Synopsis: Lt. Worf travels to the Klingon holy planet of Boreth in search of spiritual awakening.
In this episode we can see how similar the concepts of depth psychology and the search for meaning in life align with religious belief systems and how the process of analysis is challenging and frustrating at times.
In “Rightful Heir” after admitting to Captain Jean-Luc Picard that he feels spiritually empty, Lt. Worf travels to the Klingon holy world of Boreth to partake in a ritual that will allow Kahless, the great spiritual leader of the past, to appear to him for guidance.
Worf becomes discouraged after a fellow pilgrim sees an image of Kahless which he does not. Seeing Worf’s distress, the leader of the holy men on Boreth, Koroth, comes to see him. Koroth explains how the holy men on the planet have been seeking Kahless for fifteen centuries and challenges Worf for wanting to leave after only ten days. Koroth tells Worf: “You came to us seeking answers, but this is a place of questions. Open your heart to Kahless” (Moore & Kolbe, 1993).
When Koroth tells Worf that he came seeking answers, he is also describing the thing that brings analysands into analysis. They, and people in general, look for answers, seeking some meaning to why things happen. Why we feel certain things and why we and others respond to these feelings in the ways that they do. However, once one opens up to the process of exploring the psyche, and especially the unconscious, every answer to a question opens up more questions that may not have any definite answers. Also, as our perspectives continually change, which is part of the process, questions are interpreted differently. Very soon, we understand that there is no absolute right or wrong answer; no black and white, only different shades of gray. It is a lot to take in, but if one opens one’s heart to the process, just as Koroth tells Worf to open up his to Kahless, then we will grow and become more psychically whole.
Reference:
Moore, R. D. (Writer), & Kolbe, W. (Director). (1993, May 15). Rightful heir (Season 6, Episode 23) [TV series episode]. In M. Piller & R. Berman (Executive Producers), Star trek: The next generation. Paramount Television.
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