writerSandy
  • home
  • bio
  • events
  • teaser tuesday
  • blog
  • book of shadows
  • potions & herbs
  • contact

Hollow Bones

"In our life there is a time of wonder. Walking with the ancient ones as they share their world. And the dancing voices are carried by the wind. As I walk this sacred ground, I know I'm not alone, and I thank Mother Earth."  ~Alex Davis, Seneca Cayuga

Shadow Dance

1/13/2017

1 Comment

 
Our dark side was called our personal "shadow" by Carl Jung. It's everything about ourselves we do not know, or refuse to know: egotism, forbidden sexual desires, violent urges, unpopular proclivities. But it also includes positive, untapped potential, those qualities we admire in others but can't see in ourselves.

 The challenge is in accepting ourselves all the way to the bottom, admitting and holding, rather than denying and burying our arrogance, our self-centeredness, our will to coerce others, our shame, and any other dark truths we think we can't face. By hiding objectionable personality traits, we lose the chance to rework and move through them. Befriending the Shadow makes fear an ally. It enables us to live more authentically.

Picture
In his book Shadow Dance, David Richo, a psychotherapist, shows how to use active mindfulness to work with our shadow side when it manifests in personal life, family interaction, religion, and the world around us.
 
 Richo formerly practiced as a Catholic priest, but I think the "feel" of the book is more mystical. His learning is truly ecumenical--he draws on his readings of the poets, Greek and other mythologies, Hinduism, Zen, and his experience of the Holy Spirit to illuminate the path into the dark parts of our human nature. He sees the shadow as containing great power and beauty, if we can only stop avoiding the teachings contained within it.
 
The book contains essays which lead you down the path of doing "shadow work," with each essay followed by a section of journal exercises and topics to think about. These "to do" sections help the reader to work with the ideas in the book, rather than just read about them. Not all the exercises will appeal to everyone, but there is such a wide range offered in each section that there is surely something for every reader.
 
I use this book for a class I teach in Shadow Work, and there are lots of tears in every class. Looking inward and facing personal demons is hard work. If you approach the exercises in the book with honesty, you will be exhausted every session. You will also be enlightened, awakened and liberated.
 
Does one's shadow work ever end? Should you ever stop questioning your own reasons for behavior—or the motivations and behavior of people around you?  Between severing my old coven ties last year, Reclaiming Witchcamp, Samhain, Krampus at Yule, and some deep personal examination of my political and moral beliefs, I lived in Shadow Land for most of 2016. After listening to so many people saying, "F-off and good riddance" to the old year, it appears I was not the only one struggling with the dark side of life, and my own possible contributions.
 
And, based on my New Year's tarot spread, it looks like Shadow will be coming to visit a few more times in 2017. Thankfully, I now feel I'm ready to embrace my darker shadow side, and her opportunities for growth.
 
Note: If you start this book and decide it's too much too soon, take a look at Richo's earlier works, such as How to Be an Adult in Relationships.

1 Comment

    Author

    Writer, witch, mother and wife. Order of importance is a continual shuffle.

    Blog Updates

    Yes, I want to become a member of the Blog Updates Mailing List.
    Enter your e-mail address:

    Please confirm your e-mail address:


    Archives

    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    April 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    February 2016
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    March 2014
    September 2013
    April 2013
    July 2012

    Categories

    All
    13 Yule Lads
    Beach Wedding
    Beautiful Bride
    Beltane
    Blood Moon Eclipse
    Bucket List
    Caganer Figurine
    Candy Cane Flavors
    Carlton Hill
    Christmas
    Christmas Cat
    Christmas Pickle
    Climate Change
    Corvid Magic
    Crescent Moon Crossing
    Crow Magic
    David Richo
    Deaths In The Desert
    Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival
    Essential Workers
    Free Book
    Holiday
    Hryla
    Human Smuggling
    Iceland
    Informal Marriage Ceremony
    Jarl Jung
    Love
    Love Potion
    Marriage Blessing
    Maypole
    Mexican Border
    Mindfulness
    Mother's Day
    NaNoWriMo
    Nativity Scenes
    Newlyweds
    Northern Arizona Snow
    No Tomorrow
    Pandemic
    Proposed Import Tax
    Psychology
    Raven Magic
    Scotland
    Shadow Dance
    Shadow Self
    Shadow Work
    Sinoloan Cartel
    Snow Days
    Snow Fun
    Super Moon Eclipse
    Suspense Writing
    Tarot
    Travel
    Trump
    Weird Holiday Traditions
    Wendy Rule
    Yule
    Zen

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.