CARL JUNG SHADOW WORK MODULE

Chuck Siazar

“An unexamined life is not worth living.” –Socrates

-this is his famous dictum during his trial and subsequently sentenced to death
for impiety and corrupting the youth.

“Anything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of

ourselves.”-Carl Jung

INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS A SHADOW?
It is the dark side of our personality consisting primarily of our ancient,
negative human emotions and impulses like greed, hatred, fear, guilt, shame or other
limiting beliefs. It is regarded as our unconscious behavior. (you can be conscious yet
powerless with it)
-Anything that we perceive as inferior, evil or unacceptable becomes part of our
shadow. This is because we DENY them as part of us. So as we aspire to be WHOLE, it
is essential to integrate and befriend these shadows in our life.
- In Psychology, this is a term for everything we cannot see in ourselves.

WHAT IS A PERSONAL SHADOW? (Carl Jung)

This is the disowned self. It represents the parts of us that we no longer claim
to be our own, which includes our inherent positive qualities.
-We cannot eliminate our shadows. They stay with us as our dark brother or
sister. Although in our attempt to get rid of them, we deny them as our own, in effect,
it becomes a repressed emotion imbedded in our subconscious mind.
-Trouble arises when we fail to see them, because it is only through a direct
light that we cast a shadow.

Examples:
1. I know a lot of psychologists who took their own lives, even though they are
great in observing another’s shadow. In an attempt to protect a self-image
from any controversies, they hardly acknowledge their own shadows. So
when they are hit with scandals, they go to the last resort of ending their
lives. (Priest in Naga. Psychologist + rape of a minor child accusation)
2. Famous celebrities, artists or musicians can showcase their great gifts from
one area of their life, while remaining unaware of their poor behavior in
other areas; ended up in suicide.

Discovering, exploring and walking with our shadows can guide us to greater
authenticity, creativity, energy and personal awakening.
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE SHADOW?
The Innate of a human being is love and benevolence. As a young child we only
know kindness, love and generosity. But as the child grows, he starts expressing
anger, selfishness and greed. These light and dark emotions are part of our shared
humanity.
-In the process, we associate them as bad or good and then we only accept the
former while reject the other. Thus, in rejecting the dark side, unconsciously we
repressed them but still part of us in the subconscious mind.
-In Psychology, Carl Jung said, that this act of suppression leads to
PROJECTION. We project onto others anything we bury within us. Usually, this
happens unconsciously.
-Example: When you get irritated when someone is rude to you, it is likely that
you haven’t owned your own rudeness.
-As a child, we have our BASIC NEEDS like food, security and sense of
belongingness. These needs are both biological and instinctual.
- Every threat to our basic needs when we were children, we adjust to satisfy
them and to adopt with the external world. The process of adjusting is called “defense
mechanism.” Carl Jung said that all the unaccepted or discouraged parts of us in the
first 20 years of our lives are bundled together and swept out of our conscious
awareness.
-“There is no light without a shadow and no psychic wholeness without
imperfection.” – Carl Jung
- In Ancient Greek Spirituality, they regard shadows as autonomous gods and
goddesses and once you ignore them they will turn against you and will destroy you.
-Any part we disown within us turns against us.

3 STEPS TO IDENTIFY PERSONAL SHADOWS

1. Watch your emotional reactions

- Remember that shadows are real illusions. They are deceptive
because our defense mechanisms (ego) are designed to repress our
shadows and keep it out of view.
2. Engage in Inner Dialogue
- Focus on the Heart Center, cultivate self-compassion, cultivate self-
awareness (mindfulness: non-judgmental awareness), be
courageously honest and write down your discoveries
3. Challenge the Good Part
- From our childhood we have received many praises such as “good
boy” or “good girl.” This identification stuck with us. (because what
we reject to be part of us is the bad.) This INTESIFIES THE SPLIT
between our conscious identity and our shadows.
- Make a list of all your positive qualities, then HIGHLIGHT the opposite.
Try to identify the opposite within you.
 - Example: As you identify yourself as self-disciplined person, you are
repressing your lazy part. That lazy part is hiding in the shadows and
will constantly challenge your disciplined part.
- To end the inner conflict, identify yourself with this lazy part. See it!
Accept it! Make friends with it! Know that it is okay to be lazy too. (so
that will not be guilty of resting)

Benefits of Shadow Work

Shadow work gives us incredible opportunities for growth and self-development.

But this is not a popular topic because who really enjoys owning their flaws,
weaknesses, fears, guilt or selfishness? Focusing on our strengths is more fun and
self-affirming. So the following are the benefits of shadow work:

1. Improved relationships
- As you integrate your shadows and make peace with your darker self,
you see yourself more clearly. You become whole and grounded.
Thus, as you accept you own darker parts, it is easier to accept the
shadow in others. Theirs will not trigger you easily.
2. Clearer Perception
- As you integrate your shadows, you see your authentic self, which
gives you more realistic assessment of who you are. You do not
perceive yourself as “too big” or “too small.” You are given a higher,
wider and cleaner LENS of understanding on how to view the world.
With self-awareness, you assess the environment more accurately.
3. Enhanced Energy and Physical Health
- Carl Jung said that, you liberate a tremendous reservoir of energy
you were unconsciously investing in repressing these unconscious
dark parts of ourselves. This can bring us inner strength and sense of
balance, providing us grit to take on life’s challenges.
4. Psychological Integration and Maturity
- As long as we deny our shadows, a sense of WHOLENESS and UNITY
just an illusion. How can we feel a sense of wholeness and balance
with a divided mind? Hence, this is crucial in achieving mature
adulthood or even integrating our awakened thoughts about duality.
5. Greater Creativity
- The best benefit of shadow work is the unlocking more of our
CREATIVE POTENTIALS. According to many psychologists,
creativeness is the spontaneous occurrence in mentally healthy and
integrated individuals.