Shadow Work...The Gateway to Freedom?
"Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. He who looks outside, dreams; he who looks inside, awakens." - Carl Jung
The shadow is the unconscious part of ourselves that we fail to see or know. Contrary to popular belief, the shadow is both "bad" and "good". It consists of the hidden aspects of ourselves that the ego has rejected and exists in the unconscious mind.
Why is this important?
If we don't uncover and look at our shadow self, our lives can be directed by unconscious patterns. These behavioral patterns can, in some cases, be detrimental to ourselves and our relationships.
How can we uncover our shadow?
Carl Jung coined the term "shadow" and focused on uncovering the shadow through psychoanalysis.
Tarot and oracle readings are also a fantastic gateway. Cards - images, symbols - can provided windows into the inner self that can help us uncover our shadow and integrate it.
Understanding our reactions is a great starting point...
For example, if you have an argument with a friend or family member (let's say you lose your temper) this could be a "triggering event" and an example of projection (Jungian term): Reacting to a quality within someone else that reflects the unconscious parts of ourselves.
Our emotional reactions to people and situations can be a starting point for uncovering our shadow.
From there, we can begin to explore what we're not seeing.
Awareness is the first step.
Remember, not all aspects of our shadow are "bad" - they are only what we cannot see. What we cannot see can direct our behavior.
Uncovering our shadow can help us free ourselves from the unconscious patterns that direct our everyday life.
If you are curious to learn more about how can Tarot and Oracle readings can support this process, please get in touch to set up a 15 minute discovery call.
"I have to honour my shadow, for it is an integral part of me; but I don't have to push it onto someone else." - Robert. A Johnson, author Owning Your Own Shadow
