Identifying & Integrating our Personal Shadow

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"Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual's conscious life, the blacker and denser it is." - Carl Jung.

Our personal shadow is everything we don't want to be but could be under certain circumstances. It is formed from our cast-off traits as we adapt to our family's values. By the time we reach adulthood, most of us have a long list of unacceptable feelings, thoughts, and fantasies we would never admit to.

As we mature, our banished aspects try to return from the inner wilderness they were sent. As they activate in our unconscious, we project them onto others. During this period, we become righteous and critical, accusing others of our own impulses. Many become trapped in this stage by finding communities that reinforce their projections by placing all bad qualities in others as they reinforce their self-image of purity.

Reclaiming our shadow requires courage and humility. We come to see it is immoral to accuse others of our own sins. Turning away from scapegoating, we find the true battle is not with others but in our own hearts. Through self-acceptance, we discover our darkest impulses can be harnessed to higher and creative ends.

We can turn our inner lead into gold and discover the transformation is a kind of medicine. The energy we used to repress our shadow flows back into our bodies and minds, creating a vitalizing authority.

LOOK & GROW

[dlgm]

Working with my Shadow in the past six months has been one of the most profound growth experiences of my life.

[theonejokeking]

As a child of therapists I have always felt very, very aware of my flaws but I didnt know how to fix them. However, what I am learning in a pretty brutal way is that my worst flaws are the ones that I project onto others. NOT what I thought they were. That has been an absolute game changer for me. When I'm trying to truly figure out my stuff and correct it I look at the most impactful negative issue I have with the closest people to me over time. The issues you think you're having are very real, but they are symptoms not the real problem. That's the overall gist here.

This stuff is mind blowing. Jung is hands down my favorite psychologist. I have done incredible work on myself with very simple concepts he presents.

[damianalbanis]

constant disapline for 7 years to control the ego but as I learnt to be mindful taught me about other aspects of my self that need to address I am content at the moment at peace

[jimmysroom]

"i would never do that, i dont even want to go there" - No, Go there.
Yes! Yes and yes!

[LasVegasSand_s]

35:30 Joseph's suggestion here is pure gold.

[JXN]

Only about 6 minutes in and im blown away by the allegory of the shadow being cast out to the "wilderness" to fend for itself so to speak. This explains so much for me

[marlenearmin]

Those raised as girls are often told, verbally or no, not to be too cerebral, too adventurous, too idea-oriented because we are expected to always be physically and emotionally available, and those *positive* traits are thought to come at the expense of physical and emotional availability.

[BenAvodot]

Great episode! Ty. I gained some real healing from your discussion about the shadow, how to integrate and honor it, that it’s not a bogeyman, but has with it a treasure just beneath the surface. To let go of innocence and claim ones own shadow and reject Snow White as she was before she eats the apple. I feel better about my encounters with my own. I’m less afraid now. Thank you. And the dream interpretation was impressive, bordering on spectacular. I know, such hyperbole, but great job. All three of you, never really stepping on each other, but each one contributing.

[ChriseldaPhoenix]

It's simple. The shadow is the unbridled and raw truth of the self and of the world. As above so below. The raw materials for our alchemization toward the philosopher's stone... the SELF.

[guavacupcake]

17:00 Joseph talks about when you repress an emotion it splits off into shadow and your personality. Deep down you know the feeling of not being repressed and that feeling interacts with your current situation and that’s how you get projection. The worse the repression the more intense the projection

31:50 shadow is compensating the persona
35:20 Befriend the shadow, introverted: imagine the shadow, interview, talk with them, write a play, meet with them, what to ask to help understand them
43:10 In fairy tales when a figure dies, it means the quality is integrated

[kevin_heslip]

One of the clearest explanations of this topic that I’ve heard. Especially for your discussion on projection, an idea that’s eluded me despite dozens of hours of research. Thank you.

[marlenearmin]

34 and working on unpacking my bag, discovering things I wonder why I felt the need to put there to begin with. Sometimes, and I think especially for those of us who are wired differently than the norm, those we trust to guide us socially are not always reasonable. They try to make us in their image, rather than a healthy, thriving version of ourselves.
I needed this. Thank you, TJL.

[SyntropicWisdom]

Ow how golden the fairy tale of Snowwhite exploring is.. I love how open and frank you all are being as you explore this subject 😊

[joannas]

I love Joseph's voice.. Radio voice :D when he speaks I feel like I'm listening to an audiobook haha soo nice and relaxing!

[dubleffler]

Hi from Australia, This Jungian Life. This is a really enjoyable and insightful discussion. Anyone interested in symbolism in dreams, this is worth listening to. Thank you.

[bebaba]

Boys don't cry, and good girls don't fight and never shout to anyone 😢

[RawandCookedVegan]

This is great. Would be nice to be able to see the speakers.

[JenNagleInk]

A perspective that has been in my mind is that the shadow is the things that reemerge when the subconscious finds a mirror. The mirror is another person who our shadow gets exposed by. If we know about projection and perception we know that there are different points of view we discover through the mirror if we are wise enough to see that the gift behind what we see is a different perspective. I think the shadow is formed from fear even in the slightest way like pushing away a feeling knowing it will be there for later. I agree that it is all about regression in an understanding that we dont know what we dont know and it can be handled when and if we do get a chance to discover what it means.

[marlonguimaraes]

This channel is everything i dreamed of

[damianalbanis]

but crying and releasing allows that anger level down!! the more we learn to cry and release the milder the anger gets!!💯🌈😇🌱🌄☀️🌼