Welcome back to our Shadow Work series. We’ve spent the month exploring the layers of our shadow—from our triggers and limiting beliefs to our hidden desires and patterns of self-sabotage. We’ve been shining a light into the darkest corners of our psyche, and now, it’s time to listen. Today, we are going to give our shadow a voice, allowing it to speak freely without censorship or judgment.
Our journal prompt for today is: "If my shadow could speak freely, what would it ask for right now?" If you don’t already have one, here is a fun journal.
This is an exercise in Active Imagination, a technique developed by Carl Jung to communicate directly with the unconscious. It’s about setting aside your rational mind and allowing the deepest, most repressed parts of you to express their needs. Don't think about the answer; simply write down the first thing that comes to mind, no matter how illogical, uncomfortable, or selfish it may sound. If you really want your conscious mind out of the way, try writing with your non-dominant hand.
Your shadow's request might be surprising. It could ask for something you've long denied yourself, such as:
- "I want to rest." This might come from a part of you that has been driven by perfectionism and has been exhausted for years, craving a break from the relentless pressure.
- "I want to be angry." This could be a voice from a part of you that has been suppressing its rage, asking for permission to feel its power and set a much-needed boundary.
- "I want to be seen." This might be a yearning from the part of you that has been silenced or hidden, asking for validation and a space to exist without judgment.
- "I want to feel." This could be a plea from a part of you that has been numb for so long, using distractions to avoid emotional pain. It's asking for the courage to feel both joy and sorrow.
The reason this exercise is so powerful is that the shadow is not just a storehouse of our flaws. It's also the keeper of our unexpressed wisdom, our deepest truths, and our unlived potential. The shadow is a wise guide, and its requests are not meant to harm us. They are a cry for balance. If your life is too much about giving, your shadow will ask to receive. If your life is too much about control, your shadow will ask to let go.
By listening to these requests, you are taking the most crucial step in shadow work: moving from a place of conflict to a place of conscious collaboration. You are acknowledging that you are not just your conscious mind, but a complex whole being with needs that extend beyond what you can rationally understand.
This week, commit to giving your shadow a voice. Sit in silence, take a deep breath, and let the first words that come to your mind flow onto the page. You don't have to act on what it says immediately. The act of listening itself is the most powerful form of healing. It is a profound act of self-love that honors every part of you, not just the ones you have chosen to show the world.
If you want more tips and support, find me on TikTok, find me on TT:@ starseedsarah. Let's continue this journey to balance and purpose, and let our energy show what we choose to focus on – success, love & courage!
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