𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠

Shadow work as viewed from a holistic spiritual lens is the act of healing, integrating and working through all aspects of our shadow self; the parts of us that have been disowned, rejected and repressed. [𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳]

In this thread we'll explore what shadow work is, some common misconceptions surrounding it, when NOT to engage in shadow work and some tips to help you along this journey.

First let’s talk about what shadow work isn't
 
This isn’t "love and light" culture. It's not cute, its not an aesthetic, its not something that can be done in an afternoon. The process of shadow work is a journey that is uncomfortable, exhausting and sometimes downright painful

BUT it's extremely rewarding, it’s one of the most fulfilling self journeys you can ever embark on to reclaim your personal power and fully manifest effectively without self sabotage getting into the way.

So what exactly is your shadow?
 
To understand what your shadow is, we have to examine the nature of human consciousness as explored by psychologist Carl Jung, who popularized the theory behind shadow work.

As a spiritual being engaging in a human experience you we've developed two faces, facades.  The first face that the world sees - the ego; and the second face that we keep hidden, sometimes even hidden even to ourselves -the shadow.

Your shadow is the side of you that you glimpse during intense moments of rage, sorrow, nightmares, paranoia, drug and sex binges. It’s parts of you that say or do things out of character that you can't reconcile with because it’s so far removed from who you believe you are.

Your shadow contains everything that we conventionally consider as shameful, bad, weird, taboo and socially unacceptable. It's stores the times that you've felt overwhelmed and crippled by emotions, emotions stemming from being shunned, shamed, rejected, denied or abused.

Our shadow remains our mind's repository for emotions, experiences and traumas that are too painful to deal with. We sweep it away from our perception so that we can function and carry on with human activities, but all that pain, anger and unresolved emotions don't just go away.

If we didn’t have our shadow we would be walking around feeling and reliving every moment of intense pain, anguish, sorrow, resentment, trauma and fear that we've ever dealt with, fresh in our minds; constantly at the forefront of our thoughts.

Tasks like going to work, school or communicating with others would become impossible. So start your shadow work by thanking your shadow self, for being stronger than you'll ever know.

What happens when we ignore our shadow:
 
The longer we ignore, repress and refuse to acknowledge our shadow, the stronger of a hold it has in our lives. This often manifests as blockages that we're usually not aware of; so we begin to self sabotage without knowing why.

We notice that we act more irrational during moments of stress, anger or fear. We become triggered by certain things we cannot control and we do not know why.

Perhaps one of the hardest ones to come to terms with is what’s called projection in psychology, that what we don't like in ourselves, we project onto others.

Aspects of people's behavior that you find yourself so irrationally repelled by, there's a good chance that an expression of that can be found in your shadow.

So WHY should we do shadow work?
 
It all sounds so heavy, owning up to our flaws, selfishness, hate and grief, so why should we do it? When we work to integrate aspects of our shadow we engage in what I call radical self healing.

You're getting to the root of so many recurring obstacles in your life, and you're rewriting your story. You're releasing blockages and allowing dormant energy that was built up to flow again.

On an energetic level this allows part of your energy that formed a blockage, to now be available to empower your manifestations even more. On a psychological level you're letting go of mental suppression and fatigue that can lead to the development of physical pain and disease

On a spiritual level you're cultivating a stronger, more profound sense of  self by acknowledging your strengths and weaknesses; your capability for both 'good' and 'bad' and you're recognizing the inner divinity that is your soul's ability to transcend both.

Physically, you become grounded and calmer, your personal relationships improve as you see people clearly for who they are and what they might be struggling with. It unlocks our creative potential as artists to be able to draw from your experience to empower yourself and others.

•Tips for engaging in shadow work•
 
Write everything down
 
After engaging in shadow work we often find that because those moments are often very intense and tiring we simply want to rest and take our minds off of what had just occurred.

However sometimes we might need to revisit these sessions for various reasons and relying on your memory for that isn't as effective. Journaling also helps you track your progress overtime.

Be honest with yourself
 
Remember you're dealing with your subconscious, your shadow knows you better than you know yourself so don't try to sugarcoat the process. If a memory or truth is too painful to explore at that moment, end the session and revisit it some other time.

Sometimes we aren't ready to explore those parts of ourselves and we need to build our courage and come back. And that’s okay

Don’t be afraid to talk to yourself
 
Speak to yourself kindly and thoughtfully, center, ground and clear your mind and ask your shadow self to show you what needs to be worked on right now, guide the process by asking yourself what the root causes might be and go on from there.

Be ready to re-write your own experiences
 
The beauty of shadow work is that through all the pain and trauma, we get to go in and rewrite that experience so we can make peace with it.

This is done through meditation, we can recall that memory, and go in to comfort and hold that neglected child, tell our younger self that went through that first heartbreak or major loss, that it's going to be okay.

Crying is normal so get used to it
 
You're expelling and resolving some deep seated memories and possible traumas so don’t be afraid to cry, sometimes it starts mid session, sometimes it comes out afterwards. Let your body flow, there's no right or wrong, simply BE.

Positive self affirmations
 
I recommend starting every shadow work session with an activity affirming the love you have for yourself and the endless love that Spirit has for you. It helps you to remind yourself why you're doing this.

Who should NOT do shadow work
 
If you struggle with very low self esteem, a weak sense of self or you're TOO self critical; focus on building self compassion and working on your self care for now. Also if you simply feel like you're not ready that's okay too <3

Books I recommend to learn more about this topic since y'all got nothing but time lol:
 
Owning Your Own Shadow: Understanding the Dark Side of the Psyche by Robert Johnson
 
Shadow Work Journal by Luna & Sol

Also, there’s this new age misconception that doing shadow work lowers your vibrations, please throw that out the window right NOW

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