Card 34.Shadow Work.
Facing the Shadow. Inner work. Self-Awareness
The amazing power of shadow work to bring about positive transformation in your life.
In this post I will give an introduction into this very fascinating subject. I have done a fair bit of Shadow Work myself which began proper in my 40s. I can without a doubt say it is well worth the effort. It has helped me to grow in all ways, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
When I completed card number 34 It felt like this was a Shadow energy, I could see a depth within it and an invitation for some inner work and self exploration. The violet shades relate to self -knowledge and spiritual awareness for instance. You can learn more about colour therapy here Colour .
The shadow can sound ominous however it is a part of us. As we learn to integrate it, there are many gifts to be found as we claim back all aspects of ourselves. It can be a transformative experience.
The shadow will make itself known in many ways, like frustration, anger or jealousy. These are all emotions that are in need of recognition, understanding and healing.
Focusing on the image of this Card, see what comes up for you. Does any of the colours or images stir something within you? Are there colours that repel you? Taking a little time to meditate on the image may reveal something to you. Flower of Life Oracle Cards gallery
Shadow work takes courage, to sit in stillness with yourself and be really honest can seem challenging. From my personal experience, engaging in introspective stillness and being sincerely honest with yourself is a great starting point. It is essential to identify triggers and reflect upon traits in others that may provoke annoyance, as these often mirror aspects of ourselves.
An example of this could be encountering individuals who always need to be right, this can trigger our own tendencies towards this behaviour. It is important to acknowledge our own guilt in this regard and work towards improvement, even as we age. Engaging in this transformative practice requires both time and courage. According to a numerologist I once consulted, as daunting as it may seem, facing the shadow becomes easier with experience. I have found this to be the case.
Shadow work
I studied counselling for a few years and it really helped with Shadow work, you really have to uncover a lot about yourself during the process. I also went to Counselling as part of my training.
Art Therapy is one way to do shadow work, it can reveal so much. I found it to be both therapeutic and insightful. You can do this on your own though I would recommend a qualified therapist. Through doing the inner work we become much more self aware, uncovering what we have previously denied ourselves.
” Shadow-work enables us to alter our self-sabotaging behaviour so that we can achieve a more self-directed life”. Connie Zweig
Counselling is the choice for some plus many Alternative Therapies and Body Work. It’s a personal preference should you choose a form of Therapy.
In the early days of searching for knowledge on such subjects I read so many books from the library. Memories, Dreams, Reflections by Carl Jung being one, the famous Swiss Psychoanalyst who coined the term “shadow self.” I have to admit most of that book went over my head, however it did open my mind and I was keen to learn more about the human persona, how we present ourselves is often different from the real or private character.
Persona in psychology, is the personality that an individual projects to others, as differentiated from the authentic self. The term persona was coined by Carl Jung, is derived from the Latin persona, referring to the masks worn by Etruscan mimes.
” Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it is.” Carl Jung
I can’t overlook the benefits of Journaling if you are going to do some shadow work. It has been immensely life changing for me. When you do free flow uncensored hand writing (not typing) you allow your true feelings thoughts etc to come to the surface. This can help you to release and let go of what you have been holding back from saying or expressing in a safe environment. Not all aspects of your shadow are negative. There needs to be light to create a shadow.
Illuminating the Shadow Self
” In the realm of spirituality, the interplay between light and darkness is a profound and essential aspect of personal growth and transformation. Light represents awareness, enlightenment, and higher consciousness, while shadow self embodies the hidden, repressed, and unresolved aspects of our being. Exploring the dynamic relationship between these two forces can lead to profound self discovery, healing, and spiritual evolution…” (Rawan Albini Linkedln)
I certainly discovered a creativity within me I didn’t even know was there, through doing the inner work and shadow work. I faced some demons on the way too, that’s the work. Some deep healing came as a result. It is ongoing yet not so intense for me these days. I believe the more shadow work we do the brighter our light shines.
“Ultimately, shadow work is bringing attention and love to those things that have been previously rejected. And so, if you ask me, shadow work is in fact the highest form of light work you can do.” (Teal Swan) http://www.tealswan.com
I will round up this post with a short story I read in a book years ago by (Pema Chödrön) a famous American Buddhist Nun though I doubt she would care to be called ‘famous’ she told of this time in the Monastery where she was becoming quite annoyed by someone leaving dirty dishes in the kitchen.
She went into the kitchen this day to find much to her dismay that she had left her very own mug or plate unwashed. This is a great example of how the shadow self shows up in a very practical every day way. I laughed when I read this and I’m guessing she did too. Given that Pema’s shadow can show up. I’m guessing we can cut ourselves some slack.
“The most fundamental aggression to ourselves, the most fundamental harm we can do to ourselves, is to remain ignorant by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly and gently”. (Pema Chödrön), When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times.
Pamela x
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