Shadow Work

By Elisabeth Cordelia

We are made up of two parts; the mask, and the shadow that drives it all. As we explore that shadow part of us that determines our fate, we create a new story for ourselves, much more hopeful than what we had before. 

This book guides you through the self-exploration process, helping you to become acquainted with concepts such as "the shadow self", and then provides you 1,111 prompts for you to discover your own.

Open, honest, and compassionate, this book is your new companion through untangling the threads of your past and creating a tapestry of empowerment and freedom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elisabeth Cordelia
• Release date: Jan 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201931186

Elisabeth Cordelia

Elisabeth Cordelia, author of Shadow Work, is a proud Idahoan, sister, daughter, and best friend. Elisabeth grew up reading books of all kinds and telling stories of her own (starting out with barbies and My Little Ponies as her chosen medium). She enjoys creating in all forms, her favorite of all being the written word.

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Dedicated to my brothers, my dearest friends, and to everyone who has been brave enough to take on the colossal task to choose better for their families, communities, and selves.

In memory of those dearly loved who’ve lost their mental health battles, and in loving solidarity with those who survived them.

With gratitude to the mental health professionals who work every day to make this world a healthier place.

Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. -Carl Jung, Swiss Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst

CHAPTER 1: What is Shadow Work?

From early childhood , we are constantly receiving messages from others informing us of who we are and how we fit into society. This information becomes the building blocks of our identity, which in turn informs our choices (consciously and subconsciously), ultimately determining our fates.

The part of you that you remain conscious of, that you purposely display for others to see, are the parts of you that have been affirmed by your community. You’ve received permission to be that person and have those traits. To be clear, these traits and identities can be good or bad. The identities that others affirm for us are extraordinarily complex because everyone we meet will require us to fulfill different needs and assign us different roles. Our subconscious does the heavy work of comparing the pieces and finding ways to make them all stick together within our own unique chemistry.

The shadow self is a conglomerate of personal aspects that you’ve had to reject to get by. Some of these things are your most basic needs which you’ve learned are too great a burden to meet. Some of them are emotions like grief, anger, or desperation. Maybe they’re qualities you’ve been told you can’t display because of your gender, or your role in your family, or your job. No matter the cause or characteristics found within your shadow, all of the bits and pieces are buzzing about below the surface, chaotically colliding with one another.

We forced these things under the surface to a place where we can’t feel them because our conscious self couldn’t reconcile their existence and the information it’s received with the goal of being socially acceptable. If we can’t feel them, then they can’t be there, right? And if they aren’t there, no one else can see them, so we’re okay! The decision to tuck something about ourselves into the shadow typically happens so quickly, we don’t notice. This due to our own mental efficiency as well as the high volume of information we’re taking in about our surroundings.  

Efficient and logical as repression might seem, it doesn’t work out the way our minds expect it to. Our shadow leaks through when we make decisions, which is nearly all of the time. This is because those shadow traits were repressed, not erased. You begin to overcompensate for your wounded self just as you might a physical injury. The more it’s ignored, the more present it becomes. Like an infection left to fester, its influence spreads, taking up our energy and eventually claiming our bodies as its own. Everything you give energy to grows, and repression takes a lot of energy.

There’s one way to neutralize the shadow and take back control-shed light on it. Light comes through recognition and allowance. Shadow work is simply identifying and owning our hidden traits and beliefs, the secret parts of our stories. It’s ceasing to suffocate our inner voice. We absolutely must see the darkest parts of ourselves to keep them from ruling us. As we understand the parts we’ve stuffed into the shadows, why we stuffed them there, how they got there in the first place, we begin to remove them from that space and how to stop filling it. When we know what we’re really made of, we become empowered to make better decisions for ourselves.

Perhaps the most important truth about the shadow self is that part of its elusive nature comes from the fact that it’s all based on perception. All the evils that grow there are evil because we perceive them to be. We change their nature by adding perspective and understanding. We choose to see our actions, our traits, our needs, our desires, not as inherently evil or abhorrent occurrences, but rather just normal, natural facts to the past, reactions to stimuli, old stories that have lived and now must come to their conclusion. It’s the rejection of society’s repudiation, the withdrawal of judgment, that redirects our energy from self-hatred and punishment to empowerment, advancement, and stability. Think stoicism.

The first person to name this phenomenon and bring it into the mainstream was Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, Carl Jung. Jung was a prolific member of the world of psychology who you may recognize from concepts such as extraversion vs. introversion, archetype personalities, and most notably, the collective unconscious. Much of modern-day psychology is based on Jung’s research and production of analytical psychology.  

Jung’s observations are applied in plenty of modern settings and have recently escalated in popularity as society has made greater strides to prioritize mental health. As Jung studied and practiced during a time when most people considered the field of psychology to be a complete farce, a great deal of his influence comes from study of eastern esoteric philosophy and the fluid area of philosophy where psychology and spirituality mix. While nothing about the concept of the shadow self or shadow work is exclusive to any religion or theological thought, this spiritual background molded the concepts into shapes that are compatible with individuals of notable theological persuasion.

It should be no surprise then that some the greatest modern proponents of shadow work are those who align with new age and mystic beliefs. For many, shadow work (by many names) is a normal, even fundamental part of their spiritual practice. Plenty of people find great symmetry between their own religious tenets and Jung’s concepts. It cannot be emphasized enough, no one strain of theology can place any claim on the practice of shadow work, making it a universally available process for everyone.

Today’s mental health professionals frequently utilize shadow work as a medium through which they help patients break through generational trauma, addiction, and other toxic cycles. Shadow work, itself, is not a replacement for necessary professional psychological aid. Shadow work can be used in preparation to begin mental health treatment, when you’ve completed treatment, and during or in between sessions, but never in lieu of professional help.

The necessity of including mental health professionals for individuals struggling with serious psychiatric disorders and addiction should not be underestimated. Do not attempt to navigate those issues alone. For those with chronic mental illness who feel they’ve been let down by mental health professionals before, I strongly encourage you to use shadow work in combination with your therapy. If you have been experiencing any of the following, please seek professional help immediately:

-Addiction or abuse of substances

-Symptoms of disordered eating including bingeing, purging, or restriction

-Emotionally or physically volatile relationships

-Hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, or detachment from reality

-Suicidal thoughts or ideation

-Intense/chronic levels of sadness, anger, hopelessness, loneliness, lethargy, apathy, or shame

-Anxiety or obsession

-Significant trauma

-Emotional or mental struggles that are disruptive to your ability to meet your daily responsibilities

These issues are serious. Do not attempt to navigate them on your own.

Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life, and you will call it fate.-Carl Jung, Swiss Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst

Chapter 2: Recognizing the Call of Your Hero’s Journey

Once introduced to the idea of shadow work, the next question to ask is, how do I know if I’m ready to start? Let me be clear, shadow work is simple in theory, but can be grueling in execution. There’s a difference between good for you to do, and good for you to do right now . Perhaps the best place to start with shadow work is to take inventory as to whether you’re ready