Introduction
We all have traits that we’re proud of and traits that we don’t feel so great about. Some of these traits may trigger us, so we hide them from public view. These parts of you make up your shadow self. Welcome to the second entry of our Shadow Work Blog Series. In the first blog we discussed when and what is Shadow Season. Here it is incase you missed it: https://hausbetweenworlds.com/2023/09/27/shadow-season/ . In this entry we will be discussing:
- What is your shadow self
- The eight shadow archetypes
- How an ignored shadow can negatively impact you
- What is shadow work
What Is Your Shadow Self
Your inner shadow is composed of parts of you that you subconsciously reject. The parts of you that society has told you were wrong about you or make you feel ashamed. Psychologist Carl Jung popularized the idea of the shadow self. He defined the collective unconscious with eight different Jungian archetypes.
- Self: The center of the personality or psyche – your conscious awareness.
- Shadow: The dark and emotional aspect of your psyche.
- Anima: An image of an idealized woman that draws people into their feminine side.
- Animus: A part of you that has the capacity for reflection and self-knowledge.
- Persona: The mask you wear to show the world while you protect your inner self.
- Hero: A part of your psyche that can overcome evil and destruction.
- Wise Old Man: A personification of the self that contains your wisdom.
- Trickster: A childish part of your psyche that needs gratification.
Jung defined the shadow archetypes as the dark and emotional side of your personality or psyche. What makes up your shadow depends on what you subconsciously reject within yourself. Here’s an example on how your shadow may show up:
Let’s say you were teased for being “too talkative” as a child. Believing that you talk “too much” you start weighing your conversations to see if you “did it again”. One day you’re working on a presentation and you’re told “Be careful not to put too much words on one slide.” You began to get furious or insecure. Why did these emotions occur? Because it was the part of you that was emotionally inverted in not talking “too much”. Anything that threatens the Persona will be seen as a threat to your identity and even your safety.
Negative Impacts of Ignored Shadow Self
Your shadow side can have a negative impact on your well-being when you ignore or reject it. Most often, the shadow manifests as our triggers – emotional reactions that we have not dealt with. This part of you craves to be understood and explored. This is because this part of you was ignored and possibly shamed throughout your life. Repressing your inner shadow can have some serious consequences:
- Self-loathing or poor self-esteem
- Self-deceit or deceiving others
- Anxiety and depression
- Offensive behaviors towards others
- Struggling to have healthy relationships
- Self-sabotage
- Self-absorption
- An inflated ego
When you reject your shadow you may also start projecting onto others. Projection happens when you see things in others that you subconsciously recognize within yourself. These parts can make you feel uncomfortable resulting in judging or punishing others who reflect these traits.
What Is Shadow Work
Shadow work is defined as working with your unconscious mind to uncover the parts of yourself that you repress and hide from yourself. This can include trauma or parts of your personality that you subconsciously consider undesirable. Shadow work is designed to help you integrate and accept every single part of yourself so that you can live and thrive with more clarity and authenticity.
Anyone can do shadow work on their own. However, consider seeking out a licensed therapist for treatment, especially if you struggle with severe trauma. A licensed therapist will provide a safe environment for you and will equip you with the proper tools necessary for dealing with severe trauma.
