First thread...

I've been mulling over the story arc of these kinds of relationships.
The way I see it is this:
We find each other. I find someone to take pain for me. Someone finds me, they take pain from me. It's symmetrical, and it works, in fits and starts, with plenty of surprises along the way, of course.

We see our projected unconscious material in the "other". They see their material in me. So far so good. Suppressed unconscious energy finds its way to the surface, and makes its way into the light, and we both find out things about ourselves, each other, relationship...

The question is: what then?

Is it an end in itself, or does it lead to a new phase? Can it lead to a new understanding that does not de-energize the power exchange?

I'd really appreciate a few ideas grounded in your experiences, because this is where my sureness runs out, and I'm a natural know-it-all.
p.s. Thank god for the spell-check feature.