Boy, was I wrong. It has nothing to do with witchcraft and everything to do with self healing and personal growth. I recommend that you check out the video by Christina Lopes, DPT, MPH, a fantastic YouTuber who posts regularly on the aforementioned subject matter. Since watching that particular video, I have dug a little deeper and done quite a bit of soul searching. I thought I would share some cliff notes on the subject. I encourage you to check out the podcast airing Wednesday this week because we go into detail on the subject and how we apply shadow work in our own lives.
What is the Shadow or Shadow Self?
Phrase coined by Carl Jung, Psychologist
Represents the unconscious parts of our personalities
The ego does not acknowledge these character traits as part of itself
Specific happenings in ones life during their youth imprint on the personality
Characteristics that are deemed “bad” are rejected by the ego
These characteristics and beliefs form the shadow
Shadow form takes over when a person is triggered
Triggers can be other peoples actions as well as an experience.
Why should you care about your shadow?
You are having a hard time changing a behavior, breaking an old pattern
You are struggling to achieve a goal
You are feeling stuck in life
To improve your self worth
You have a bias toward other people, gender, races, religion etc.
You might not like how your shadow reacts to certain triggers
You see a shift in your mood and want to find out why
What is Shadow work:
Identifying what those triggers are
Acknowledging the deep rooted programing
Accepting the flaws and parts of you that are not “your best”
Working with your personality vs. against it
What is a Dark Night of the Soul?
From 16th Century Poem by Catholic, San Juan de la Cruz
Oftentimes triggered by a sudden life change
Opportunity for growth and change in your life
A chance to evaluate your values and perspective
A deep dive into your spiritual beliefs
Those going through this may be awakening to a new perspective on life
Not just one night, could take longer to pass through this phase
What is an Awakening?
Increased awareness of oneself and others
Becoming more aware of one's thoughts, feelings and actions
Greater compassion for others
Seeing connections in life that you were oblivious to before
Finding more purpose and meaning in one’s life
What are some things to do during these times of change and deep introspective thought?
Meditate
Spend time outside in nature
Journal
Read up on subject matters that relate to your awakening
Connect with others, seek counseling, therapy, or a trusted friend
Seek out spiritual guidance
Have you ever had a spiritual awakening? Have you ever practiced shadow work? I have been working on my own shadow work, and even more so since I read Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose. I have found it to be beneficial towards my personal development and also help me be a better leader, spouse, mother, daughter and friend. I am always looking forward to continuing my journey of growth and development. I hope that you can find this article useful in your own journey. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.