Shadow Work
As the evenings have drawn in, the darkness seems to have taken over the day, we spend more time indoors and because of Covid, away from our loved ones, we spend more time with our own thoughts. My musing for today then falls towards shadow work...some may think it is purely practicing dark and ominous arts, however it may not be what you think!
“The shadow is the “dark side” of our personality because it consists chiefly of primitive, negative human emotions and impulses like rage, envy, greed, selfishness, desire, and the striving for power.” Scott Jeffrey
In John O’Donohue’s “Anam Cara”, he highlights how our individuality is never simple nor one dimensional. We possess many aspects that make us who we are, with all these aspects there will be times when they contradict each other. If we only deal with our contradictions on the surface, it creates a cycle of inner feud. We need to accept our most complex selves to avoid turning our lives from a rich and varied life, to a singular monoscape of conformation - in essence denying ourselves and ceasing to be the vivid creatures we are. Hegel’s vision acknowledged contradictions as a force of growth and truth - the authenticity of self. We hold on to what makes us miserable, we rue upon things we can no longer change as it lays within the past. Rilke explained difficulty as the greatest friend of our soul, by avoiding the negative we only encourage it to recur.....the repeating pattern and cycles. Use the energy it provides to transfigured it into something beautiful and positive that contributes to who you are. O’Donohoe describes the humble tree; “Each tree grows in two directions at once, into the darkness and out into the light, with as many branches and roots, as it needs to embody its wild desires”.
“Five Benefits of Jungian Shadow Work: The shadow isn’t a popular topic. Who enjoys owning their flaws, weaknesses, selfishness, nastiness, hate, and so on?Focusing on our strengths is more enjoyable and life-affirming. Exploring our shadow side, however, gives us tremendous opportunities for growth and development. “ Scott Jeffrey.
Just as there is a day and night, happiness and sorrow, warm and cold, male and female, there too is a light side and dark side to ourselves. Without the duality of nature we would not be able to experience the world around us. The joy of seeing loved ones, the hugs we get and the sense of home and belonging. Then as much as we try, the dark days, thoughts and feelings do arise, this is life. Without it we would be merely robots roaming the earth, without empathy, without hope, without a soul. So we need to accept this of ourselves, the Magick of it is to try and see the light in the dark. We have crappy days when we don’t want to leave the house, when we want to scream, when we want to give up. This too is energy, focus on it and try to figure out a way to heal from it. Many have past traumas that affect their lives..I know..I have been there myself.
We need to try and decipher these thoughts and feelings, whether it be writing them in a journal and creating a backward path towards why, how, when, who made these changes to our energies or doing a tarot spread to figure out what went wrong. You may also want to call on a deity to help you figure out a way to overcome the issues. Now I don’t mean automatically hexing, cursing, poppet dolling or freezer spelling someone. I mean focus on what you can do to heal the shadow portion of yourself, the one you don’t let others see or the one you keep stifled. Many of us try to work in the light, stay in the light, but without the dark how do you know that the light even exists?
To deny ourselves a path to being whole, see us project onto others our own misgivings. Harmony is created by acknowledging we all have the “dark side” (ok a bit of a geek reference to Star Wars). We can grow by adjusting the way we view our flaws, offering healing within..it is perfectly natural to be irritable, p@&sed off, sad and angry when situations make us so. Accept the feeling and thoughts, change the pattern. Change the situation. Accept what you cannot change and change what you cannot accept.
Your magick reflects what is in your soul, the good and bad. It is nothing to fear, as fear itself pushes within your shadow and looks for a reason to escape, most often in negative ways. Cord cutting, binding spells, meditation and inner child working may help find a fix for your shadow and accept yourself as well as others.
My music list for shadow work: some powerful (and maybe a bit weird for some?!!!) music that gets me in the zone..I belt these out and sing along or just sit and meditate on the music!!
Ursine Vulpine: Wicked Game
Ursine Vulpine: I’m going to Drive Until It Burns My Bones
Ursine Vulpine: Without You
Awakening: Succession Studios
Move Forth: Succession Studios: Where Dreams Begin
The Untold: Darkness of Light: Succession Studios
Unbreakable: Succession Studios
I Giorni: Ludovico Einaudi