What is Shadow Work?

Our shadow selves manifests as our unconscious desires. It is the part we fail to see, acknowledge or accept. This is also the part that we disown and reject. But it is still a part of who we are.

What is often forgotten is that God is an elemental indifferent energy and duality is a reality of life. 

Day/Night, Summer/Winter, Good/Evil, Up/Down, Left/Right. In reality, none of these things can exist without the other. It is unrealistic to expect any one person to only be one extreme. 

The expectation that one must do certain things to be considered “good” or “normal” is a social construct that does not embody reality. 

We have a tendency to split the universe into good and evil and place God solely on the side of good. In reality, God offers both the creative and destructive energy that is needed to create and sustain the universe. 

Discovering our shadow side can help us uncover our darker side, release shame and improve our spiritual connection with God. Because just like the Universal God energy, we have a dark side too…

How does the shadow develop and strengthen?

A child is born complete. As children, we do not know how to repress and suppress. We are free.

We are taught that certain emotions are bad. We are warned against certain people and situations. So we learn that expressing feelings like anger or sadness is bad. We become anxious and frightened and distrusting.

We develop self-doubt, shame, and insecurities. We begin to deny and ignore and reject. And as a result, we start living in conflict with our true selves.

Every time we repeat an old pattern, the shadow strengthens. Every time we repress and suppress, the shadow becomes bigger.

What is Shadow Work?

The goal of shadow work is the integration of our darkness with our light. Both are already inside of us. It is the practice of loving what is, without judgment and shame.

How we do this is by bringing the shadow part of us into the light. We move the shadow closer to us. The more it comes into our consciousness, the smaller it gets. 

How to do Shadow Work?

Here are some simple ways to begin doing shadow work. You can take the support of journaling to carry out your shadow work.

1. Assess your childhood

Ask yourself questions about your childhood. How was it growing up? What were the events, circumstances, and situations that could have influenced you? Make a list of everything you can think of and relate it to how it has shaped you as an adult.

2. Bring the hidden into awareness

This needs an honest look at what we hide from ourselves. We often choose to not see certain things inside of us. Think about everything you want to hide – both negative and positive.

If there is something that is negative, acknowledge and release it. If there is something positive, think about why you fear manifesting it. Make an intention to reunite with it.

3. Accept your shadow

Rejection is what has given birth to the shadow. We need to accept that we are not perfect. We are and will always be far from ever becoming perfect. Therefore, we need to send love, compassion, and acceptance to those parts of us that we have been ashamed of.

4. Work on your triggers

Our triggers show us where work needs to be done. You can use every trigger as an opportunity to look at your sensitivities and expectations. The more you delve into your emotional reactions, the closer you will get to identifying what lies unresolved.

Benefits of Shadow Work

Shadow work has immense benefits. Here are the most important ones:

1. You come to know yourself

You get to know yourself intimately and deeply. You become friends with yourself and consequently, all relationships improve.

2. You cultivate self-love and self-esteem

We are told to love ourselves but are not taught how. Shadow work helps you find compassion for all that is broken within. And from that place of kindness for the not-so-nice parts of you, love for the self arises. It then leads to greater self-esteem.

3. You feel worthy

We tend to blame our shortcomings and past failures for our current circumstances. This leads to a subconscious belief that we are not worthy of happiness, love, and success. Through shadow work, we can find forgiveness for the child who did not know. And consequently, feel whole and worthy again.

4. You break patterns

Over time, we develop unhealthy patterns of meeting our needs. With shadow work, we can see our needs for what they are and not under the guise of how we are habituated to react. It helps us work through our attachment styles and empowers us to meet our emotional, physical, and spiritual needs.

The search for wisdom and the need for self-discovery is one of the most important journeys you'll take in your lifetime. Without it, we feel lost in life, moving through each day without any clear focus or direction. In the Higher Self Kickstarter, we help you uncover your shadow self and embrace your authentic self so you can live the life you deserve.