What is "Shadow Work"?

Shadow Work.

It seems to be all the buzz these days…but what exactly is it?

First coined by Carl Jung, Shadow Work is the process by which the feelings, judgments, and stories created by the unconscious mind are made conscious. When those disavowed aspects of our identity are brought to the surface, they can be alchemized for our highest evolution.

What does this process look like?

One of the most powerful ways of doing Shadow Work is by really looking at what triggers us. Arguments with family members can be powerful triggers, leaving us angry, afraid, or depressed. In Jungian psychology these painful emotions are our clearest guides. They are the signposts on the path to Integration (of Shadow and Ego). Often, the driving force behind these arguments are the root fears that have been with us our entire life, protecting our ego from unpleasant feelings such shame, abandonment, or embarrassment. The irony is that we end up experiencing these emotions anyway, simply by virtue of resisting them.

Therefore, awareness of root fears is the first step.

Once we have identified those root fears, we must allow them to be felt without judgment. Returning to past experiences and sitting with the feeling of the fear is the second step. In sessions with clients, I create a safe space for these emotions to be felt. If you are practicing at home, be sure to create a container for yourself that is free of interruptions, in which you are surrounded by things that help you to feel empowered. When I do this work I like to be seated in front of my altar where I have a lit candle, a selenite tower, and a peace lily.

See How to Make a Home Altar for tips on creating your own sacred space.

After you’ve established a continued practice of feeling those fears, you’ll want to reframe your limiting core beliefs. This is the third step, and where personal affirmations and visualizations can support your personal transformation. If you, for example, have a root fear of abandonment, you may also have the core belief: “I am not worthy of lasting love.” Consider a mantra that provides a counterpoint to this harmful belief. “I am perfect as I am” is one of my personal favorites. I love listening to Beautiful Chorus before bed, as a way of reprogramming the subconscious mind. I offer a number of empowerment visualizations to support clients with this aspect of the work.

At the core of Shadow Work we must establish a practice of self-love, compassionately holding space for all of our unheard, unseen feelings. It’s also important to realize that we are not “fixing” anything in this process. Those stories and self-limiting beliefs must not be judged harshly, as they were created by the wounded inner child and are self-protective by nature.

Remember, neither ego, nor shadow are “bad.” Everyone has a shadow, because everyone has an ego. Only through integration can we experience our most authentic self, the version of ourselves that is compassionate and fully embodied, unafraid of our own darkness.