Shadow work is a personal and introspective practice that delves into the hidden aspects of our psyche, or “shadows”, that we often keep tucked away. It is about forging a connection with the less-explored parts of ourselves and weaving their wisdom into our witchcraft journey. Shadow work can lead us through a “Dark Night of the Soul”, an intense period of personal transformation characterized by deep introspection and emotional exploration.
In witchcraft, shadow work is important because it helps align with our true self and personal code of ethics. By productively working with the shadow self, a witch can gain wholeness and full awareness of their magic. Common shadow practices include ritual journaling, which is a process of self-discovery that involves exploring our shadow selves, which are the part of our psyche that we have repressed, denied, or rejected.
The Shadow Self is all of the repressed behaviors and thoughts of our identity, usually coming from trauma, guilt, and a need to protect. The term “Shadow Work” refers to an introspective process that can help you discover your Shadow. Exploring the hidden aspects of your personality can lead to a personal awakening and personal growth.
Doing shadow work is an essential part of being a witch and toolbox because it helps us center ourselves and avoid acting from an ego-centric perspective. Mindlessly walking into shadow work is as precarious as stumbling barefoot through a dark forest. Incorporating shadow work into your magical routine can help you discover the hidden aspects of yourself, unlock your potential, and heal from past traumas.
📹 Intro to Shadow Work
This is a talking head video, so feel free to play as audio only! This is my personal way of basic shadow work, of course there is so …
What is the meaning of shadow of self?
A shadow is defined as a person, group, or entity that has diminished in physical or mental capacity, authority, or power. For example, following an illness, an individual may experience a decline in their physical and mental capabilities, authority, or influence. Similarly, a new administration or revised constitution may also undergo a transformation, becoming a shadow of its former self.
Is the shadow self evil?
The shadow is a part of the self that we fear and don’t want others to see. This shadow self is often hated and projected elsewhere, as we tend to hate our own faults in others. Jesus criticizes hypocrisy more than anything else, as he does not hate sinners but only those who pretend they are not. Jesus’ phrase for the denied shadow is “the plank in your own eye”, which is often seen as the “splinter in your brother’s eye”. Jesus’ advice is to take the plank out of one’s own eye, and then see clearly enough to take the splinter out of one’s brother’s eye.
What does it mean to have a shadow self?
Our shadow self is a part of ourselves that we deem unacceptable, including our feelings, power, independence, and emotional sensitivity. Some people may not realize their shadow side due to feelings of shame and lack of self-awareness, but they may project their shadow onto others, believing they are responsible for the problem. Psychological projection is when we attribute unconscious thoughts, feelings, or talents onto another person, causing them to believe they are the problem rather than us.
How to identify your shadow self?
It is beneficial to envisage oneself in the presence of individuals who may be perceived as overly critical, even if only one such individual is present. Such individuals have the potential to instill feelings of insecurity and self-consciousness. It is recommended that you view yourself from the perspective of the aforementioned individuals, taking on their viewpoint and considering your shadow as a reflection of yourself.
What is my shadow self archetype?
The Shadow is a component of the unconscious mind that embodies characteristics that are perceived as negative but are also observed in others and secretly desired. The encouragement of the shadow necessitates communication with this aspect of the unconscious mind.
How to unlock your shadow self?
Shadow work is a process that involves identifying and integrating unconscious aspects of oneself, such as repressed emotions, fears, and desires, to achieve personal growth and wholeness. It involves identifying and addressing traits that may trigger or embarrass us, and focusing on identifying and addressing these parts. To start shadow work, decide whether to seek therapy or do it on your own. Practice spotting your inner shadow, reflect on your childhood, avoid shame, meditate, keep a shadow journal, express your inner shadow artistically, and initiate an inner dialogue.
What is your shadow self spiritual?
The inner shadow is a part of the individual’s subconscious that they subconsciously reject. Carl Jung popularized the concept of the shadow self, which he defined as the collective unconscious with eight archetypes: Self, Shadow, Anima, Animus, Persona, Hero, Wise Old Man, and Trickster. The shadow archetype is the dark and emotional aspect of the psyche, often considered inferior or immoral. However, this is not always the case. For example, a child may be teased for being talkative, leading them to retreat within and weigh every conversation to see if they “did it again”.
This can lead to feelings of anger or frustration when someone makes a comment about being careful not to put too much words on a slide. In essence, the inner shadow is a complex and often subconscious aspect of an individual’s personality.
What happens when you ignore your shadow self?
Neglecting your shadow self can significantly affect your mental health, leading to issues like low self-esteem, emotional turmoil, and strained relationships. Understanding this psychological impact is crucial for personal growth. Shadow work involves recognizing and integrating repressed emotions and traits to foster greater self-awareness, self-acceptance, and emotional equilibrium. This ultimately leads to personal growth and holistic well-being. Understanding and addressing the risks of ignoring your shadow self is essential for personal growth and healing.
What triggers your shadow self?
Shadow work is a technique that involves recognizing and integrating aspects of oneself that were once rejected or disapproved of. This process can occur when a person experiences negative emotions or situations like anxiety or depression. The shadow is a part of the personality that was once suppressed due to fear of judgment and disapproval. The goal of shadow work is to integrate these subdued aspects into the true self, allowing the individual to become the most genuine version of themselves.
This process involves bringing the unconscious mind back into the light, making it conscious, and fostering complete awareness of oneself, others, and the environment. The process may involve experiencing the same emotions as when these aspects of the personality were condemned, but the ultimate goal is to become the most genuine version of oneself.
How to accept your shadow self?
To accept your shadow self, create a list of five positive qualities you see yourself possessing, such as compassion, generosity, and witty. Write down each positive quality and describe its opposite, such as unfeeling, stingy, or dull. We all carry an image of ourselves, which we form through repeated experiences with others and self-reflection. We are interconnected to the world and receive information about ourselves from others. We internalize these reflections and choose what aligns with our desired self-image, rejecting what doesn’t.
This process helps us form a coherent sense of identity in the world. Friedrich Nietzsche’s quote “One must have chaos in oneself in order to give birth to a dancing star” emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and self-awareness.
How do I heal my shadow self?
Shadow work is a process that involves identifying and integrating unconscious aspects of oneself, such as repressed emotions, fears, and desires, to achieve personal growth and wholeness. It involves identifying and addressing traits that may trigger or embarrass us, and focusing on identifying and addressing these parts. To start shadow work, decide whether to seek therapy or do it on your own. Practice spotting your inner shadow, reflect on your childhood, avoid shame, meditate, keep a shadow journal, express your inner shadow artistically, and initiate an inner dialogue.
📹 Is Shadow Work a Witchcraft Thing
Is Shadow Work a Witchcraft Thing? – While Shadow Work is talked about in occult circles but it’s not necessary to be a witch.
Ive been doing Shadow Work since I was 16 (15yrs… jeez I feel old 😂) and Shadow Work helped me with my PTSD years ago. I no longer have PTSD, depression or anxiety (or any of the symptoms that go along with these illnesses) because of it, and I still do it just so I can keep on top of my own mind, keep in touch with my self. Method: back then I would vent my emotions into a journal til the emotion was all out, then come back when Ive calmed down and write out my objective observations on what caused the emotion and how it came about and where it started in my life. Now its a LOT less emotionally charged, but I still find writing from that emotional stand point, and then moving on to objectively picking apart the root of the issue in the one sitting is possible… but tbh I think thats only because of years of practice. Meditation is great, perhaps after the emotional vent, because IMHO its important to honour the feelings you have because no matter how bad they feel or if you’re ashamed of them, they are valid and its healthier to express the emotion than to repress – and what healthier way to express emotions you might be embarrassed or ashamed of than quietly into your book where you can eventually come back to years from now and see how far you’ve come. Some things I found to be important observations while doing Shadow Work over the years that Id like to impart is: (as above) your emotions are valid, dont repress them, honour them. They may have come about from faulty mental programming, but they are yours and are just as important as your happinesses and joys.
“Shadow aspects are the Egos unwanted children” —Kelly-Ann Maddox She’s a great person to watch in regards to shadow work. Thank you for your article Olivia! I’ve recently started my shadow work journey and it’s been very interesting. I started because it was suggested from a different YouTuber upon starting a witchy journey to go thru shadow work in order to clear the mind and let go of the baggage that can weight you down and affect spells and manifestations. Not sure I explained that well lol but you get the point! ☺️ Blessed Be, love. 🖤
When I was younger and in therapy one of the things I learned was to write letters to people when I was angry or sad or discontent or whatever and then burn them, as I’ve gotten older I still use this trick but I re-read my letters and try to evaluate why I needed to write it in the first place before burning and sending it all away, it has helped tremendously with my shadow work to see the things that trigger you in anger and understand the reasoning behind it. I write the letter and stash it in my desk and come back to it in a day or two when I’ve calmed down and when I read it again I’m often embarrassed with how I reacted but it puts things in perspective and helps me to let go of that feeling. I hope maybe that will help somebody out there trying to face themselves. Thank you again for the article Olivia, you are great! Keep giving us all your insight, you are an excellent teacher and talker! I know you will help many people coming to terms with themselves and finding themselves through this outlet. 🖤
I recently discovered one of my root shadows, I guess. I got upset because of some stereotype that was associated with my zodiac sign (virgo). I started out ranting about it, and it slowly transitioned into my personal insecurity and not knowing who I am. It then turned into me talking about feeling like I could never satisfy anyone due to bullying I got and feeling like I was never enough. It then turned into abandonment issues started by my biological mom threatening to leave me and never being there for me as a child. That’s what caused me to try and please everyone around me, so they wouldn’t leave. Now, I’m trying to make myself happy, and realise that I dont need others to have self worth. Shadow work is very helpful.
I”m taking both a psychology of good and evil and personality theory. I talked about Jung for my class presentation. He’s so awesome and he gets so much criticism for combining psychology and mysticism, but I think it’s beautiful and fascinating. I recently had to write a paper about my shadow self, and It was a really hard paper to write.
Just wanted to put this out there: I had alexithymia (inner blindness) and so even the first step of seeing we have a reaction to something can, for some people, be nearly impossible if you don’t know what you’re feeling or thinking. Then, my next hurdle was dealing with the really strong traumatic feelings that would come up if I so much looked at my feelings or behaviour, and understanding those feelings weren’t here right now, they were memories. Another important part is learning to see that thoughts and feelings aren’t necessarily literal. To me, anything I thought or felt seemed like fact, like how reality was, rather than happening as a consequence to lifestyle factors (not sleeping well, drinking too much coffee, etc.), from having a narrow window of tolerance (being more easily stressed than others and taking longer to calm down), from my expectations or beliefs, or from straight-up re-experiencing. I thought I would bring this up because some people have work to do before they can even begin the shadow work process. And that’s okay. Everyone is different cognitively but you CAN get better. I had no hope of ever being a normal person after my prolonged trauma and I was treated as such by professionals. I’m happy to say I’ve made a miraculous recovery, but it came from focussing elsewhere first–on the basics I never learned in my childhood.
This reminds me of cognitive behavioural therapy which I’ve been doing for years. Pausing, identifying trigger, identifying belief (why it triggered you), reasons for and against the belief, and then disputing the belief. I guess the difference is that you don’t try to accept the belief or the behaviour, you try to change to it. Well, you need to recognise and accept that you are a certain way (in my case a catastrophic thinker), and once you’ve accepted that that’s how your brain functions, then you can begin changing the patterns. It’s something I practice everyday and it has helped me become a better and more stable person, but it’s something that’s always there and I need to constantly be aware of it so that I don’t fall back into past patterns. Anywho, I really enjoyed this article and your explanation of everything.⭐️
I just started doing shadow work and let me tell anyone else wanting to start It’s not easy,It’s exhausting,Frustrating And sometimes saddening But each step you take in it is worth all the hardship to better understand and yourself . you become more of a whole concious person which is so fufilling. A huge part of my recent shadow work is rebuilding my beleif system and releasing myself from subscribing to others perspectives out of guilt and omg how many emotional barriers I broke down but how good it felt ♥️
I think I’ve been doing shadow work for 20 years without realizing it. I was just questioning myself on why it’s taken me so long to finally do more than just research my practice. Then I answered my own question immediately – younger me wasn’t ready or willing to do the practice I’ve always wanted and my subconscious was like, “hell no get that immature, emotionally uncontrolled child away”. Turns out 34 is the age that I can finally be an intuitive green witch that wants to give, not take, and doesn’t want to universe to fight her battles for her. Being here now, I see exactly why younger me couldn’t do that.
As soon as I heard you start talking about Carl Jung’s shadow theory and everything about shadow work, I came to a realization. I went to rehab back in may and have been there until november 7th. There we did things called “unburdenings”, which are things and behaviours we want to change that are not the best. Examples included are: judging someone, arguing, negative self talk, and little things like not getting out of bed on time, taking too much food, hoarding food, being “loose” (immature). To work through this we did things called “resolutions” where we find things in our past that may have been the catalyst for this behaviour, and it always stems from a fear. every. single. time. it was a fear. Where did that fear come from? something that happened in our past. we were forced to work through our traumas and seeing this article, I came to the realization that I have essentially been doing shadow work nearly every day for 6 months. I never thought i could connect my rehabilitation program to my spiritual journey, but looking back it makes SO MUCH SENSE! i could go on forever. whoever took the time to read this, thank you. I really needed to get that out.
So glad to have found some one who’s also doing Shadow Work. It is one of the first practices I did when I started out on this journey in 2016. Not the most fun thing in the world, but it really helps me understand not only me but also people around me as well. Shadow work is like a door to some unknown world about yourself, and it can be scary. You can check out Teal Swan article. She explains really well about the definition and the process for anyone who wants to learn more.
You are very wise. I loved this explanation & description of shadow work. I’ve been doing it for years. I’ve been to therapy to get me through the first part of dealing with trauma. It saved my sanity & moved me through more quickly than I could have myself. You must be a wise old soul to be exploring your own shadow & to be able to share it with others. Blessings 🙏💖
I’ve seen many other articles and researched Shadow work on my own many times to get a better understanding of it. And this is by far the BEST most to the point and easy to understand article on the subject that I’ve seen. Thank you so much Olivia! 🔮🖤🤍💜 You are a light in the darkness. 🕯 Your articles have helped me immensely. Love your transparency. 🔮🙏
I have been doing this for myself and for others for almost a decade now. its something that has just come natural to me. putting up the mirror to people, as i say it, and helping them accept the imperfect parts of themselves, and helping them heal from it. its been a passion of mine since before I can remember. its crazy to realize that i have been practicing an intuitive craft long before i even knew it was one.
I have to say that I’m constantly trying to evolve and reflect. As an empath I often see things as a third person. I try to be as compassionate and reflective as possible. However, I have made peace with my dark side and at times of need I am not afraid to unleash it. Shadow work is important and you are so young to realize this. Blessed be to your future endeavors with that third step.
Thank you for this article! A lot of resources I use don’t talk about what shadow work actually is and just brush over it as a term. At this point, I have found enough out to form a definition, but your article was a very concise source for what took me a long time to put together and figure out. Over time I realized I had been doing shadow work through my therapy and journaling without having put that name to it.
for me, it’s the term “witch”. I want so badly to be able to call myself a witch, Its such an empowering word and when I see other people call themselves a witch I’m really like, wow, that person is so powerful and strong and I love that, but when I call myself a witch I feel weird about it. it might be because I grew up thinking witches were just fantasy, but I cant think of any other reason. I wish I could call myself a witch and feel powerful and confident with that title, but I dont know how to feel comfortable with it. can anyone help me, or can anyone relate?
I’m just starting my journey with witchcraft, but have been doing shadow work for YEARS now unknowingly, and ultimately it’s what lead me to this path. I love your articles and they’re so helpful and easy to relate to, especially this one. 18 year old me would be so disappointed in me now, but my life is so much more fulfilling since I’ve been on this journey and young me was wrong about just about everything. Thank you for all your articles!! ❤️
watching the article it’s kinda funny that the first time I remember starting shadow work was at my 12 yo with my best friend (best friend still ❤️) because we used to be so proud and full of ourselves that, when we fought, we used to be very angry to each other, until one of us give up and apologize. So we made this deal that every time we fight we would sit and say “well, you made this thing that makes me angry” and then we would work together to change stuff that would make us unhappy with each other and grow together as humans. I’m very grateful that I have had this opportunity to learn how to grow in such a early age ❤️ And today we still working together, even though we live far, we’re always helping each other how to figure things out and I’m so grateful for her 😭 ahahaha Anyways, thank you for this article! It’s really important to remember to pause and think before we rush into things ❤️ I love you and your content!
I have been doing my own shadow work over the past 1.5 years and it is amazing how freeing it is. I feel like on some topics, I have come a long way. On other triggers, I still have a very long way to go. In many ways, it has helped my confidence with who I am (my authentic self) and being willing to share who I am.
I agree with what you’re saying about reacting to people, situations, things that are said . My bad reactions come from past events I’ve replayed them so many times it effects my mood just thinking about them sometimes. My major issue seems to be keeping those memories at bay if they’re not coming back I don’t have the same reaction. Thank you so much for this article. It is very insightful and helpful, keep up the good work !
I’ve done shadow work for decades. You can easily lose yourself in it. Remember to grow the good qualities of yourself and not just focus on what needs fixed in you because that’s a never ending process if you’re honest with yourself, and you’ll only see what’s wrong when there’s always the other side of the yin yang and there’s so much of you that’s right and kind
There’s a really great image that kind of encapsulates this whole process. Alan Moore’s “Promethea” graphic novel literally shows that the only way to really overcome the demons you battle is to eat them. To consume them and recognize they are a part of you and always will be. And by doing that, at least in a metaphoric sense, they can no longer control you.
love your articles so much! i used to hate myself for everything that i felt, i couldn’t believe the person i’d become whenever something that disgusted me happened, i was too blind to realize that choices made in anger can’t be undone, so i lost almost everything. now i pay attention, even to details; those intrusive thoughts that scream at me to be exteriorize, i just sit and question why. it’s a long way but it’s worth it, you will stop hurting yourself and others. have a great day💗🌟🌙
Watched a few of ypur vids, but this one got to me on a very personal level. So I subscribed. Thank you so much for this. Been struggling with my dark side or as I call it the beast within that I tried caging a long time ago and over the years has seriously backfired on me. Thanks to you I think I can confront it and finally not feel trapped by it anymore. Again I thank you.
Every step, in any direction, from any angle, at any time, is forward. The shadows hold a powerful truth, a universal truth even. Once you delve the deepest depths, it will reveal itself to you. Once you reach that epiphany you will not understand things as you did before. Just the same as an adult human doesn’t think of a meal, the same as they did the moment they were born. Instinct will be replaced by the knowledge you indulge in. This is an indication of your growth. Cheers ❤
my journal is online. I write almost on the daily bases and write down my dreams, wrong happenings..life experiences..love..life in general. I feel like if I put it out there in the universe..someone might be able to relate to me. Almost like how you are doing in article. But, I do it in my words online.
Thank you for doing this article! I have watched so many articles on “intros to shadow work” or “getting started with shadow work” and they have all been so obtuse and incomprehensible; you break down shadow work in a clear way that is easy to understand for those not “in the know” and hence not understanding the inside jargon and concepts, making it feel a lot less daunting
Thank you SO much for being one who posts about shadow work l find it extremely healthy and the best healing is done facing and working with your shadow self. The negative stigma it gets is so wrong and as a Jung fan l certainly believe he did not mean it to be negative as he practiced mysticism. As a grey practitioner l find it a extremely freeing practice and you face many things not only about yourself but being able to really let out pain. Enlightenment is not the perfect rainbows and butterfly image that comes to mind it is beautiful yes, but first it is messy, painful, and you face many truths before you reach that rainbow. Again thank you!
I enjoyed this concept behind this article very much, thanks for sharing. I was researching Mirror Books, and got in a wee rabbit hole re: Shadow Work. By reading my historical journal entries I had a revelation recently, whereby I appease other people’s explosive anger, by being jocular or clownish and light-hearted. Not only does that potentially irritate people by coming across as dismissive, but also doesn’t point North in my own Moral Compass, because I’m not owning my OWN anger in response to being treated in a certain way. Much to work on, in the future 🔮.
I was just thinking “I need to do some shadow work” then–this article. Perfect! Being raise in a religious background, there were A LOT of things that were taught I don’t now believe. When I was young I didn’t think what was taught sounded right, but as I got older the fear of “doing wrong” ironically made me go against my conscious. I now have gone back to my natural conscious thinking, but I want to do shadow work to see why that fear made me think something was right when I knew it was wrong.
I tried shadow work a few years ago and tried too hard to pull everything out at once. Everyday I found new bad sides of me and it really shocked me. It really fucked me up, and I got anxious and depressed and all that shit. This isn’t the whole reason for my anxiety and depression, don’t worry, I had other hard shit going on at the same time and it all was just too much. It took two years to climb up from that hole, but now I’ve really gotten better. I know the scard never go away, but I’m better now. My point was, don’t try to go too fast with shadow work, and have a good mindset and love yourself before you start. Be forgiving towards yourself and take it slow. Good luck, I love you <3
I practiced meditation for 2 years now, not in a spiritual way, but only to gain awareness. Shadow work is litterally a part of what I did : Just pause, breathing and noting the emotions and thoughts that came in my mind when I was anxious (I have anxiety problems) or when I wasn’t, that is very pleasant and calming.
My name is Minerva, and I am fascinated by the work that you do. I have reposted this article on my facebook group, Silver Moon Reflections, which is a Pagan based self improvement curriculum that I wrote. Your honesty and candid articles are refreshing, and I would love to have a conversation sometime about what you do and how you do it. Thank you for sharing your inspiring journey through the world of witching, and thank you for this article.
So…this is therapy. Lots of cbt elements, automatic thoughts, intermediate and core beliefs. Interpersonal therapy as well, patterns and templates. Psychoanalysis of the unconscious. Radical acceptance. Journaling, mindfulness. Yeah this is therapy…thank you for acknowledging the positive impact of therapy for you. We really do just want to help.
Another resource or path of thinking down this line is called “shark music” – stuff that makes you very angry or scared, that is linked to your emotional development as a child. I don’t remember a lot of when I was young (normal thing btw) but I’m in therapy for depression and anxiety and I definitely have…something, something is there. The great news is you don’t need to know why, so much as to learn how to process those emotions properly (which you, like me, couldn’t do as a child for whatever reason) by sitting with the emotion, feeling it fully, and loving yourself for having that emotion (a rough thing for those of us steeped in self loathing). Olivia is right, it sucks, it’s not fun, but it’s better than living under a cloud of uncontrolled emotional reactions.
I legit have had that shadow present to me since I was super young, when my depression and anxiety was at my worst. When working with my school counselor I described an inner voice that I ended up drawing, (he was a shadowy creature) and I locked him away in a cage. Then last year my spiritual awakening occurred that spurred me to see flashes of a creature in chains in a dark space. That inner voice returned and when talking to Aphrodite about it, she said it was an inner demon. After perusal this article, I understand a lot more.
I’ve watched this article, so so many times. Just because out of so many. You made it so relatable. Everyone explains it so different and complicated. I haven’t been able to start my shadow journey. I’m obviously organizational and can’t pick one part to start with. This is bad as my shadows keep creeping out more often. 😔😔 and my daughter is pointing this out..😭😭
I’ve been doing shadow work since I was 17. Now, I disagree with the article, I do find it super fun. It will make you cringe and feel bad, but after you acknowledge your shadow and accept it as being a part of you, my God, its empowering. It will hurt. But the rewards are vast. The shackles of society have no hold. If you did wrong, apologies are genuine. Taking responsibility for your actions make you feel stronger. The more you understand what your shadow is the better you are at controlling it and putting it in its place. And it radiates to others around you. As time goes back you soon move to other people not in a judging way but in a fun journey as to other react and behave. It’s amazing. It takes years. I started when I was 17, now I am 31. It’s fun, its cringy, its upsetting, it’s amazing. You feel yourself mature and the feeling of not just being humble but also being easy going as you live. Dont take yourself seriously, life is just too short to be put on a pillar. And I love it. Granted, for some it will hurt more than others. So do realize it’s going to be ugly. Rewards after and during are ohh so sweet.
Excellent! I liked very much your exposition about Shadow Work. I am a Psychiatrist and Student about Analiticd Psychology of Jung. I ‘m glad that more and more young people are interested about it. It is great because that kind of things has to be known. Forgive me If my English is not well, it is not my primary language. Congrats for your website.
This is amazing for you to start shadow work so early. I wish I did! I don’t think I started exploring my shadows until I was in my 30s. And I’ve met many people who didn’t start till much older than me! I find it easiest to explore my shadows when I’m on my period. For me the archetype of kali is always there. I can use it to snap at others. Or I can use it to ” eat my demons”. The more I do, the more emotionally balanced I am at this time. Once I’m in menopause I guess I will have to do it with the new moon. This past month I have been triggered. A very big trigger. Still processing it. Sometimes I need help then I go to people I call my energetic therapist. Tried many different types, bit this time I’m going to go with akashic records. I’ve also done self questing and journeys of wisdom. To help unpack the big stuff
Thank you for posting this article, shadow work and my shadow self have been popping up a lot lately and I’ve been trying to work on it as I’m big on my dream work and that’s when it comes out to play basically, this article really helped. If you could do any others in the future that would be a great help, thank you.
my whole spiritual and magical path have been shadow work. Today im an enneagram practitioner and a neurolinguistic programing master practitioner and those are my favorite “””tools””” to explore my ego, learn compassion and forgiveness, embrace my pain, heal and rescue my inner hurt child. Specially the enneagram, to understand my motivations, my patterns, my vitues and my vices, and the NLP to revisit my past traumas and ressignify them. The path is not easy, its painful, its scary, but its absolutelly wonderful, its makes you face yourself and grow so much.
ive always been baffled about how shadow work applies to intrusive thoughts and ocd (pure-o type) but recently i heard someone phrase it that it’s not that you’re accepting the things within the intrusive thoughts as part of who you are, but that you’re accepting the idea of having the intrusive thoughts themselves. so, say, if you have a thought about kicking a kitten, you don’t try to accept that you actually want to kick that kitten, you simply accept that this is a thought that your brain has produced and that it’s ok. hopefully this is useful to any other ocd folk!
Excellent article Olivia, you have some very interesting topics, I give you a lot of credit & respect for even having the courage to make a article. Your very well versed in subjects concerning the Occult, Magic, and Witchcraft. Yet humble enough to suggest you don’t know everything, (none of us do) and for people to do their own research. Thank You for the education. And you are definitely part of my Book of Shadows. Rusty Brooke. ALSO: I stumbled on to shadow work while working out in the gym. I began applying my physical work out in other parts of my life, Body, Mind, Soul, Emotion, Social, Financial, Diet, Entertainment, Humility, Politeness, Morals, the Golden Rule. I began applying a work out to different areas of my life. Trying to have a positive attitude in all aspects of life. I would & still do use the Vitruvian Man Leonardo Da Vinci drawing and label different areas I would work on in life. Years later I found out this is Shadow Work. Olivia, again, Thank You for the education.
alrighty lol that was fun to watch and felt familiar. I never knew there was an actual name for that. I’ve just been calling these evaluations, as “self reflections”. my therapists didn’t rlly help, cuz at the time, I didn’t understand my emotions, let alone other people’s. I was an isolated geek and an asocial, till I came across a class at my high school that taught special ed teens about situations in which emotions were recognized, why and how, and it took a few years but it made me reflect and look back and reevaluate my past behaviors. I’m still learning bout body language and I’ve recently learned that it’s perfectly okay to be myself. I honestly been told over and over to change myself cuz they thought that my hobbies and interests were what’s wrong with me, to which these days, it was my lack of understanding why humans reacted the way they do and the realization that my sense of humor is subtle and mysterious and not to be lurking in areas, I haven’t fully researched.
I have anger issues and yesterday i was forced to sit down and ride out the emotion on my own with self help articles. When i saw the person i said what i said and but i realized i reacted less. I was still vocal which is something i need to work on.. Regardless, i need to do more shadow work and im happy i found this
Random thought that just popped into my head regarding posting private article diaries: I flashed back to “Good Luck Charlie” where we as the audience would learn as Teddy did when she filmed her article diaries to guide baby sister Charlie through life as a teenage girl, but in the end, of course, Teddy learned that she also learned and grew while making these article diaries over the years. Didn’t mean the run-on sentence there, but it reminded me of the entire premise of “Good Luck Charlie”, so I thought that was neat.
This is really informative and interesting. But I can also see that you are a different you in this article, you are so brave for doing this. You had to open up to some degree to give context for the information you gave and I think all your followers appreciate this. What a powerful thing to do. Thank you.
Great Shadow Work article and believe me I’ve watched a lot of articles on the subject . You’ve made it pretty simple . Most articles I’ve watched have made it seem more complicated then it is . I’ve been doing Shodow Work off and on for the past 3 years . It’s dark work but really worth it . I suppose I will probably be working on it the rest of my life, but it’s worth it 💜
So I’ve watched this article a couple months ago, hopefully this comment helps someone when I watched it I didn’t gasp the concept of how deep,internal and very emotional shadow work can be depending on the person.ive recently had an experience where my shadow self was made very clear on what I was working on I cried for about 20 min non stop I couldn’t control it . sooooooo many deep emotions came up because of that one experience, that happened I was lucky prepared for because I knew it was my shadow side but even knowing it,I couldn’t run away from the pain that kept coming up while I was crying . It hurts sooo bad,but my higher self stepped in and literally guided me through the process. And I will forever be grateful because now I seen how important each side really is I internalize aLotttt of stuff so it felt like I was purging a little bit ❤️I’m actually typing this while crying it’s a crazy feeling but I was advised to share my experience.whoever reads this fully and it resonates let me know ❤️ we are in this together,it’s a solo journey but anything helps..
i think i’ve been doing this for years without actually knowing what i’m doing. i realised a long time ago, there was something about me that i hated and i justified it by saying that way of thinking was how i was brought up (which i was, but i know now that it wasn’t an excuse – despite me being like 11). one day, out of no where, i heard my dad say something which i (back then) might have said too, but for some reason i felt disgusted by what he said and how he said it. since that day, i tried to become a better person (in that area anyway) and it worked. years later, i think the complete opposite to what my dad (still does) think. thank you for this article
It’s important to remember that shadow work isn’t meant to be a source of self loathing. It should be the only opportunity you actually have to change that aspect of yourself that you know shouldn’t be there in the first place. Acceptance is difficult, when we have lived a life of lies or deception, especially self deception. We want to reject the work, but can’t reject ourselves. We have to look at ourselves as someone capable of the opposite of that shadow, and not just be consumed by the realities of its existence within us. That always feels better when I’m in the midst of my shadow, than looking at it like: if I don’t do this, I’ll never be a person I can respect/love/etc…I can see myself, instead, as someone willing and capable of transformation. Idk. I think that makes such a big difference. It separates you from the identity attachment that we have towards it (and in general, this huge attachment we have towards our identity – which I’m sure is the EGO at work, and all). I really like your tip about journaling throughout the day to find patterns! I’ll have to try it. Thank you <3
I have the opposite problem; whenever I’m fighting/arguing or if someone comes at me with bad intentions or drama or just anger, I shut down. I control myself but to the point where I’m numb and where all the anger and energy concentrate inside of me. Sometimes I would feel rage that I just can’t express because I’m scared of what I know I can do. I’m empathic yet I can easily dissociate in a moment of rage to become antipathic. And at that moment I just need to stop myself. When I do, I can stay up to an hour or more without talking or moving or doing anything. Just keeping the rage inside and frozen in place. I’m learning to express anger especially more healthily and in small doses. I stopped bottling everything inside. However, I still go from 0 to rage in seconds when confronted to those that unjustly hurt me in my childhood. I’m still coming to terms with that but it’s not easy because they literally had no reason to do what they did. And I’ll never get any closure or apology. Nothing worth years of pain and more of healing. Oh and I’m having a big problem about trust. Would you consider doing a article on that, please? How to trust people? I mean, I do trust those that are in my circle but if I’m being honest with myself, I don’t fully trust. Ever. Not even my parents. I trust them temporarily. When they are in front of me or when I can feel them. But when they are away or when we disagree? My paranoia just take over and immediately my loved ones become my enemies and I’m alone on earth.
I was just about to ask you if you had the help of a licensed mental health therapist. I’ve been in weekly therapy for about 5 years now. I lost one of my favorite therapist when I transitioned to Medicare because she wasn’t able to bill them. But, through an organization I found another psychotherapist and hypnotherapist who is wonderful. She is a private practice and expensive but I am fortunate I found an organization that pays for my sessions with her. I’m going to bring this up next week when I see her. Thanks for sharing this article. It turned on a light for me. 🙏🏻
Maybe not magic related but I would seriously love to see how you do your hair and makeup, you always look incredible! On a more serious note, thank you so much for making this article. I’ve really been needing to do shadow work but I didn’t really have the .motivation until I saw this article. I would love to see a more in depth article on shadow work for sure.
Thank you for this article ❤️ Im not sure if you’re familiar with 5D and spirituality but this vid is a really great explanation of what a lot of starseeds, lightworkers, etc are going through at the moment. I believe things happen for a reason. It might be bad at first but it is for the greater good. So glad this was on my recommended! Much Love & Light 🌟🌟
thank you so much for sharing all of this, I spend the whole day perusal your articles, feels like I know you. I felt connected from the first article. I‘m just starting to collect input and you‘re one of the most helpful people you give people hope. thanks for that. by the way i do pole and play guitar too was fun to get to know you do so too. feel the love from germany ♥️
Unpack, reveal and accept. Oddly enough a drug habit introduced me to myself, becoming myself full heatedly is what then got me sober. I value your views. Search warlock and find nothing to add to my ritual box (idea). It’s nice to know I can find vision, perhaps more so, through the opposite side view. Thank you for that. 🖤
I have been doing something very similar for a long time. I used to always try to become something of a blank person when I was very young because I was afraid of my emotions. I first started changing my physical reactions. Like I tried to not flinch when I wanted to or I would try laughing when I would otherwise scream or say ouch. Eventually it worked, but it had some other side effects. It is not just physical now, but I stopped having the mental side too. I know find things that should be scary funny and when I should feel pain it tickles. I lost my fear response almost entirely. I have very few times when I have initial emotional or physical responses that I am not in control of.
I been doin shadow work/deep self analysis the last 3 yrs & it’s def a daily grind with ups & downs full of L’s with & small victories that add up to big WINS. But i agree 100% It’s usually the behaviors and/or actions in others that we don’t realize you do yourself that is what gets under your skin the most and Until we realize that you’re going to attract a higher probability of that behavior in others in my humble opinion. I’d say it’s pretty hard for any fully realized transformation without doing some Shadow work whether or whether not they’re comfortable calling it shadow work or not lol
I had to pause just to see what tea is that. Anyways, I’ve only restarted to journal things that make me mad or triggers me. Especially those moments when bad thoughts come up in my head, well, I thought I had faced those shadows.. unfortunately no. I did, but may have done it half-way. I have to face them again.
My technique has always mostly been… Just look at it. I’m what I describe as “neurotically self-aware,” and while it’s definitely something I’ve developed… On the other hand, I know when I’m trying to fool myself. If I want to know my true intention, all I have to do is just examine it. Helps that I have a consequentialist mindset and high self-esteem. That is, there’s little I could do that would separate myself from my own love. And even then, I don’t think that would be forever. See, understanding yourself also means you understand that everything ugly really comes from vulnerability and need, which are incredibly relatable. I do have a high sense of responsibility, but… Well, how can I really avoid knowing my real motivations, when I’m me? I did used to journal, should get back to it… But I got kind of obsessive. I got to the point where I was thinking about what I was gonna write about things as they were actually happening, which actually took me out of the moment. So that’s something to be aware of.
During a workshop I was doing a few months ago about websiteing with our guides, one of the days was about working our shadow side and the therapist warned us that we and people closest to us would notice it. I went home, turned to my boyfriend and said “just telling you that in the next few days my shadow side will be showing lots” and he responds “you show your shadow side every day so it’s fine” 😂 But the truth is, well, it’s actually true, during that period I felt nothing different while everyone else was complaining about something. The most that happens to me is my feelings getting even more intense but just that 😅
The quotes are fine, wiser than most, and more educating than most. I know of Jungs theories basically but this is really stuff people should of figured out in fifth grade. Jung wasnt a ‘how to’ guide as most wooey people tell you to analyze it, these were his interpritations of things we already do. Mature adults do “shadow work” all the time as they go.
Shadow work is also accepting and embracing the things of your past that caused you trauma. Running away from that trauma is part of it staying in the shadows. Once you stop running and face it, work thru the emotions and then releasing it… that is when you can let it go and allow the light into that part of your soul where the darkness once occupied.