31 : be still

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down, and it was completely calm.

 — Mark 4:39

Life is full of storms. Sometimes they are external — loss, uncertainty, upheaval. Other times, they rage within — doubt, anxiety, fear. The disciples, caught in the violent sea, cry out in terror. Jesus, however, sleeps. His presence is a stark contrast to the chaos around him. When he awakens, he does not share their panic. Instead, he speaks directly to the storm: “Quiet! Be still!” And it obeys.

From a Jungian perspective, the storm is a symbol of the unconscious — the vast, uncontrollable forces within us that surface in times of crisis. The sea, with its depth and unpredictability, represents the shadow aspects of the psyche, the emotions and fears we often suppress. The disciples, overtaken by fear, are like the ego struggling against forces beyond its control. But Jesus, the figure of the Self — the unifying, individuated centre of the psyche — does not fight the storm. He acknowledges it and commands it with calm authority.

This is a profound lesson for our own inner storms. When we resist fear, it grows stronger. When we panic, we lose clarity. But when we engage with our unconscious — whether through active imagination, dreamwork, or deep reflection — we learn to integrate rather than fight it. Individuation, in Jungian terms, is not about eliminating the storm but about learning to navigate it with awareness. The more we accept the presence of chaos, the more we cultivate an inner stillness that cannot be shaken by outer turmoil.

In moments of personal storm, we are invited not just to wish for the waves to cease but to find the place within us that remains unmoved. Jesus’ words — “Be still” — are not just a command to the sea but an invitation to us. The deeper Self does not fear the storm. It knows that beyond the raging winds, there is always calm.

Journaling Prompt: Think of a time when you felt overwhelmed by life’s challenges. How did you respond? Did fear take over, or did you find a way to navigate the storm? How might you cultivate more inner stillness the next time chaos arises?

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