The week of March 1st - 7th It's a Brave new World

There is a very interesting pattern this week involving Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto.  What needs to come to the surface?  What do we feel strongly about?  This powerful combination seems to be the perfect energetic analogy for the "Shadow"  at work.

Carl Jung coined this term.  I will do my best to describe it.  The shadow is a part of us that we don't want to share with others.  A part of us we see as bad or may not even see in ourselves.  This can be expressed as  judgements we make about others.  We think we would never behave the way that person did.   When we say NOT ME!  Yes, that is your shadow.   

These behaviors can be about Sex, Relationships, Work Ethics, Appearance, Belief Systems, etc.  When we are defensive and get triggered by something being said to or about us.  This is Shadow material.  

The Shadow can also include positive traits.  No one in my family sings well; I could never do that.  When you admire someone who is doing what you would love to do but have million excuses for why you can't.  That is a repressed side of yourself.  

The book "The Shadow Effect" by Deepak Chopra, Debbie Ford, and Marianne Williamson was very helpful to me.  You can take training at http://www.debbieford.com  Therapists and coaches are recommended on her website.  Addictions can be a sign that you are running from your shadow.  Your life doesn't have to be completely out of control to need Shadow work.  You may just be feeling a little dissatisfied.  The mid life crisis is an expression of the Shadow breaking through.

If you felt accepted while growing up; if you were not severely wounded by criticism you may not have a large Shadow.  Growing up without some criticism is unusual since criticism is how adults teach what is acceptable and unacceptable.  If these behaviors were rejected before the age of 6 they may be completely subconscious.   You may have watched another child get punished for something and made the decision you didn't want the same thing to happen to you.  In that moment you reject that behavior.  That behavior may be inconvenient but not actually harmful.  Like being hyperactive or asking too many questions.  Most people experience their shadow as acceptable until it is no longer working for them.

Fear is always at the root of our Shadow.  If you distill any core emotion like anger, jealousy, or greed you will find fear.  Fear of lack, fear of shame, fear of being harmed, fear of being violated; the list is endless.  You can begin shadow work by looking at what you fear.  Examine all of your beliefs about yourself and others.  It's hard work and may last a lifetime.  I stumbled upon this concept when I found the book mentioned above back in the Fall. 

You may also find Teal Swan helpful; she has a number of Shadow Work videos. http://www.tealswan.com

 May we all continue to journey into greater self awareness and love.

                                                                                                Music
I pushed the button to the radio in my car and this song was playing.  Funny!  Perfect title for the Blog.  I promise to introduce new musical genres in the future, but this was a funny coincidence I couldn't ignore.

This is an old painting from a time when I painted from the subconscious. Do you think it was trying to tell me something?