2 - Positing and Negating
 

What this means in effect is that the conscious positing of phenomena with respect to one aspect always implies - in dynamic experiential terms - the unconscious negation of the corresponding aspect.

Thereby we can only (consciously) posit a phenomenon with respect to the exterior, through the corresponding negation (unconsciously) of the interior aspect.

Likewise we can only (consciously) posit a phenomenon with respect to the interior, through the corresponding negation of the exterior aspect.

A typical problem in development arises from the fact that we tend to identify more readily with just one pole.

Therefore if an extrovert - for example - concentrates mainly on the development of the exterior aspect of stages (as stages of reality), this can lead to considerable imbalance with respect to the corresponding interior aspect (as stages of self).

In other words the continued transfer of energy to one conscious aspect is associated with a corresponding (unconscious) repression of its complementary aspect.

As conscious development moves into "higher" levels with respect to one aspect, this unconscious repression moves more deeply into (complementary) "lower" levels with respect to the other.

Therefore progression in development is necessarily associated with regression. This dynamic complementarity becomes especially apparent as authentic spiritual development unfolds. So the "higher" one goes in transpersonal terms, the "lower" one must go in - complementary - prepersonal terms.

This may help to explain for example why the mystical phenomenon of the "dark night" is always initially experienced as a profound regression.