Shadow work is a practice rooted in psychology and spirituality, aimed at uncovering the hidden aspects of your personality, embracing your inner demons, and ultimately achieving greater self-awareness.

It was popularised by renowned psychologist Carl Jung and refers to the process of delving into the unexplored and often unconscious aspects of your psyche. These are the parts of yourself that you suppress, deny, or reject because they’re considered undesirable, painful, or socially unacceptable.

These suppressed emotions, fears, and desires become your “shadow” — the hidden part of your personality that can influence your behaviour and relationships without you realising it.

The goal of shadow work is to shine a light on these hidden aspects, acknowledge them, and integrate them into your conscious self. By doing so, you can gain a deeper understanding of yourself, heal emotional wounds, and achieve a higher level of self-awareness.

Shadow work techniques for self-awareness:

1. Journaling: Journaling is a powerful tool for self-reflection and exploration. Start by writing down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgment. Explore your inner thoughts and emotions to uncover patterns and recurring themes. This process can help you recognize your shadow aspects and gain insights into your behaviour.
2. Meditation: Meditation is an excellent practice to connect with your inner self. During meditation, you can focus on your thoughts, emotions, and sensations as they arise. Pay attention to any discomfort, resistance, or hidden fears that come to the surface. Meditation helps you become more aware of your inner world.
3. Dream analysis: Carl Jung believed that dreams are a window into your unconscious mind. Keeping a dream journal and analysing your dreams can reveal hidden aspects of your psyche. Look for recurring symbols, characters, or situations in your dreams, and consider what they might represent in your waking life.
4. Inner dialogue: Engage in a constructive inner dialogue with your shadow self. Imagine having a conversation with the suppressed aspects of your personality. This can help you understand their origins, fears, and desires. Through this dialogue, you can begin to integrate these aspects into your conscious awareness.
5. Therapy or counselling: Working with a trained therapist or counsellor who specialises in shadow work can provide valuable guidance and support. They can help you navigate the complex terrain of your psyche and offer tools to integrate your shadow aspects.
6. Creative expression: Art, music, dance, and other forms of creative expression can be outlets for exploring your shadow self. Allow your creativity to flow freely, and you may find that it brings hidden emotions and thoughts to the surface.
7. Self-compassion: Practice self-compassion throughout your shadow work journey. Remember that confronting your shadow can be challenging, but it’s a courageous act of self-love. Treat yourself with kindness and understanding as you explore your inner depths.

Shadow work is a profound journey of self-discovery and self-awareness. By confronting and integrating your shadow aspects, you can become more whole and authentic. Embrace your shadows and you’ll find that they hold the keys to your personal growth and self-awareness.

3 shadow work prompts to focus on trauma.

1. Revisiting the past: Take some time to reflect on a traumatic event from your past. What emotions, memories, or sensations arise when you think about it? How has this trauma influenced your thoughts, behaviours, and relationships today? Write about your experiences and any insights you gain.
2. Identifying triggers: Explore the triggers that bring up intense emotional reactions or anxiety in your life today. Are there specific situations, people, or places that trigger memories of your trauma? How do you typically respond to these triggers? Reflect on ways to cope with and heal from these triggers.
3. Healing through self-compassion: Practice self-compassion in relation to your trauma. Write a letter to your younger self who experienced the trauma. What would you say to offer comfort, understanding, and support? Maybe of the kind that you wished you had received at the time? How can you extend the same compassion to your current self as you continue your healing journey?