Uncontrolled bursts of anger, sexual addiction, strange phobias, unexpected deep depressions, unshakeable self-loathing, and self-destructive tendencies are all signs of the shadow archetype – and we all have one.
The shadow archetype, also known as the shadow self or dark side of humanity, can be seen throughout myth and legend since the dawn of humanity.
If you’d like to discover your shadow archetype, some examples, and how it influences your life, you’ll find that and more right here!
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Table of contents
What is the Shadow Jungian Archetype?
How can anyone see straight when he does not even see himself and the darkness he unconsciously carries with him into all his dealings?
– C. G. Jung, The Essential Jung
We can thank Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung for his idea of psychological archetypes, which are patterns that appear repeatedly within human consciousness.
Among the many archetypes within our species is one that Jung named the Shadow, which is the dark, suppressed, and hidden side of our nature.
How Does Your Shadow Form (and Signs It’s Active)?
For one reason or another, we all have abandoned parts within ourselves that we reject either consciously or unconsciously.
These rejected parts are often deemed “ugly,” “bad,” “unworthy,” “outrageous,” “unlovable,” or even “dangerous,” and so they’re cast out from our conscious-facing personalities (also called our “persona”).
But these outlawed fragments of ourselves don’t just disappear into thin air. Instead, they get buried, locked away, and, in some cases, actively blocked off within our deep unconscious minds.
The longer these shadow parts are cut off from the light of consciousness, the more they fester and build up like a seething volcano waiting to explode.
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Incidents of intense rage, emotional meltdowns, mental health crises, addictions, dark nights of the soul, and many other issues are signs that the shadow is trying to get our attention.
Why Should You Face Your Shadows?
To be liberated from the self-destructive force of our shadows, we must turn toward them.
We must integrate the shadow archetype into our lives by befriending it and finding the hidden gifts that it carries. In the words of Jung,
Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it is.
(Psychology and Religion)
Spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle writes about the shadow archetype, referring to it as the “pain-body.” He writes:
The pain-body, which is the dark shadow cast by the ego, is actually afraid of the light of your consciousness. It is afraid of being found out. Its survival depends on your unconscious identification with it, as well as on your unconscious fear of facing the pain that lives in you. But if you don’t face it, if you don’t bring the light of your consciousness into the pain, you will be forced to relive it again and again.
(The Power of Now)
Shadow Archetype Examples
Here’s a list of shadow archetype examples.
Keep in mind that most of us possess more than one shadow archetype, and they can change during the course of our lives.
Also, note that none of these shadow archetypes is totally black or white – remember that each type has a hidden gift or strength:
- Addict
- Glutton
- Workaholic
- Beggar
- Bully
- Coward
- Wounded/Orphan Child
- Destroyer
- Seducer/Black Widow/Don Juan
- Gambler
- Gossip
- Perfectionist
- Critic
- Miser
- Anarchist
- Saboteur
- Trickster
- Slave
- Sorcerer/Sorceress
- Thief/Con Artist
- Tyrant
- Vampire
- Victim
A few shadow archetype examples in pop-culture and fiction include Green Goblin (Spider-Man), Alex (A Clockwork Orange), Moriarty (Sherlock Holmes), Gollum (The Lord of the Rings), Bellatrix Lestrange and Lord Voldemort (Harry Potter), Norman Bates (Psycho), Darth Vader (Star Wars), The Joker (Batman), Regina George (Mean Girls), Ursula (The Little Mermaid), Agent Smith (The Matrix), Duck Phillips (Mad Men), Hannibal Lecter (Hannibal), Montgomery Burns (The Simpsons), Joffrey Baratheon (Game of Thrones), Nurse Ratched (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest).
You can find more ways to work with your shadow archetype in my Mindful Shadow Work book!
What is Your Shadow Archetype? (Free Test!)
There are seven main shadow archetypes in this test, which correspond to the seven chakras. The result you get can help you find some focus and clarity on your healing journey.
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What is your shadow archetype? Share below in the comments!
**NOTE: If you’re taking this test on your phone, be aware that the results are within an embedded iframe, so if you struggle to scroll down, try scrolling right at the very edge of your screen to keep going down. Also, a few people have reported that their results aren’t appearing. If you don’t seem to receive any results, please try taking this test in a different browser (examples are Safari, Firefox, Google Chrome), and if that doesn’t work, try using a different device or opening in incognito mode. Enjoy!
What result did you get? Please share below in the comments. I’d love to know!
If you’re interested in other shadow-related resources, here are a few: Shadow Self Test, 35 Shadow Work Prompts (For Each Chakra), and 21 Signs You’re Experiencing “Soul Loss”.
If you need more help, we offer 2 powerful ways to guide you on your inner journey:
1. The Soul Work Compass Course: Break free from feeling lost and disconnected. The Soul Work Compass is a practical 12-step course that transforms soul loss into soul clarity. Discover your core values, heal core wounds, and create a personalized compass to guide every decision you make.
2. The Inner Work Journal Bundle: Heal at the root. This Inner Work Journal Bundle guides you through self-love, inner child healing, and shadow integration with 150+ prompts and activities. You get editable digital files to use on any device or print unlimited times. Not for lukewarm seekers, these journals are for those ready to transform.
I tried safari on my phone, iPad and MacBook. No results.
What browser are you using, Rob? This test should work on all. I’m sorry to hear it’s not working for you. If you want to send some screenshots, I welcome you to do that here so support can check out the issue: https://lonerwolf.com/contact/
It s seems from your questionnaire that I am the classic Victim Archetype. Just for now!
However, being unwell places me outside the norm. As outside influences like costs, local GPs’ findings/reports, hospital tests, health worries/concerns, along with feeling flat, lost alone, slightly depressed, and unworthy of being lovable. All make you feel like a lamb waiting to go to the butcher’s shop of horrors (hospital) to be prodded, poked, injected, radiated, informed, till you have had enough BS
to fill a bucket load. So yes, Victim!
Thanks for your vulnerability and sharing this, John. <3
Just letting you know I didn’t receive results in Chrome or Safari.
Safari here… I didn’t receive results either.
I run Firefox, and I have an adblocker. I had to disable that to get my results. So check Safari to see if your running an adblocker.
Thanks Scot – I’ll reach out to support to check what’s going on.
I’m very curious about what it means when my answers are mostly, “None of the above.”? You don’t have an option for that.
Wow I always loved the joker movie when everyone said it was depressive I said no it’s not now I understand thank yousooo much xxxx
So glad to hear that Maree <3
I was not surprised that my shadow archetype was the addict. While I am not addicted to illegal or publicly numbing substances (drugs, alcohol), I do struggle to manage my eating habits. I tend toward processed carbs and sugars instead of whole foods and proteins. I also struggle to clearly express my own needs to those close to me.
I am not sure I am ready to work through all my inner struggles, and I am working on wanting to be ready to work.
Thank you for the work you do to support us all!
Thanks Shannon for your vulnerability. :)
I wasn’t sure about my answers as I was choosing them. It’s just the state of mind I’m in right now. I am a Nihilist at the moment. Reading the characteristics/qualities of that archetype was almost a relief to see the answers I chose make sense and that I do actually tick some boxes on this nutty path.
I’m glad you have a word to describe the feeling right now Sarah.
Thank you for the quiz – the wounded child….thought I was over that but amazing how she’s still lurking despite me being more than long in the tooth. As usual all your articles are so clear, thoughtful & insightful. You never just regurgitate received wisdom. That’s why I always keep coming back to your site.
What a lovely comment, thank you Jill 💜
The wounded child…hum. I suppose that fits. I grew up
in a big family, and often felt ignored. I was the black sheep, really. The indigo middle child. Thanks for clearing that up for me!
oh well, my phone got a bit trippy so had to do the test a 2nd time. And got a different answer. Only chose a different color.
However. The first time i got the addict, that evoked some resistance right away, because I dont see myself as an addict. More the opposite. In 2013 when i quit smoking i learned that my mental state is way stronger then bodily urges, so to speak. What is intresting i learned this recently, is that parasites can make you commit to these type of behaviors by manipulating your brain from the inside. Although i did recognize myself in the first 4 points. The last 3 not at all.
Now the second time i got the wounded child. Although not all descriptions are active (anymore) in my current day life. It does make sense if i consider the past and how i grew up.
Thank you both for sharing <3
Addict. I haven’t had a substance addiction (alcohol, drugs, cigarettes); however, I believe I have been “addicted” to certain people.
Appreciate you sharing this, Marsha. Relationship addiction is indeed a ‘thing.’