What Is In The SHADOW?
The last time I talked about Carl Jung’s quote “We do not get to enlightenment by imagining figures of Light, but by making the darkness conscious”. I have had some more thoughts about that. This darkness that he speaks of is also referred to by Jung as The Shadow.
The Shadow appears a lot in dreams. The dream self is nudging us along to becoming more self actualized or individuated or whatever terminology you wish to use for it. We can only become more of who we really are by facing our limitations and blocks and turning them into free flowing, positive energy. Like many circumstances in life, contemplating “the doing” is usually worse than the actual doing. What is gained by facing our shadow is worth any pain or uncertainty we have to slog through. Most shadows can be faced in waking life and transformed easily by a slow progression of small steps. Some can be faced in the dream-state, and transformed on the spot. Most shadow material is not as scary as it may first seem, but once in while a big one shows up and then you will want to seek the assistance of a therapist, spiritual coach, or mentor.
We usually think of the Shadow as the monster chasing us, or the threatening character lurking around the corner, or a variety of other fearsome scenarios. It can, however, be the antithesis.
The Shadow can be a positive element that we are avoiding. How many of us have a gift or a talent which we either take for granted or keep hidden because of some belief that we aren’t good enough or due to the memory of someone laughing or criticizing us at some time in the past? Our dream self will address these shadows as well. Have you dreamed at any time of hiding something, or being afraid of something you couldn’t see, or finding a room in your house you didn’t know was there? Maybe the Shadow you were dreaming was your disowned passion and beauty. We can be as diligently terrified of our greatness as we are of our monsters.
This brings to mind the well known quotation (never mind the controversy over who authored it)…
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond imagination. It is our light more than our darkness which scares us. We ask ourselves – who are we to be brilliant, beautiful, talented, and fabulous. But honestly, who are you to not be?"
Keep this idea in mind as you study your dreams, maybe you are being asked to acknowledge your positive shadow, your greatness, in addition to a monster or two.
Keep on Dreaming!
Julia Moen