Can we illumine our shadows?

So what is our shadow self? 

What definition does science give for the natural phenomenon of shadows?

Science tells us that a shadow is created where light is hidden from a space or blocked.  This creates a darker area where it is more difficult to see.  It is perceived as being shaded and less bright.  If an area is completely enveloped in shadow it may be an area of total pitch black darkness.  It will be an area without color or form. 

Light is what gives these objects in the dark their shape and definition.  It illumines those hidden things and gives a meaning and purpose to reality.  As science tells us at the core level, we are all just packets of light quanta reflecting the hologram of the universe back giving consciousness to the matter created in the interconnection of the subatomic realms as space connects with time in all directions at once.  The blocking of the sun from what is being perceived almost makes it disappear in a way.  A shadow will conceal or distort what is truly there.  It will keep what is real masked and in the dark.  And so it is with us...

Carl Jung focused a great deal of his work on revealing and working with one's shadow self.  He was very interested in tearing away at those hidden constructs in our psyche which form negative aspects of the ego self.  The ego being that face which is put on for the public to see and judge with its masks and filters.  These efforts were made to study and know how the subconscious and unconscious mind work were so that he could learn and understand how to free our personality and persona from those negative behaviors and actions which have defined us and caused our reactions to the world. 
His early work with Freud helped him to see how those aspects of ourselves that are imprinted on our subconscious mind at a very early age are able to dictate how we will act and be for our entire lives if attention and work is not done to adjust our behaviors and destinies.  He wanted to help show us how we can free our experience from the difficulties we create for ourselves in our life by becoming more conscious and aware.
His work looked at through the scope of Buddhism or Hindu perspective has us viewing the release of our attachments as a first step to breaking down our ego self to get to the deeper parts of our experience, those parts which are hidden, a.k.a. our shadow selves.  It is those parts which we either can't even see ourselves, or those parts which we desperately try to look away from that form our ego mind and shape the way we interact with and view the world around us. 

Jung recognized, just as the Buddhist, Sufi, Essene and Hindu monks have understood for thousands of years now, that in order to reach those higher states of being and consciousness (some call samadhi, moksha, nirvana, enlightenment, being in the christ-like or buddha state) we must illuminate our shadows in all aspects of the self.  Every great master in history has had to rise above turmoil to achieve their enlightened state.

So how on earth could we possibly do that?

This daunting task which most people shy away from or vehemently fight against will shake a person to the very core of their existence.  That is precisely the process though, to strip away all aspects of the self until we can see what is truly there.  We need to shine a spotlight on every aspect of our selves from the simple flaws we might not see all the way to the deep dark skeletons some keep tucked away from the world.  It is only by examining and revealing all aspects of ourselves that we can work through those difficult shadows. 

The first and most important step though in working through something difficult, as explained by any effective major psychological teaching is to recognize what is there, and owning it.  Embracing our shadows, losing the fears we drown our lives in, will help us to overcome those aspects we can't seem to rise out of.  Admitting and owning ones flaws and struggles us a task for the courageous, for we must have resolve and strength if we are to endure our undoing to be able to give our consciousness the reboot it deserves. Just as Bill W. tells the world with AA, the first step is admitting that there is something to improve.  It is acknowledging that we are imperfect.

Can you see your imperfections?

The hardest part of our journey is recognizing where we are and taking steps to move beyond what we are and what situation we came into on this earthly plane.

Let's work together to rediscover our true selves...

Let's follow Peter Pan's lead as he found his shadow and reattached it to himself, just as he made himself whole again by embracing his shadow, so too can we!

Light for your path...

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