What is the Shadow?
Hannah Green
HAPPY NEW MOON IN CANCER
This is a feeling moon. What feelings are flowing in the undercurrents of life? Where do those feelings point you? Tune in to those currents as you set sail on this new cycle.
LEARN MORE ABOUT EMBRACING THE SHADOW WORKSHOP FOR WOMEN
"One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious." Carl Jung
4 WEDNESDAYS IN SEPTEMBER @ 6pm
9/2, 9/9, 9/16, 9/23
This will be a small group to ensure that everyone has ample time for personal attention and group reflection. If you would like to participate please fill out this short application here as soon as possible to grab your spot.
Our last group will be 9/23 in honor of Mabon or the Autumn Equinox when light and dark, day and night are in perfect equilibrium. This time of pause and celebration marks the transition into longer nights and the earth's shadow time of Fall and Winter. If possible we will gather outside in nature for this last group. The group will be small enough to allow for social distancing.
WHAT IS THE SHADOW?
The Shadow is a place in us that holds the balance. It is the Yin to our Yang. It's a place where hidden strengths they waiting and a place where energy pools.
One of Jung's great contributions was to create a map of the psyche and this map is why I call the Shadow "a place." It exists in relation to other constellations in the map similar to the way the planets hold each other in orbit. Specifically, the Shadow polarizes with the Persona or what we commonly refer to as "ego." Strengths, liabilities and characteristics that don't serve the ego's goals of fitting in, getting ahead and pleasing others set up camp in the Shadow. It's a bit like the Burning Man of your psyche, where the wildness goes to play. These Shadow aspects of Self may threaten our fitting in with family or society now or when we were growing up. For a developing child fitting in feels like/ is life or death. Later in life we can risk integrating these parts of Self and it may even be necessary for our mental, emotional and spiritual health. Jung said the first half of life was about developing the ego and any risky material went back into the Shadow. He explained that if we embark on a journey of Self discovery the second part of life is all about excavating the Shadow and bringing these parts into the light.
This process of owning and exploring the Shadow can create balance, wholeness, sovereignty, awakening, better relationships and passionate living. It also helps us avert the dangers of not owning our Shadow namely - anxiety, resentment, feeling stifled, powerless and having troubled relationships. Shadow work helps us own our darkness. When darkness is conscious it nourishes and enlivens, when it is unconscious it can cause harm to Self or others.
Our creativity is the key to unlocking the Shadow. Creativity allows us to court the Unconscious which is where the Shadow resides. We don't go barging in to the unconscious demanding answers - we develop a practice of courting the Unconscious. Imagine arriving on the shores of ancient Avalon, you would be respectful, reverent and probably really excited. Shadow work is similar. Art, imagery, dreamwork, Tarot, Sandtray, metaphor, fairytale and poetry are how we court the Unconscious and are good at coaxing the Shadow into awareness.
