All of us carry demons inside.
Sometimes we catch fleeting glimpses of them, sometimes we witness them in full frontal chaos. But for the most part, we ignore and bury their existence either out of fear, guilt or pure shame.
However, as tempting as it is to suppress our demons, discovering and owning them is a vital part of our spiritual journey.
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As authors and psychotherapists Steve Wolf and Connie Zweig note:
Beneath the social mask we wear every day, we have a hidden shadow side: an impulsive, wounded, sad, or isolated part that we generally try to ignore. The Shadow can be a source of emotional richness and vitality, and acknowledging it can be a pathway to healing and an authentic life.
In other words, the Shadow isn’t just the centrally wounded part of us, but it also provides a path toward a more authentic and fulfilling life. In order to heal and grow on a mental, emotional, and spiritual level, we need to practice Shadow Work.
Shadow Work is a practice that helps us to regain access to our innate wholeness. It works on the premise that you must completely befriend your Shadow, rather than avoiding or repressing it, to experience deep healing.
This daunting and often frightening task is a requirement of every person. But you don’t have to go at it alone.
In this long and detailed guide, I will offer you a helping hand. Having studied and worked with the Shadow for years, I’ll share with you some of the best tools, insights, and advice that I have gathered thus far.
Please note: Shadow Work exercises should not be undertaken if you struggle with low self-esteem. Exploring your demons will likely make you feel a million times worse about yourself and may spiral into self-hatred (especially if you’re going through the Dark Night of the Soul).
Before doing Shadow Work, I strongly and emphatically encourage you to work on cultivating Self-Love. Shadow Work should only be undertaken by those who have healthy and stable self-worth and a friendly relationship with themselves. Se e this article on how to love yourself for more guidance.
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Table of contents
- Why Focusing Only on the Light is a Form of Escapism
- What is the Human Shadow?
- What is Shadow Work?
- Do We All Have a Shadow Self?
- How is Our Shadow Side Formed?
- What is the Golden Shadow?
- What Happens When You Reject Your Shadow?
- The Shadow and Projection (a Dangerous Mix)
- 12 Benefits of Shadow Work
- 7 Tips For Approaching Shadow Work
- How to Practice Shadow Work (7 Paths)
- Shadow Work Q&A
- Shadow Self Test
- Own Your Shadow and You Will Own Your Life
Why Focusing Only on the Light is a Form of Escapism
For most of my life, I’ve grown up firmly believing that the only thing worthy of guiding me was “light” and “love.”
Whether through the family environment I was raised in, or the cultural myths I was brought up clinging to, I once believed that all you really needed to do in life to be “happy” was to focus on everything beautiful, positive, and spiritually feel-good. I’m sure you were raised believing a similar story as well. It’s a sort of “Recipe for Well-Being” dictated by our culture.
But a few years ago, after battling ongoing mental health issues, I realized something shocking:
I was wrong.
Not just wrong, but completely and utterly off the mark. Focusing only on “love and light” will not heal your wounds on a deep level.
In fact, I’ve learned through a lot of deep inner work, that not only is focusing solely on the “light side of life” one side of the equation, but it is actually a form of spiritually bypassing your deeper, darker problems that, let me assure you, are basically guaranteed to exist.
It’s very easy and comfortable to focus only on the light side of life. So many people in today’s world follow this path. And while it might provide some temporary emotional support, it doesn’t reach to the depths of your being: it doesn’t transform you at a core level.
Instead, it leaves you superficially hanging onto warm and fuzzy platitudes, which sound nice but don’t enact any real change.
What DOES touch the very depths of your being, however, is exploring your Shadow.
What is the Human Shadow?
What is the human Shadow? In short, the Shadow is our dark side, our lost and forgotten disowned self.
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Your Shadow is the place within you that contains all of your secrets, repressed feelings, primitive impulses, and parts deemed “unacceptable,” shameful, “sinful,” or even “evil.”
This hidden place lurking within your unconscious mind also contains suppressed and rejected emotions such as rage, jealousy, hatred, greed, deceitfulness, and selfishness.
So where did the Shadow Self idea originate? The concept was originally coined and explored by Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, Carl Jung. In Jung’s own words:
Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it is.
When the human Shadow is shunned, it tends to undermine and sabotage our lives. Addictions, low self-esteem, mental illness, chronic illnesses, and various neuroses are all attributed to the Shadow Self.
When our Shadows are suppressed or repressed in the unconscious long enough, they can even overtake our entire lives and cause psychosis or extreme forms of behavior like cheating on one’s partner or physically harming others.
Intoxicants such as alcohol and drugs also have a tendency to unleash the Shadow.
Thankfully, there is a way to explore the Shadow and prevent it from devouring our existence, and that is called Shadow Work.
What is Shadow Work?
Shadow Work is the process of exploring your inner darkness or Shadow Self.
In essence, Shadow Work is the attempt to uncover everything that has been unconsciously hidden, disowned, and rejected within you and buried within your Shadow Self.
As mentioned previously, your Shadow Self is part of your unconscious mind and contains everything you feel ashamed of thinking and feeling, as well as every impulse, repressed idea, desire, and fear that, for one reason or another, you have “locked away” consciously or unconsciously. Often, this is done as a way of keeping yourself tame, likable, and “civilized” in the eyes of others.
So why do Shadow Work? The reason why we do this work is that without exploring what is hidden within us, we remain burdened with problems such as chronic anger, guilt, shame, fear, grief, and other issues like addictions, relationship meltdowns, and even spiritual maladies like existential depression or the Dark Night of the Soul. Shadow Work is the path to freedom.
All throughout the history of humanity, Shadow Work has played a powerful role in helping us discover what is at the root of our individual and collective mental illness, physical dis-ease, and even insanity, resulting in crimes of all kinds.
Traditionally, Shadow Work fell in the realm of the Shamans, or medicine people, as well as the priests and priestesses of the archaic periods of history. These days, Shadow Work falls more commonly in the realms of psychotherapy, with psychologists, psychiatrists, spiritual guides, and therapists showing the way.
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Do We All Have a Shadow Self?
Yes, we ALL have a Shadow Self (see our Collective Shadow article for a deeper explanation).
As uncomfortable as it may sound, there is a dark side within every human being. Why is this the case?
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The reason why all human beings have a shadow is due to the way we were raised as human beings, often referred to as our ‘conditioning.’ (We’ll explore how the Shadow is formed in the next section of this article.)
“But I’m a good person! I don’t have a ‘shadow’ side,” you might be thinking. Well, the reality is that, yes, you might be a good person.
In fact, you might be the most generous, loving, and selfless person in the entire world. You might feed the hungry, save puppies, and donate half of your salary to the poor. But that doesn’t exclude you from having a Shadow.
There are no exceptions here. The nature of being human is to possess both a light and a dark side, and we need to embrace that.
Sometimes, when people hear that they have a Shadow side (or when it is pointed out), there is a lot of denial. We have been taught to perceive ourselves in a very two-dimensional and limited way.
We have been taught that only criminals, murderers, and thieves have a Shadow side. This black-and-white thinking is one of the major causes of our suffering.
If the thought of having a Shadow side disturbs you, take a moment to consider whether you have developed an idealized and unrealistic sense of self. Signs of an idealized or unrealistic sense of self include attitudes such as:
- “I’m not like those people, I’m better.”
- “I have never strayed.”
- “God is proud of me.”
- “Criminals and wrongdoers aren’t human.”
- “Everyone sees how good I am.”
- “I’m a role model.”
- “I should be validated and applauded for my good deeds.”
- “I don’t have bad thoughts, so why do others?”
Such perceptions about ourselves are unrealistic, unhealthy, and basically delusional. The only way to find inner peace, happiness, authentic love, self-fulfillment, and Illumination is to explore our Shadows.
How is Our Shadow Side Formed?
Your Shadow side was formed in childhood and is both (a) a product of natural ego development and (b) a product of conditioning or socialization. Socialization is the process of learning to behave in a way that is acceptable to society.
When we are born, we’re full of vast, innocent, wide-eyed potential. As time goes on, we learn more and more to become a certain “type” of person.
Slowly, due to our circumstances and preferences, we begin to adopt certain character traits and reject others.
For example, if we’re born into a family that shows little interpersonal warmth, we will develop personality traits that make us self-sufficient and perhaps standoffish or mind-oriented. If we’re born into a family that rewards compliance and shuns rebellion, we will learn that being submissive works, and thus adopt that as part of our ego structure.
As authors and Jungian therapists Steve Price and David Haynes write:
But, as we develop our ego personality, we also do something else at the same time. What has happened to all those parts of our original potential that we didn’t develop? They won’t just cease to exist: they will still be there, as potential or as partly developed, then rejected, personality attributes, and they will live on in the unconscious as an alternative to the waking ego. So, by the very act of creating a specifically delineated ego personality, we have also created its opposite in the unconscious. This is the shadow. Everyone has one.
As we can see, developing the Shadow Self is a natural part of development.
But you also formed a Shadow due to social conditioning, i.e., your parents, family members, teachers, friends, religion, and society at large all contributed to the repression of some parts of you.
How?
Well, here’s the thing: polite society operates under certain rules. In other words, certain behaviors and characteristics are approved of, while others are shunned.
Take anger for example. Anger is an emotion that is commonly punished while growing up. Throwing tantrums, swearing, and destroying things was frowned upon by our parents and teachers. Therefore, many of us learned that expressing anger was not “OK.” Instead of being taught healthy ways to express our anger, we were punished sometimes physically (with smacks or being grounded), and often emotionally (withdrawal of love and affection).
There are countless behaviors, emotions, and beliefs that are rejected in society, and thus, are rejected by ourselves.
In order to fit in, be accepted, approved, and loved, we learned to act a certain way. We adopted a role that would ensure our mental, emotional, and physical survival.
But at the same time, wearing a mask has consequences. What happened to all the authentic, wild, socially taboo, or challenging parts of ourselves? They were locked in the Shadow.
What happens as we grow up?
Through time, we learn to both enjoy, and despise, our socially-approved egos because, on the one hand, they make us feel good and “lovable,” but on the other hand, they feel phony and inhibited.
Therapist Steve Wolf has a perfect analogy that describes this process:
Each of us is like Dorian Grey. We seek to present a beautiful, innocent face to the world; a kind, courteous demeanour; a youthful, intelligent image. And so, unknowingly but inevitably, we push away those qualities that do not fit the image, that do not enhance our self-esteem and make us stand proud but, instead, bring us shame and make us feel small. We shove into the dark cavern of the unconscious those feelings that make us uneasy — hatred, rage, jealousy, greed, competition, lust, shame — and those behaviours that are deemed wrong by the culture — addiction, laziness, aggression, dependency — thereby creating what could be called shadow content. Like Dorian’s painting, these qualities ultimately take on a life of their own, forming and invisible twin that lives just behind our life, or just beside it …
But while the Shadow Self may be portrayed as our “evil twin,” it is not entirely full of “bad” stuff. There is actually gold or goodness to be found within the Shadow.
What is the Golden Shadow?
Jung once stated that “the shadow is ninety percent pure gold.” What this means is that there are many beautiful gifts offered to us by our Shadow side if we take the time to look.
For example, so much of our creative potential is submerged within our darkness because we were taught to reject it when little.
Not everything within our Shadow is doom and gloom. In fact, the Shadow contains some of our most powerful gifts and talents, such as our artistic, sexual, competitive, innovative, and even intuitive aptitudes.
The ‘Golden Shadow’ also presents us with the opportunity for tremendous psychological and spiritual growth.
By doing Shadow Work, we learn that every single emotion and wound that we possess has a gift to share with us. Even the most obnoxious, “ugly,” or shameful parts of ourselves provide a path back to Oneness.
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$3Such is the power of Shadow Work – it can be a challenging and disturbing journey at times, but it is ultimately a path to Spiritual Enlightenment or Illumination for the spiritual wanderer.
Ultimately, every spiritual path needs Shadow Work in order to prevent the issues from happening that we’ll explore next.
What Happens When You Reject Your Shadow?
When shadow-work is neglected, the soul feels dry, brittle, like an empty vessel.
— S. Wolf
Rejecting, suppressing, denying, or disowning your Shadow, whether consciously or unconsciously, is harmful and dangerous.
The thing about the Shadow Self is that it seeks to be known. It yearns to be understood, explored, and integrated. It craves to be held in awareness.
The longer the Shadow stays buried and locked in its jail cell deep within the unconscious, the more it will find opportunities to make you aware of its existence.
Both religion and modern spirituality have a tendency to focus on the “love and light” aspects of spiritual growth to their own doom.
This over-emphasis on the fluffy, transcendental, and feel-good elements of a spiritual awakening results in shallowness and phobia of whatever is too real, earthy, or dark.
Spiritually bypassing one’s inner darkness results in a whole range of serious issues. Some of the most common and reoccurring Shadow issues that appear in the spiritual/religious community include pedophilia among priests, financial manipulation of followers among gurus, and, of course, megalomania, narcissism, and God complexes among spiritual teachers.
Other issues that arise when we reject our Shadow side can include:
- Hypocrisy (believing and supporting one thing, but doing the other)
- Lies and self-deceit (both towards oneself and others)
- Uncontrollable bursts of rage/anger
- Emotional and mental manipulation of others
- Greed and addictions
- Phobias and obsessive compulsions
- Racist, sexist, homophobic, and other offensive behavior
- Intense anxiety
- Chronic psychosomatic illness
- Depression (which can turn into suicidal tendencies)
- Sexual perversion
- Narcissistically inflated ego
- Chaotic relationships with others
- Self-loathing
- Self-absorption
- Self-sabotage
… and many others. This is by no means a comprehensive list (and there are likely many other issues out there). As we’ll learn next, one of the greatest ways we reject our Shadows is through psychological projection.
The Shadow and Projection (a Dangerous Mix)
One of the biggest forms of Shadow rejection is something called projection. Projection is a term that refers to seeing things in others that are actually within ourselves.
When we pair projection and the Shadow Self together, we have a dangerous mix.
Why?
Because as psychotherapist Robert A. Johnson writes:
We generally seek to punish that which reminds us most uncomfortable about the part of ourselves that we have not come to terms with, and we often ‘see’ these disowned qualities in the world around us.
There are many different ways we ‘punish’ those who are mirrors of our Shadow qualities.
We may criticize, reject, hate, dehumanize, or even, in extreme cases, physically or psychologically seek to destroy those on whom we project our Shadows (e.g., think of countries who go to war with the “enemies”).
None of us are innocent in this area. We have ALL projected parts of our rejected Shadow Selves onto others. In fact, Shadow projection is a major cause of relationship dysfunction and breakdown.
If we are seeking to bring peace, love, and meaning to our lives, we absolutely MUST reclaim these projections. Through Shadow Work, we can explore exactly what we have disowned.
12 Benefits of Shadow Work
Firstly, I want to say that I have the highest respect for Shadow Work. It is the single most important path I’ve taken to uncover my core wounds, core beliefs, traumas, and projections.
I have also observed how Shadow Work has helped to create profound clarity, understanding, harmony, acceptance, release, and inner peace in the lives of others.
It is truly deep work that makes changes on the Soul level, targeting the very roots of our issues, not just the superficial symptoms.
There is SO much to be gained from making Shadow Work a part of your life and daily routine. Here are some of the most commonly experienced benefits:
- Deeper love and acceptance of yourself
- Better relationships with others, including your partner and children
- More confidence to be your authentic self
- More mental, emotional, and spiritual clarity
- Increased compassion and understanding for others, particularly those you dislike
- Enhanced creativity
- Discovery of hidden gifts and talents
- Deepened understanding of your passions and ultimate life purpose
- Improved physical and mental health
- More courage to face the unknown and truly live life
- Access to your Soul or Higher Self
- A feeling of Wholeness
It’s important to remember that there are no quick fixes in Shadow Work, so these life-changing benefits don’t just happen overnight. But with persistence, they will eventually emerge and bless your life.
7 Tips For Approaching Shadow Work
Before you begin Shadow Work, it’s important for you to assess whether you’re ready to embark on this journey. Not everyone is prepared for this deep work, and that’s fine. We’re all at different stages. So pay attention to the following questions and try to answer them honestly:
- **Have you practiced self-love yet?** If not, Shadow Work will be too overwhelming for you. I have starred this bullet point because it is essential for you to consider. Shadow Work should not be attempted by those who have poor self-worth or struggle with self-loathing. In other words, if you struggle with severely low self-esteem, please do not attempt Shadow Work. I emphatically warn you against doing this. Why? If you struggle with extremely poor self-worth, exploring your Shadows will likely make you feel ten times worse about yourself. Before you walk this path, you absolutely must establish a strong and healthy self-image. No, you don’t have to think that you’re God’s gift to the world, but having generally “good” self-worth is important.
- Are you prepared to make time? Shadow Work is not a lukewarm practice. You’re either all in or all out. Yes, it’s crucial to take a break from this work regularly. But Shadow Work requires gentle dedication and persistence. Are you willing to intentionally carve out time each day to look at your blind spots? Even just five minutes a day is a good start.
- Are you looking to be validated or to find the truth? As you probably know by now, Shadow Work isn’t about making you feel special. It isn’t like typical spiritual paths, which are focused on the feel-good. No, Shadow Work can be brutal and extremely confronting. This is a path for truth seekers, not those who are seeking to be validated.
- Seek to enter a calm and neutral space. It’s important to try and relax when doing Shadow Work. Stress and judgmental or critical attitudes will inhibit the process. So please try to incorporate a calming meditation or mindfulness technique into whatever you do.
- Understand that you are not your thoughts. It’s essential for you to realize that you are not your thoughts for Shadow Work to be healing and liberating. Only from your calm and quiet inner Center (also known as your Soul) can you truly be aware of your Shadow aspects. By holding them in awareness, you will see them clearly for what they are, and realize that they ultimately don’t define you; they are simply rising and falling mental phenomena.
- Practice self-compassion. It is of paramount importance to incorporate self-acceptance and self-compassion into your Shadow Work practice. Without showing love and understanding to yourself, it’s almost guaranteed that your Shadow Work will backfire and make you feel terrible. So focus on generating self-love and compassion, and you will be able to release any shame that binds you and finally embrace your humanity.
- Record everything you find. Keep a written journal or personal diary in which you write down (or even draw) your discoveries. Recording your dreams, observations, and self-analysis will help you to learn and grow more effectively. You’ll also be able to keep track of your process and make important connections in the future.
How to Practice Shadow Work (7 Paths)
There are many Shadow Work techniques and exercises out there.
In the guide below, I will provide a few to help you start off. I’ll also share a few examples from my own life:
1. Pay attention to your emotional reactions
In this practice, you’ll learn that what you give power to has power over you. Let me explain:
One Shadow Work practice I enjoy a great deal is paying attention to everything that shocks, disturbs, and secretly thrills me. Essentially, this practice is about finding out what I’ve given power to in my life unconsciously, because:
Whatever we emotionally react to – whether good or bad – says a lot about us.
For example, by following where my “demons” have taken me – whether in social media, family circles, workspaces, or public places – I have discovered some important things about myself. The first one is that I have an issue with control; I hate feeling vulnerable, powerless, and weak . . . it quite simply scares the living hell out of me.
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How did I discover this? Through my intense dislike of watching the thriller and horror genre, my negative reaction to novel experiences (e.g., roller coaster rides, public speaking, etc.), as well as my discomfort surrounding sharing information about my life with others in conversations.
Also, by following where my “demons” have guided me, I’ve discovered that I carry, on some level, a profound guilt complex that I developed through my religious upbringing.
A part of me wants to feel unworthy because that is what I’ve developed a habit of feeling since childhood (e.g., “You’re a sinner,” “It’s your fault Jesus was crucified,” etc.), and therefore, that is what I secretly feel comfortable with feeling: unworthy. So my mind nit-picks anything I might have done “wrong,” and I’m left with the feeling of being “bad.”
Thanks to this practice of paying attention to my emotional reactions, I’ve welcomed more compassion, mindfulness, and forgiveness into my life.
Paying attention to your emotional reactions can help you to discover exactly how your core wounds are affecting you on a daily basis.
How to Pay Attention to Your Emotional Reactions
To effectively pay attention to your emotional reactions (I call it “following the trail of your inner demons”), you first need to cultivate:
Without being conscious of what you’re doing, thinking, feeling, and saying, you won’t progress very far. Journaling is a wonderful way to cultivate more self-awareness.
If, however, you’re fairly certain that you’re self-aware (or enough to start the process), you will then need to:
2. Adopt an open mindset
Have the courage and willingness to observe everything that makes you feel uncomfortable and ask, “Why?”
What do I mean by everything that makes you feel “uncomfortable”? By this, I mean that, whatever riles, shocks, infuriates, disturbs, grosses out, or terrifies you, you must pay attention to. Closely.
Likely, you’ll discover surprising patterns emerging in your life. For example, you might be outraged or embarrassed every time sex appears in a TV show or movie you like (possibly revealing sexual repression or mistaken beliefs about sex that you’ve adopted throughout life).
Or you might be terrified of seeing death or dead people (possibly revealing your resistance to the nature of life or a childhood trauma). Or you might be disgusted by alternative political, sexual, and spiritual lifestyles (possibly revealing your hidden desire to do the same or even an inner bigoted side).
There are so many possibilities out there, and I encourage you to go slowly, take your time, and one by one, pick through what you emotionally react to.
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The moment you emotionally react to something (reacting is different from responding) is the moment you have given that thing power over you. This practice of open awareness helps you to regain perspective, understanding, and access to your Shadow.
2. Artistically Express Your Shadow Self
Art is the highest form of self-expression and it’s also a great way to allow your Shadow to manifest itself. Psychologists often use art therapy as a way to help patients explore their inner selves.
Start by allowing yourself to feel (or draw on any existing) “dark” emotions. Choose an art medium that calls to you, such as pen and pencil, watercolor, crayon, acrylic paint, scrapbooking, sculpting, etc., and draw what you feel.
You don’t need to consider yourself an “artist” to benefit from this activity. You don’t even need to consciously plan what you’ll create. Just let your hands, pen, pencil, or paintbrush do the talking. The more spontaneous, the better.
Artistic expression can reveal a lot about your obscure, darker half. Psychologist Carl Jung (who conceptualized the Shadow Self idea) was famous for using mandalas in his therapy sessions.
3. Start a Project
The act of creation can be intensely frustrating and can give birth to some of your darker elements such as impatience, anger, blood-thirsty competitiveness, and self-doubt.
At the same time, starting a project also allows you to experience feelings of fulfillment, invigorated energy, and joy.
If you don’t already have a personal project that you’re undertaking (such as building something, writing a book, composing music, or mastering a new skill), find something you would love to start doing.
Using self-awareness and self-exploration during the process of creation, you will be able to reap deeper insights into your darkness.
Ask yourself questions like, “What am I feeling and why?” Notice the strong emotions that arise during the act of creation, both good and bad. You’ll likely be surprised by what you find!
For example, as a person who considers myself non-competitive, that assumption has been challenged by the act of writing for and maintaining this website. Thanks to this Soul project, the Shadow within me of ruthless competitiveness has shown its face, allowing me to understand myself more deeply.
4. Write a Story or Keep a Shadow Journal
Goethe’s story Faust is, in my opinion, one of the best works featuring the meeting of an ego and his Shadow Self.
His story details the life of a Professor who becomes so separated and overwhelmed by his Shadow that he comes to the verge of suicide, only to realize that the redemption of the ego is solely possible if the Shadow is redeemed at the same time.
Write a story in which you project your Shadow elements onto the characters – this is a wonderful way to learn more about your inner darkness!
If stories aren’t your thing, keeping a journal or diary every day can shine a light on the darker elements of your nature. Reading through your dark thoughts and emotions can help you to recover the balance you need in life by accepting both light and dark emotions within you.
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If you’d like to use some questions to explore your Shadow, you can go through our Shadow Work Prompts article.
Our popular Shadow Work Journal also has 60+ deep-diving prompts if you need more direct, compassionate guidance.
5. Explore Your Shadow Archetypes
We all have different varieties of Shadows within us, also called Shadow Archetypes. These archetypes are sometimes defined as:
- The Sorcerer
- The Dictator
- The Victim
- The Shadow Witch
- The Addict
- The Idiot
- The Trickster
- The Destroyer
- The Slave
- The Shadow Mother
- The Hag
- The Hermit
I have my own Shadow Archetype classification, which I will include below.
13 Shadow Archetypes
Here are my thirteen classifications, which are based on my own self-observations and analysis of others:
1. The Egotistical Shadow
Defined by the following qualities: arrogance, egocentricity, pompousness, inconsiderateness, self-indulgence, narcissism, excessive pride.
2. The Neurotic Shadow
Defined by the following qualities: paranoia, obsessiveness, suspiciousness, finicky/demanding/compulsive behavior.
3. The Untrustworthy Shadow
Defined by the following qualities: secretive, impulsive, frivolous, irresponsible, deceitful, unreliable.
4. The Emotionally Unstable Shadow
Defined by the following qualities: moody, melodramatic, weepy, overemotional, impulsive, changeable.
5. The Controlling Shadow
Defined by the following qualities: suspicious, jealous, possessive, bossy, obsessive.
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6. The Cynical Shadow
Defined by the following qualities: negative, overcritical, patronizing, resentful, cantankerous.
7. The Wrathful Shadow
Defined by the following qualities: ruthless, vengeful, bitchy, quick-tempered, quarrelsome.
8. The Intolerant Shadow
Defined by the following qualities: uptight, rigid, racist, sexist, ableist, homophobic, transphobic, obstinate, uncompromising, inflexible, narrow-minded.
9. The Glib Shadow
Defined by the following qualities: superficial, cunning, inconsistent, sly, crafty.
10. The Cold Shadow
Defined by the following qualities: emotionally detached, distant, indifferent, uncaring, unexcited.
11. The Perverted Shadow
Defined by the following qualities: masochistic, depraved, sadistic, vulgar, libidinous.
12. The Cowardly Shadow
Defined by the following qualities: weak-willed, passive, timid, fearful, untrustworthy.
13. The Immature Shadow
Defined by the following qualities: puerile, childish, illogical, superficial, vacuous.
Keep in mind that the above Shadow Archetypes are by no means exhaustive. I’m sure that there are many others out there that I have missed. But you are free to use this breakdown to help you explore your own Shadows.
Shadow & Light Membership:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ "Shadow and Light’s weekly guidance always rings true to my heart. Thanks for acknowledging my shadows and inviting my inner light. I always get excited to open the Shadow and Light emails on Sunday!" – Angela M.
You’re also welcome to add to this list or create your own Shadow Archetypes, which I highly encourage. For example, you might possess a judgmental and dogmatic Shadow, who you call “The Nun,” or a sexually addicted Shadow, who you call “The Sex Addict.” Play around with some words and labels, and see what suits your Shadows the best.
6. Have an Inner Conversation
Also known as “Inner Dialogue,” or as Carl Jung phrased it, “Active Imagination,” having a conversation with your Shadow is an easy way to learn from it.
I understand if you might feel a twinge of skepticism towards this practice right now. After all, we’re taught that “only crazy people talk to themselves.”
However, inner dialogue is regularly used in psychotherapy as a way to help people communicate with the various subpersonalities that they have – and we all possess various faces and sides of our egos.
One easy way to practice inner dialogue is to sit in a quiet place, close your eyes, and tune into the present moment. Then, think of a question you would like to ask your Shadow, and silently speak it within your mind. Wait a few moments and see if you ‘hear’ or ‘see’ an answer. Record anything that arises and reflect on it.
It’s also possible to carry on a conversation with your Shadow using this method. Just ensure that you have an open mindset. In other words, don’t try to control what is being said, just let it flow naturally. You’ll likely be in awe of the answers you receive!
Visualization is another helpful way of engaging in inner dialogue. I recommend bringing to mind images of dark forests, caves, holes in the ground, or the ocean, as these all represent the unconscious mind.
Always ensure that you enter and exit your visualization in the same manner, e.g., if you’re walking down a path, make sure you walk back up the path. Or if you open a particular door, make sure you close the same door when returning back to normal consciousness. This practice will help to draw you effortlessly in and out of visualizations.
7. Use the Mirror Technique
As we’ve learned, projection is a technique used by the ego to help us avoid the Shadow parts within that we’ve knowingly or unknowingly disowned.
However, we don’t only project the deeper and darker aspects of ourselves onto others, we also project our light and positive attributes.
For example, you may be attracted to another person who displays fierce self-assertiveness, not realizing that this is a quality that you secretly long to reunite with inside yourself.
Another common example (this time negative) is judgmentalism. How many times have you heard someone say, “He/she is so judgmental!” Ironically, the very person saying this doesn’t realize that calling another person ‘judgmental’ is actually pronouncing a judgment against them and revealing their own judgmental nature!
The Mirror Technique is the process of uncovering our projections. To practice this technique, we need to adopt a mindful and honest approach toward the world. We need to be prepared to “look in the mirror” and own that which we have disowned!
Another helpful mindset that we can adopt is that other people are our mirrors. In other words, we can understand that those around us serve as the perfect canvas onto which we project all of our unconscious desires and fears.
To start this practice, examine your thoughts and feelings about those you come in contact with. Pay attention to moments when you’re emotionally triggered and ask yourself, “What might I be projecting?”
Remember that it’s also possible to project our qualities onto another person who really does possess those same qualities. Psychologists sometimes refer to this as “projecting onto reality.” For example, we might project our rage onto another person who is, in fact, a rage-filled person. Or we might project our jealousy onto another who genuinely is jealous.
Ask yourself, “What is mine, what is theirs, and what is both of ours?” Not every triggering situation reveals a projection, but more often than not, they do. Also, look for things you love and adore about others, and uncover the hidden projections there.
The Mirror Technique will help you to shed a lot of light on Shadow qualities that you have rejected, suppressed, repressed, or disowned.
For further guidance on this specific technique, see our article on mirror work.
If you’d like more ideas or perspectives on working with the Shadow Self, see those I’ve recommended in my shadow work books guide.
Shadow Work Q&A
Here are some commonly asked questions about Shadow Work:
Shadow Work is the psychological and spiritual practice of exploring our dark side or the ‘shadowy’ part of our nature. We all possess a place within us that contains our secrets, repressed feelings, shameful memories, impulses, and parts that are deemed “unacceptable” and “ugly.” This is our dark side or shadow self – and it is often symbolized as a monster, devil, or ferocious wild animal.
There are many ways to practice shadow work. Some of the most powerful and effective techniques include journaling, artistically expressing your dark side (also known as art therapy), using a mirror to connect with this part of you (mirror work), guided meditations, exploring your projections, and examining your shadow archetypes. I explore all of these shadow work exercises and more in my Mindful Shadow Work book!
There is light and darkness within all areas of life, and spirituality is not exempt. The spiritual shadow is what occurs when we fall into the traps of spiritual materialism – a phenomenon where we use spirituality to boost our egos and become arrogant, self-absorbed, and even narcissistic. The spiritual narcissism arises out of spiritual materialism.
Shadow Self Test
As passionate proponents of Shadow Work, we have created a free Shadow Self test on this website for you to take. Like any test, take it with a grain of salt and use your own analysis to ultimately determine how ‘dominant’ your Shadow is in your life.
Please remember that tests online cannot be 100% accurate, so see this test as a fun self-discovery tool. And note: those who receive a “small Shadow Self” answer still need to do Shadow Work. No person is exempt. ;)
Here’s our free Shadow Self test. Alternatively, or as a supplement, you can also take our Shadow Archetype Test.
Own Your Shadow and You Will Own Your Life
If you’re looking for serious, deep, authentic, and long-lived healing in your life, Shadow Work is the perfect pathway to experiencing profound inner transformation.
Remember that what you internalize is almost always externalized in one form or another.
Own your shadow and you will own your life.
Don’t forget that our Shadow Work Journal and Shadow & Light Membership are there to compassionately guide you on this journey if you need more help.
Here are some final inspiring shadow work quotes:
The secret is out: all of us, no exceptions, have qualities we won’t let anyone see, including ourselves – our Shadow. If we face up to our dark side, our life can be energized. If not, there is the devil to pay. This is one of life’s most urgent projects.
— Larry Dossey (Healing Words)
If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we are not really living. Growth demands a temporary surrender of security.
— Gail Sheehy
Who has not at one time or another felt a sourness, wrath, selfishness, envy and pride, which he could not tell what to do with, or how to bear, rising up in him without his consent, casting a blackness over all his thoughts … It is exceeding good and beneficial to us to discover this dark, disordered fire of our soul; because when rightly known and rightly dealt with, it can as well be made the foundation of heaven as it is of hell.
— William Law
To confront a person with his own shadow is to show him his own light.
— Carl Jung
Tell me, have you met your Shadow? If so, what was it like? How does it appear in your life? Please share below! I’d love to read your story.
Whenever you feel the call, there are 3 ways I can help you:
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Hello! First of all, I’ve been reading your articles lately, and I must say they are very refreshing, and it’s a new-old perspective for me (like a reminder of something I already knew somehow). Second, well I’ve a question, when you’re encountering your shadow-self and trying to integrate all parts of yourself once again, is it normal not feeling love, joy, happiness and those positive emotions within your body? Because I remember, way before I started the path of pain, sorrow and other emotions which led me to become more logical in order to protect my emotional side (you know emotional numbness), way before I actually decided to change, I used to feel those positive emotions. However, lately all I feel is anxiety, pain, sorrow, and of course the darkest thoughts I’ve ever had in my life; and for some reason I cannot seem to see the light in the end of the tunnel (although I think I feel there is one). Well if it’s possible, how can we do this?
Drea, it is normal. Shadow work is always accompanied by feelings of sorrow, fear, pain and loss … that is precisely why no one wants to go on such a path! Little do they realize that it is often one of the last paths to liberation and harmony.
Before you embark on such a path you need to be emotionally balanced. This is imperative. If you start your shadow work journey already full of anxiety and depression, you are going to enhance your pain tenfold! So I hope this isn’t you (if so, stop and resume when you are at a point in your life where you feel balanced).
The way I moderate my own painful feelings is by focusing on one single thing at a time. I have recently focused on my “guilt” and have slowly began to explore it. The moment you are overwhelmed with emotions is the moment you need to stop, take a step back and preoccupy yourself with something else. I generally take a week of recovery, but that is me. You might be shorter or longer.
It helps to record all of your tiny victories to remind yourself of the progress you have made. Slowly you are untangling the knots that obscure the tunnel, but there is always a light at the end.
Thank you Aletheia. Well I think I am emotionally balanced now (though it took me few months to be), but I still feel some pain, sorrow, discomfort and anxiety from time to time (but not always). Also, every time I do feel that I try to embrace it and it goes away, then I try to figure out the reason (not sure if this is good or not but I hope so).
I know what you mean by “that is precisely why no one wants to go on such a path!”, I guess that’s the reason I avoided it for long too. I’ll try to focus on those negative emotions one by one, and see what happens.
And well, I do not record but I do write about what I feel, how I feel it and I’m also working on trying to connect the dots on why do I feel what I feel when I feel it (but this is hard). Good news is whenever I re-read what I’ve written few weeks/days ago, I do feel better because I see some progress.
Thank you for your reply!
Drea
That is great to hear Drea. Feeling pain and discomfort is not “bad” as we traditionally think it to be. That is something that I have realized on my own path: the labels and language we use to define our reality significantly impacts on our inner space of freedom and peace. When you strip away the mental filter you see that these are simply the ebbs and flows of the beautifully rugged thing we call life.
Best wishes!
Aletheia and or others:
I’m fairly new to this whole process of self-awareness and in the pursue of it, of course I encountered the whole “Shadow work” concept. This is my confusion: I tend to have from time to time pretty dark,violent, scary thoughts (part of an anxiety condition) and so when they pop I tend to run away from them. To me those dark thoughts must be part of my shadow, because how forcefully I consciously fight them, then the shadow work says, bring them into consciousness, examine them and then what? Discover that I am capable of this terrible thoughts to make them ok? when they are not ok in any sense of the word?…what if by bringing then into the light of consciousness, they become reality resulting in the harm of self and others? how is that ok? how is acting out darkness going to make me whole? I sound fairly ignorant about this, because I am and don’t know how to articulate the confusion any other way.
Thanks in advance
T
” Discover that I am capable of this terrible thoughts to make them ok? when they are not ok in any sense of the word?…what if by bringing then into the light of consciousness, they become reality resulting in the harm of self and others? how is that ok? how is acting out darkness going to make me whole?”
Thanks for reaching out and posting your questions T. To make my response easy, I will bullet point my observations and responses:
– Shadow Work is in no way about acting out your dark cravings, shames, perversions, or other repressed elements. This is counter-intuitive to your healing. Rather, Shadow Work is about going on a conscious quest; an exploration and examination of your “demons.” It is not about “becoming them” but rather about observing them for what they are and telling the truth.
– Your use of the word “OK” implies that you have a very dualistic, black-and-white perception of the world. Once you accept that dark thoughts are a natural product of our societies, family upbringings, traumas and other scars, you stop making moralistic judgments that only serve to keep you scared and ashamed in the dark. Nature doesn’t have the concepts of “good” and “bad” only “balance” and “disbalance” and in the case of shadow work it is important that you return to this natural way of perceiving the world. “Good and bad” are heavily religious-tainted concepts created by the limited human mind.
– Once you understand that having a shadow self and dark terrible thoughts is a product of being “disbalanced” you can stop resisting yourself. You can stop creating the tension of “I SHOULDN’T/SHOULD DO THIS” and instead open to the experience of coming to terms with your inner hell. The more you ruthlessly judge yourself, the harder your journey will be.
– It is normal to be scared of what the result of shadow work will be. But as I mentioned before, shadow work is not about becoming, but about observing and exploring. Unless you are psychotic or severely mentally ill, it is very unlikely that you will out of the blue “act out” your shadow repressions. You are still in control of your body, your decisions and your actions.
I hope this makes sense T. There are many other articles on this site about shadow work and I recommend that you use the search box up the top of this site to explore the ones you would like to read. To go on this path you must be a ruthless seeker of the truth, for once you truly come to terms with the depths of your depravity, explore it and understand it for what it is, you can then embrace it, heal it and integrate your hidden self back into your life. Remember that what is hidden in our shadows is not all bad, there are many hidden talents locked away as well.
What a reply! Holly! Thank you for taking the time. Either you are really, really good what you do or I am really, really transparent when I write about myself or both. Your observations are so on point is uncanny, giving the fact that you don’t know me from a whole in the wall. Nothing but the truth, is what I seek. Based on your response, I will also bullet point , this awareness I came to or am coming to:
* “Your use of the word “OK” implies that ‘you have a very dualistic, black-and-white perception of the world.” Bulls’eye my friend, right on track, I didn’t even know this until I started exploring myself a few short years back.
*…..moralistic judgments that only serve to keep you scared and ashamed in the dark.” again correct, I have been pointed out about my judge, jury and executor aspects of my personality.
*”Nature doesn’t have the concepts of “good” and “bad” only “balance” and “disbalance” and in the case of shadow work it is important that you return to this natural way of perceiving the world. “Good and bad” are heavily religious-tainted concepts created by the limited human mind.” This is a rough one for me to digest given my level of conditioned upbringing in a very dysfunctional religious family (ps. I do not do religion anymore, which was a huge leap in my journey of self discovery, recovery). My mind can find a different way to process, “helping good” “killing, bad”
* “Once you understand that having a shadow self and dark terrible thoughts is a product of being “disbalanced” you can stop resisting yourself.” This one directly speaks to the very unbalanced almost crazy feeling phase in my life I’m at and have been in for the past 10 years, Perimenopause, where my hormones went all over the place and they have taking me on for a very bumpy ride (maybe to wake me up, who knows, time will tell). Before the Perimenopausal explosion inside of me, I was a pretty stable human being, it is calming down as I approach 50, but perhaps that is why I feel so afraid, because the “footing” under me , seemed to have been ripped away.
*”The more you ruthlessly judge yourself, the harder your journey will be.” You have no idea how ruthless I can be about my foibles.
*”Unless you are psychotic or severely mentally ill, it is very unlikely that you will out of the blue “act out” your shadow repressions. You are still in control of your body, your decisions and your actions.” I have done some work on the couch with therapists as the result of the perimenopausal transition, and no decent therapist was able to reassure me that , although I seem not to be, no one can assure anyone that they won’t have a Psychotic or insane moment or moments. They insist I am sane, but truthfully I doubt my sanity at times. According to “them” (the therapists) the potential for episodes on insanity or mental illness is very real for all of us….
*”I hope this makes sense T. ” CRYSTAL!
* “To go on this path you must be a ruthless seeker of the truth” almost obsessively, I have felt so much deception in my life, I know only the truth will set me free, as a matter of fact my circle of acquaintances have shrunk considerably, because my tendency to call a thing a thing.
This exchange with you has reassured me, what some Spiritual teacher told me a while back: ” you have so much to unlearn, before you begin to glimpse at who you really are beyond name and form”.
At my present level of awareness, I have no business doing shadow work, my distorted view of reality is too myopic at the moment.
Thank you for everything, you have shed so much needed light and understanding on this topic for me.
Presently I am voluntarily unemployed (that’s another story) and couldn’t pay you anything you might be selling, but I do need a spiritual guide or whatever kind of guidance you can offer. How can you lead me or help me or guide me out of my tunnel vision mind? and if not you, aside from reading more (which I am always doing) what else can you suggest? I know I need to work with some kind of guide person, but I can’t pay for the services….any and all further advice is profoundly appreciated.
Thanks
T.
T, I’m really happy that the guidance I’ve provided can help you in such a profound way. If you have a facebook account you can contact my own teacher (and fellow co-author of this site) Don Mateo Sol. He has taught me almost everything I know. Otherwise, over the next few weeks and months we will both be publishing extra content (we have made a commitment to writing more this year), and we are also planning on starting a podcast section. Stay tuned and keep connected with us and this site and we will both be happy to help in any way we can through our work.
x
Touching and very generous. Thank you and your partner teacher . I don’t do facebook, but I’ll definitely stay tuned to your future postings. This many days later, your initial answer to me has had a chance to sink deeper and I feel a bit more at ease with the whole shadow work idea. Thank you both…
xo
T
That is wonderful to hear.
Keep in touch. ;)
I think I’m on the path of shadow work. I’ve recently went through purging where I’ve de-cluttered my life from negative and fake people, and setting my priorities straight. To be honest I’m doing much better than I was before and I never though I would be able to achieve most of my long term goals in a short notice. I’m quite proud about that and I never realized that as simple as I am I started having ambitions for my self for the first time. Without other people or society’s ideal of success. I’m searching and aiming for personal success however I think this is also part of shadow work because even though I feel and see the successes. I also feel a significant emptiness and loneliness I’ve never felt before. It’s calm and non erratic but its the type of feeling that makes you look inside even deeper, and you’re frightened but curious at the same time.
I’ve started journaling and speaking with the voice after reading a book from Janet Connor and the voice is really powerful. I’ve also been a little psychic and intuitive that my dreams became more symbolic, and recently became a medium where my angels and spirit guides communicate with me.
I’ve also started behaving more freely after changing my mental patterns. And it does affect the you and the people around you. I’m quite happy where I am in my life, so I’m hoping that I’ll be able to face my shadows and embrace the wounded healer, the child, and the very depth of me.
Thanks for the wonderful insight and article! This came in handy at the right time!!!
Thanks Aya, I’m glad it came in handy at the right time in your life. That is mostly why I write and do what I do. :)
I find your comment about feeling a sense of significant emptiness and loneliness interesting. This is a sign that you are on the true path of shadow work, as the more you shatter the illusions you have been living, the more a “space” opens a sort of void. It is scary to experience (I have as well) and the temptation is to immediately fill this empty space with something else, some other belief or habit that continues the cycle of suffering. But if you can cohabit with that empty space, if you can go into it and explore it for the sake of uncovering the truth, you will find that it is the greatest teacher.
Hi!
I find that I know one of my friends who seems to have a very strong ‘Shadow Self,’ and matches the description in the test you made. How can I help her?
Should I try to inadvertently redirect her to the test?
Or simply show her this article?
By the way, your’s and Sol’s articles are always very helpful.
Thanks!
You can’t help your friend unless your friend decides to help herself. This is one of the most shocking realizations we can make, but once you accept that it is not in your power to truly change anyone (unless the desire is first within them), you will be at peace more. Of course, you could always send her a text/email/FB message or whatever saying that you found an interesting test (on this site) and encourage her to take it, sharing your score with her. That way she might not feel so judged. I hope this helps.
Thankyou so much for this beautiful article. I recently started to accept these darker thoughts and even spoke with my partner about them. It felt as a relief to do so. Taking responsibility won’t be difficult for me, but admitting my thoughts was a big step for me.
Congratulations for speaking with your partner about them Daphne — that can take a lot of courage! It does take the burden off to speak to someone, anyone. It takes it out of the secretive domain of the mind into the open world and literally sheds light on these darker places of your being so that you feel less burdened. Very therapeutic.
Great article. When I was being wooed by Spirit in 2004, I kept asking for God to reveal Himself to me, and one day I said, “The more I ask you to reveal Yourself to me, the more you reveal Myself to me.” That was a true awakening moment because I realized that in knowing myself – the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly – I began to know God more. Then as time progressed I became aware that this Self-existing Eternal Being of Light and Love radiantly loved me – all of me – enough to help me to become aware of every aspect of myself and learn to love myself, too, unconditionally.
Knowing the dark sides can help us to soothe those aspects of our being with love and forgiveness, and become more deeply connected to God, and that’s when the renewing of the mind and heart begins to take place. What a magnificent gift!
Blessings for a delightful day,
Marianne
That is one of the beautiful things about believing in some kind of deity: the realization that if we can be loved unconditionally and forgiven unconditionally, we can do likewise to ourselves. To me, everything and everyone is part of “God” which to me is divinity, consciousness, or an eternal-ever-presence, so we are not separate. We have so much potential locked away within us waiting to be unearthed, and that is the exciting thing about Shadow Work!
I’ve just realized I’ve been slowly doing this, but less focused, more like subconsiously. But I’m actually curious is it only about doing acknowledging and accepting your entire shadow self, so it doesn’t control you so to speak but makes you whole; or is it also about integrating certain parts (say your example of sexual repression and a guilt complex) and turn them around, change your lifestyle? Or does that kind of happen when you fully accept it? Nice article, btw :)
Thank you Guest. :)
Shadow Work is a mixture of both elements (it is a very non-linear process). It is about exploring what you have been holding back, learning to accept it, and being willing to learn the lessons it teaches and change certain areas of your life. This is basically what “Shadow integration” is in a nutshell.
I appreciate your words!
LIONS TIGERS AND BEARS. Sometimes all this shit confuses me. I’ve done the dark side. Light side blue side green side. Low GODSELF. HIGH GODSELF. IVE EVEN BEEN LUCIFER. IVE BEEN EVER DAM THING U HAVE SPOKE ON. IVE BEEN KICK IN THE ASS AND IVE KICK ASS. THAS MENTALLY. SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY. SHIT IVE FACE SO . . Much of the dark shadow side in my child hood. Till that all I no is my demons. I have a demon as they say a Monkey on my back. I just cant shake this MF off. I’ve been dealing with this demon for 30 yrs or more. Eye. Just want fly the fuck away from all this. I just want to go to home. I’m sick of it all. I want relief. One day I’m up. Next day I’m dw. I have no family. Mother NEVA love cared or been mentally INY
Life other them whip and beat the shit out me. Because IAM different. With my own mind and way of life. NEVA got along with siblings. Father was NEVA in my life. My son and daughter whom
I love UNCONDITIONALY had no help from no one. Have them all of me. Put my life on hold for them. And they turns around and kick me in my ass. Now I don’t have no relationship with them. All because IAM me. I have my own intake of the thing we call life. I cant be what others want or expect me to be to soothe they conscious. Yes I’m out spoken. Aggressive. And controlling and very protective when it come to my son and daughter. Wish they felt the same about me. They don’t give a lovely fuck. My dark shadow and demon name is crack cocaine. And I wish it wud leave me the hell alone. Cause IVE did it all to walk threw it. In it. Over it around it. And I still cant shake it. But I do no this. It bought me to a place of AWARNESS. Meaning staying up all night with my moon stars. Searching looking listen for answer. Changeling my eating habits. It bought me to Mother Nature. It bought me to you and others THATS has the same feelings. Life experiences. It bought me to search and find out who am eye. PPL just don’t understand a woman as such. It’s like dam if I do and dam if I don’t. So I be the do and the DONT. I’ve always been a leader and not a follower and this has cause problems with Humans. Sometimes. U hate fucking humans. All they do is control. Judge. Envy. Jealous. Tell u what u need to do. Then when u tell them how u truly feel they cant handle it. They put a name on EVA thing u do say and act. Im BEGANING to hate humans. I’ve become such a loner. And it hurts at times. But when I get out and be around them I be like dam I rather stayed home and go talk and dance with my dam trees. My flowers. My water my dog. My moon. My sun. I get a better understand with nature then theses dam Humans. This 3rd DIMESION is one of the lowest DIMESION They eat PPL hear. They eat the flesh and blood. KILL STEAL. DESTROY. CONTROL take all our black brothers away from their FAMilies and put them in all THOSES modern day slave camps. Call Prison. Charge us for lights. Water. If u look at it u name it. They charging u. When the universe is created to be FREE. NEXT THEY GOING BE CHARGING US FOR FUCKING AIR. I JUST DONT WANT TO BE IN THIS LOW SICK ASS DIMESION. I WANT TO GO WERE ITS NOTHING BUT LOVE. LOVE AND MORE LOVE. WERE I CAN JUST RUN WILD AND FREE. WITH OUT SHOES OR CLOSE ON. AND FUCK EATING I GET FULL OFF OF MY DAM ENETERGY. IM SICK OF THIS PLACE AND THE HUMANS. ANIMALS TREAT U BETTER AND LOVE U MORE THEN THESES HUMANS.
Yes the shadow side of ourselves usually does go unacknowledged, so thank you for giving it some light.
Many years ago I was asked to look at my shadow self. What I discovered was scary at first ‘he’ (I referred to my shadow as ‘he’ even though I’m a girl) was overpowering, bossy and downright rude and then there was other days where he was too sad and too depressed, not even I wanted to be around him. I saw him as my twin that I didn’t like very much. During this self-discovery journey being separate from him(my shadow) made it easier to get to know him.
As I worked with him, I realized how much of my spiritual development, growth and wisdom had been attained because of him, how much he wore for this self and that without him I could not have evolved in the inner realms or on my spiritual journey.
When I finally acknowledged and took ownership of my shadow self, I too learnt that him and I were ‘US’ (that we weren’t separate) he was the epitome of my soul mate, he was what makes me whole. I soon learnt to merge my light side with my shadow making me a much fuller person spiritually. Some days him and I battle it out but most often we are united, part of a whole. Everyday on this plane I am learning, developing and evolving and its partly to do with this duality of who I am.
That is beautiful Taylor. I’ve often heard before of the process of separating ones Shadow and giving it a name or a gender, and this strikes me as a good way of beginning to “own” your Shadow. At first it can be hard, almost impossible to do, but as you have pointed out, later, once it is understood, it is possible to unite both you and It.
Thank you for this. <3
This may seem rather odd, to send you such an article on the Day we celebrate Resurrection. But, to use an old expression, “You can’t get there from here.” The CHRIST archetype for death and resurrection, is what we ignore.
This article explores the acknowledgement and healing of our shadow side. In this spiritual journey of identifying our darker instincts, thoughts and urges, we are bringing Light to what we have spent a lot of energy on. This effort keeps us from accepting who we are in all our negative dark energies as well as our positive light energies.
In other words, in the “crucifixion” of our dark side, we are opening ourselves, our soul, to healing, Divine transformation, and to New Life in higher dimensions of Light and Love. In this manner we are surrendering to the process of Ascension, and freeing our human selves to be the whole being we have incarnated to be.
I think that is one of the most important “deeper” lessons we are being offered by God/Source through Jesus, the incarnation of Christ Consciousness. Are we willing to suffer the reality of that darkness in ourselves; to experience a “death” of spirit that liberates us to “Rise” to the higher being we truly are? Perhaps this is the EASTER message we have not understood – or denied.
In Love, Light, and Peace to you and humanity, on this EASTER Day.
Bill G.^***+
This is a fascinating interpretation of the easter message William. I’ve not thought of it this way before. I don’t think I’ll perceive easter the same way ever again (that’s a good thing!).
Thank you for reading and sharing!
Easter is the CELEBRATION OF ISHTAR the ASSYRIAN AND BABYLONIAN GODDESS OF FERTILITY AND SEX HER SYMBOLS (LIKE THE EGG. THE BUNNY). WERE AND STILL IS FERTILITY AND SEX SYMBOL The EGG EASTER BUNNY. NOR CHRIST JESUS. HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RESURRECTION. AFTER CONSTANTINE DECIDED TO CHRISTIANIZE THE EMPIRE WAS CHANGE TO REPRESENT JESUS. BUT AS ITS ROOTS. ITS ALL ABOUT FERTILITY AND SEX. THE EGG
OF ISHTAR. MY ANCESTOR. THAS WERE THE WORD COMES FROM. (ISHTAR). Pronounce. (EASTER). THE BLACK FERTILITY GODDESS. GET IT RIGHT BOO.
Well put young man. But why do EVA one thinks we have to suffer do get were we goin. To get what we need. To be better to do better. Man has fuck us up. Telling us that we have to suffer. Man HUMANS WAY OF THINKING. MAKING US BELIEVE THST IN ORDER TO MAKE IT. U HAVE TO SUFFER. I SICK OF SUFFERING. IF I GOT SUFFER. THEN I JUST DONT NEED WANT NO PART
OF IT. WHO WANTS TO CONTINUE SUFFERING. NOT J SAYS THE CAT. JUST BEAM ME GHE FUCK UP SCOTTIE. MY ANCESTORS. HAD AND HAVE DONE enough suffer for the world if u ask me. Just go back and look at ALLL the trees the hang them from. Allll the beating. Rapes and rape. All the killings. All the starvation. All the working in the dam cotton FEILDS. 24
Hrs a day. All the bodies that got burn. Head getting chop off. Men getting rape. Men getting set on fire from
Trees. SALING our BBYS. Taking them away from us. Then turn around and make us nurse they dam BBYS on our breast. Tubes and tribes. And tribes of unspeakable of my
PPL getting slaughter. They have paid the suffering price. Its time for me to live. Look at allll the CHRISTS that not hang from a cross. But allll the millions. THA hang from trees. And running fir they freedom. I tire of running. I just want to go home
Hate to tell u. THAS not true at all. THE WORD IS PRONOUNCE ISHTAR. MEANS FERTILITY. SEX. THE BLACK GODDESS OF FERTILITY. THE EGG. IT DONT HAVE A DAM THING TO DO WITH THIS CHRIST BS. ITS MY BLACK ANCESTOR. UR ANCESTOR. CONSTANTINE. CHANGE IT. TO SOOTHE YOURS AND OTHERS CONscience. MY ANCESTORS. WERE. HERE BILLIONS OF YRS. THE LETTER C. DINT EXSIST. TILL THe 1600’s. The sphinx PPL were here 800,000 yrs before this JESUS the CHRIST. Get it right boo.
Good advice, Luna. One has to walk through the darkside of the psyche to become a comfortable human. And since this is all an experiment perpetrated on us against our free will, it is that much easier to not blame oneself for feeling uncomfortable in one’s own skin. You just blame it on the puppet master and go on with the business of how you want to be and how you want to feel. And if we get enough of us to see past the emerald curtain we can then conduct a successful coup and take back our existence. Key words for research: John Lash, archons, Carl Jung, Metahistory.org.
Haha, I’ve come to see that we have very little free will in life Ned. But that’s not necessarily a good or bad thing (which are human created concepts anyway). We have no control over our genetics, we have no control over the families we’re raised, we have no control over our brain chemicals and social conditioning (although many say that we sign ‘contracts’ before we come to earth, which I’m a bit wary of) . . . but we can change things here and there. Shadow Work, I believe, is a realistic way of ‘taking back our lives’ without harming ourselves or others.
Thanks for the key words by the way!