The Paradox of Caves

This moment of great psychic and social turmoil requires entry into the dark recesses of the psyche for reorientation and illumination. In this paper, the author uses the metaphor of the cave to explore manifestations of developmental trauma in the male psyche, both as a form of psychic retreat and a potential source of wholeness and spiritual inquiry. Rather than solely as a pathological response to pain, the author illustrates the dynamic potential that an inner cave can provide. Through representations in history, religion, and myth, the author draws the reader into an embodied experience of the cave in order to offer a felt experience of the inner lives of many men.