Cave Paintings and The Inner Child
Crawling through a narrow, terrifying passage. Only a light of a flickering lamp. Being disoriented and afraid. Then, in a resounding chamber, the lamp flares, and a bulls of immense size seem to leap and breathe from the undulating wall…
The oldest dated cave painting in the world is a hand stencil discovered in the Liang Metanduno cave on Muna Island, Indonesia, which dates back at least 67,800 years. It is unbelievable. The famous ancient Egyptian pyramids are about 4,500 years old. These images survived for tens of thousands of years in the tough and rough conditions of nature, demonstrating that creating art held profound significance for early humans.
The oldest dated cave painting in the world is a hand stencil discovered in the Liang Metanduno cave on Muna Island, Indonesia, which dates back at least 67,800 years. It is unbelievable. The famous ancient Egyptian pyramids are about 4,500 years old. These images survived for tens of thousands of years in the tough and rough conditions of nature, demonstrating that creating art held profound significance for early humans.
Some symbols, like lines and dots next to animals, are now believed to be a primitive calendar or counting system used to track animal migration or breeding cycles. The hundreds of hand stencils found in caves were powerful symbols of individual identity and presence. Hand stencils appear on almost every continent. The art of ancient people had a lot of functions - mythological and practical. Although they were deeply connected. Even inseparable.
Cave art from different parts of the world—separated by thousands of miles—often features similar symbols.
Carl Jung was fascinated by the fact that certain symbols—like the circle (mandala), the cross, and "therianthropes" (half-human, half-animal figures)—appear in caves across different continents that had no contact with each other. He argued this wasn't a coincidence, but proof of archetypes: inherited mental patterns shared by all humans. Sigmund Freud believed the artists, by creating a perfect image of a bison, gained psychological and magical control over the real animal.
Cave art from different parts of the world—separated by thousands of miles—often features similar symbols.
Carl Jung was fascinated by the fact that certain symbols—like the circle (mandala), the cross, and "therianthropes" (half-human, half-animal figures)—appear in caves across different continents that had no contact with each other. He argued this wasn't a coincidence, but proof of archetypes: inherited mental patterns shared by all humans. Sigmund Freud believed the artists, by creating a perfect image of a bison, gained psychological and magical control over the real animal.
Ancient people crawl a mile into dangerous, absolute darkness to make art no one would see because the cave itself was a symbol. It was the belly of the earth, a womb: entering the cave is a return to the mother, a place of origin for every person.
One of the earliest discoveries of cave paintings was also deeply symbolic. It was found by a child.
In 1879, a Spanish amateur archaeologist Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola decided to explore a cave and he brought his 8-year-old daughter, Maria, with him. While Marcelino was looking down at the ground for stone tools, Maria looked up at the ceiling and saw something her father missed. She had discovered magnificent, colorful paintings of ancient bison.
Sadly, the "professional" academic world of that time did not believe Marcelino. They accused him of forging the paintings because they could not believe prehistoric humans were capable of such beautiful art. Years after Marcelino passed away, other caves were found in Europe, proving that the Altamira paintings were real.
One of the earliest discoveries of cave paintings was also deeply symbolic. It was found by a child.
In 1879, a Spanish amateur archaeologist Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola decided to explore a cave and he brought his 8-year-old daughter, Maria, with him. While Marcelino was looking down at the ground for stone tools, Maria looked up at the ceiling and saw something her father missed. She had discovered magnificent, colorful paintings of ancient bison.
Sadly, the "professional" academic world of that time did not believe Marcelino. They accused him of forging the paintings because they could not believe prehistoric humans were capable of such beautiful art. Years after Marcelino passed away, other caves were found in Europe, proving that the Altamira paintings were real.
The deep, dark cave represents the hidden depths of the unconscious mind. It holds raw creative energy that has been buried and forgotten for years.
The adult vision misses the bigger picture because it is looking too hard for specific, useful things. The adult ego—rational, analytical, and limited by logic.
The inner child is unblocked, curious, and free from rigid adult rules. Because its mind is open, and it looks up into the darkness and instantly connects with sincerity.
Our inner child lead us into the dark spaces of our unconscious, looks up in wonder, and discovers the vibrant, beautiful truths that have been waiting there all along.
The adult vision misses the bigger picture because it is looking too hard for specific, useful things. The adult ego—rational, analytical, and limited by logic.
The inner child is unblocked, curious, and free from rigid adult rules. Because its mind is open, and it looks up into the darkness and instantly connects with sincerity.
Our inner child lead us into the dark spaces of our unconscious, looks up in wonder, and discovers the vibrant, beautiful truths that have been waiting there all along.
Photos from public sources
