Let's start
from a contemporary psychological assumption: everyone has a Narcissus within
themselves. The metaphor of this work is that of one who "suffers"
from Narcissism because they will strive to grasp, reach out for, catch, and
seize something they desire with all their might - something that doesn't make
them feel alone and allows them to feel alive.
In the
original version of the myth, Narcissus, when he gazes at his reflection in the
water, doesn't fall in love with himself as commonly believed. Instead, he
falls in love with a shadow and a hope. He glimpses the shadow of his lonely
Psyche and senses the scent of hope for healing from within, as the handsome
youth, burdened with a divine curse, would only live a long and beautiful life
if he never gazed at his own reflection.
For
Narcissus, quenching his thirst with dewdrops is impossible, as it's not enough
for true self-reflection. The only path is to immerse oneself in the depths of
the psyche, forgetting oneself, falling in love with oneself, and exploring
within. Narcissus refuses to grow and doesn't question his own limits, and
thus, he meets his demise, compelled to reach his own image reflected in the
water.
It's
essential to be careful not to accuse only men of narcissism because many women
exhibit narcissistic behaviors, often reluctant to admit it. They hold a very
high self-ideal and are more focused on "control." For instance, they
can't do without Selfies in all positions, and their investment in external
aesthetic appearance is absolutely predominant over everything else. The mirror
holds enormous symbolic power, captivating and mesmerizing human beings. It
reflects what we desire or what we'd rather not see, opening up to countless
potential realities - new transformative scenarios of consciousness.
Narcissus is
depicted with a statuesque, hallucinatory gaze, "gazing into
HIMself," while sinking inexorably, surrounded by fluctuating,
multicolored waves and senseless, unreal shapes.
