Do you ever get lost in memories? Do you wonder if a memory is simply nostalgia or a trigger to take action?
Recently, I visited a house I lived in shortly after college. Forgotten memories bubbled up into conscious awareness and made me smile. Fun times!
Listening to Your Inner Voice
I thought about Cindy*, the roommate I lived with in that little house. A few days later, I found myself in North Georgia where she lives now. I heard the words: “Visit her!” Instead, I went about my weekend activities. I wondered if the urge to visit was connected to my recent visit to the old house?
On Monday, I heard the words: “Call her!” So, I did. She said, “Can’t talk. I’ll call you later.” Her voice sounded odd. That’s when I realized there was more to the situation. I discovered she was in the hospital. I packed an overnight bag and headed north. I stayed at her place to take care of her cat and dog while I worked out a pet care schedule with a mutual friend.
Planetary Movement into Action
On the heels of Cindy’s health crisis, another long-time friend passed away from a heart attack. What was going on?! Were these events simply part of life or were they a direct response to a recent planetary transition?
After all, Pluto has transited into Aquarius. This 20-year planetary shift is upending everything we thought ourselves to be.
“Pluto is the planet of death, rebirth, and extreme power. Aquarius is the sign of innovation, the collective, and radical truth. When these two forces collide, the status quo doesn’t just change – it evaporates.” – DailyAstroAI.com
This transition is forcing us to re-examine everything, including ourselves – the good and the bad – to determine where we are now and where we need to be.
“Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it is,” – Carl Jung, pioneering psychologist
“Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it is,” – Carl Jung, pioneering psychologist
Working Through the Shadows of Your Soul
For the majority of us, we try to “be good” and “get along” in order to achieve peace.
Obstacles and “negative” experiences and emotions are simply something to overcome. We learn to forgive and forget rather than express our feelings or force radical change.
The shadow self exists because we learn early to adapt and exhibit traits that we feel are acceptable and appealing to others. We dismiss, hide or repress traits deemed unacceptable. What may surprise you, is it is better to understand the shadow side of ourselves and incorporate it to grow and experience a full, authentic life.
“Understandably the “light” energies are usually represented with noble values such as love, peace, joy, harmony, and compassion. Many spiritual and religious movements completely ignore or condemn darker elements such as anger, vengeance, control, fear, shame, competitiveness, jealousy, and lust.” LonerWolf.com
Self-Awareness Improves Psychic Ability
What does shadow work have to do with being psychic? By processing experiences that cause self-doubt and fear, you are able to open up and resonate at a higher level. You learn to trust your intuition without question.
“Shadow work helps you observe emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them. This is essential for accurate intuitive reading(s). – Brandi Van
Identifying Your Shadow Self
So how do we determine where to start to identify and integrate our shadow self? LonerWolf.com identifies 13 different types of shadows. Once you determine if any of the shadow types resonate with you, then you can dive deeper to discover the original triggers.
Types of Shadows:
The Egotistical Shadow
- Traits include: arrogance, pride, self-indulgence, pompousness
- Root cause: fear of not being good enough, or being a nobody
The Neurotic Shadow
- Traits include: paranoia, demanding, compulsive, obsessiveness
- Root cause: fear of life, others and self, desire to regain control
The Untrustworthy Shadow
- Traits include: Secretive, impulsive, deceitful, unreliable
- Root cause: fear of life in general
The Emotionally Unstable Shadow
- Traits include: Moody, manipulative, weepy, over emotional, changeable
- Root cause: feeling of being unlovable and powerless
The Controlling Shadow
- Traits include: Suspicious, jealous, bossy
- Root cause: basic mistrust of life, feeling of abandonment
The Cynical Shadow
- Traits include: negative, overcritical, patronizing, resentful
- Root cause: protection against being vulnerable
The Wrathful Shadow
- Traits include: ruthless, vengeful, bitchy, quick-tempered
- Root cause: fear of others, closed heart
The Rigid Shadow
- Traits include: uptight, intolerant, racist, sexist, homophobic, uncompromising
- Root cause: fear and rejection of the unknown
The Superficial Shadow
- Traits include: glib, cunning, sly
- Root cause: distrust of others and self
The Cold Shadow
- Traits include: emotionally detached and distant
- Root cause: buried grief and fear and shame
The Perverted Shadow
- Traits include: sadistic, lustful, corrupt
- Root cause: repressed sexual energy
The Cowardly Shadow
- Traits include: fear and disbelief in self
- Root cause: weak-willed, fearful
The Naïve Shadow
- Traits include: petty, immature, simple minded
- Root cause: refusal to grow up
Next Steps in Shadow Work
Perhaps none or just some of these traits reflect how you perceive your shadow self. Are there past experiences, feelings or behaviors that you have not come to terms with that still impact you today? Psychology Today suggests:
- Recognizing your shadow aspects by noticing repeating behaviors.
- Labeling shadow aspects by identifying what is happening with those repeated behaviors.
- Figuring out where the behaviors originated.
- Accepting the ongoing patterns. Being responsible for them and changing them.
See Your Shadow Self in a Different Light
There are many ways to do shadow work. Online searches offer a range of possibilities.
Wikihow.com advises grounding yourself first before going through the practice of identifying shadows. Sit down and do some deep breathing so you are calm. Ask yourself why you are triggered by certain situations. Meditate on it. Journal about it. An honest self-assessment ultimately leads to self-forgiveness and healing.
Some examples of shadow work may include working through childhood trauma, confronting repressed anger, processing unacknowledged grief, determining the need for perfectionism, or examining cultural conditioning, according to a website called The Therapist.
Need positive affirmations before taking steps into deeper self-awareness? Take a look at Innershadowwork.com, which offers affirmations and some handy guides to get started.
Looking for Guidance in Your Life?
If you are looking for clarity, have a question, or you would like to know what is ahead for you in your life, reach out and connect with PsychicLifeAdvice.com on the contact page. I look forward to hearing from you.