Lucky Luke – Faster Than His Own Shadow! The Dweller on the Threshold in a Spiritual Perspective

Faster than his own shadow: The Sheriff, U.S. Marshal, or Christ-Self. The one who chooses the higher over the lower—symbolized here by the cartoon character Lucky Luke—triumphs over his own shadow.

When I was a child, I read about a comic book Western hero called Lucky Luke. He was a gunslinger of the noble kind—one who never killed anyone but lived as a solitary cowboy, acting as a sort of freelance or volunteer unofficial U.S. Marshal. He was illustrated by the Belgian artist Morris and written by Argentinian-French writer René Goscinny.

One of Lucky Luke’s defining characteristics was his incredible speed and skill in drawing his revolver. He was said to be faster than his own shadow—so fast, in fact, that he could shoot his own shadow before it had time to react. Quite astonishing, in a way.

A Spiritual Interpretation – The Dweller on the Threshold or the Shadow

One could interpret this in a spiritual sense. Various mystical and esoteric traditions speak of what is known as the dweller on the threshold, a force or entity that every disciple—and indeed, every person—must confront. The psychologist Carl Gustav Jung referred to this concept as the shadow. Others have described it as the dark side, the inner beast, the witch, the sorcerer, or even the personal demon.

This archetype appears in numerous mythological and literary stories, such as:

• David defeating Goliath
• Jonah swallowed by the great fish
• Little Red Riding Hood devoured by the wolf, then rescued by the hunter (or Christ)
• A giant poisonous snake
• Pinocchio consumed by the whale
• A monstrous insect
• A devil or dark entity

In Star Wars, the Force was described as having both a light and a dark side. One of its most infamous figures, Darth Vader—once known as Anakin Skywalker—succumbed to the dark side of the Force. He let his shadow guide him, rather than higher influences such as angels, masters, the Holy Spirit, Christ, the Higher Self, or God. Those who seek power without guarding their hearts or practicing mercy inevitably strengthen their dweller on the threshold—accumulating negative karma.

Esoteric masters teach that the highest calling for any human being, especially a disciple, is to confront and overcome the dweller on the threshold. Only through this process can one transcend spiritual limitations and truly evolve.

How Is the Dweller on the Threshold Experienced?

Some of us have likely encountered it in various forms. There are several ways to describe such an experience.

One may meet it in dreams. Some have dreamt of ascending a (spiral) staircase toward the light at the top—often likened to Jacob’s Ladder from the Bible. Along the way, a dark figure may suddenly appear, blocking further spiritual progress toward the light.

This signifies that, at this stage, one has unresolved issues—problems of one kind or another. In a later dream, one might find that the journey up the staircase can continue. Yet, on a higher step, another dark figure may emerge, again preventing further ascent—another issue must be confronted and resolved.

Other Manifestations of the Dweller on the Threshold

Beyond dreams, there are many ways one can encounter the dweller on the threshold. Broadly speaking, it represents a negative or unintegrated aspect of one's life that has not yet been balanced, transmuted, transformed, healed, or transcended.

The spiritual path is a journey of continual experiences and tests, where day by day, we are called to choose the higher path over the lower one. We have been given free will by God, and our ultimate task is to align ourselves with the divine—choosing the Higher Self and the qualities it embodies.

It is easy to take the lower path—it’s like driving downhill, effortless and tempting. Choosing the higher path requires effort, discipline, and inner strength. At times, it may feel like climbing uphill.

The Importance of Perseverance

Taking the easiest route is not always the best approach, even if it appears to be the most direct and straightforward way to manage things. Sometimes, one must go the extra mile to truly reach the destination.

Various weaknesses, vices, or an insufficiency of heart qualities and mercy may cause you to succumb to your own shadow, leading to a fall in consciousness. But, like Lucky Luke, you can always get back on the horse. His loyal steed, Jolly Jumper, is well-trained and steadfast.

You and Your Relationship with the Shadow

Speaking of Lucky Luke, take a look at these drawings where he shoots his shadow before it has the chance to shoot him—and make him fall. On the spiritual path, one must remain alert and vigilant to ensure the shadow does not strike first, as illustrated in one of the drawings.

Aligning oneself with the Higher Self can feel like a sacrifice—a surrender. It requires giving something up, taking on a responsibility that may initially seem burdensome but ultimately reveals itself as a blessing. One way to do this is through service to others. Another is by relinquishing the tendency to see oneself as superior—more beautiful, wealthier, wiser—than others. After all, one rarely knows the weight of another’s burdens or the struggles they have endured. If you had walked in their shoes, your perceptions and actions towards this person would likely be different.

One may need to abandon certain ideas inherited through family influence, schooling, education, or professional experience—beliefs that may serve as obstacles to true wisdom. Parts of modern learning, despite its breadth, are not firmly rooted in higher truth.

Such secular knowledge may be a steppingstone, but it can also limit one’s ability to recognize what is true, real, genuine, good, honorable, pure, and just.

Thus, it may be necessary to let go of preconceived notions, perspectives, and outdated attitudes that no longer serve you. Instead, embrace new ones that align with deeper insights and a greater capacity for love, kindness, and compassion. Otherwise, they may cloud your spiritual vision, leaving you unable to perceive reality clearly and without distortion.