Shadow Work Webinar

Jul 17, 2024

Shadow Work Webinar

Introduction

  • Presenter: Kristen and Barry
  • Main Topic: Importance of developing a relationship with the Shadow
  • Barry: Described as a brilliant psychotherapist, philosopher, and poet
  • Ground Rules: Confidentiality, sharing about oneself, no advice giving, take risks, participate

Workshop Details

  • Five-day workshop at Omega Institute, July 9th to 15th, for in-depth Shadow work
  • Also highlighted the benefits of learning and working on the material in a community setting

Understanding the Shadow

  • Shadow Definition: Part of yourself you reject and feel ashamed of
  • Impact: Causes a divided self when not reconciled
  • Outcome of Shadow Work: Transforms divided self into a unified self, leads to core strength and identity
  • Example: Feeling unappreciated or unloved reflects how the Shadow feels internally
  • Key Concept: The way you feel treated by the world is how your Shadow feels treated by you

How the Shadow Develops

  • Family of Origin: Environment shapes Shadow through disapproval of certain traits
  • Examples: Anger, sexuality, spontaneity repressed due to family disapproval
  • Personal Shares: Kristen and Barry shared their own family-induced Shadows

Initial Exercises

Exercise 1: Identifying the Shadow

  1. Close eyes and recall what your family disapproved of strongly
  2. Visualize the part of you associated with the disapproved quality
  3. Open sharing:
    • Dan: Religion and political opinions, felt dead
    • Diana: Being quiet and compliant, image of a quiet little girl
    • Stephen: Emotional repression, image of a timid child

Exercise 2: Secrets and Shadow

  1. Identify a secret part of you, something you’re ashamed of
  2. Visualize this part
  3. Share your experience:
    • Lindsay: Exploring feeling of sweetness, trust issues due to a chaotic background
    • Shelley: Confusion in identifying Shadow due to a chaotic upbringing, gained image of a vulnerable self

Expansion Beyond Family of Origin

  • Cultural/Gender Expectations: Additional factors shaping the Shadow
  • Examples: Assertiveness in females, sensitivity in males often repressed

Importance of Shadow Work

  • Consistent Recognition: Vital to avoid Shadow takeovers and alleviate feelings of shame and guilt
  • Preventing Takeovers: Engage regularly to prevent the Shadow from causing self-sabotage

Methods to Forge a Relationship

  1. Regular Dialogue: Asking Shadow about feelings, needs, and guidance
  2. Consistent Attention: Daily check-ins to give Shadow a voice
  3. Exposure: Releasing Shadow through safe self-revelation
  4. Integrating in Actions: Including Shadow’s needs in decision-making

Exercises for Connecting with Shadow

  1. Apologize to the Shadow and empathize with its feelings
  2. Exercise led to cautious yet transformative interaction with Shadow
  3. Victoria: Recognized regular evil Shadow takeovers
  4. Lisa: Confessed ongoing jealousy and envy in friendships

The Evil Shadow

  • Definition: Selfish, primal desires that are often deeply repressed
  • Example Emotions: Rage, envy, Schandenfreude

Exercise to Identify Evil Shadow

  1. Recall time when acted out selfishly or had intense feelings
  2. Visualize feeling personified as an evil Shadow
  3. Share Experience:
    • Ronald: Survived violent childhood, indulged in destructive behavior, no longer ruled by the evil Shadow
    • Lisa: Felt intense envy during a vacation, wants to repair friendships

Transforming Evil Shadow

  • Apologize and empathize: Recognize true ambitions and desires
  • Concrete Steps: Act on specific requests from Evil Shadow

Example of Benefits

  • Industry Examples: Galileo, Stravinsky, MLK - all demonstrated rebellious, rule-breaking Shadow energies
  • Creative Advancement: Leverage Evil Shadow constructively

Spiritual Connection and Final Exercise

  • Genesis Story: Adam and Eve’s story as an analogy for revealing and healing the Shadow
  • Malcolm Guite Quote: Spirit can’t connect if hiding the Shadow

Final Exercise

  1. Visualize Shadow, acknowledge it as beautiful vulnerability
  2. Apologize for hiding it
  3. Recognize and celebrate brokenness as part of human experience

Conclusion

  • Invitation to Attend Workshop: Deep dive into Shadow work at Omega Institute
  • Additional Resources: Webinar on the embodiment tool, upcoming free overview session on May 4th

Thank You Message: Gratitude for participation and sharing.