Shadow Work Journey

Shadow work is the practice of exploring our unconscious mind to uncover what we might be hiding from ourselves. Sometimes these hidden parts can block us from what we're desiring or trying to achieve in our lives.

It can be confronting, so I've created this meditation to gently guide you into your shadow work practice. This is perfect for beginners to shadow work or those that like to be held a little more in their practice.

Note: Meditation begins with a short introduction to Shadow Work.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to this shadow work practice.

Shadow work can often sound dark and ominous and in some cases it can be quite confronting and uncomfortable as it shows you the things that you're ignoring or not wanting to see.

But shadow work can be an incredible practice to help release all those patterns and stagnated energy that might be holding you back from aligning you with what it's meant for you in this moment,

In this time.

And I think sometimes we can rely too heavily on the high vibey fluffy meditations to make us feel good and inspired but sometimes actually feel those experience to live those experiences the ones you cultivate through these fluffy meditations it requires you to excavate the stories and beliefs beneath it which is where shadow work can come in.

So as you move into the practice today just want you to take a moment to honor yourself for taking this time for yourself for allowing yourself to glimpse into the messy parts of your life the parts that maybe you feel a bit icky about and uncomfortable about.

Just honor your bravery and courage in this moment to sit in this meditation and with that make sure you meet yourself with compassion for whatever comes up today the emotions the thoughts the memories and if at any moment it becomes too much today show that compassion and kindness for yourself and know that where you're at today may be different to where you were at yesterday and different to where you'll be tomorrow it's all welcome here and this isn't a linear journey no matter how much we wish it was sometimes but just know that you showing up here for this is incredible and you should be so proud of yourself.

So once you're ready I invite you to take a comfortable seat with your spine straight and hands resting in your lap or on your knees you can wriggle your hips a little bit or roll your neck just settling yourself down and making sure you're in a position that feels good for you that you can relax and deepen into.

Typically in my practices I encourage movement to shift stagnated energy but for shadow work I find sitting in stillness to be more powerful it stops us from using movement as a crutch to distract from the uncomfortable feelings that may come up so I invite you to remain in stillness where you can of course do what best serves you and if remaining in forced stillness hinders your surrender and depth in this practice and please shift where you need to.

So if you haven't already you can close down your eyes if that feels good for you today and as you settle begin to deepen your breath deep inhales and even deeper exhales.

Make sure to lengthen your breath to a point that feels good and nourishing to you and with each exhale giving yourself permission to drop a little deeper turning your attention inwards letting go of the world around you just for a little while releasing any projection on what your day has been like or what it will be and just letting yourself be in this moment being present right now.

With each exhale just let yourself relax and surrender slowing down your mind letting yourself drop into that void style state.

This may take some time take your time it is all good.

If any thoughts arise trying to distract you just gently witness them and come back to your breath.

You may feel like you're bumping up against the edge of relaxation you might be struggling to drop in today.

As I said just honour where you're at but continue to breathe and see if you can nudge up against that resistance.

Gently pressing against it and maybe through it to reach that state of stillness.

And if you can't maybe today just let yourself brush up against those edges feel what it's like.

And once you're settled into this state of stillness continuing to take long and deep breaths.

Begin to focus slightly less on the breath and more on this void state that you may be resting in.

Become the witnesser and as you sit here watch the emotions that come up the thoughts the memories.

If any emotions do come up allow them to brush over you that might mean there are tears might be flares of anger just watch them for now and see what lies within it.

And with that said try not to get too fixated on anything that comes up.

Acknowledge each moment and then settle back into the stillness.

If you find yourself closing off to anything you can sit up a little bit straighter maybe press your chest out a little more.

A physical representation of opening and being receptive.

To the messages that might be rushing past you.

And of course if you come up against anything that feels too uncomfortable,

Too confronting at any moment you can ground yourself back to remind yourself that you're safe where you are.

You can run your hands along your legs press the hands your heart.

Make a physical movement that just reminds you where you are and then if you feel comfortable you can drop back in.

But where you feel safe and comfortable to do so I invite you to brush up against these edges to nudge up against these parts that make you uncomfortable and just see what's just on the other side of it.

Just glimpse what's on the other side of this discomfort.

What messages are there?

What do you need to know?

What are you not feeling?

What are you not looking at?

And with those truths let yourself feel if at any moment you feel yourself coming up and out if you feel yourself coming too much into your head and out of your body come back to your breath with each exhale visualize yourself dropping back into your body coming back to that stillness to that void state not judging not getting angry this is all a practice just come back if there's any questions in this moment that you would like to ask your subconscious if you'd like to ask this stillness this space you can do so now sit in patience waiting for an answer if there is one and if not that's okay it's not meant to be in a moment I'm going to fade out the music just for 30 seconds or so I invite you to let yourself sit in the silence and see what arises in the silence doesn't make you more uncomfortable does it relax you more just witness for 30 seconds how you feel in pure silence you now I'm going to begin to guide you out of the practice you can remain here for as long as you choose otherwise begin to deepen your breath again taking three final deep breaths and in this moment just appreciating yourself for taking this journey even if you're feeling a bit unsettled at the moment flustered uncomfortable still be grateful that you showed up for this practice so once you've taken your next deep breath you can begin to expand your awareness out of your body slowly guiding yourself out of this void state you can begin to wriggle your fingers and your toes maybe rolling your neck and your shoulders taking a big stretch if that feels good you can become aware of the sounds around you the textures touching your skin and once you open your eyes blink around and just take in the beauty that's around you if from here you need to have a big cry you can do that you can scream into a pillow be gentle with yourself show that compassion maybe you'd like to journal this work can be difficult at times and other times it can feel extremely refreshing and relaxing as you integrate what came up for you today just take your time you'll yourself give yourself a hug and take each moment as you need to thank you so much for showing up to this for showing up to yourself for doing this work for yourself I hope it has bought light to some things and creates incredible experiences for you from here on out so thank you and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day

Reviews

This practice was great for setting the stage and establishing the stillness to go deeper. I did not get to that level during the practice itself but I continued to explore finding those edges of resistance immediately after the practice. And so the meditation was very helpful overall.

Thank you 🙏