shadow work – Ledbysource

You’ve probably heard the terms “shadow work” or “shadow self” before, but maybe you aren’t exactly sure what they mean or how to go about doing it.

In this post I want to dive into what the shadow self is, how to become aware of it, and provide some exercizes to start working with and integrating it.

The psychologist Carl Jung described the shadow self as an unconscious aspect of our psyche that contains all of the traits, emotions and impulses that we repress or deny in ourselves.

These can be traits such as rage, anger, jealousy, fear, shame and so on. This is the aspect of us that is prone to projection, which is when we identify a negative aspect of ourselves in another.

On the other hand, the shadow self contains many positive traits and gifts that we have repressed too. Working with the shadow isn’t all doom and gloom, in fact it can be one of the most freeing practices we do.

Talking about the shadow is not popular (although becoming more so) because it’s not pleasant to address this side of us. However shadow work is an important part in becoming healed and whole beings, who aren’t afraid of the metaphorical monsters lurking in our unconscious minds.

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I am always talking about the upsides of being an empath and contradicting the idea that being an empath is inherently a curse, however to have a balanced discussion we also need to look at the dark side of empaths.

Being an empath can be both a blessing and a curse, it totally depends on the individual and the relationship they have with their sensitivity.

Growing up in this world as an empath can be extremely difficult, not only do we face being called “too sensitive” but we aren’t given the tools to work with that sensitivity.

Therefore the only other option is to become cold and callous. When you can feel, absorb and embody all of the emotions around you, hardheartedness can act as a defense mechanism. It can seem a logical choice to close yourself off from the world.

In this post we’re going to talk about that dark side and how to navigate it, because the chances are we have all been there at one point!

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What Is Shadow Work and How to Do It

The Dark Side of Empaths