SHADOW

R
WO K

ON RA
DOW
A

CE SH

WORK +
RACE
By Carla Russo
CARLA RUSSO
Journalist + transformational mentor.
I've worked in national news, covering race, politics and
breaking news for almost a decade. I'm now a senior
editor on my team.

I mentor community leaders, artists and entrepreneurs

through deep + radical transformations.

Modalities I use:
Shadow work, transformative storytelling, Human Design,
neurolinguistic programming, Emotional Freedom Technique, etc.
THE What's a shadow?

SHADOW
SHADOW was coined by a late Swiss psychiatrist
named Carl Jung + has been co-opted by people
like me.

Originally, Jung’s “shadow” was one of many

archetypes of the human psyche specifically
representing “repressed” aspects that we’ve
unconsciously shoved deep into our subconscious.

And, as Jung once put it, the shadow represents:

“The thing a person has no wish to be.”

Basically: Shadows are any personality traits that

you believe (consciously or unconsciously) is "bad"
or "wrong."
PROJECTION SHADOW + PROJECTION

When you have a shadow that you avoid, ignore or repress, the
shadow casts a projection on your reality. These projections
manifest in your life in many different ways.

It can cause unnecessary stress, guilt, shame, passive

aggressive behavior, bitterness, etc.

For example, if someone cuts you off mid-sentence, you begin

to take it as your opinion not being important, which means
that you have nothing good to add to the conversation, which
you then make mean that people don't respect your opinion,
or that you sound dumb when you speak, which means that
you’re inherently bad.

But, without the projection, it could also mean that the other
person in this conversation might’ve just been really excited
to say whatever they had to say.

Both can be true, but the mind + its projected shadow

attaches to only one of those outcomes.
“Until you make the
unconscious conscious,
it will direct your life
and you will call it fate.”
WHY RACE + RACISM + COLONIZATION

RACISM? If you live in the U.S., you're living in a society built from
inherent racism and the idea of white supremacy. The country
and its economy was built by enslaved people — and by the
incorrect belief that they could "own" another person and that
their race was somehow inferior.

The country was also founded on the false belief that they
were more worthy of owning the land in the U.S., literally
taking indigenous people's land and culture away.

This is why it's important to know, understand and respect the

experience of Black Americans and indigenous people.

The white supremacy leaks into other communities of color,

too. We all suffer for it.

For me, anti-racism work starts there.

When we can accept + integrate this shadow of racism, we can

begin to heal.
ON ANGER
UNDERNEATH ANGER IS A
DEEP-ROOTED PAIN
People take to the streets in protest of
racism, and anger is oftentimes the
emotion you see the most.

Recognize that the anger is

generational pain and trauma
manifesting itself.
 THE PENDULUM
THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW

OPEN FLOOR:
How have you experienced racism in your life?
How has it impacted you?
 THE PENDULUM
THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW

FEEL, REFLECT + WRITE

In what ways have you acted, thought or
behaved in a racist manner?
 THE PENDULUM
THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW

FEEL, REFLECT + WRITE

Consider what you wrote above.
Now, finish these statements in the open space below.

I have intentionally and/or unintentionally hurt people on the basis of

race by ________.

This means I am/have the capacity to be _________.

 THE PENDULUM
THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW

OPEN FLOOR
What was that experience like?

What came up for you?

Did you experience any resistance or tension?

 THE PENDULUM
THE EDGE OF LIGHTNESS

FEEL, REFLECT + WRITE

Now check in with your heart.

What does your heart have to say about all this? What does it need to
say?

What does your heart want the world to know about your intentions?
 THE PENDULUM
THE EDGE OF LIGHTNESS

DISCUSS
Now that you've experienced both sides of the spectrum of this shadow,
what do you now know about yourself?

In what ways can you address race and racism in your everyday lives?
INTENTION
+ ACTION
It is not enough to have good
intentions.

You must take action that

honors that intention.