Why
Black Sheep?
The Black Sheep
Many of us grew up with unmet emotional needs. Perhaps our folks were unavailable physically, emotionally, or psychologically. Or, perhaps we came of age in an environment that was chaotic or unsafe. This leaves a child, unknowing of the world, having to figure things out for themselves - alone. It teaches one not to trust.
From a societal standpoint, we privilege the idea of the rugged individual. Having a sense that we are not living up to this standard can be shameful. We end up feeling unseen, unheard, lonely, and unmet in our need for support. More so than not, we can feel ashamed of even having these feelings.
Further, a perceived or actual experience of being rejected or abandoned by family, religious community, work colleagues, or friends can have one feeling like a black sheep. These experiences activate a primal instinct that puts our whole nervous system and being into high alert
Uniqueness & Transformation
Black sheep often see the world in a way that's different from others or outside of the dominant cultural narrative. This provides for a unique perspective. Realizing the ways that one is different can be a catalyst for change. In some traditions the black sheep is considered an omen of long overdue transformation. When we allow ourselves to be who we truly are, there's promise, power and hope. Not just for us as individuals but all of us. The black sheep signifies this.
Not Alone
So, why the black sheep? Because it acknowledges the pain of isolation and rejection while honoring the individual's journey and innate ability to transform. It honors the "dark night of the soul" and what emerges from it when we endure and allow ourselves the opportunity to take a deep look internally.
The truth is that no person transcends the need for others. It's human to have these needs, but for many of us it doesn’t feel safe to rely on others - or we feel as if we shouldn't have to. This is, in part, what the archetype of the black sheep embodies.
The transformation that the black sheep offers is not without work. But this work is honest and real. Unpacking societal messages that do not serve us and processing past traumas so we are no longer beholden to them can be painful. But through this we become free.
When you're not the same and see the world differently, it puts you in a special position, but one shouldn't have to be in that position while feeling alone and isolated. Because… you're not alone.
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