Most of us learn that certain parts of ourselves are more acceptable than others. Maybe anger got you into trouble. Perhaps sensitivity was something you learned to hide. Over time, those rejected parts become part of your shadow self. But hiding them does not make them disappear.
This hidden territory is what we call the shadow: the emotions, impulses, memories, beliefs, needs and qualities we have rejected, suppressed, cut off from and denied. The idea was introduced by psychologist Carl Jung, who saw the shadow as the unconscious part of the personality that the conscious self does not recognise in itself.
What the shadow means
Your shadow can include feelings or qualities you have pushed out of awareness because they did not feel safe or acceptable to express. Some are uncomfortable to face. Others may be strengths you never realised you had buried.
Shadow work is the process of bringing greater awareness, compassion and integration to these disowned aspects of ourselves. It asks us to look beneath our habitual reactions and explore what may be operating outside our conscious awareness.
Signs of your shadow self
The signs of your shadow self are not always obvious. You might have a surprisingly strong reaction to someone, or keep falling into the same pattern without understanding why.
Becoming curious about these reactions can help you see what might be happening underneath them. The shadow is not your enemy. It is often the part of you waiting to be understood.
Not all of the shadow is negative. We can also repress positive, life-giving qualities. Perhaps you learned that being confident was arrogant, that expressing anger was dangerous, that being sensitive was weak, that taking up space was selfish, or that wanting more for yourself was somehow wrong. Over time, these qualities can become disconnected from your conscious identity, even though they may hold enormous vitality, creativity, confidence, sexuality, assertiveness, playfulness, intuition and potential.
The shadow and projection
The shadow is often the most denied aspect of the psyche. We can go to great lengths to avoid confronting it within ourselves, and instead become highly skilled at projecting it onto others.
If someone's confidence irritates you, or another person's neediness makes you recoil, it can be worth asking what that reaction reveals about you. The qualities that trigger us most strongly in others are often the ones we have not yet accepted in ourselves.
When we have the courage to face the shadow and take responsibility for it within ourselves, profound healing and transformation can take place. The ego tends to keep us in separation through judgement and condemnation, while the shadow can become our way home.
The shadow is a mirror and a teacher. It shows us our triggers, patterns and wounds, and in doing so, it can become one of the most direct paths to working on ourselves and living as our authentic self.
A shamanic perspective
For Kristy, shadow work goes beyond simply identifying unwanted traits. It is a journey into the shadowy waters of your being, where hidden parts can be met with curiosity rather than pushed further away.
Shamanic imagery can help give shape to experiences that are difficult to put into words. Kristy helps you access these hidden parts of your inner world and enter into relationship with them.
Integration rather than perfection
When it comes to how to do shadow work, the aim is not to eliminate the parts of yourself you dislike. Integrating the shadow means recognising these parts and understanding what they have to show you.
If you are new to shadow work, start simply: notice your reactions without immediately judging them. The goal is psychic wholeness, not another mask. It asks you to become more honest about who you are.
If exploring your shadow brings up difficult memories or feelings, it can help to do this work with the support of a practitioner or therapist.
Next step
If you feel ready to explore a hidden or repeating part of your story, read about Shamanic Healing or book a session with Kristy.
