself through these things.For instance; I have asked many heterosexual men who have thrown chairs, beaten people etc if they think they are “emotional and they often say “Of course not. I just have anger issues” ( Because anger is not after all, an emotion; and if it was then i would be acting EMOTIONAL which would be like a woman. He cannot see himself as “emotional” because gender socialization has taught him that as a male embodied individual he does not possess emotionality.) But all hetero men and beings, possess on some level these so called “feminine” traits, and men who have been taught to not consciously see these things in themselves will often project the characteristics he posses onto her. And of course, if she represents psychologically a projection of his own femininity; he will do to her what he has been taught to do with those traits of “femininity” within himself; he will control, repress, abuse, belittle and subjugate it. He will control, repress and subjugate her. This dynamic drama is apart of the sexual psychic tension. He is being called to integrate his projection into himself and vice versa.
Monogamy is our culture’s answer to this; instead of integrating/embracing/awakening that persons characteristics into me, i will posses them through a relational structure which gives me constant access to them psychically. Welcome to The Metaphysics Of Patriarchy 101. Of course, this is a very over-simplified example, however, it works for what were trying to illuminate here. But Let’s continue…
The sex is not enough for the integration to happen, however, and so we see the final confrontation come to blows; Nina “kills” Lily by flinging her into a “mirror” (which represents reflection) and stabbing her in the stomach ( metaphysically an area associated with power and energy) killing her.
Later on, however, we find out that Lily; the real person is not dead. In a moment of psychic delusion, Nina’s projection of her own dark swan acting as Lily became so powerful; so intense; that it was able to disrupt her understanding of reality and cause her to stab herself ; an action which liberates her to become the black swan.
After this she goes on stage and does an amazing performance of the black swan, a part that before that; she could not perform. Now she can, Because Nina has managed to kill/ sacrifice the white swan in herself. She has managed to “die”, or more appropriately the part of her that is the white swan has been able to die; to be sacrificed; in the name of her power. Death in itself is not an ending; but a radical transformation; and energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transformed. Nina is thus transformed into the black swan. And the black swan represents a form of erotic and unconscious power that she now has access to by killing the white swan; who represents validation through others; and power through being liked.
So I know that’s alot to take in. But let’s summarize.
The message here:
The white swan must die. To come into our power, our true power; we must often rebuke the need for external validation or perfection. We must integrate into ourselves the fearless Lilith or Lily; claiming all projections of “others” as we ourselves; including those who we say are our “haters” because those people are often only saying out loud what we say in our heads already.
The process for this need not be as dramatic as what we have seen in this movie; but however, it is necessary if we desire to continuously expand our auras and our capacity for expression and invention.We are each other, and you are those who you hate. To find yourself, and dare I even say it; to find “God” or the divine source; look to those who you despise. Once you can see their face as your mirror; you will find “God” smiling back at you. Once you can claim that the traits they are exist in you; you will find a liberation.
As your mirror, always
The White Swan Must Die: Lessons I learned from Natalie Portman
***SPOLIER ALERT***Don’t read if you have not seen it; unless you just want to; which is fine too. :-)
In the film Natalie Portman’s character, Nina, who is the epitome of the fictive character “white swan” that she must play in a ballet ( kind, meek, concerned with being perfect and being liked) endures a series of psychic delusions where she envisions the “black swan” ( another part of her role that she has been assigned, but has not been able to embody) enacting and moving through her actual life. The black swan role that Nina must play represents an erotic; wild, sexual power that Nina does not see as herself and also has a level of disdain for. However, Nina’s psychological projection begins to take a life of it’s own, inevitably being projected upon Mila Kuni’s character “Lily”.
1st Lesson: It is common with humans that the qualities and characteristics we choose to either deny or dismiss in ourselves we project onto others. The “other” then becomes our black swan, those who we “hate” or do not like or distance ourselves from. We cannot “perform” them or be “them” because they are so horrible or unlike us. However in actuality; they are us; and we desire to harbor those traits unconsciously. The othering is a safety mechanism for the ego; cause that way all of our consciously undesirable traits are far away from our fragile ego-centric view of ourselves. We can therefore still be “righteous” “good” or “politically correct” if we ourselves are not in possession of those traits that the “other/black swan” has.
EXAMPLE: In various trauma dynamics; such as parent/child we can see this clearly too. The child hates characteristics that the parent possess; more than likely those that have wounded him/her/them.Those qualities “become” the parent, and the child names themselves as not possessing those traits; in stark rejection. But Aha! The child’s healing does not come through dismissal or denial of owning those traits; but in recognizing that they do posses them; and often invariably have already been enacting them in a myriad of ways through various relational structures, however passive or subconscious. The child of course “can not”, or more appropriately “will not” see this, but the healing for the child does not come in rejection, but in acceptance of the parent as a form of their own reflection.
Back to the movie: In this film Natalie Portman’s character’s “black swan” is inevitably projected onto Mila Kunis’s character Lily. Perhaps not so subtly “Lily” is a name derived from “Lilith” a complicated mythological Goddess/figure associated in many texts as “queen of the demons or underworld”. She is also in Astrology; connected with the “Dark Moon”- the moon itself a symbol of the unconscious.
In the movie Lily is an aggressive, wild, sexually assertive and in touch with varying instruments that produce psychic barrier disruptions ( drugs).
2nd LESSON: The drugs, in this case “E” is important, because, beyond the realities of the dangers of the drug, it is a drug which, as many drugs do, rips through the psychic barrier of separateness that we as humans experience; producing a momentary undifferentiated high that it is easy to become addicted to. This high happens becomes a psychic barrier has been lifted.
Let me explain what I mean by “Undiffrentiated high”.. In Metaphysical Buddhist theory; we were once unable to see ourselves as spiritual entities who were “separate”. However, now, due to a number of phenom to deep to go into here, we conceptually see ourselves as separate and behave as so. Yet in order to achieve “enlightenment” (metaphysical terms) or “liberation” (social justice terms) we must be able to see ourselves as connected; as one. That one-ness is articulated through social justice via our shared social plight; that one-ness is articulated though metaphysics as the reality that we are apart of the same spiritual body. That same “one-ness” or feeling of being “undiffrentiated” is also created by many drugs.
Many become addicted to not the drug itself;but to the the experience of psychic undiffrentation. However the danger in these drugs is that they tear back the psychic veil violently. It’s like someone ripping back your skin. The long-term effects on the aura can be devastating, particularly in repeated use. It is important to note that humans seek undifferentiated inducing experiences in many ways; sex; communication; religion etc. “E” and many drugs are simply another medium that, like all of the listed above, has it’s own unique set of challenges and consequences. This is important because Nina’s character is seeking Separateness through “purity” and “perfection” ..even the absence of food….
So Lily is the black swan for Nina ; and towards the end we see a confrontation take place. One is sexual; Nina’s psychic projection of her own black swan ( Lily) attempts to have sex with her. Sex is among many others things a spiritual impulse to return to or integrate characteristics that another entity posses’ into our waking conscious selves. It is an attempt at her own “black swan” or shadow to become consciously integrated into the ego/self.
EXAMPLE: Sex is used like this in several ways. Especially with specific groups of people who have been dramatically and systematically “othered” from each other. Heterosexual men and women being a great example. To him, she is a psychological projection of several traits; emotionality; softness; and the social construction of “femininity”. He cannot see himself through these things.For instance; I have asked many heterosexual men who have thrown chairs, beaten people etc if they think they are “emotional and they often say “Of course not. I just have anger issues” ( Because anger is not after all, an emotion; and if it was then i would be acting EMOTIONAL which would be like a woman. He cannot see himself as “emotional” because gender socialization has taught him that as a male embodied individual he does not possess emotionality.) But all hetero men and beings, possess on some level these so called “feminine” traits, and men who have been taught to not consciously see these things in themselves will often project the characteristics he posses onto her. And of course, if she represents psychologically a projection of his own femininity; he will do to her what he has been taught to do with those traits of “femininity” within himself; he will control, repress, abuse, belittle and subjugate it. He will control, repress and subjugate her. This dynamic drama is apart of the sexual psychic tension. He is being called to integrate his projection into himself and vice versa.
Monogamy is our culture’s answer to this; instead of integrating/embracing/awakening that persons characteristics into me, i will posses them through a relational structure which gives me constant access to them psychically. Welcome to The Metaphysics Of Patriarchy 101. Of course, this is a very over-simplified example, however, it works for what were trying to illuminate here. But Let’s continue…
The sex is not enough for the integration to happen, however, and so we see the final confrontation come to blows; Nina “kills” Lily by flinging her into a “mirror” (which represents reflection) and stabbing her in the stomach ( metaphysically an area associated with power and energy) killing her.
Later on, however, we find out that Lily; the real person is not dead. In a moment of psychic delusion, Nina’s projection of her own dark swan acting as Lily became so powerful; so intense; that it was able to disrupt her understanding of reality and cause her to stab herself ; an action which liberates her to become the black swan.
After this she goes on stage and does an amazing performance of the black swan, a part that before that; she could not perform. Now she can, Because Nina has managed to kill/ sacrifice the white swan in herself. She has managed to “die”, or more appropriately the part of her that is the white swan has been able to die; to be sacrificed; in the name of her power. Death in itself is not an ending; but a radical transformation; and energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transformed. Nina is thus transformed into the black swan. And the black swan represents a form of erotic and unconscious power that she now has access to by killing the white swan; who represents validation through others; and power through being liked.
So I know that’s alot to take in. But let’s summarize.
The message here:
The white swan must die. To come into our power, our true power; we must often rebuke the need for external validation or perfection. We must integrate into ourselves the fearless Lilith or Lily; claiming all projections of “others” as we ourselves; including those who we say are our “haters” because those people are often only saying out loud what we say in our heads already.
The process for this need not be as dramatic as what we have seen in this movie; but however, it is necessary if we desire to continuously expand our auras and our capacity for expression and invention.We are each other, and you are those who you hate. To find yourself, and dare I even say it; to find “God” or the divine source; look to those who you despise. Once you can see their face as your mirror; you will find “God” smiling back at you. Once you can claim that the traits they are exist in you; you will find a liberation.
As your mirror, always
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