11-07-2022, 06:30 PM
Shadow Work: What, Why and How to Do It
https://fractalenlightenment.com/wp-cont...w_work.jpg
To be honest this isn’t the first article on Shadow work that has been put up here. But what I realised is that a lot of people still haven’t got the basics of Shadow work after I put up a meme that spoke about 9 signs that you have done shadow work.
https://www.facebook.com/FractalEnlighte...0490848685
That’s when a lot of the comments said hey, I have done some of those but need progress, and then there were some who asked what is shadow work? The truth is we have four articles related to the shadow, integrating it etc. But we don’t have a single article that acts as a complete resource or guide on Shadow Work that can be shared, so here goes
https://rielpolitik.files.wordpress.com/...age-67.png
https://rielpolitik.com/2022/09/20/mind-...adow-work/
This article, covers the following topics:
Jung’s shadow psychology
The personal shadow
The collective shadow
So what is shadow work?
Why is shadow work important?
How to identify the shadows within you
Triggers
Projection
Patterns
The benefits of shadow work
Tapping into your intuition
Better relationships
Maturity and psychological integration
Discover your hidden talents
Clearer perception
Your overall health and well-being can improve
Greater creativity
Generational trauma could be healed
How to do shadow work?
Be aware of your emotional reactions
Consider someone who triggers your emotions
Go back to your childhood
Accepting your shadow side
Integrate your Shadow for a better life
Jung’s shadow psychology
According to Carl Jung, the shadow is not always an opponent, but may be, in part, ones’ link to more primitive animal instincts, which are superseded during early childhood by the conscious mind.
Jung speaks of two types of shadows. The personal shadow (the obscured dark side of ourselves), and the collective shadow (the obscured dark side of society).
The personal shadow
The personal shadow is the sum of unknown or undiscovered attributes and qualities of the self. It is all the unpleasant things we hide from ourselves. Everybody has shadows. They contain inferiorities that we don’t want to admit to. When one is feeling anxious or under the influence, such as alcohol, the shadow can be most obvious. One might suddenly make a hostile comment during a friendly conversation. We project what we don’t like onto others when we don’t want to accept it.
One can be aware of one’s shadow but not fully conscious. This is called ego control. However, many people refuse to recognize their shadows so that the ego doesn’t even know what shadow behaviour is and cannot command it. The shadow can act in unpredictable moods, irritability, and cruelty under these circumstances.
Jung emphasizes the importance of awareness of the shadow and how it affects one’s life in his writings. The shadow can be seen as negative, but it can also be a positive. Jung says that exploring the shadow can help us discover many positive qualities.
The collective shadow
The shadow could also be composed of elements that originate from sources outside of the person’s private life. This is where we encounter that collective shadow. Also known as the dark side or the hidden or unexplored aspects of a society or culture. It includes what does not align with our shared and common values.
The collective shadow is an enormous, multidimensional and often terrifying, yet mysterious aspect of human existence. The immense amount of damage inflicted by humans on each other and the natural world, the collective shadow also includes the devastating effects of these harms in the following generations.
The collective shadow is seen through the projecting of “darkness” and a sense of inferiority through oppression and violence, and in the obscurity of our current suffering, as well as the denial of responsibility for the present.
Although collective shadow material can be brutally acted out during massacres, wars and genocides. It could be hidden under the attractive disguises of missionary activities for example, like mandating the use of certain languages as or imposing certain languages, in the perpetration of an Orwellian society that is happening at the moment.
So what is shadow work?
It’s about engaging with your subconscious mind to reveal the parts of you that you deny and conceal from yourself. It could be trauma-related or aspects of your personality you subconsciously think are undesirable. The shadow you see isn’t a flaw or mistake rather, it’s a natural element of who you are.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/48436/s...-our-story
Shadow work is in essence, about gaining self-awareness, which ultimately leads to accepting yourself as a person and having compassion for others. It is usually therapeutic as well as spiritual, helping you to see the different aspects of you. For those who have been particularly adept in avoiding their shadows – for example, because it’s far away from what you perceive as your self or perception it is all about realizing your shadow’s existence, and becoming interested in investigating them.
For those whose dark side is linked to trauma, this kind of work can help you heal from trauma and take on the part of yourself that has been hidden or shamed throughout your life.
When you accept that you have a shadow side as well, you will begin to understand the way your thoughts and feelings affect your actions. Once you are aware of this you’ll be able to take charge and be able to live your the life you want, more thoughtfully and mindfully. You’ll begin to live your life as who you truly are.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/33936/l...ur-destiny
Why is shadow work important?
The early Greeks recognized the need to revere all parts of the mental psyche. They believed that these parts were worshiped as independent Gods or goddesses. The Greeks were aware that the god or goddess that you didn’t acknowledge ended up destroying you.
Every part that we deny inside us is turned against us. The personal shadow is an amalgamation of these unowned components. This is the issue Shadows can function independently without our awareness. It’s like our conscious self operates in autopilot, while our unconscious takes control. We commit actions that we would not have done in the first place and regret later (if we do catch it).
We make statements that we would never have the courage to say. The facial expressions we use convey emotions that we don’t know how to feel. Being unaware of the shadow affects relations with families, spouses and friends. Moreover, embedded shadows can affect our professional relationships and our leadership capabilities.
When we rely on our caregivers to survive we suppress those aspects that are not approved and overstate the positive aspects.
Imagine, for instance, a five-year-old boy who is highly aware of his emotion. He’s sensitive and emotional. If something happens, the boy gets angry and starts crying. His dad responds and tells him, “Stop crying like a child, and become the man you are!”
The father believes that crying is not good, and so he tries to keep his son from crying. In the end, the son pushes his delicate and tender part of him into the shadows, and then begins to man up.
In adulthood, the man struggles with being emotionally involved and won’t display his emotions, even when they are required. As a result the man has a difficult time in relationships, never being able to fully acknowledge his feminine side.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/26190/s...ima-animus
The shadow grows with repression.
Another example is a young girl who is upset about something, and then throws an angry tantrum. Her mom immediately says to her “Stop it! Don’t be so negative!” Every time she is upset, mom repeats the same message: end it and be a good daughter.
“It is not a good idea being angry,” she imagines. “I must try very hard to not get angry.” As time passes she is able to dissociate herself from her anger however, it’s not enough to make it disappear.
She is taught that she has to “have everything in order.” In the later years she discovers that she is having problems at work with people who push her buttons. At times, she feels she’s going to explode, but does not know the best way to handle it. She is aware that her anger is present constantly, showing out in passive-aggressive ways, and causing problems at work.
How to identify the shadows within you
Separation and division aren’t the normal states of things. Integration and wholeness are all natural for human beings and because of this, your subconscious is constantly trying to draw your attention to incorporate all that’s around it.
It can be difficult to see your shadow, particularly when you’ve pushed it into your unconscious, but there are reasons why you should get to know your shadow.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/33799/l...our-shadow
There are 3 ways that you can notice your shadow:
A lot of people project their problems on others. When they are unhappy with something within themselves, they bring the issue to other people. It’s common for us to project our darkest shadows – our anger, repressed and shame, guilt and other aspects we dislike in ourselves — onto other people. We criticize others who behave in ways we do not like about ourselves.
Triggers
A trigger is a remembrance of a past trauma. The events that trigger conflicts within our lives aren’t only triggers, they serve as messengers that help us to recognize something that’s hidden inside our being.
Be aware of your triggers as they could expose your hurts as well as your shadow self in a snap. Make sure you recognize your emotional triggers prior to when you perform and not just immediately after.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/54085/p...-with-them
Projection
Be aware of your reflection on the world around you. Because the universe strives to restore our balance it puts forth things, people, places and objects are a mirror and reflect the person we are. We even come across the same situation time and time again.
Patterns
The patterns that we see in our lives can lead us towards aspects that are part of the shadow. They are manifestations of the shadow since the shadow mirrors your world to be perceived and integrated.
The shadow would like you to recognize it. It is looking to be noticed and accepted. In these patterns, you will discover parts from your inner self which will continue to show up in various circumstances until you’re ready to take a look and break the cycle.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/32258/l...-true-self
The benefits of shadow work
Tapping into your intuition
You may find that shadow work, depending on the things you have buried in your shadow, can help you connect with your intuition or deeper knowing. As a child, you may have been discouraged from using intuition, perhaps in the form of education or an overly logical upbringing. Instead, trust your gut and your inner compass.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/42639/s...ion-or-ego
https://fractalenlightenment.com/56673/s...er-compass
Better relationships
You will see yourself clearly when you accept your shadow side and make peace with it. You will become more grounded, humane, and whole. Accepting your darkest parts makes it easier to accept them in others.
This will make it less easy to be triggered by other people’s actions. This will allow you to communicate with others more easily. You might notice a change in your relationship with your spouse, your family members, and your business associates.
Maturity and psychological integration
A sense of wholeness or unity will not be possible if we continue to deny our shadows and suppress certain parts of us. With a divided mind, how can we feel wholeness and balance?
The integration of the shadow is a step closer to achieving a sense of wholeness. It is a crucial step towards mature adulthood.
Discover your hidden talents
Shadow work can be used to discover your inner resources and strengths that you didn’t know you had.
People may be afraid that their shadow is too dark for them to overcome. This golden shadow occupies most of the space. It has never had the chance to flourish before.
Shadow work can help you get out of your shell and allow you to see the best side of you.
Clearer perception
You’ll be able to see yourself and others as you are, giving you a clearer view of the world. Integrating your shadow self will allow you to see your true self, and to be more accurate in your assessment of yourself.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/31101/l...hadow-self
You will not perceive yourself as too small or too large (deflated). You will be able to see yourself clearly and assess the environment with more compassion and understanding.
Your overall health and well-being can improve
All kinds of problems can result from suppressing your shadow. These problems may not be obvious until you face the shadow.
Shadow work can help to take control of your health and wellness by getting to the root. Shadow work addresses the root causes of wellness issues instead of treating specific problems like anxiety and unhealthy relationships.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/51000/s...al-with-it
Generational trauma could be healed
Shadow work can help heal childhood traumas, which are often caused by primary caregivers such as a parent. Shadow work is a way to heal yourself and your family, as well as healing the lineage. This is especially true when you begin to address generational traumas.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/54039/s...ood-trauma
It can help you to think about how you will approach caregiving if you have children. It allows you to look at your family and ask yourself, “Do I want this to continue with my family?”
If it interests you we have an article on the archetypes of the shadow self!
https://fractalenlightenment.com/34529/l...dow-selves
How to do shadow work?
Be aware of your emotional reactions
The shadow is invisible and hides behind us. Our defence mechanisms are designed for keeping our shadows hidden and out of sight. Your chances of catching your shadow are greater if you pay more attention to your emotions and behavior.
People tend to project their disowned parts onto others. You can identify your shadow by paying attention to how you react to other people. While your co-workers might be arrogant, impatient, inconsiderate, or aggressive, you will not have the same reactions to them.
You can learn to pay attention to your shadow when you see others reacting negatively to negative emotions.
We rarely have the time or resources to deal with these emotions right away. It’s a good idea to take five to ten minutes to reflect on the interactions you have with others and the reactions to them.
What bothers you in someone else is probably a part of yourself that is disowned. Accept that part, get to know it, make it part of yourself, and it will most likely not cause strong emotions the next time you see it in another.
You should pay attention to what or who triggers an emotion in you. It doesn’t really matter what emotion it is, it’s a sign you are denying something.
Consider someone who triggers your emotions
Shadow work can be started by imagining someone you are troubled by and asking yourself gentle questions such as: He suggests asking gentle questions like:
~ What is it that I dislike about this person?
~ Are there times when I feel like I have the same traits?
~ Why is it so hard to be around them?
~ How does this person bring out the best in me? How do I feel about this part of me?
Go back to your childhood
Consider what parts of yourself were treated differently as a child.
What emotions were you punished? Many children are told to “get over” their sadness or anger. These emotions are often suppressed. They are bad, and we grow up thinking they are bad.
“Was it possible to be fully accepted as a child?” What did I feel the most? What was my role and how were my emotions and behaviors judged by my peers?
You may have a shadow side to your behavior that was judged. These questions will help you see your shadow side once you have answered them.
Here’s an article on 6 steps to befriend your shadow and let in the light!
https://fractalenlightenment.com/49117/s...-the-light
Accepting your shadow side
Alan Watts discusses Carl Jung, and how Jung believed that our shadow side should be acknowledged, not hidden. This is the root cause of many of our problems.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_X8SUhi90pA/hqdefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X8SUhi90pA
Integrate your Shadow for a better life
Shadow work can be a powerful way to transform your inner self and experience inner healing. All you need is self-awareness. Everyone has experienced a time in their lives that brought out the darkest parts of themselves. The good news is that the whole universe is trying to make us whole again. All of the actions of the universe are directed towards growth and expansion.
There are many opportunities for us to face our shadow selves and get rid of them. It doesn’t matter how long it takes you to look at your shadow selves. It will continue to manifest into your reality until it is noticed. The fractured self seeks to be unified. We will have the opportunity to see those parts of ourselves that we have suppressed or rejected, denied, denied, and even disowned.
Becoming more aware of your shadow self and integrating it will help you gain more control in your life as well.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/56905/s...w-to-do-it
6 Archetypes to Help Us Get in Touch With Our Shadow Selves
https://fractalenlightenment.com/wp-cont...6x447.webp
This article, covers the following topics:
Hedonist/Addict/Lover
Gossip/Networker/Bully/Coward
Miser/Midas
Revolutionary/Warrior/Knight
Artist/Writer/Creative/Inventor
Princess/Victim/Prostitute/Femme Fatale
Hedonist/Addict/Lover
If we think of life before mindfulness as encompassing either pleasure or pain, then most of us will gather around one polarity in an addictive fashion… and can therefore be classed under the Glutton or Addict archetype.
The Addict may be addicted to pleasure as a Hedonist or Lover, or they may be addicted to pain; as a Workaholic or any number of things one can be addicted to, such as food, gambling, or harmful drugs.
People are often addicted to one or the other to take the pressure off, as a distraction from their worries and shadow selves, or as a means to escape a particularly disturbing person or situation in their lives.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/wp-cont...6x378.webp
Whatever your addiction is keeping you from, it’ll probably come served as some form of denial, cold platter and all, and once overcome will open all sorts of doors for you.
Letting yourself free from your cycles of addiction – no matter how harmless they seem – will lighten your load and give you a sense of empowerment. For the addict is most certainly involved in a power struggle.
The moment you depend on, or let anything ‘external’ control your life, then you’re setting yourself up for a whirlwind of trouble, no matter how socially acceptable your weakness happens to be. Above all, the Addict will stop at nothing to get their fix… Might you be one of them?
Gossip/Networker/Bully/Coward
Another possible guise our ‘shadow’ can take and is better understood as an archetype, is the Gossip. I think we’ve all been there; it can take a huge amount of sacrifice – both of the fear of being liked and of our precious reputations – to stand up for the underdog instead of joining in.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/36457/l...s-approval
More often than not, we become the Bully or Coward in order to secure our place in the hierarchy of society, whether we’re children in a playground or not.
The most subtle forms of cowardly bullying find themselves woven into most social interactions and groups, and are particularly present in situations where people come under the spotlight; at work, within family… as people this is how we determine status and rank in an ‘evolved’ species such as human kind.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/wp-cont...6x328.webp
To become more and more aware of the moments of cowardice present in most of our lives and overcoming it by fighting for the underdog can be a daily practice, but there are some of those who fit the archetype of the Gossip and Networker down to a tee.
There are those of us who seem to thrive in such situations, and often become a ringleader steering the bullying in the right direction, ironically mistaken into thinking they’re fighting for high moral codes that the underdog or scapegoat might’ve breached.
Their followers and crowd are those so driven by fear, they also begin perceiving some injustice. And with that the crowd becomes a mob; tearing at the metaphorical flesh of the underdog, eager to rid their pack of those who threaten their collective ego, any scrap of supposed evolution lost in the dust. In these situations we become animalistic. We become ignorant, we become dumb.
Miser/Midas
The story of Midas goes like this: Midas mopes about wishing he had more money (being secure and perfectly affluent as he is), makes a ‘vain prayer’ in the direction of his greedy desires and is ‘blessed’ with the gift to turn whatever he touches into pure gold.
At first this is great fun and he goes around touching cups and saucers and probably his washing machine in delight at the intense novelty of the whole thing until he finds himself experiencing the first pangs of hunger as dinner time comes around.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/wp-cont...hetype.jpg
He goes to the fridge. Woops, turned to gold. Goes to the cupboards, woops turned to gold. In the end his daughter approaches him and he accidentally turns her to gold too. Weeping over her frozen statue, he eventually dies of starvation.
Although we may not all be driven to such drastic measures to satisfy our lust for gold, there may well be a nugget of the Miser archetype in all of us. It’s all about attachment; do you attach yourself to the lighter side of life and pine over it until the wave begins to lift? Do you find yourself aching for a bit more land, a nicer kitchen or better car?
Or perhaps you just plan each dollar down to the very last cent and often skip it when the donations basket comes ‘round? Although it’s easy to be desensitized, and yes we probably all do our bit and shouldn’t have to stress over it, we are still hugely rich in comparison to most of the world’s population.
And yes it is all an illusion. What we think we need and what we can do without is all in the eyes of the beholder. Remember the essentials; oxygen, shelter, food and water. And what was the fifth one? Oh yes, laughter and people to share it with.
Revolutionary/Warrior/Knight
Though it may seem glamorous on the surface, the Knight can actually be incredibly shadowy. High on a power trip and intoxicated by the feeling that they’re ‘fighting for God’, or on a crusade to save the holy land… the Warrior and Revolutionary may think they’re do-gooders, when in fact they invite violence into peaceful people’s lives, often leaving a bloody trail behind them.
Violence for the sake of peace, war in exchange for the correct and self righteous road… Although many of us may desire to help others in becoming such an ostentatious figure, take heed that it’s not solely your own needs you are satisfying.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/wp-cont...6x621.webp
Do the people you’re saving actually need or even want to be saved? Or are they happily learning at their own pace and on their own terms?
Is your holy land even relevant or desirable to those you seek to help? One shoe certainly does not fit all… especially not your spurred boots that can appear quite alarming and aggressive to down-to-earth villagers who just want to harvest their crop.
Artist/Writer/Creative/Inventor
Again, another one who is incredibly desirable to us in this masculine, get ahead and shine society that we live in. But be careful you don’t get too wrapped up in your own ego… the Writer and Artist can become so engulfed in creativity or perfectionism they are driven quite mad and become consumed in their own inadequacies as a mere human.
Like Icarus there are downsides to walking alongside the Gods in their pantheon. The same goes for the Inventor. To play God is dangerous, and more often than not one gets burned.
Princess/Victim/Prostitute/Femme Fatale
Though not strictly feminine, the Princess represents all that is within us that needs to leech off others and attach ourselves to them because of our fear to face life head on. The Princess becomes a Victim, waiting for a Prince to rescue him/her and pretending they have no individuality or independence of their own.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/wp-cont...05343.webp
Princesses can become incredibly apt at convincing themselves and everyone else that this is their ‘purpose’; like any caregiver who has learnt to become co-dependent they are willing to do anything; cook, clean, sing to the neighbouring wildlife… Like the Addict, the Princess is in denial, and usually needs to work on their sense of self and self love in order to grant themselves the Heroine status they deserve.
The Prostitute and the Femme Fatale are similar to the Princess, yet instead of granting the completion of household chores they grant sexual favours. Again they don’t have to be women with flirty dispositions; the Prostitute is that part inside of us who readily gives away our talents to any Tom, Dick or Harry without expecting much in return.
Both archetypes draw on our need to reaffirm our sense of self-respect and re-draw our boundaries. Are you letting others walk all over you and take more than they deserve?
These archetypes are just a sample of what may be dressing itself up to the nines and posing as a positive aspect of who you are. To explore our shadows is a healthy thing; for then we get to truly know ourselves and can begin to love every single part of our being.
To know and understand every one of our masks is an adventure, a journey to through the darkness to the heart of the self, a journey into the light.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/34529/l...dow-selves
https://fractalenlightenment.com/wp-cont...w_work.jpg
Quote:“Everyone carries a shadow and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it is. If an inferiority is conscious, one may always have a chance to correct it. But if it is repressed and isolated from consiousness, it never gets corrected, and is liable to burst fort suddenly in a moment of unawareness. At all counts, it forms an unconscious snag, thwarting our most well-meant intentions.”
~ Carl Jung, Psychology and Religion: West and East
To be honest this isn’t the first article on Shadow work that has been put up here. But what I realised is that a lot of people still haven’t got the basics of Shadow work after I put up a meme that spoke about 9 signs that you have done shadow work.
https://www.facebook.com/FractalEnlighte...0490848685
That’s when a lot of the comments said hey, I have done some of those but need progress, and then there were some who asked what is shadow work? The truth is we have four articles related to the shadow, integrating it etc. But we don’t have a single article that acts as a complete resource or guide on Shadow Work that can be shared, so here goes
https://rielpolitik.files.wordpress.com/...age-67.png
https://rielpolitik.com/2022/09/20/mind-...adow-work/
This article, covers the following topics:
Jung’s shadow psychology
The personal shadow
The collective shadow
So what is shadow work?
Why is shadow work important?
How to identify the shadows within you
Triggers
Projection
Patterns
The benefits of shadow work
Tapping into your intuition
Better relationships
Maturity and psychological integration
Discover your hidden talents
Clearer perception
Your overall health and well-being can improve
Greater creativity
Generational trauma could be healed
How to do shadow work?
Be aware of your emotional reactions
Consider someone who triggers your emotions
Go back to your childhood
Accepting your shadow side
Integrate your Shadow for a better life
Jung’s shadow psychology
According to Carl Jung, the shadow is not always an opponent, but may be, in part, ones’ link to more primitive animal instincts, which are superseded during early childhood by the conscious mind.
Jung speaks of two types of shadows. The personal shadow (the obscured dark side of ourselves), and the collective shadow (the obscured dark side of society).
The personal shadow
The personal shadow is the sum of unknown or undiscovered attributes and qualities of the self. It is all the unpleasant things we hide from ourselves. Everybody has shadows. They contain inferiorities that we don’t want to admit to. When one is feeling anxious or under the influence, such as alcohol, the shadow can be most obvious. One might suddenly make a hostile comment during a friendly conversation. We project what we don’t like onto others when we don’t want to accept it.
One can be aware of one’s shadow but not fully conscious. This is called ego control. However, many people refuse to recognize their shadows so that the ego doesn’t even know what shadow behaviour is and cannot command it. The shadow can act in unpredictable moods, irritability, and cruelty under these circumstances.
Jung emphasizes the importance of awareness of the shadow and how it affects one’s life in his writings. The shadow can be seen as negative, but it can also be a positive. Jung says that exploring the shadow can help us discover many positive qualities.
The collective shadow
The shadow could also be composed of elements that originate from sources outside of the person’s private life. This is where we encounter that collective shadow. Also known as the dark side or the hidden or unexplored aspects of a society or culture. It includes what does not align with our shared and common values.
The collective shadow is an enormous, multidimensional and often terrifying, yet mysterious aspect of human existence. The immense amount of damage inflicted by humans on each other and the natural world, the collective shadow also includes the devastating effects of these harms in the following generations.
The collective shadow is seen through the projecting of “darkness” and a sense of inferiority through oppression and violence, and in the obscurity of our current suffering, as well as the denial of responsibility for the present.
Although collective shadow material can be brutally acted out during massacres, wars and genocides. It could be hidden under the attractive disguises of missionary activities for example, like mandating the use of certain languages as or imposing certain languages, in the perpetration of an Orwellian society that is happening at the moment.
So what is shadow work?
It’s about engaging with your subconscious mind to reveal the parts of you that you deny and conceal from yourself. It could be trauma-related or aspects of your personality you subconsciously think are undesirable. The shadow you see isn’t a flaw or mistake rather, it’s a natural element of who you are.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/48436/s...-our-story
Shadow work is in essence, about gaining self-awareness, which ultimately leads to accepting yourself as a person and having compassion for others. It is usually therapeutic as well as spiritual, helping you to see the different aspects of you. For those who have been particularly adept in avoiding their shadows – for example, because it’s far away from what you perceive as your self or perception it is all about realizing your shadow’s existence, and becoming interested in investigating them.
For those whose dark side is linked to trauma, this kind of work can help you heal from trauma and take on the part of yourself that has been hidden or shamed throughout your life.
When you accept that you have a shadow side as well, you will begin to understand the way your thoughts and feelings affect your actions. Once you are aware of this you’ll be able to take charge and be able to live your the life you want, more thoughtfully and mindfully. You’ll begin to live your life as who you truly are.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/33936/l...ur-destiny
Why is shadow work important?
Quote:“The disowned part of self is an energy – an emotion or desire or need, that has been shamed every time it emerged. These energy patterns are repressed but not destroyed. They are alive in our unconscious.”
~ John Bradshaw,Healing the Shame that Binds You
The early Greeks recognized the need to revere all parts of the mental psyche. They believed that these parts were worshiped as independent Gods or goddesses. The Greeks were aware that the god or goddess that you didn’t acknowledge ended up destroying you.
Every part that we deny inside us is turned against us. The personal shadow is an amalgamation of these unowned components. This is the issue Shadows can function independently without our awareness. It’s like our conscious self operates in autopilot, while our unconscious takes control. We commit actions that we would not have done in the first place and regret later (if we do catch it).
We make statements that we would never have the courage to say. The facial expressions we use convey emotions that we don’t know how to feel. Being unaware of the shadow affects relations with families, spouses and friends. Moreover, embedded shadows can affect our professional relationships and our leadership capabilities.
When we rely on our caregivers to survive we suppress those aspects that are not approved and overstate the positive aspects.
Imagine, for instance, a five-year-old boy who is highly aware of his emotion. He’s sensitive and emotional. If something happens, the boy gets angry and starts crying. His dad responds and tells him, “Stop crying like a child, and become the man you are!”
The father believes that crying is not good, and so he tries to keep his son from crying. In the end, the son pushes his delicate and tender part of him into the shadows, and then begins to man up.
In adulthood, the man struggles with being emotionally involved and won’t display his emotions, even when they are required. As a result the man has a difficult time in relationships, never being able to fully acknowledge his feminine side.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/26190/s...ima-animus
The shadow grows with repression.
Another example is a young girl who is upset about something, and then throws an angry tantrum. Her mom immediately says to her “Stop it! Don’t be so negative!” Every time she is upset, mom repeats the same message: end it and be a good daughter.
“It is not a good idea being angry,” she imagines. “I must try very hard to not get angry.” As time passes she is able to dissociate herself from her anger however, it’s not enough to make it disappear.
She is taught that she has to “have everything in order.” In the later years she discovers that she is having problems at work with people who push her buttons. At times, she feels she’s going to explode, but does not know the best way to handle it. She is aware that her anger is present constantly, showing out in passive-aggressive ways, and causing problems at work.
How to identify the shadows within you
Separation and division aren’t the normal states of things. Integration and wholeness are all natural for human beings and because of this, your subconscious is constantly trying to draw your attention to incorporate all that’s around it.
It can be difficult to see your shadow, particularly when you’ve pushed it into your unconscious, but there are reasons why you should get to know your shadow.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/33799/l...our-shadow
There are 3 ways that you can notice your shadow:
A lot of people project their problems on others. When they are unhappy with something within themselves, they bring the issue to other people. It’s common for us to project our darkest shadows – our anger, repressed and shame, guilt and other aspects we dislike in ourselves — onto other people. We criticize others who behave in ways we do not like about ourselves.
Triggers
A trigger is a remembrance of a past trauma. The events that trigger conflicts within our lives aren’t only triggers, they serve as messengers that help us to recognize something that’s hidden inside our being.
Be aware of your triggers as they could expose your hurts as well as your shadow self in a snap. Make sure you recognize your emotional triggers prior to when you perform and not just immediately after.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/54085/p...-with-them
Projection
Be aware of your reflection on the world around you. Because the universe strives to restore our balance it puts forth things, people, places and objects are a mirror and reflect the person we are. We even come across the same situation time and time again.
Quote:“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” ~ Carl Jung
Patterns
The patterns that we see in our lives can lead us towards aspects that are part of the shadow. They are manifestations of the shadow since the shadow mirrors your world to be perceived and integrated.
The shadow would like you to recognize it. It is looking to be noticed and accepted. In these patterns, you will discover parts from your inner self which will continue to show up in various circumstances until you’re ready to take a look and break the cycle.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/32258/l...-true-self
The benefits of shadow work
Tapping into your intuition
You may find that shadow work, depending on the things you have buried in your shadow, can help you connect with your intuition or deeper knowing. As a child, you may have been discouraged from using intuition, perhaps in the form of education or an overly logical upbringing. Instead, trust your gut and your inner compass.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/42639/s...ion-or-ego
https://fractalenlightenment.com/56673/s...er-compass
Better relationships
You will see yourself clearly when you accept your shadow side and make peace with it. You will become more grounded, humane, and whole. Accepting your darkest parts makes it easier to accept them in others.
This will make it less easy to be triggered by other people’s actions. This will allow you to communicate with others more easily. You might notice a change in your relationship with your spouse, your family members, and your business associates.
Maturity and psychological integration
A sense of wholeness or unity will not be possible if we continue to deny our shadows and suppress certain parts of us. With a divided mind, how can we feel wholeness and balance?
The integration of the shadow is a step closer to achieving a sense of wholeness. It is a crucial step towards mature adulthood.
Discover your hidden talents
Shadow work can be used to discover your inner resources and strengths that you didn’t know you had.
People may be afraid that their shadow is too dark for them to overcome. This golden shadow occupies most of the space. It has never had the chance to flourish before.
Shadow work can help you get out of your shell and allow you to see the best side of you.
Clearer perception
You’ll be able to see yourself and others as you are, giving you a clearer view of the world. Integrating your shadow self will allow you to see your true self, and to be more accurate in your assessment of yourself.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/31101/l...hadow-self
You will not perceive yourself as too small or too large (deflated). You will be able to see yourself clearly and assess the environment with more compassion and understanding.
Your overall health and well-being can improve
All kinds of problems can result from suppressing your shadow. These problems may not be obvious until you face the shadow.
Shadow work can help to take control of your health and wellness by getting to the root. Shadow work addresses the root causes of wellness issues instead of treating specific problems like anxiety and unhealthy relationships.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/51000/s...al-with-it
Generational trauma could be healed
Shadow work can help heal childhood traumas, which are often caused by primary caregivers such as a parent. Shadow work is a way to heal yourself and your family, as well as healing the lineage. This is especially true when you begin to address generational traumas.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/54039/s...ood-trauma
It can help you to think about how you will approach caregiving if you have children. It allows you to look at your family and ask yourself, “Do I want this to continue with my family?”
If it interests you we have an article on the archetypes of the shadow self!
https://fractalenlightenment.com/34529/l...dow-selves
How to do shadow work?
Quote:“The Shadow Life is real life but it can only be for those who don’t deny the truth about themselves, the world, and reality by becoming AWARE, cultivating unconditional ACCEPTANCE, and talking real ACTION.”
~ Oli AndersonShadow Life: Freedom from Bullshit in an Unreal World
Be aware of your emotional reactions
The shadow is invisible and hides behind us. Our defence mechanisms are designed for keeping our shadows hidden and out of sight. Your chances of catching your shadow are greater if you pay more attention to your emotions and behavior.
People tend to project their disowned parts onto others. You can identify your shadow by paying attention to how you react to other people. While your co-workers might be arrogant, impatient, inconsiderate, or aggressive, you will not have the same reactions to them.
You can learn to pay attention to your shadow when you see others reacting negatively to negative emotions.
We rarely have the time or resources to deal with these emotions right away. It’s a good idea to take five to ten minutes to reflect on the interactions you have with others and the reactions to them.
What bothers you in someone else is probably a part of yourself that is disowned. Accept that part, get to know it, make it part of yourself, and it will most likely not cause strong emotions the next time you see it in another.
You should pay attention to what or who triggers an emotion in you. It doesn’t really matter what emotion it is, it’s a sign you are denying something.
Consider someone who triggers your emotions
Shadow work can be started by imagining someone you are troubled by and asking yourself gentle questions such as: He suggests asking gentle questions like:
~ What is it that I dislike about this person?
~ Are there times when I feel like I have the same traits?
~ Why is it so hard to be around them?
~ How does this person bring out the best in me? How do I feel about this part of me?
Go back to your childhood
Consider what parts of yourself were treated differently as a child.
What emotions were you punished? Many children are told to “get over” their sadness or anger. These emotions are often suppressed. They are bad, and we grow up thinking they are bad.
“Was it possible to be fully accepted as a child?” What did I feel the most? What was my role and how were my emotions and behaviors judged by my peers?
You may have a shadow side to your behavior that was judged. These questions will help you see your shadow side once you have answered them.
Here’s an article on 6 steps to befriend your shadow and let in the light!
https://fractalenlightenment.com/49117/s...-the-light
Accepting your shadow side
Alan Watts discusses Carl Jung, and how Jung believed that our shadow side should be acknowledged, not hidden. This is the root cause of many of our problems.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_X8SUhi90pA/hqdefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X8SUhi90pA
Integrate your Shadow for a better life
Quote:“Every pain, addiction, anguish, longing, depression, anger or fear is an orphaned part of us seeking joy, some disowned shadow wanting to return to the light and home of ourselves.”
~ Jacob Nordby
Shadow work can be a powerful way to transform your inner self and experience inner healing. All you need is self-awareness. Everyone has experienced a time in their lives that brought out the darkest parts of themselves. The good news is that the whole universe is trying to make us whole again. All of the actions of the universe are directed towards growth and expansion.
There are many opportunities for us to face our shadow selves and get rid of them. It doesn’t matter how long it takes you to look at your shadow selves. It will continue to manifest into your reality until it is noticed. The fractured self seeks to be unified. We will have the opportunity to see those parts of ourselves that we have suppressed or rejected, denied, denied, and even disowned.
Becoming more aware of your shadow self and integrating it will help you gain more control in your life as well.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/56905/s...w-to-do-it
6 Archetypes to Help Us Get in Touch With Our Shadow Selves
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This article, covers the following topics:
Hedonist/Addict/Lover
Gossip/Networker/Bully/Coward
Miser/Midas
Revolutionary/Warrior/Knight
Artist/Writer/Creative/Inventor
Princess/Victim/Prostitute/Femme Fatale
Hedonist/Addict/Lover
If we think of life before mindfulness as encompassing either pleasure or pain, then most of us will gather around one polarity in an addictive fashion… and can therefore be classed under the Glutton or Addict archetype.
The Addict may be addicted to pleasure as a Hedonist or Lover, or they may be addicted to pain; as a Workaholic or any number of things one can be addicted to, such as food, gambling, or harmful drugs.
People are often addicted to one or the other to take the pressure off, as a distraction from their worries and shadow selves, or as a means to escape a particularly disturbing person or situation in their lives.
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Whatever your addiction is keeping you from, it’ll probably come served as some form of denial, cold platter and all, and once overcome will open all sorts of doors for you.
Letting yourself free from your cycles of addiction – no matter how harmless they seem – will lighten your load and give you a sense of empowerment. For the addict is most certainly involved in a power struggle.
The moment you depend on, or let anything ‘external’ control your life, then you’re setting yourself up for a whirlwind of trouble, no matter how socially acceptable your weakness happens to be. Above all, the Addict will stop at nothing to get their fix… Might you be one of them?
Gossip/Networker/Bully/Coward
Another possible guise our ‘shadow’ can take and is better understood as an archetype, is the Gossip. I think we’ve all been there; it can take a huge amount of sacrifice – both of the fear of being liked and of our precious reputations – to stand up for the underdog instead of joining in.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/36457/l...s-approval
More often than not, we become the Bully or Coward in order to secure our place in the hierarchy of society, whether we’re children in a playground or not.
The most subtle forms of cowardly bullying find themselves woven into most social interactions and groups, and are particularly present in situations where people come under the spotlight; at work, within family… as people this is how we determine status and rank in an ‘evolved’ species such as human kind.
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To become more and more aware of the moments of cowardice present in most of our lives and overcoming it by fighting for the underdog can be a daily practice, but there are some of those who fit the archetype of the Gossip and Networker down to a tee.
There are those of us who seem to thrive in such situations, and often become a ringleader steering the bullying in the right direction, ironically mistaken into thinking they’re fighting for high moral codes that the underdog or scapegoat might’ve breached.
Their followers and crowd are those so driven by fear, they also begin perceiving some injustice. And with that the crowd becomes a mob; tearing at the metaphorical flesh of the underdog, eager to rid their pack of those who threaten their collective ego, any scrap of supposed evolution lost in the dust. In these situations we become animalistic. We become ignorant, we become dumb.
Miser/Midas
The story of Midas goes like this: Midas mopes about wishing he had more money (being secure and perfectly affluent as he is), makes a ‘vain prayer’ in the direction of his greedy desires and is ‘blessed’ with the gift to turn whatever he touches into pure gold.
At first this is great fun and he goes around touching cups and saucers and probably his washing machine in delight at the intense novelty of the whole thing until he finds himself experiencing the first pangs of hunger as dinner time comes around.
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He goes to the fridge. Woops, turned to gold. Goes to the cupboards, woops turned to gold. In the end his daughter approaches him and he accidentally turns her to gold too. Weeping over her frozen statue, he eventually dies of starvation.
Although we may not all be driven to such drastic measures to satisfy our lust for gold, there may well be a nugget of the Miser archetype in all of us. It’s all about attachment; do you attach yourself to the lighter side of life and pine over it until the wave begins to lift? Do you find yourself aching for a bit more land, a nicer kitchen or better car?
Or perhaps you just plan each dollar down to the very last cent and often skip it when the donations basket comes ‘round? Although it’s easy to be desensitized, and yes we probably all do our bit and shouldn’t have to stress over it, we are still hugely rich in comparison to most of the world’s population.
And yes it is all an illusion. What we think we need and what we can do without is all in the eyes of the beholder. Remember the essentials; oxygen, shelter, food and water. And what was the fifth one? Oh yes, laughter and people to share it with.
Revolutionary/Warrior/Knight
Though it may seem glamorous on the surface, the Knight can actually be incredibly shadowy. High on a power trip and intoxicated by the feeling that they’re ‘fighting for God’, or on a crusade to save the holy land… the Warrior and Revolutionary may think they’re do-gooders, when in fact they invite violence into peaceful people’s lives, often leaving a bloody trail behind them.
Violence for the sake of peace, war in exchange for the correct and self righteous road… Although many of us may desire to help others in becoming such an ostentatious figure, take heed that it’s not solely your own needs you are satisfying.
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Do the people you’re saving actually need or even want to be saved? Or are they happily learning at their own pace and on their own terms?
Is your holy land even relevant or desirable to those you seek to help? One shoe certainly does not fit all… especially not your spurred boots that can appear quite alarming and aggressive to down-to-earth villagers who just want to harvest their crop.
Artist/Writer/Creative/Inventor
Again, another one who is incredibly desirable to us in this masculine, get ahead and shine society that we live in. But be careful you don’t get too wrapped up in your own ego… the Writer and Artist can become so engulfed in creativity or perfectionism they are driven quite mad and become consumed in their own inadequacies as a mere human.
Like Icarus there are downsides to walking alongside the Gods in their pantheon. The same goes for the Inventor. To play God is dangerous, and more often than not one gets burned.
Princess/Victim/Prostitute/Femme Fatale
Though not strictly feminine, the Princess represents all that is within us that needs to leech off others and attach ourselves to them because of our fear to face life head on. The Princess becomes a Victim, waiting for a Prince to rescue him/her and pretending they have no individuality or independence of their own.
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Princesses can become incredibly apt at convincing themselves and everyone else that this is their ‘purpose’; like any caregiver who has learnt to become co-dependent they are willing to do anything; cook, clean, sing to the neighbouring wildlife… Like the Addict, the Princess is in denial, and usually needs to work on their sense of self and self love in order to grant themselves the Heroine status they deserve.
The Prostitute and the Femme Fatale are similar to the Princess, yet instead of granting the completion of household chores they grant sexual favours. Again they don’t have to be women with flirty dispositions; the Prostitute is that part inside of us who readily gives away our talents to any Tom, Dick or Harry without expecting much in return.
Both archetypes draw on our need to reaffirm our sense of self-respect and re-draw our boundaries. Are you letting others walk all over you and take more than they deserve?
These archetypes are just a sample of what may be dressing itself up to the nines and posing as a positive aspect of who you are. To explore our shadows is a healthy thing; for then we get to truly know ourselves and can begin to love every single part of our being.
To know and understand every one of our masks is an adventure, a journey to through the darkness to the heart of the self, a journey into the light.
https://fractalenlightenment.com/34529/l...dow-selves