Hi Lovies,
In my work with the shadow. Getting to know it, to understand how it functions and serves us as part of the personality. The shadow as defined by Jung is:
A moral problem that challenges the whole ego-personality, for no one can become conscious of the shadow without considerable effort. Bringing the shadow to the surface or conscious means we recognize the darker aspects of the personality as present and real.
But if it is the current society and culture that determines what is considered moral, then that can shift over time. Creating different aspects of the shadow that would exist across our lives and generations. Thus, someone’s shadow could be a bright bubbly personality, in a culture where that was seen as inappropriate or undesirable. In times of great hardship, to be soft, joyful, at peace would be judged as it may not match the expected tone or expectations of individuals at that time.
I think about in the U.S.A. Black community over the past few years the terms soft life and shifting the narrative around Black women specifically to allow space for rest, support, and creativity. Yet, there at times can be great backlash to this concept. But when looked at culturally and historically, Black women have been stereotyped into the archetypes of Sapphire, Jezebel, Mammy, and such. If that is the running narrative on a macro scale ignoring the intricate personal characteristics that exist among individuals and one’s immediate social group, would allowing a softer feminine role to be integrated into the personality be a form of shadow integration?
I believe that is one of the beautiful aspects of shadow work is that each person’s shadow is different. It is there own built upon their life experiences. Some folks shadows will be studious, quiet, quick to stand up for what they believe in. Others may be outspoken, brash, straight to the point. The spectrum is never ending of the traits and aspects of the self that could be turned into the shadow.
My last thought on this is in relation to dark/light and the continuation of this false dichotomy. We as people are complex. We are never all of one thing or character trait. To attempt to do so cuts us off from reaching our true potential as human beings. Many of the shadows that are created are results from society and our personal environments (family/friends/etc) attempting to shield us from or pass onto us the hurts of the world. The pasts shadows loom large dripping into our own.
To be safe and survive we dim our internal fire. Put it somewhere deep inside, safe from external threats.
What I am pondering on these days is the shadow as our inner fire, hidden within us.
In this integration process we call shadow work, we are removing the veil that dims that fire and letting it shine to it’s full extent.
And perhaps, the most powerful point we can achieve is in learning that we are in control of all of our aspects. That we can tap into them and turn them up or down as needed.
Full self-actualization.
Just some thoughts,
Kamilah Rose