Unsure of Foot

And what does it mean to be not sure of foot? It means, quite simply, that one is holding so fast to a delusion in one’s mind, that one is incapable of transferring any assurance into the simplest of physical actions—namely, putting one’s foot down and taking a step. And perhaps one can look at this “taking a step” in the metaphorical sense as well. One who is not sure of foot is actually incapable of taking a step toward anything that is reasonable or beneficial. He is like a man who has vertigo and is climbing a ladder for some altogether necessary reason, and yet cannot move because of his terror. He can neither take a step up toward his required goal, nor a step down away from it. Why? Because he is transfixed by the possibility of death, and the necessity of life. It does not matter that he is stuck on this ladder, so long as he is alive—for to be alive is essentially to be terrified of death, whether consciously or unconsciously. The deeper within the unconscious this fear exists, the more power it wields over the one who possesses it. One who is sure of foot is conscious of death on a very shallow level, and therefore he is not necessarily drowning in his fear. His feet are solidly planted, and his head is above water. But, inevitably, even those who are sure of foot must confront death, for the water is rising. Meanwhile, those who are not sure of foot are flailing about wildly, completely unaware that should he put his feet down, his head would still be above water…