Shadow work is an umbrella term for working with one’s suppressed emotions and trauma. Although it originates from jungian theory and has many modern day applications, I describe my personal take on and practices of shadow work here.
I see and use shadow work as one of many new spiritual technologies which are becoming increasingly available to humans as we grow spiritually – both individually and as a collective. It involves working through and releasing one’s shadows making room for more light, love and spiritual knowing.
It may sound similar to psychotherapy, but there is a fundamental difference. In traditional therapy negative feelings and traumatic events are being analyzed. Whereas in shadow work we just let the negative feelings and memories resurface, we acknowledge them and release them. And when I say “acknowledge” I do not mean dissecting them and thinking about them – I mean honoring them and connecting with them in our heart space and not our mind.
Some may say that this is what humans have been doing since the beginning of time. But there is a difference between crying when we’re sad or shouting when we’re angry, and doing the shadow work. And the difference is our frame of mind – our intention and our consciousness convert it into a sacred, spiritual work, which helps not only us, but the whole of humanity. For as it happens with all energy work – we usually embark on the journey wanting to help ourselves in this lifetime; and then we start to heal our past and other lifetimes, our ancestral lineage and the collective.
Before I share my practical tips on how to do the shadow work – just a word of warning. One’s own shadow work is not for the faint-hearted, and if you do not feel and trust you are up to it, you may want to do it accompanied by an energy healer.
So, how do you actually do it? In any line of work health and safety is of the utmost importance. And spiritual work is no exception. Therefore you need to create a safe, sacred time and space before you start.
You need to schedule the work beforehand and make sure nobody will disturb you. Switch off your devices and choose a time when you can be alone for at least 2 hours. Since you want to be able to express our emotions freely – do it when you are alone at home or do it somewhere in nature – where you can cry or sob freely without worrying anyone. Remember to drink lots of water before and after work, and also keep kleenex handy.
Then open a sacred space asking your spiritual support team for help, guidance and protection. You can use candles, incense, crystals, angel pictures or statues etc. But your clear and pure intention is a cornerstone.
Then sit or lay down in a meditative state, open your heart chakra, and ask for what needs and can be released to show itself. It will rise up to the surface in the form of a feeling, a memory or a body sensation. (Bear in mind that our physical body can release the shadow in many ways such as: crying, yawning, trembling, burping, sobbing, laughing etc.)
Trust that whatever resurfaces is exactly what needs to be released, and what you are able to release in that very moment. Do not judge it, do not analyze it, do not dwell on that. There is nothing you need to understand or remember about it apart for what your Higher Self is showing you right in that moment. Just honor whatever negative emotions or trauma appear in your energy field, and release it. Keep breathing and releasing – through your tears, through your shivers, through your body movement and whatever else your Higher Self is guiding you to. If it gets very painful, ask the archangels for help. You can repeat to yourself: “I release the suffering, and I let the love and light in.”
After some time you will feel that the emotional discharge dissipates. You can hold yourself. You can rock back and forth and soothe yourself back to calm. And when you feel that your work is done for that day, thank the angels and your spiritual support team. And finally thank and congratulate yourself!
🙏✨️thankyou