According to Jung, the Shadow is the disowned or unconscious parts of the persona, the masks or faces that we show the world. The parts of ourselves that are rejected by society, our friends, and families, we repress. Those aspects of ourselves go to live in the Shadow of our personal unconscious. There is also a collective unconscious and a collective Shadow, which are more than a repressed side of the individual ego complex – these buried aspects are more universal to humanity in a given time. This article will focus on the personal Shadow.
The notion that the Shadow or disowned parts are a collection of rejections is present in the work of Gabor Mate. He explains that the child has two driving needs: attachment and authenticity. To secure attachment, the child will bend or forfeit his authenticity to be accepted. Those disowned parts form some of the basis for trauma, alienation, and addiction.
Why is exploring or integrating the Shadow important? We can get a glimpse into the story of Peter Pan. For Peter to succeed in his adventures, he must first retrieve his shadow to begin his journey into maturity and integration. Peter tucked his Shadow away and Wendy eventually sews it back onto him. This is similar to what is accomplished in trauma work. The traumatized person holds their Shadow, begins to own it, explores it, and finds ways to mine the value of repressed and disowned aspects of themselves. The therapist assists in that process by guiding and supporting the discovery.
Examples of the Shadow in Action
A classic example of the Shadow is demonstrated in the late nineteenth-century story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll is described as a well-respected and intelligent scientist who goes in search of his second nature. He brings that forth by transforming into Mr. Hyde, described as his evil alter-ego, who engages in vicious acts of aggression, including murder. Hyde represents the dark side of the human experience – unapologetic, self-absorbed, primal, unaware. Yet Hyde possesses an immense amount of power and energy, which, if mined, could have benefited Dr. Jekyll.
In the modern era, another example can be seen in the Star Wars films. Darth Vader, whose name means “dark father,” was a goodhearted Jedi before surrendering to the “dark side” and remaining unconscious to his humanity. It is not until he faces his humanity in his son Luke that he begins his journey of restoration.
Ways of Becoming Aware
In our daily lives, we can recognize the manifestations of Shadow all around us. Addiction, violence, abuse, envy, and greed all make their homes in Shadow territory. Nearly everyone has come up against one or more of these societal ills. It is the recognition of these aspects within ourselves that points us toward healing.
We can become aware of our Shadow side when we observe our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors without guilt, shame, or judgment. We realize that everyone has a Shadow. Our task is to integrate our Shadow aspects and align our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors with our values. We generally begin with the awareness of negative emotions such as envy/selfishness, anger/rage, or greed/desire, which we project out onto others. When we realize what we do not like or appreciate in others, we are on the verge of self-reflection. “How am I like that?” Using acceptance, self-compassion, and critical thinking, we can explore what it is to be human and investigate the unresolved challenges that keep presenting themselves to us.
Using our awareness to explore our projections, such as anger, gives us the opportunity to see our Shadow side and begin processing our own reflections, attitudes, and demands that have been left unattended or unreflected. Addictions allow us the opportunity to reflect on our lives and behaviors. Recovery begins with the first step of the 12-Step Program, removing ourselves from the center of the universe and seeking ways through our pains and negative consequences to regain our independence as functioning individuals working toward individuation.
Another way into reflection on our Shadow is through the doors of loss and grief. This process may include having to face anger and regret if it is our own loss/grief. If we are grieving with someone who has also had the experience, we enter through the gates of empathy and compassion, acknowledging our connection to one another and to humanity. This is a journey of connection rather than projection.
Building Positive Change
We can build our awareness of our individual Shadows by employing some tools of reflection.
- Self-reflect on our thoughts, actions, and emotions, especially uncomfortable ones. Examine where they might have originated and how and why they persist. Have I projected these onto others? (Also, am I projecting positive aspects of myself onto others, which I do not yet value in myself?)
- Pay attention to our dreams and keep a dream journal. Look for themes, characters, and symbols. See what stories, myths, movies, and fairytales relate to the dream. Use your active imagination to see where the dream leads or how it continues. Dialogue with the elements of the dream.
- Use the arts of writing poetry or stories, drawing, painting, or whatever creative expression you prefer to give substance to the characters and elements of your insights into the aspects of yourself that you see as negative. Give those elements their own life and embrace them with compassion and curiosity.
- Employ therapy, self-help, journaling, conversations with others. Ask your friends for feedback on how they experience you. Be open to their comments and try them on like a new wardrobe and see if they fit you.
- Meditate and pay attention to what arises. Allow the thoughts to pass gently without judgment. Treat your wounds and those of others with compassion and loving-kindness.
The purpose of integrating the Shadow is to embrace all aspects of ourselves and give us choices in our responses rather than being driven by unconscious forces.
James W. Osborne, MS, LPC, has been one of Natural Nutmeg’s 10Best Winners for Holistic Psychotherapy/LCSW/Counseling every year since 2018. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 40 years of clinical experience. He employs mindfulness, Jungian psychology, gestalt psychology, ACT, EMDR, and value-based techniques unique to the individual to support positive health changes. His undergraduate degree is in philosophy, and he views psychotherapy as philosophy in action.
You can contact James at: ProNatural Wellness Group in Berlin, CT, at 860.829.0707.