Inner Work 127: A Deep Dive into Shadow Work

03/09/22 • 34 min

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What is shadow work? And how can you do it responsibly and effectively?

This episode of Inner Work explores the shadow as a "dark aspect of the personality", in the words of Carl Jung. Your shadows are aspects of yourself that, for whatever reason, you've deemed as unacceptable or shameful. And so you repress these aspects into the subconscious. However, your unexamined and un-integrated shadows will continue to make themselves known and influence your behavior in one way or another.

So, this episode addresses:

what is shadow work?
secondary and primary shadow archetypes (which do you recognize in yourself?)
key principles and suggestions to make your shadow work as effective and transformative as possible
how to avoid spiritual bypassing when doing shadow work
a 4-step method for doing shadow work as an ongoing practice in your life

Here's the blog post where I outline my 4-step shadow work method, in case you want to refer to that:

https://josephinehardman.com/how-to-do-shadow-work-a-4-step-guide/

To connect with me, you can visit www.josephinehardman.com or send a note to [email protected]

Thank you for tuning in! Please take kind and compassionate care of yourself -- and your shadows.

Music & editing by G. Demers

What is shadow work? And how can you do it responsibly and effectively?

So, this episode addresses:

what is shadow work?
secondary and primary shadow archetypes (which do you recognize in yourself?)
key principles and suggestions to make your shadow work as effective and transformative as possible
how to avoid spiritual bypassing when doing shadow work
a 4-step method for doing shadow work as an ongoing practice in your life

Here's the blog post where I outline my 4-step shadow work method, in case you want to refer to that:

https://josephinehardman.com/how-to-do-shadow-work-a-4-step-guide/

To connect with me, you can visit www.josephinehardman.com or send a note to [email protected]

Thank you for tuning in! Please take kind and compassionate care of yourself -- and your shadows.

Music & editing by G. Demers

Previous Episode

AWAKENING: Coming to terms with childhood losses

This episode of AWAKENING focuses on all kinds of childhood losses, from the seemingly minor to the life-altering. I talk about some of the intangible childhood losses that might still be impacting you today - for instance, the loss of childhood innocence or playfulness if you were forced to grow up too fast.

This episode also defines childhood losses as anything that, ideally, you should've been given as a child but - for whatever reasons - was not provided. Some essential things that were not provided might include a feeling of safety and belonging, comfort, encouragement, the soothing presence of an emotionally stable caregiver, and unconditional support.

I share how I've been coping with some of my own childhood losses (related to moving away from my home country at age 11) and suggest a few practices for you to work through yours.

For example, I mention working with the throat chakra through a guided meditation. You can find that here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwzSOF9GEHo&t=31s

Important note: please seek the professional support of a trauma-informed therapist, healer, or Somatic Experiencing practitioner if you're trying to process childhood trauma and it feels overwhelming. You don't have to do it alone. This is a good resource to find a qualified practitioner:

https://directory.traumahealing.org

To connect with me, you can send a note to [email protected] or go to www.josephinehardman.com

Thank you for tuning in! I appreciate your commitment to your inner work.

Music & editing by G. Demers

Next Episode

AWAKENING: Navigating choice points as a spiritual practice

There are so many choices you make every day, from the mundane and minor to life-defining choices. This episode of AWAKENING is all about using the choice points you face every day as a kind of spiritual practice - as an opportunity to notice what you're choosing for yourself as well as which parts of you are informing your decision-making. Bringing more consciousness to this can help you slow down and make the most aligned, supportive, and life-affirming choices.

For some specific examples, we'll look at how you're navigating choices around food, rest, and sticking to a daily spiritual practice or routine (and what happens when resistance comes up or if you have conflicting parts of you pulling you in two directions).

In this episode, I mention my goal to keep the podcast ad-free indefinitely. If you've gotten some value out of the podcast and can help me make that happen, you can donate ANY amount that works for you here:

https://square.link/u/2O7ZaHO0

Thank you so much for your presence and support! The podcast wouldn't exist without you here.

To connect with me directly, please visit www.josephinehardman.com or send a note to [email protected]

Music & editing by G. Demers