It’s coming once again, February 2nd, Groundhog Day! That dreaded day of wondering if a beaver like/muskrat cross looking rodent will see his shadow or not in order to determine if we will have 6 more weeks of winter. Whether you believe this folk tale or not, it can bring back memories from your childhood. One may remember sitting in school or at home waiting to see if this daring woodchuck will see his shadow for six more weeks of winter, or not see it and have an early spring.
But, wait a minute! Is that all Groundhog day is all about? Nope… we need to take a gander at a few other aspects that this day also represents.
Have you seen the movie ‘Groundhog Day’? Do you remember that narcissistic weatherman that just can’t seem to move on past that particular day that he overwhelmingly despises? If you didn’t then you need to head down to Saint Cloud Movies Etc. and find that movie! It just makes one shutter in thinking if one of your worst days keeps repeating and your life feels immortal to whatever you do with it.
When analyzing the problems the weatherman called Phil Conners (played by Bill Murray) is dealing with, using something like psycho analytics on the movie ‘Groundhog Day’ shows many attributes that the film writers were trying to emphasize. There seems to be plenty of contempt, confusion, selfishness, and despair that seem to transform the weatherman into a compassionate man. It relates to what most of us wish to accomplish someday in our lives.
When we think about it, psychologically the shadow of the groundhog is also representative of our shadow selves, in which many people do not want to face. But in reality, things don’t always go the way we wish, and we must come face to face with that elusive shadow in order to find true balance and compassion within our whole being. (The shadow self being of some our darkest thoughts, actions, or other characteristics we don’t want others to see or know about.)
There is also another turn of events that happens during this film and that is the rediscovering of faith. Some would say Christianity, but personally I see the weatherman on a journey of rediscovering who he really can be through faith and hope. After all, most times the world isn’t out to get us. We are here to make the best out of ourselves, the world we live in and by helping to share these experiences with others as well.
So don’t forget, when February 2nd comes around remember all of what this little groundhog dude actually symbolizes in this fantastic story. He is much, much more than just a shadow seen or not seen that’s for sure!
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