Integrating Your Shadow.

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate”
- C. G. Jung
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The unconscious mind holds great powers. Unfortunately, it is a dark and chaotic place. Before you enter its depths, the masked persona we project to be accepted by others must be removed. It is time to truly see yourself. Face to face.

Positive only vibes won’t help you here..
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Phase 1 – Facing The Shadow

This first phase will scare most away. It is a process of removing the mask and becoming vulnerable to your true self. Once you can overcome this fear, you can begin to explore your shadow.

An activity I like to do with clients is to give a name to their shadow side. This provides it an identity and builds awareness.
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Phase 2 – Harnessing The Shadow

After the courage is built and you are ready to integrate your shadow side, the real work begins. This phase is a process of accepting and understanding suppressed thoughts, emotions, and memories. You become curious about inner impulses and remove typical excuses and outward blame.

This not easy work, but it is necessary. Dance with your shadow. This will help lead you from acceptance to connection.
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Phase 3 – Connection

This phase begins at seeing yourself in a new light. You realize the wholeness of your true nature. In this connection, the power of the unconscious mind is felt.

You begin to unlock this mysterious place within. A place of primal intelligence, wisdom, spirit, energy, creativity, and intuition. A place that was guarded behind our shadow, and masked by our persona.
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“No tree, it is said, can grow to heaven unless its roots reach down to hell.” - C. G. Jung
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Become humbled by the shadow as your guide towards a higher self. A bridge to balancing the dual nature of the mind. The more you accept and connect to your “dark” side, the more you can accept and love yourself. Without this, how can you be true to yourself or others?
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Without the shadow in sight, it can reveal itself when least expected. Also, it can consume and take over our persona.

The next post will cover the dangers of the shadow.