#SHADOW WORK JOURNAL PDF HOW TO#

The shadow self represents everything we’ve learned about how to behave in a particular context. They teach us how to behave and become the person we think we should be. These lessons come from parents, teachers, friends, siblings, and society at large. Where did we learn our shadow behavior?Īs a child grows into adulthood, he or she learns what behaviors are considered acceptable and unacceptable. When we fail to meet those expectations, we experience guilt or shame. We use the ego to act according to social norms. The shadow self is often associated with the ego-the part of ourselves that makes decisions, controls impulses, and acts in socially appropriate ways. You might even deny having those feelings altogether.

He defined it as “the part of ourselves we are ashamed of.” In psychology, the shadow self refers to our personality’s darker, less acceptable aspects.įor example, you might feel guilty about being angry, greedy, jealous, or selfish. What is the “shadow” in shadow work?Ĭarl Jung coined the term shadow self in his book Psychological Types. It involves getting to know your shadow self and all the baggage that comes with it, such as repressed feelings, thoughts, and memories.ĭoing this helps jumpstart the healing process, particularly for people wrestling with past trauma. Put simply, shadow work is a type of personal development that allows you to dig deep into your subconscious mind and find any issues you may have.

What can you do with a shadow work journal?.

Write your heart and feelings out and allow your shadow side to guide you on what healing and work needs to be done. You may find yourself being drawn to only one or certain aspects of them and that’s 100% ok! They may even lead you to write more prompts for yourself. I strongly suggest shadow work for those who feel ready to dive into this and are getting the mental health support they need in addition to doing their shadow work.Īllow these prompts to be a guide for you. If you feel triggered by a certain prompt you probably need to focus on that one the most. In my opinion, shadow work is the truest form of self-love, as it’s about loving and accepting ALL OF YOURSELF.Īs a precaution, these journal prompts may cause triggers. The more shadow work you do the easier it is to notice your shadow side and honor it accordingly.

While first getting into it can be uncomfortable and you may find yourself wanting to avoid it but it brings so much clarity and love into your life. Shadow work is so important as part of a spiritual journey. We all have a shadow side, it’s part of our human experience! But we can tend to ignore and repress our shadow side which can cause a lot of triggers and harm in our lives. I love journal prompts for shadow work beginners or those who are looking to incorporate regular shadow work into their lives. I created some shadow work journal prompts for Leo season and the energy Leo season can bring us. Shadow work is the truest form of self-love there is as it's about embracing ALL OF OURSELVES, both light and shadow. You may be feeling more called to do this healing work right now and here is why! Shadow work is a passion of mine and something I love to talk about and share ways to start doing the work. Happy Leo season! I wanted to start a theme of journal prompts in shadow work for each zodiac season.

Shadow work journal pdf