Embrace Your Shadow

A meditative journey to explore the shadow feelings and emotions. We will explore the polarity of the shadow impulses and find compassion for ourselves at all times. Get comfortable and let's practice the ultimate self-care: meeting with your shadow head on. The music is "Adrift Among Infinite Stars" by Scott Buckley

Transcript

Hello, My name is Jen Knox and I'm so glad you're here. So embracing the shadow, What does that mean? There are parts of our thinking or identification that we may want to ignore or hide from. These aspects of identification however, Tend to amplify if we pretend that they don't exist. So ironically, Feelings like jealousy, Longing, Worry, Shame, Or even greed are actually empowered when we try to ignore them. When we shine a spotlight on them however, We can see not only who we truly are, But also how we can listen to the information behind these feelings. So let's explore the shadow together. I invite you to find a comfy position and set an intention to be honest, Fully. This honesty is necessary to face whatever comes up with compassion. So once you're comfortable, Just begin to tune into your breath and allow your eyelids to gently close down. Allow the muscles in your face to soften, Just sinking down into the body, Checking in with yourself today, Getting really present, Really aware. Now I want you to imagine that you can feel a protective energy surrounding your body. You might see a light growing brighter with each inhale, Or you might actually feel a sort of warmth, A protective sensation. From this place of security, The safe place, I invite you to root down into your strength, Your courage, So that we can face the shadow. So initially, As you sit here, Just pose a question. What comes up for me when I think about my shadow self? What emotions or images? What reactions? What do I often try to hide from or ignore? Sit with this question, Remembering that you are strong, You are safe, And you can handle whatever answer arrives. Look at whatever's coming up squarely. So it may be a thought that you feel shame around, Or a reactivity or an emotion that you feel that you can't control. Whatever it is, Whatever's most dominant, Let it just rise to the surface. So often, When we are feeling as though we are operating from a shadow space, A place that is uncomfortable or may evoke a sense that we don't have control, Or we don't feel like we're operating from a good place, When feelings like envy and jealousy, Rage or worry, Greed, What is behind this emotion, This feeling? Perhaps for instance, On the other end of greed, There is just a desire to know that we will be taken care of. And maybe on the other side of jealousy, There is simply a desire to find inspiration and hope for ourselves in the future. So think about what it is that lives behind this shadow self. Oftentimes it's an energy that feels almost the opposite of the shadow itself. When we feel worry, It's because we care. So flipping this coin, Looking at the other side of the shadow, I invite you to lean in to the emotion or the sense that's behind the shadow. Lean into a sense that whatever it is you feel, That you need to be safe, To be taken care of, To feel connection and love, To feel purpose, Wholeness. Just feel what that is in your body. Notice that feeling. What is casting the shadow? See the brightness on the other side, Allowing the idea that wherever there is darkness, There is equal brightness on the other side that you can pull from, That you can lean into when you feel yourself wanting to ignore or run. By facing the shadow, We remember that we are the light. By facing the shadow, We remember that we are the ones who are moving forward, That the shadow is behind us. So sitting with this idea that you are pure light, The shadow cast is a reminder. The shadow cast is offering information, Showing you what it is that you truly desire, Showing you what it is that you truly are on the other side. We all have negative thoughts and so often these negative thoughts can consume us. And we forget to look to the light. We forget to look to what is actually on the other side, But there is always another side. So sitting in this light, Feeling this protection, I invite you to once again look to the shadow, Look to the emotion, The activity, The worry, The fear, The anxiety, Whatever it is. Look to it now with compassion. Look to it understanding that it's only trying to protect you, To keep you safe. Look to the shadow and thank it for this information. Look to the shadow and allow it to tell its story, Knowing that it does not define you. Coming back now into your body, Feeling your body full of light, I invite you to imagine yourself getting stronger, Clearer, More focused, More compassionate, Sitting into your strength and knowing that you have the courage to face this shadow whenever it arises, To listen to it, To offer it compassion and understand that somewhere beneath any unwanted thought is just a desire, A simple desire. And that desire comes from a place of wanting to connect or protect. And it's okay so long as we're able to look at it, Acknowledge it, Send it compassion and move forward. We're going to take three deep breaths and we're going to allow the body to fill with light. Inhale, Get bright, And exhale, Gently release. Inhale, Get bright, Exhale, Gently release. Last time, Inhale, Get bright, And exhale, Gently blink your eyes open. Find a little movement through the body. Allow a gentle smile to cross your face and feel that light within you. Feel that courage, That steadiness, That brilliance. Feel that compassion. Beautiful job. Thank you so much for exploring this concept with me today. I wish you well. I wish you all good things.