What is Shadow Work?....Exactly
What is Shadow Work? The shadow is the "dark side" of our personality. It is a direct reflection of our most hurtful wounds that make us believe we aren't good enough, we are crazy or insane, we aren't validated, we aren't capable of being loved and we are undeserving. It is allllllllll the stuck emotions that you experience on a daily basis but might not even fully understand why or you might not even be fully aware of. The purpose of shadow work is bringing light to allll the shadows you have on a subconscious level. Our shadow self consists mainly of primitive, negative emotions and impulses. We hide our shadow from ourselves and others by pushing them down into our unconsciousness during childhood and throughout our lives. Many negative issues that affect your life can result by keeping your shadow hidden. Shadow work is the process of exploring these hidden aspects. Also, side note - a lot of people reach out to me more around a Mercury Retrograde, I find that so interesting. During that time we are more apt to be in tune with ourselves and what may be lacking. Mercury Retrograde typically can stir up a lot of lost emotions. So I can understand why more people contact me during this time. Shadow work is about knowing there is something that needs to be purged and the tricky part, the kicker though is.... you have to be open and ready for that release.
Why should I? Shadow work allows you to heal past traumas and create a balanced life. It will help you feel whole, rather than fractured. Through shadow work, you can learn self acceptance and self love. You can learn to express those shadow characteristics in healthy ways, instead of suppressing them until they manifest in unhealthy, uncontrollable ways. Shadow work allows you to feel a greater sense of power and personal awareness. Although you can never get rid of your shadow self, you can heal it and integrate it into the light. And like I've said before its about releasing what no longer serves you. By doing shadow work you get to tap into who you really are at the core. That can be very scary because you can no longer hide from things, wounds, or yourself. You are driven to embrace it, consume it and just BE with IT. Whatever it is. Your shadow will let you know what things are lurking behind the veil, waiting to be brought to the surface. It's always smart to get someone like myself, any lightwork/healer or therapist to guide you along this journey. It can be painful, it will be triggering but working with the shadow within you allows you to bring up past emotions, traumas, situations, It allows you to feel and look at each one by one and process and heal them for good. It pushes you to honor yourself, to love yourself, to tell yourself you are ok, you are safe, you are loved, you are POWERFUL!!! Sounds like a great time, right? haha I'm not gonna lie to you, it's hard work but you will thank me for it. That I know. Keep reading for some methods I like to use.
Shadow Work Methods:
Trust the process - Follow your spirit guides, God, your gut, your angels, the Storm Troopers or Batman, let whatever your believe in, let THAT faith guide you. Be kind and patient with yourself. Have compassion for yourself and your experiences. Honor yourself fully.
Question EVERYTHING! - question your emotions, behaviors, and experiences from the past. I mean like really ask yourself those hard questions, that you may not want to recognize. Bring alllllllll that hot mess to the light! Bring it, unpack it, sit with it and OWN it!
Word vomit it all - Write everything down, write down your thoughts and feelings so you can make connections and find patterns. Until you can recognize your BS for what it is, you will not be able to break those cycles. I found writing out my ugly truths is painful but healing.
Meditate - I know I sound like a broken record on this but Y'all need to seriously trust me on this. Meditation is a game changer!! Meditation can bring self awareness and allows you to become in tune with yourself. I am a FIRM believer of daily meditations and practice it myself. (Ask my husband - he knows, when my ear pods go in let me be and let me do my thing lol)
Talk to someone: There is never any shame in talking to someone. Opening up to someone is a beautiful thing, as long as it is in a healthy, nurturing and empowering atmosphere. Process your feelings and experiences by talking to a friend, family member, therapist or healer.
Break down limiting beliefs: take a deep look at your limiting beliefs to find out where they come from. Why you perceive things a certain way, why things trigger you, why you continue unhealthy patterns, why you view yourself a certain way, etc. Dive deep to figure out why you are the person you are and how you can then shift into the new version of you. How you can tap into your true self, finally.
Do what works for you: Use your own method to get in touch with yourself and your experiences. You have to feel safe and secure in order to go on this journey. Go at your pace and on your comfort level. You must be willing and open for this process.
Shadow work is.....A lot. I know BUT I think it is something that is imperative for jumpstarting any spiritual journey. There are so many resources out there for a shadow work journey. I offer sessions, other reiki masters or healers offer assistance, therapist, online classes or downloads. But the truth of the matter is, you can embark on this path alone, just know you don't have to. I know a lot of times we want to hide our dark side from others, even the ones that can help us, just know you can help yourself too, sometimes you can help yourself even more so by asking for the help of a professional. Never be fearful or shameful, we are trained to suspend judgement so that we can truly heal everyone. The universe is so abundant, utilize it to tap into your power. I am always here to offer support to any and everyone. I hope this helps and resonated with someone. As always, sending lots of Spanish Moon Love and Light to all!!
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