The Beastly and the Beautiful Part 2

Continued from The Beastly and The Beautiful Part 1

In considering what is beastly, it would first appear that we should try to shrink and eliminate anything that we perceive as dark or negative. Yet, trying to inhibit its growth seems as ineffective as binding up the feet of young girls, until they can only move with pain and emphasis on what has been deformed on purpose.  

The "terrible child" should not be cast out, but rather brought out and brought up. We can protect it and take care of it, but only so far as it needs. We can show up with this child, recognize it with a naming, and pledge to raise it with the help of others until it can face the world, no longer hiding in shame for its immaturity. It will always be a beast, but it will know itself and we will know it. It will be less mysterious, less frightening and less controlling.

For now, lets prepare for this encounter by re-familiarizing ourselves with a remarkable example of the Enfant Terrible, the Beast of the old French tale, La Belle et La Bête. I have perused a few versions of it, but it is easiest to refer to the popular animated Disney version. It is less intimidating, perhaps, to see ourselves reflected in a creature that isn't evil, but simply underdeveloped and isolated.

"…the Beast then appeared, and behaved so agreeably, she liked him more and more."

At the beginning of this character study, we are told that a young prince, who rules from a castle, has been cursed and therefore all of those around him are, as well. For reasons that must be unimportant or irrelevant, he has failed to grow out of his natural infantile narcissism and has no empathy or concern for anyone who has nothing to offer him. He sees no value in what someone offers, if it doesn't immediately satisfy an impulse or a want. 

To him, an old woman with a simple but precious rose is no one to be bothered by, yet a powerful sorceress deserves attention and a display of remorse. In acting as a mirror to his disdain, she is unmoved and takes no pity on him. He is given the sentence of having his inner condition made obvious to all. The rose that was proffered as a gift becomes the symbol of his curse, and is a daily reminder that the time for transformation is limited and running out.

The undiscerning child inside of us can behave in the same way. It can devalue what we may intellectually know to be worthy of our attention, but if it requires time or energy that does not bring us immediate gratification, we ignore it and go back to other things that have a more powerful hold on us. Fears, obligations, guilt, and high standards, whether real or imagined, can expand to monstrous proportions. Our blessings become curses and they leave us uninspired and unproductive. 

We can rule over the small castles we were given or have built up, but they can become gloomy structures that house our frustrations and disappointments. With all of this chaos running around inside of us, we can become rigid in our bound-up pain, and unwilling to make room for our many gifts. 

Continued in Part 3: The Enfant Terrible