coming at it sideways, but coming at it clean

Up until today, I have never read Plato's Allegory of the Cave. In fact, I have read very little philosophy at all. And though thinkers like Nietzsche (and some of his evil friends) always seem to be waiting around corners for me (not unlike a stalking butler, who upon the finger rests...but I digress...), I continue to preserve within myself a certain naivety of the mind. But recently, as I was discussing the nature of Self with one of my more intelligent (emotionally as well as intellectually; an important distinction) friends, she asked me if I had ever read the Allegory of the Cave. She asked it expectantly, certain that I had, since apparently I was sounding a lot like it at the moment. When I said that I had not, she was mildly-to-moderately shocked and instructed me to read it immediately (but not before giving me a brief synopsis to explain why). Being the dutiful friend, I did.

I have to say, I'm glad I waited. There's a potency to knowing that I can come upon such thoughts on my own (as much as anyone ever comes across ANYthing on their own...we are emergent entities, after all...but again, I digress...). In any case, I have been Mirror and Shadow for years now. The name and the concept have many meanings for me, but it is essentially how I interact with my world and its people. Reading this Allegory reminded me why I chose that, how I discovered it for myself, why it's so important to me. It also reminded me of a bible verse, and my favorite translation of it, courtesy of Cipriano de Valera, by way of Borges:

"Now we see in a mirror, in darkness; but later we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; but later I shall know as I am known."

I hope so. I really do. Because until then, I'll be mastering the mirror and stalking the shadow...and that's a hard and lonesome road.