Ego Projection Tarot Spread

Have you ever projected your feelings on to someone else?

Of course you have, we all have! It’s something we’ve all done at some point in our lives (probably more often than we care to admit….).

↠ What exactly is projection?

Coined by Freud, projection “is a defense mechanism in which the ego defends itself against unconscious impulses or qualities (both positive and negative) by denying their existence in themselves and attributing them to others.”

Projection often looks like blame shifting. Some common examples include the cheating spouse who assumes that their partner is also lying or cheating (a manifestation of their own guilt), or the bully who ridicules someone because deep down they’re insecure (hiding their own shame). These tactics enable the person projecting to shift those uncomfortable negative emotions onto someone else to avoid confronting the emotions themselves.

↠ Examples of projection in our world

Judging lifestyle choices of others saying “I would never do that” as it relates to decisions someone else has made can often indicate jealousy or a repressed desire to do that thing (ironic, isn’t it!).

Thinking someone hates us can also be a form of projection. It’s possible that deep down we don’t really like that person, so we convince ourselves that they don’t like us.

There is also a common attitude of “if I can do it, so can they” without fully taking into account our own privilege or capabilities.
Popular examples of this include thinking or saying things like:
- “If I can work a full-time job while raising my kids, so can they”
- “If I can cook meals every night, so can they”
- “If I can go on vacation once per year, so can they”
- “If I can stay fit, so can they”
- “If I can finish that task in 1 hour, they can too”
- “If I can earn xxx salary per year, so can they”

↠ How to avoid projection

Understanding the ego is complex and a lifelong challenge. Identifying the ways in which we act from a lower vibrational awareness is important to help us change.

Understanding projection is also helpful when dealing with others. Identifying when someone is genuinely trying to help us versus when they’re acting out of an unconscious impulse is important.

When we can accept ourselves - positives and negatives - and feel comfortable reflecting on who we are, we tend not to project toward others. Recognizing our own imperfections and weaknesses can help amplify our empathy toward those around us. When we stop competing with others and focus on being the best version of ourselves, there is no room for projection.