About Shadow Work

Shadow work is the process of exploring our shadows…the deep, seedy underground of our Selves; the things that make us tick, so to speak. They are the traumas of childhood, betrayals, neglect, false narratives and indoctrinations pushed onto us as children, in past lives, from our ancestral karma, and more.

When we notice patterns in our lives and relationships or unexplained fears, intense dislikes toward things or people that make no sense. The problematic things that annoy us about ourselves that we can’t seem to shake are usually there waiting for us to stare them down and recognize them for what they are. Instead, we’ve been pushing them aside, compartmentalizing them, or just ignoring them over and over. Here’s the thing though, these things can’t be ignored or just brushed aside. Like grief and sadness, you must face them. You must name them, you must see them for what they are and only then will they stop rearing their ugly heads and interfering with your peace and growth.

Seems daunting, I know. It can be intimidating to start the process because these are things we’ve been holding close to us as part of who we are. We literally have nothing to fear though. Why would we fear the things that make us who we are? The things that created these shadows already occurred. There’s nothing left to fear about them because you’ve already survived them. The only thing left to do is to accept them, forgive them, heal them and integrate them as another beautiful facet of our soul’s journey.

Where Do We Start?

Say you have this weird pattern or reaction you keep noticing and you just don’t know where this is coming from. Why does that thing trigger this thing? Why are you so hard on yourself and strive for perfection at the detriment of your own peace and health? Why can’t you figure out why you have such a hard time manifesting abundance, wealth, love and peace?

When you identify one of these patterns or issues that are, quite frankly, tripping you up, keeping you stuck in the mud and spinning your tires, you write that thing down. Name it. Acknowledge it. Then you get to work.

You’ve identified the thing and named it. Now, make a list, journal about it, write a song, a poem, draw, make art. Get your feelings out about it and explore them all. Name them, identify them. Yes, this is a common theme with shadow work. Naming things and facing them.

Once you’ve gotten all of that out, how do you feel? Have you learned anything? Have you had any revelations or ah-ha moments? Did any memories pop into your head about this thing? Write all of that down too.

Meditate. Dream. Create something. Pay attention to the answers. They may come as inspiration, random thoughts, ideas, memories or daydreams. These are the communications of Spirit.

Take what you’ve identified so far…take that knowledge and ask your Self or Spirit or your guides what you need to know about this. What do you need to see, hear, feel or remember? Then meditate or go to sleep and wait for the answers to come to you. Afterwards, write it all down. Again. Yes. Things occur to us when we’re writing things down that wouldn’t have otherwise. The physical act of writing allows our brains time to think as we work. And as I said before, if the way you express these things is through art, then create some. Just use your hands and your mind together and get whatever is inside, outside.

Keep peeling away at these layers and finding those puzzle pieces. Make it into a whodunnit mystery game if you want. One of these times, you’re going to peel away a layer and find THE puzzle piece you’ve been asking for. The one that says, “This is why.” You’ll have a memory, a realization, something will click and you’ll know. You’ll know where it all started and what caused that false belief or that wound.

So now what? What do I do with this new knowledge? Well? Start by crying it out, if you want. Feel all the feelings you never allowed yourself to feel about it in the first place. You’re not being too sensitive or childish and your feelings are valid. So go cry, scream into a pillow, acknowledge the rage and anger.

Then, go visit the version of your self that experienced the thing. Were you a little kid or was it your first relationship? Imagine you visiting that person and sit with them, hold them, comfort them. Tell them they’re not alone and that they matter. You’re here now and you’ve got this. They are safe now.

Face the people or things that hurt you. Not literally. You don’t need to confront your parents or your old boyfriend or that stranger from 30 years ago. Just like you visited that earlier version of yourself, visit the perpetrators. Do you feel sorry for them or do you want to rip their arm off and beat them with with it? Tell them. Whatever it is you need to get out, tell them. Get it alllll out! This is you reclaiming your power.

Call back your power that was taken and give back the energy they placed upon you. It’s not your job to carry their karma so give it back. What’s theirs is theirs and what’s yours is yours, once again.

Now, sit and process through all of this for a minute. Feel the peace, the release, the integration of Self that’s occurring. Forgive the thing and accept it as part of yourself.

Now drink some water, eat a piece of candy and go rest. Give yourself a couple of days to realign your energies. You’ve just leveled up. Congrats.