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Starting Shadow Work?

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earthmuffin:
I've done a similar exercise with the same aim in which you would draw a circle on a piece of paper and inside write everything that you are. One the outside write everything that you are not. Try to make an exhaustive list. Why do you categorize yourself the way you have?

dragonspring:
If you do not journal, I would suggest that you start doing so.  I have always found writing to be a helpful tool for inner work.  I guess I started my own shadow work when I spent years in therapy dealing with childhood abuse issues.  It was then that I began the process of really trying to understand myself, my motivations and fears. 

Some years later, I went through a shamanic healing rite and the shaman gave me some homework.  Basically, my task was to move backward in my life a few years at a time, making sure to concentrate on those events that caused the largest emotional response.  For these critical events, the task was to evaluate why they impacted me, how I felt at the time, and what lesson I took away from the experience.  It took several months to do this exercise, but it was well worth it as I came away with new understanding and fewer demons.  I would recommend this exercise but it would be good to have a support system in place in case you find that you need help dealing with any unresolved issues from the past.

Bright blessings!  ()

Athena:

--- Quote from: dragonspring on February 05, 2016, 10:22:14 PM ---If you do not journal, I would suggest that you start doing so. 

--- End quote ---

That's one simple process that helps in multiple ways.

As for the shadow work, I am clearly reading more into it. Reading suggestions as well as looking into a mirror in dark by EM can be good beginning points for both of us, I guess.

Tinevisce:
Wow, geekwitch, thanks for posting this- I got one of those "I was meant to read this" chills as I read your post.

I've been plagued off and on by irrational fears about witchcraft and energy work ever since June/July last year. I'm much. much better than that period now; but the fear's not completely gone away. Shadow work terrifies me because I have an inkling of what exactly I might have to unravel; but maybe-perhaps-could be what my subconscious has been trying to push me towards.

To folks here who have done shadow work of any sort- from what I can gather, shadow work is about unravelling the root of your fears, right? Now, how does one unravel a fear if not by facing/experiencing it?
At the same time, why would I want to invite whatever circumstances I'm afraid of into my life- isn't that a bit counterproductive?

I think that's the bit which has me wary of trying shadow work. Can you help me clear this bit up?

earthmuffin:
I think shadow work is more about knowing yourself fully-- bad parts as well as the good-- more so than just understanding or conquering fears.

You can understand what your fears are without facing or experiencing them. Understanding what they are and when they arise can be helpful in dealing with them. If a fear is irrational and recurring, you can replace the fear with positive messages you give yourself.

In my experience, when we put a lot of energy into a fear by repeatedly thinking about whatever it is  that makes us fearful, it makes it more likely that the thing or event feared will come to pass-- so if we don't address the fear, we end up having to experience the feared situation and face the fear head on. This is how the universe works.

But like I said, you don't have to jump right into the big fears with shadow work. Start with an exercise in which you define what you know about yourself.... challenge yourself to go deeper with it-- eventually you will get to the fear stuff but you can ease into it.

And, T, you might want to wait on the dark mirror exercise until you do some of the other work first-- it can generate a lot of fear as it is rather spooky to see your face morph into different figures that may be difficult for you to understand what they signify.

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