What is the Shadow?
The Shadow is the collective term we use to describe the unconscious and often repressed parts of our personality that we may be unaware of or find it hard to acknowledge.
These aspects can include parts of us that we’re not proud of, or carry shame around, or perhaps judge as weak or unacceptable in some way. Even qualities we may view more positively, such as our natural exuberance or spontaneity, can end up in shadow.
The parts of ourselves that we put in shadow are often the ones that conflict with the self-image we’ve created in order to be accepted or fit in socially (e.g. wiith family, school, religion etc). These might be thoughts, feelings, or desires that don’t align with how we want to see ourselves or what our family, peers or the wider community expect from us.
Another way shadows can be formed are through traumatic life events. This includes any forms of abuse, abandonment or neglect. Especially in younger years, the pain or fear associated with these experiences can cause us to bury or disown certain emotions or ways of being. This is commonly a survival strategy which may have been necessary at the time to keep us physically or mentally intact, but which can hold us back from fully expressing ourselves in adult life.
There are many ways the shadow can show up, for example playing small, not having good boundaries, judging others for things we may dislike about ourselves, overreacting, critical self-talk, ‘numbing out’, impulsive, irrational or addictive behaviours, and many more.
If we don’t take time to understand and integrate our shadows then they can end up running the show from behind the scenes and significantly affect how we act and interact with others. Also, if we’re not aware of the dynamics at play, we can end up pushing aspects of ourselves further into shadow and actually make their influence stronger.
The good news is that learning to understand and integrate these parts of ourselves can lead to significant transformation and healing. It’s also a crucial step for anyone on a quest for more inner peace, self-acceptance, and wholeness.
What is Shadow Work?
Shadow Work has its roots in Jungian depth psychology and is sometimes described as Deep Process Psychotherapy. It involves shining a light on the hidden, unrecognised or suppressed parts of the Self and bringing them into conscious awareness.
It’s about understanding why these parts ended up in shadow in the first place and then taking steps to recognise and resolve the patterns and dynamics that have played out since.
A good word to describe the purpose of Shadow Work then would be ‘Integration’. Being both embodied and relational in nature, it can lead to profound shifts in our self-awareness and personal growth.
By getting to know the parts of us that live in shadow, we can better understand and appreciate who we are in our entirety. This naturally awakens a deeper, more authentic and balanced approach to life, as well as unlocking resources and capabilities we perhaps never knew we had or had previously only seen in other people.
The practice of Shadow Work also increases our emotional-energetic range, meaning that we can let more of us out and more of life in. A further benefit is that it enables us to reclaim energy that was previously used to suppress the hidden or unwelcomed parts of the self. This ‘freed up’ energy is then available to us for the things we wish to focus on in the present, helping us to move forward in life rather than remaining stuck in the past.
By doing our inner work in this way, we open the door to greater levels of self-acceptance, emotional resilience, empathy and creativity. I see these as the essential building blocks needed to thrive in the face of life’s challenges and to become a force for positive change in the unpredictable times we’re living in.
What to expect in a Shadow Work session?
During the session, you will be deeply listened to and heard, without being on the end of judgement, criticism or advice. Our starting point is the understanding that our personality and what we consider to be ‘all of us’ is actually made up of many different parts. You will be given the opportunity to explore both the internal and external parts that are relevant to the issues, challenges or blocks that feel most pressing for you at this time.
Often people have limited awareness of how their internal landscape shapes the reality they create around them. A key component of Shadow Work is therefore dedicated to this inner exploration and supporting you to map out and better understand your inner world and its workings. This aspect of a session is often revelatory for many people. Equally, stepping into, inhabiting and hearing back from any parts you feel drawn to understanding on a deeper level can lead to profound shifts in consciousness.
During our sessions, you will begin to understand the ways of thinking and behaving you’ve adopted, or perhaps wrestled with, from the perspective of the parts themselves. This can be invaluable in terms of joining the dots between significant events from your past and the way you show up in the world now.
If you wish to deepen the work further, you may choose to undertake some experiential and embodied process work. This is a powerful way of expanding your range and bringing resolution to areas you may have struggled with previously. For example, this could look like standing up for yourself, expressing anger, tending to grief or cultivating more acceptance or forgiveness. Although every session is unique, they are all underpinned by the philosophy that all healing has its time and all of you is welcome.