Groundhog Day is one of my favorite movies. People everywhere seem to love this film, whether they consciously notice its deeper messages or not. This of course is the movie in which Phil, played by Bill Murray, is stuck in a time loop, and has to live through the same day over and over again. It also happens to be the day that he hates the most, Groundhog Day. No matter what he does it seems as though he cannot get out of this day and this experience he hates so much.  We've all felt at times as though we were stuck in Groundhog's Day, repeating similar situations over and over.

·        Although we may not experience the same day over and over, I'm sure that we've all felt at times as though we were stuck in Groundhog's Day, repeating similar situations and dealing with similar types of people over and over. 

·        Phil a weather for-caster did not like the idea of being sent to the small backwards town to cover the story of the Groundhog, also named Phil, predict the weather.  He hated the town, the tradition, and he hated the idea of an animal predicting the weather, and getting all the attention.  It's no coincidence that Phil has to go through this day that he hates so much, over and over again.  The more we dread something, the more we have to go through it.

·        Phil tried to escape this dreaded day and move on to the next.  But, no matter how he tried, he was right back there again.  How many times have we tried to leave relationships, jobs, etc. to end up in one just like the last?

      At one point some guy cracks a joke and asks Phil is his name Phil just like the ground hog.  He then asks him "Hey Phil do you see your shadow?" This is a very important part of the movie.  It's no coincidence that our hero's name is Phil just like the groundhog.  This is a hint that the entire is about the ground hog day experience.  Seeing one's shadow is identifying with the ego or shadow self.  The more any of us identify with our ego the more we taint all our efforts and relationships with our petty concerns and remain stuck, just like Phil having to repeat our same lessons over and over again.  According to the tradition if the groundhog sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter.  In other words if we are still identifying with our ego, our hopes worries and concerns, then it's time to go back into hibernation or meditation and reflection, to rid ourselves of this shadow, our ego and all it's petty concerns for self.  If the groundhog does not see his shadow, if we are in the moment without the egoistic concerns then we have an early spring in our world.  Then we spread more light everywhere we go.  And as for the season, what is happening in our lives, it magically changes on it's own.  The message is that we are all Phil and must overcome seeing our shadow.

·        Phil even learned how to manipulate people and situations, and predict the future because of all his previous experiences in that day. But, he still could not move on.  This can be true of us.  We can grow enough to be materially powerful, fulfill certain desires, gain psychic abilities, and still be stuck.

·        Finally our friend and hero decides to lean into the day.  He begins to embrace where he is and move beyond himself and his ego.  He really gets caught up in the adventure of the day, and truly becomes a much more evolved person.  He begins to truly see the other people around him, and helps people everywhere he goes.  He enjoys it all and looks forward to it, and during this process, he makes many friends, and finds love.  This is how it is with all of us.   When we embrace the adventure and let go of our egos and projected outcomes, we grow and life becomes so beautiful!

·        Surprisingly Phil finally awakens to a new day with his new love in his arms.  At this point, he even suggests to his new love that they stay in the same town that he was visiting and previously hated so.  Meditate often, embrace where you are.  Let go of yourself and your concerns for the outcome, and find yourself moving right on to where you really want to be, it may even be where you already are.

·        Some would say that this movie not only depicts how we can be stuck in this mortal lifetime, but also how we can be stuck metaphysically, returning to this earth lifetime after lifetime, reliving similar circumstances until we finally get our lessons and evolve.

     Sincerely,
Craig Kimbrough

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