Step Into the Shadow

 As a few of you know, I am not the biggest fan of the band Tool, but as of late I change my mind.

Recently I was doing a little independent research on a psychology concept called Shadow. It’s quite complex, so forgive me if my information is incorrect.

The idea is that a person’s Shadow is the darker side of their unconscious. First described my Sigmund Freud, and then reiterated on by Carl Jung, the Shadow is the embodiment of things that were presented to us and we banished. For example, you’re angry with someone and you consider hurting them. You know doing so is wrong, so you banish the thought, and that negativity goes to your Shadow. In this sense, your Shadow is an unconscious being of your darker desires, such as violence, lust, greed, and so on.

Forty Six & 2 is a song by Tool, off of their third album Ænima (my personal favorite). A person’s shadow is an anima if it is male, and animus if female. I believe this is why they named their album, but the title track is about how sinful and horrible the world has become. This of course will require further research on my part, which will take place soon.

If my research is correct, forty six & 2 is the point in a person’s mind where they are merged with their Shadow, accepting that they have some evil in them, but choosing to live with it and keep it under control. The lyric “Forty-six and two ahead of me.” Is about two thirds through the song, and I believe the song is depicting the changing of someone while they are merging with the Shadow.

“I choose to live and to

Grow, take and give and to

Move, learn and love and to

Cry, kill and die and to

Be paranoid and to

Lie, hate and fear and to

Do what it takes to move through.”

Though most people consider the Shadow something to fear or be afraid of, that’s not what this song is about. This song is about self-discovery, learning yourself and how to cope with the darkness that we all possess. The lyrics above mention growth, and I could understand how maybe merging with the Shadow would be seen as personal growth to people. Personally though, I don’t like to think of these things. I understand that I can do horrible things, but I chose not to. That’s what separates humans from the animals, doing what’s right and having free choice. To me, the Shadow just seems like an embodiment of primary instincts.

Song link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tja6_h4lT6A

Research links:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evil-deeds/201204/essential-secrets-psychotherapy-what-is-the-shadow