What Is & How To Do Shadow Work?

What Is Shadow Work?

Shadow work was brought into the Western World by psychologist, Carl Jung. He described shadow work as the unconscious and disowned parts of our personalities that the ego fails to acknowledge, accept and/or see.

Shadow work is the aspect or concept of ourselves that has not been exposed to the light—in the sense of our conscious(ness). We are both light and darkness aspects, it is a part of who we are.

Your subconscious mind is the shadow. We can’t see it clearly and sometimes this could lead to us not being aware if it. Your conscious mind is akin or similar to the light because you can clearly see it and are aware of it. What goes into our subconscious is everything we dislike, reject; toxic traits/thoughts/behaviors—the unacceptable and unwanted parts of ourselves are suppressed, ignored and/or denied. The shadow is unseen and affects everything we do and how we react, interact and/or have relationships with other people in life.

The shadow grows every time you suppress. When we deny any aspects about ourselves it doesn’t disappear. It fades away from our conscious awareness and becomes the shadow aka subconscious. The shadow is the “reason” we do certain things in life without understanding why we do it. Contrary to how it sounds, shadow work isn’t all negative and dark. The shadow actually has so much potential, talents and gifts that have been unearthed yet.

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Example of Shadow Work:

Charity is born with a strong sense of self. As she grows up to become a young lady, she knows who she is; what she likes and dislikes. Charity isn’t afraid to speak her mind and stand up for herself. Her family, friends and everyone she interacts with seem to tell her “tone it down” because she and it is too much. Charity starts to suppress and dislike the strong and confident aspects about herself. She starts to grow up quiet, sweet and doesn’t quite understand why her life is so painful. Charity suppressed aspects about herself so now she feels conflicted inside.

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How To Spot Your Shadow

Projection.

Projecting your issues onto other people or vice versa. When we dislike something in ourselves we point it out on others. We project our repressed anger, guilt, shame or even hate onto others. People, places, and things can become a mirror and reflect who we really are.

Triggers

A trigger is a reminder or emotional response of past trauma. The surface event that causes conflict in our lives. Triggers are signals that enable us to become conscious of something that is buried within us.

Patterns

Repeating patterns In our lives point out aspects of our shadow. Patterns are expressions of the shadow because the shadow mirrors itself into your reality to be seen and integrated. The shadow wants you to become aware of it. It wants to be seen and accepted. These patterns will show up in different situations until you are ready to break the cycle and learn the lesson.

Ways To Begin/Start Your Shadow Work

Go Back & Reflect on Your Childhood.

The shadow usually has roots in your childhood. Ask yourself, “was I completely accepted as a child?”.

Beware Of Your Shadow.

Once you see those rejected aspects of yourself, reflect on them. Are they negative? If so, make peace and release the shadow.

Don’t Shame The Shadow.

Your shadow was born or created from a non-accepting and rejected environment(s). Give yourself love, compassion and acceptance. Your shadow is a part of who you are so try to look at it from a place of understanding and patience.

Use Your Triggers To Help You.

Observe it instead of living in it. Triggers are reflections of the deep unresolved wounds. They open your eyes to things that are suppressed.

Observe Without Judgment.

Let go of being harsh or an inner critic. When you see your shadow, acknowledge and observe it and then work to integrate it.

Cultivate Self Compassion

Start by accepting your humanness. Create a sense of unconditional friendliness with one’s self. If you’re accustomed to feeling shame or guilt, you need to change these emotions with self-acceptance, and self-compassion. In Buddhism, it's called ​Maitri​.

Be Honest.

Take an honest look at your attitudes, behaviors, dark thoughts, and emotions. The rewards are worth the discomfort, as these honest confrontations with your shadow will help heal the splits in your mind. This courageous act will unlock more of your creative potential—opening a new world of possibilities.

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The shadow is an inner fragmentation that take place within you. It’s almost like two people are living and operating your life. Every time you act or lash out your shadow grows bigger and bigger. Shadow work is necessary if you want to learn and/or improve your life. Shadow work is simply becoming aware of the subconscious or what’s hidden and gradually healing, learning and unlearning those aspects of yourself. Once you overcome the suppressed, your eyes will open up a new side of you that you forgot or never knew existed.