Shadow work is a process of looking within to release any feelings, thoughts and emotions that we have buried, and to release them in order to continue on with our lives more positively. Burying our shadows is like a protection that our ego feels the need for but really it’s no different to painting over cracks - they will always become visible again. As beings of energy it is import to remember that energy is always moving and vibrating so when we bury those memories related to those “unacceptable” emotions we cause a blockage and a lack of flow throughout our energy system and slowly but surely this manifests as a physical symptom.
Shadow work isn't about having a nasty side, it is about recognising that we all have traits that we were programmed to believe are unacceptable, or that feeling angry, sad, guilty etc isn't a natural thing when the truth is, it is completely natural to have emotions and responses to situations and to express them. We have all had experiences that led to us feeling something uncomfortable and due to our social conditioning the only thing we knew to do was to hide the feelings and the situation from others and even ourselves.
Bringing light to those parts of us that we would rather bury is what I see as shadow work and it is a powerful way to grow for nothing can survive in darkness alone and no thing or no one can raise their frequency or be complete when we are hiding parts of ourselves.
I can’t tell you how to do this, each of us is unique so in my opinion it’s something we have to research and feel into just like anything else, then the right way will present it’s self. But I can tell you about my own experience and perhaps it may give you encouragement to face your own shadow work....
Bringing awareness to the fact that I wanted to see what my shadow self was hiding began my journey and quite quickly too. Here is what happened the first time...and let me just say that I was not expecting nor had intended for this other than previously acknowledging my interest into my shadow work.
A day or two later during a meditation I felt a strong vibration in my sacral area, I focused my attention here and my thoughts were directed to the relationships throughout my life - partners, parents, children, siblings and so on. As I thought about each relationship the vibration lessened or intensified depending on what relationship I was supposed to focus on. I knew straight away when I had reached the memory that I was now supposed to work on.
I won’t go into detail of the situation but I was flooded with memories of a time in my life that involved that relationship and the feelings and emotions that I had buried along with it. Guilt, shame, embarrassment, sadness. I began to sob and my breathing was uncontrollable for a short time but I recognised that I had just stumbled upon some shadow part of me so I let all the feelings flood through me.
Then after a while I saw the memory again and this time I was able to see that younger version of myself and instead of feeling the emotions I was observing them. I could see why the younger version of me made the decisions she had made, they were based on much more than just her feelings and involved other people too. She was doing the best she could in the situation she was in. Why should she be feeling guilt, shame, sadness? Still crying, I forgave her. I let her know that she did a good job. She made that decision because she was trying to do the best for everyone involved. The guilt and other feelings were not serving her anymore. They were not serving me. They were being held in my womb and causing dis-harmony.
Upon that realisation another wave of energy rose over me but this time it was washing away those feelings that were no longer required. As my breathing intensified once more I instantly felt lighter and free of the invisible shackles I’d placed on myself.
I came out of the meditation and wrote a letter to my younger self and to the soul involved in that particular situation with me. I brought light to the situation allowing it to be released and allowing myself to grow.
It was a very powerful and moving experience.
Just like the shadows within this lifetime, our soul will have had other lifetimes with many shadow experiences. Once any kind of shadow work has begun, and depending on your level of commitment, and connection with your soul, you will go through a continual process of clearing. This is an integral part of your ascension as you are working to clear the lower vibrations that you have carried around with you for many lifetimes.
When we go through a rough, grating, itchy, lesson phase it could be that we are clearing more than just shadows from this lifetime, often the soul carries its 'scars' over to the current lifetime hoping for them to be cleared, and you may find that some of the experiences you have had are due to past lifetimes.
After sometime of working through the shadows of this lifetime my soul then began presenting me with stories and visions of previous lives and shadows to work through, each time it was a very moving experience and there was always a connection to some kind of struggle I was facing in this lifetime. One example I can give you of this is how since a child I have always had issues with digestion when I am stressed, on my 37th birthday during meditation I was shown a memory that shed so much light on this and after spending a few sessions on releasing the feelings harboured around it my digestion in general is so much better.
Bringing these shadows to the surface and looking them straight in the eye gives them no where to hide and this is where the magic comes in. By acknowledging and releasing the shadow you alchemise it, transmute it into light and in doing so raise your frequency. One shadow at a time you become lighter and attract to you more of the lighter frequency you are now resonating at. This spiralling process continues and each time we raise our light a little higher.
This clearing that creates space for the lighter frequencies brings with it a flow of reconnection to your abilities, the abilities and gifts that your soul has stored and collected. By shifting your shadows you gain your mastery.
Here is a little practice you could try that can help you begin your shadow work and release feelings around old memories...
The next time you receive an old memory that stirs an uncomfortable feeling take a moment to watch the memory, whilst doing so send love, forgiveness and thanks to you and those within the memory. Take a deep breath and breathe out the memory and it’s attached feelings and feel yourself release them. Feel how much lighter you are.
I’d love to hear from you if you tried this practice, you can get in touch via the contact page.
If you feel that you are needing to face your shadows but don’t feel that you are ready to do so yourself then a soul reading or healing session can be of great benefit. Often if there is something you need to work through the soul will continually try to bring it to you attention, if you feel you are perhaps not hearing or seeing it’s communication with you a soul reading will give you the opportunity to find out what the message may be. You can book a session here...
Picture credit: unknown.
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