***Harry Potter Spoiler Alert***
In JK Rowling's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Ginny Weasley shares all of thoughts and fears with Tom Riddle via a diary. Unfortunately for Ginny (and the Wider Wizarding World), that diary belonged to Lord Voldemort, aka Tom Riddle, bka You Know Who. Riddle's diary contained a piece of his soul.
As she, Ginny, shared herself, her soul, with Tom Riddle he used her self-disclosure and trust against her. Ginny's trust and confidence in the diary created a parasitic connection between her and Riddle. He began to feed off her soul. He weakened her, almost to the point of death, to strengthen himself.
To our intense horror, we later learn that Riddle's diary, along with Marvolo's ring, Slytherin's locket, Ravenclaw's diadem, Hufflepuff's cup, Nagini, and Harry Potter himself all contain pieces Voldemort's soul. Before Voldemort can be killed for good the pieces of his soul, his Horcruxes, must be destroyed.
As I was thinking of this whole soul splitting, draining, and attaching business, I thought I most related to Ginny. I inadvertently jeopardized myself [my soul] by trusting the wrong individuals. Ginny was the victim. Lucius Malfoy used her as a pawn then Voldemort preyed upon her.
I could even relate to Harry,the unknowing and unwilling host to part of Voldemort soul, on some level. Voldemort tried to destroy Harry, and when that was unsuccessful, he attached himself to Harry creating a strong and complex connection that could not be severed without drastic measures.
With reluctance that teeters on denial, I have to admit that I can relate to fucking Tom Riddle. I have unwisely split myself [my soul]. Although it was not via dark magic, it stemmed from darkness nonetheless...
When we act in fear, self-loathing, and or self-hatred, we mutilate ourselves and thus our souls. "The soul is supposed to remain intact and whole. Splitting it is an act of violation; it is against nature." (Professor Slughorn)
Unlike Harry, Ron, and Hermione, we do not have to go on the hunt for soul fragments, and we, those of us who have violated ourselves, do not have to engage in any further self-destruction. I think the only way to reintegrate one's self with one's fragments is to choose love, self-love, on a daily, sometimes minute by minute basis.
Self-love means refusing to participate in anything or with anyone who diminishes you. It is rejection of thoughts that affirm the the worst of you. It is self-discipline and sometimes it is even self-indulgence. Sometimes self-love is using your powerful, beautiful voice, and other times it is standing in your powerful, beautiful silence.
Whatever form it takes, self-love is always restorative and compassionate. It always seeks to strengthen the "incomparable power of a soul that is untarnished and whole." Self-love calls the fragments of self back home, back to you.
"You are protected, in short, by your ability to love!" said Dum-bledore loudly. "The only protection that can possibly work against the lure of power like Voldemort's!... he was in such a hurry to mutilate his own soul, he never paused to understand the incomparable power of a soul that is untarnished and whole." -Albus Dumbledore
