An Introduction to Shadow Work for Beginners

Understanding the Shadow Concept

 
Where did the Shadow concept originate? Carl Jung, the revolutionary psychologist, observed that people have a conscious and subconscious side. Consciousness has been referred to as light. To become aware of something, you have to see it, just like you might see something suddenly illuminated in light. We can't see anything that is unconscious; therefore, we aren't aware of it in the same way that we aren't aware of something in a dark room. So, Carl Jung started referring to the qualities of a person that they are unaware of or unconscious of as the Shadow.  
 

What Causes the Shadow to Appear?

 
We are born whole, but that wholeness is short-lived because we are relationally dependent. As children, being born relationally dependent into families that socialize us into a society that is not yet fully evolved causes us to learn that some aspects of ourselves are acceptable and others are not. What is acceptable and what is unacceptable is determined by the perspective of the family into which you are born. We dissociate from what we disapprove of, creating a split within a person that we call the conscious and the subconscious. Our initial act of self-rejection is the self-preservation impulse of splitting oneself into conscious and subconscious parts.  
 

Is the Shadow Always Negative?

 
Most of us ignore, suppress, and reject elements of ourselves that we perceive to be undesirable. The human shadow contains predominantly negative things; however, not all that is included in the shadow is negative. While we are more likely to repress envy than a specific talent, the human shadow frequently encompasses disowned or rejected qualities of a person that are actually beneficial. This is especially true for those who are ashamed of themselves or have low self-esteem.  
 

What Happens When We Suppress Parts of Ourselves?

When we ignore or deny something, it does not go away; it simply fades from our conscious awareness. This is the actual reason why we do so many things in life that we don't understand and keep slipping into the same patterns.  
 
 

Why Do People Resist Shadow Work?

 
To come face to face with the pain of having to fracture yourself and lose a piece of yourself for the sake of being loved, you must accept what you've suppressed into your subconscious mind. Every time you conduct shadow work, the original hurt of rejection will surface, bringing up the same emotion of rejection that we experienced the first time around. Self-rejection leads to self-hate, and the emptiness we experience is the residue of those aspects of ourselves that we have suppressed and rejected, disowned, and therefore lost. To become aware of those aspects, you must stop trying to escape the pain and emptiness within you where those missing parts should be. It's also the key to living a life that's both conscious and free.  
 

3 Jungian Psychology-Based Exercises for Working with Your Shadow

1. Notice Your Shadow: Train yourself to notice your shadow when you witness strong negative emotional responses to others.  
2. Engage in Inner Dialogue: Have an inner dialogue with your shadow side by dialoguing with it in your imagination or in a journal.  
3. List Positive Qualities: Make a list of all of your positive qualities and try to identify the opposite within yourself.  
    

The Importance of Shadow Work

 
The entire universe is on our side, trying to help us reclaim our humanity. Every process in the universe is geared toward growth and expansion, and the fragmented self aspires to become unified. We will be given every opportunity to confront our shadow selves, so no matter how well we believe we can hide, our shadow will continue to pursue us until we are willing to do the work that needs to be done with it. Ultimately, shadow work is the work of bringing attention and love to those aspects of yourself that have previously been rejected. Shadow work doesn’t come naturally to those who practice avoiding pain, but it is true self-awareness. The more aware you are of your shadow, the more embodied you are as a conscious being.  

Premium Shadow Work Services

 
I offer a Premium Service called Shadow Work Tarot Reading, where I guide you through a tarot spread about your current shadow, where it originated from, how it currently affects you and your life, how you can heal it, and how you can integrate and befriend it to empower yourself to transform into your highest version and attract better opportunities, people, and experiences in your life that reflect your integrated shadow.