Ep. 18/ Shadow self - Transmuting the unconscious into the conscious
GUEST
WITH HOST MELISSA D. BARRY
Published Oct 31st, 2021 - available on all podcast platforms.
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“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate” - Carl Jung psychiatrist who revolutionized the field of psychology.
Fall, Halloween, and Scorpio season are here so what is better than diving deep into the shadow of life? To be aware, acknowledge, accept, and embrace our unconscious. To shed light onto our shadow self.
I talk a lot about self-awareness on this podcast, yet there can’t be any full awareness without acknowledging and integrating the unconscious parts of ourselves. That’s what I’ll try to uncover today!
When you feel misaligned, stuck, chaotic, or simply uncreative exploring your shadow can help. Conscious living is obviously about being mindful towards ourselves, others, and the Earth but it's also about being honest in your growth, your willingness to improve, and apply changes that will allow you to wander through the ugly, disturbing, and frightening parts of yourself, the parts that you most probably find extremely difficult to embrace. It's easy to embrace the light, our socially accepted traits but not so much the dark aspect of our character.
"Although many infer the shadow is ‘negative’, this is not really true. The Shadow is rather what you yourself perceive as dark and weak about yourself, and therefore needing to be hidden and denied. But this depends on your own perspective on life, and your levels of self-esteem.
So while for one person their shadow might just contain such classic elements as sadness, rage, laziness, and cruelty, you might also hide your personal power, your independence, or your emotional sensitivity."
- From psychotherapist, Dr Sheri Jacobson
Living that conscious life is mainly about becoming more whole and balanced.
That’s why to me, it’s crucial to be recognizing our shadow self, to be facing it, and accepting it as an integral part of our whole being instead of battling by hiding our darkness. Actually, that darkness is just in need of more light, in the sense that it can be beneficial to have it at the front and center stage too instead of all the way backstage.
That makes me wonder if by hiding our shadow self - are we actually suppressing our basic instincts, are we denying ourselves for the comfort of others? Making sure they’re comfortable so we unconsciously learned to make ourselves uncomfortable? Are we fragmenting ourselves instead of being whole and grounded to be accepted by others?
IN THIS EPISODE I TALK ABOUT:
What's the shadow self, really?;
The attributes of our shadow - good or bad?;
Recognizing and embracing our shadow;
Triggers and inner demons;
Tapping into the magic in our conscious;
And so much more ...
Listen up to this gem!
Namaste listeners,
M -
