How to Shadow Work (A Beginner’s Guide)

Introduction: Why You’re Already Ahead

I hear this question asked alot, how do I start shadow work? Well if you're interested in shadow work you're already a few miles ahead than other people. Because for many people they would like to remain asleep and do whatever they can to avoid their inner emotions or shadows. So you could also say people who are interested in shadow work have also started the awakening process also so congrats just by having an interest in shadow work means your intentions are pure and it takes a lot courage to admit that things may feel off and that you want a change in your life. But that still doesn't answer the question of How do I begin to start the healing process of shadow work?

Why We Were Never Taught This

I'll try to break it down the best I can here on to go about this. It's because we were definitely not taught about this growing up in our school systems that is for sure so it is up to us to figure this out on our own it seems.

Step 1: Trust Your Intuition

The great part is we all have a friend and helper with us at all times and that is called our own intuition or higher selves as some would call it. We have the ability to go to and draw from a wealth of information within ourselves I believe. That's how I stumbled on and figured out myself on how to go about doing shadow work. My intuition taught me how. So that is kind of like step 1 to draw on our intuition,

Step 2: Have Courage and Resolve

the next step is you have to have courage and a lot of resolve to see things through. If we are finally at a crossroads and we decide we need to change then we need courage to face our own shadows or inner demons. This takes a lot of courage.

Step 3: Asking What Needs to Be Healed

Some tricks to help find the emotions within my energy field which are stuck and need to be released is kind of like asking myself. I ask myself ok God or the universe whatever you may call it, i say creator show me something within myself that needs to be healed today.

Step 4: Using Memory to Reach Buried Emotions

Then I use my memory of my past to reach these buried emotions. I remember the sensation or pain or whatever I felt with certain memories. This gives me access to the emotion tied to that certain memory. I am then made conscious of that emotion.

Step 5: Bringing the Emotion to the Surface

This allows me to now bring that emotion to the surface to release once and for all. If it was sadness I felt then I would allow myself to cry. I process that emotion you see, i dont stuff it down anymore i validate it finally. I purge myself of it for good.

Working Through Trauma, Shame, Anger, and Hatred

And this works with any other emotions that may come up when we remember the past. It could be emotions tied to trauma like shame, anger, pain and even hatred. Yes hatred is a strong word and emotion but it is still part of us because we are human. So it would serve us in our best interest to release all forms of hatred.

If you feel hatred during shadow work, first off don't be scared of it dont run it but if you don't feel ready to tackle it that is fine too. But if you want to release hatred then here is what you can do. Recognize it for what it is and allow yourself to feel and let it course through your body. Process it much like the sadness emotion from early also. You have to allow yourself to “feel” and let it run its course. You do whatever you want scream yell punch a punching bag whatever. Just don't let yourself lose control and get yourself in trouble though.

The Core of Shadow Work

So do you see what I am saying here now? You have to validate and recognize your emotions that come up for what they are, process them and release them for good- that is true shadow work right there.

What You May Feel After a Session

I used to do sessions when I felt like I needed them where I would just vent and feel the emotion. You will probably notice you feel exhausted after finishing processing those huge emotions you have been carrying for most of your life. Heck you will probably even feel lighter after it all also.

Shadow Work as a Lifelong Process

For a lot of us who have been through major traumatic events in our pasts one little session of trauma releasing will probably not make us feel truly whole and restored to start with. I believe shadow work can be a life long process where we are like an onion with many layers to us. We may have a victory where we release a huge amount of pain and anger in one session only to find a huge amount of pain and trauma below and underneath it. I am not going to lie it can be very discouraging to find this out but that is where I say resolve comes into play. You need a lot of resolve to stick it through. Because there may be many deserts and valleys along the way on this journey.

Triggers as a Starting Point

Another way buried emotions may be trying to get your attention is when you are triggered by something. Someone may say something and you take great offense to it. This more than likely is a sign that something needs to be resolved and healed within you. So remembering and being triggered is a great way to start shadow work if you don't know where to begin and then just remember.

When Everything Feels Fine on the Surface

Emotions are funny because we can be carrying a huge amount of pent up trauma but sometimes we can even feel fine like there is nothing wrong with us. That is why it can be deceiving because it may feel numb and nothing on the surface. But kid you not there is also a raging volcano of emotion beneath the surface that needs to erupt and be released for good once and for always.

Final Thoughts

So please don't kid yourself and tell yourself that everything feels fine if you strongly suspect you need healind within. There is a lot of work that needs to be done in our society I believe, a lot of healing and processing that needs to be done also.