What is Shadow Work?

Shadow Work is the work of facing undigested and often suppressed/forgotten pain, wounds, and trauma.  In Psychology 101 they show you a giant iceberg and talk about how what you can see above the surface of the water is what is conscious.  We often go about life thinking who we are and the choices we make are being directed by our conscious selves.  But below the water you will find 90% of the iceberg- and had you not looked you would not know it was there.  This is the Unconscious and all the things from the past we carry that not only influences our lives but actually is the part of us that is in the driver’s seat directing things!  As Jung said “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”  

Shadow Work is the work of making the unconscious conscious.

This work has been so meaningful and profound for me that after several years of intensive study I knew I had to share it with everyone. I have been teaching about Shadow Work since 2019.  I have taught at festivals- Bhakti Fest, Shakti Fest, Sedona Yoga Fest- and I weave it into all my readings, my writing and my online teaching. I am a teacher of this work and also a student of it.  I am still very much on a journey of deepening into this work and letting it permeate all aspects of my life.

Is Shadow Work Hard?

Shadow work is not for the faint hearted! As my teacher Robert says ‘people like the Light but not the heat’. Shadow Work takes you into the transformational fire. It is an alchemical crucible in which all your unprocessed wounds and trauma come up to confront you. It is NOT an easy process and it does not happen overnight, in a one week training or even in a couple years of committed Shadow Work. It’s a life long process- a journey of facing what is Unconscious and unresolved within oneself and working with what is constantly arising.

What are the Benfits of Shadow Work?

The biggest benefit for me in regards to the Shadow Work I have done is that it is helping me become more embodied. I have always been very heady and very Spirit centric. From a young age I could leave my body to ascend and go up and out quite easily. In many respects this was me disassociating. But it was also quite easy from me to experience states of bliss as well.

Shadow Work has been a process of descension for me. As opposed to ascension and going up and out- I have been working to fully come down and in. In the spiritual community there is often huge focus on ascension, Love & Light, and living from the heart chakra up (from heart to crown). What is often missing- and is in fact key to true healing- is facing and integrating the shadow and healing/strengthening the integrity of the lower chakras (root, sacral and solar plexus). Shadow Work supports the movement of going down and in.

What Else Can Shadow Work Do?

Shadow Work has also helped to clarify relationships in my life- helping me to trust my intuition and learn to discern more clearly what is healthy, aligned and in integrity and what is not- both in myself and also in others. Of course this has also shown me clearly where my patterns of relationship are repeatedly keeping me stuck in karmic, wound-ship type relationships. The Light being brought to the shadows has helped me see where I have work to do!

Shadow Work and Relationships

A big arena that Shadow Work is helpful for is dealing with family karma. Ram Das says ‘if you think you are enlightened go spend a week with your family’. HA! It’s so true. When I am all by myself I can be so contained and can feel such peace and grounding. Now put me into relationship with a family member, a partner, sometimes even my child (when she is melting down) and all of a sudden that peace and grounding can easily go out the window! I am in the deep inner process of shifting HUGE ancestral lineage patterns and karmas that have been passed down for generations. I am up against a default pattern that everyone previous to me has chosen. It’s like swimming upstream- it takes a lot of effort and a lot of awareness to not just go with the flow, collapse into the default neural pathway and take the familiar well worn karmic path.

I have seen so much benefit in my spiritual life, emotional life, work life, financial life and relationships from this deep work I have been doing- and this is why I love to share it with others. It is truly transformational and each time I teach or share this work I receive so many reflections from students and clients about how profoundly life altering this work truly is.

How to Get Started with Shadow Work

If you are interested in starting on your Shadow Work path OR taking your current path deeper my online courses ‘Astrology & Your Shadow’ and ‘Embodied Astrology’ can serve your journey. You can learn more about these Courses listed below.  The next time ‘Astrology & Your Shadow’ will be offered live is March 20th, 2024.

Shadow Work is truly the path of the Heart Warrior. One who lives from their heart with clear and healthy boundaries is one who helps change the world by starting within. As the outer reflects the Inner, we may as well start at the Source ;)

Blessings…

~Harmony

Support for your Shadow Work

Astrology & Your Shadow Course (On Demand)
https://divineharmony.com/astrology-your-shadow/

Embodied Astrology Course (On Demand)
https://divineharmony.com/embodied-astrology/ 

TESTIMONIALS 

Between the Stargate class and the Shadow Class journey last year, I am doing such deep work, which will have ripple affects beyond the personal, I am sure. Such powerful offerings and containers Divine Harmony! From the bottom of my soul, thank you so much!!!  

~Elizabeth

I’m so grateful I somehow came to tune into you a few years ago.   You introduced me to Shadow Work, you got me interested in Astrology, and you’re just a pretty amazing and inspiring human being.  I am very excited to be studying under you yet again, I will be signing up for my next class with you shortly :) 

~Maria

I continue to re-visit the Astrology and Your Shadow Master Class practices. Such good stuff! I see myself continuing to take classes with you and apprenticing with you eventually. I love the material you bring in and your teaching style!

~Meridith

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your offering. I’ve done a lot of shadow work over the last 4-5 years, and while I made progress, having guidance and a path to follow led to even deeper understanding of my “why’s”. Looking forward to working more with you in the future. 

~Amy

Throughout (Astrology & Your Shadow) my awareness of myself has grown and the lessons and practices are perfect for continuing my journey. I am deeply grateful for your teachings. Thank you again for sharing your gifts, knowledge and wisdom.

~Lilian