The Coded Messages of the "Schizophrenic"

Individuals who undergo extreme altered states or other forms of psychosis frequently report hearing voices or recieving coded messages in music, through the television, etc. Hearing voices wasn't part of my experience but hearing music in a new way certainly was. For example, you may be familiar with the following song...

Johnny take a walk
With your sister, the moon
Let her pale light in
To light up your room
You've been living underground
Eating from a can
You've been running away
From what you don't understand
Love

She's slipping
You're sliding down
She'll be there
When you hit the ground

And it's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways.

Mysterious Ways

Most people probably hear a popular love song. But for me, I hear the archetypes behind the words. Others speak and hear English, the "poet, schizophrenic, mystic, shaman" hears and speaks metaphor.

Johnny = animus
sister, the moon = anima
pale light = lunar consciousness
room = self
underground = the unconscious
running away = fear of the unknown
Love = God/Goddess
Hit the ground = ego collapse
She = The Dark Mater