What Shadow Work Do You Need To Do?

Are you asking yourself, “What shadow work do I need to do?”.

Well, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve done plenty of shadow work coaching, and I’ve written many articles to help you find out what inner work you need to do.

But first, let’s make sure you understand some key ideas.

What is shadow, and what is shadow work?

The shadow is the side of yourself that’s disconnected and unfelt. It’s the part of yourself that’s been rejected since childhood, and you have no awareness of.

Shadow Work is integrating the entire spectrum of your being. It’s the intentional process of admitting the parts of yourself you’ve ignored and repressed.

The shadow is the embodiment of potential that you’ve cast away and now need to integrate.

Admitting you have an unconscious shadow is the first step to “seeing” it voluntarily.

Integrating the shadow without biting off too much is the real challenge. You want to start cultivating these shadow qualities in a safe and ritualized way in your waking life.

I recommend you check out shadow work prompts and beginner techniques.

Check out each of the sections below. If any of these sections resonate with you, then check out the suggested readings and exercises.

Shadow Work for Depression

Can you relate the any of the following?

Are you disappointed in the mindsets and behavior of humanity in general?
Do you find that what you’ve been told about the world in your youth to be untrue?
Can you see how some groups of people get far better treatment than yourself?

Take a moment and look within. Do you live out any of these unconscious beliefs?

Nobody can be trusted
I’m blameless & you’ll always forgive me
I’m always wrong
I am pure
I am helpless
The world wants to dominate me
I’ve always been a loser
Everyone is ungrateful

These are the typical unconscious beliefs that immature adults repeatedly live out.

You will unconsciously live out these positions in your relationships—even when it’s against your self-interest.

Until you become aware of this, your psyche is in arrested development.

If you find think you can relate to any of this, check out the following:

Shadow Work for Codependency

Can you relate the any of the following?

Do you struggle to say “no”?
Do you put in a lot of effort with little to no return?
Have you disowned your own aggressiveness?
Do you find yourself doing things you don’t want to do?

Can you relate to the following video?

@innershadowwork
#stitch with @withnicolegarcia #innerwork #maturity #anxiety #innerchild #confidence #ego
♬ Sunny Day – Ted Fresco

If you find think you can relate to any of this, check out the following:

Shadow Work for Anxiety, Trauma & Fear

Fear only exists to protect fear.

When you are afraid of something, you come up with a ‘reason’ why you can’t overcome your issue. This is a trick of the mind.

This self-deception helps you maintain your illusion that you’re in control. Because remember, fear comes from the belief that you are losing control.

When you decide to overcome the ‘reason,’ you will quickly realize that it was just a bullshit excuse to keep you stuck in your comfort zone.

The mind is a great liar who uses fear to make you feel like you are in control of your life by avoiding what you fear.

While you do have control in your life, it’s not as much as you’d think. There are far more things outside of your control than within your control.

It takes a lot of maturity to accept this.

Because maturity is understanding that you are part of a whole. When you are part of everything, there is nothing to be afraid of.

When we see something in the world as separate from us, we believe we need to control it.

This is the fundamental difference between love and fear.

Every fear blocks a possibility. Integrating a fear becomes more of who you truly are, so you can access these formerly blocked possibilities.

If you find think you can relate to any of this, check out the following:

Shadow Work for Relationships

Can you relate the any of the following?

Do you idealize potential partners?
Do you hold a lot of sexist, societal expectations towards the opposite sex?
In your relationships, do you feel like your partner “parents” you or you “parent” your partner?

Can you relate to the following video?

@innershadowwork
Did you attract another dysfunctional relationship? #shadowwork #relationship #abuse #selflove #emotions #dysfunctional #innerwork
♬ original sound – innershadowwork

If you find think you can relate to any of this, check out the following:

Shadow Work for Manifestation

Manifestation, or The Law of Attraction, is the idea that you will get whatever you put your focus, thoughts, and feelings into. It’s the belief that whatever you set your sights on and truly desire, will come into your life.

However, for many people manifestation simply doesn’t work. The reason why it doesn’t work is rooted deep in their psyche. My goal is to help you build awareness and do the inner work so you can start manifesting the things you want in your life.

You can check out my FREE Manifestation Series here.

We start from ground zero, where we assume you are coming from a poor mindset. From there we will build a more resilient and positive outlook on life. By the end, you will be more aligned with your higher self for manifestation.

Shadow Work Journal Prompts for Beginners

The purpose of these journal prompts is to stir your unconscious mind until you feel sensations in your body.

For example, when I do shadow work I get a nice feeling in my arms and legs. Sometimes I’ll even get a feeling of ‘centeredness’ in the pit of my stomach.

These bodily sensations typically mean that you’ve appeased the unconscious.

However, it’s not all smiles and good feelings.

People who are new to shadow work can get emotional since they haven’t come to terms with their other half.

If you get emotional or have any sensations, be sure to feel them through.

Go deeper by speaking aloud for your unconscious mind to hear, then pay attention for a ‘response’.

Or start writing to your shadow. Then after a moment, write a response you think your shadow would give.

Keep in mind that your unconscious shadow can only reach you indirectly, so you have to trust yourself that you can tap into it.

For an overview of shadow work and integration, you can read our guide here.

That being said—

Try to reach the deepest truths about yourself, even if it goes against what you’d normally expect.

Here are prompts specifically designed to get you in touch with your shadow:

When you make mistakes, can you move on from them, or do you punish yourself? How do you punish yourself?
What is the worst thing you have ever done to yourself? How can you make up for it with self-love?
Do you find yourself putting a wall up when confronted with certain discussions? What are they, and why?
What negative beliefs do I have about myself? Are they true?
Do you stay silent so as not to experience rejection? Where do you think this started?
What is your most vivid memory of being disappointed as a child?
What lies are you telling yourself at this time? How can you face this denial and be real with yourself?
Do you enforce boundaries with others, or do you let people cross lines? How does this make you feel?

Did you enjoy these Shadow Work Prompts? Check out the rest in our Shadow Work Journal!

The Shadow Work Journal: 240 Daily Shadow Work Prompts contains the following:

30 Prompts for Relationships
30 Prompts for Anger
30 Prompts for Anxiety
30 Prompts for Self-Love
30 Prompts for Healing Trauma
30 Prompts for Abandonment Issues (Codependency)
30 Prompts for Depression
30 Prompts for Forgiveness (Letting Go)

Click here to get your Shadow Work Journal Today!

Shadow Work Journal 240 Daily Shadow Work Prompts

Recommended Resources

A Light Among Shadows is a guide to self-love and being that helps you overcome negative self-talk, instill genuine self-acceptance, and overcome self-hate and resentment by making sense of people’s level of consciousness and your spirituality.

Shadow Work for Beginners Series helps you beat negative patterns and beliefs, integrate your shadow, heal your inner child, reclaim your projections, build emotional maturity, and take back your life by becoming whole.

Shadow Work for Relationship Series helps you heal your attachment style, navigate relationship issues, and build a healthy, mature relationship.

Advanced Shadow Work is an ongoing publication with continued in-depth insight and practical advice you won’t find anywhere else on the internet for practicing shadow work, self-awareness, inner healing, spiritual development, and more!

Approved Tools

Tarot Cards (incl. Manifestation Manual ebook) provide insight and intuitive guidance for personal growth and decision-making.

Chakra Crystals (incl. Ancestral Healing ebook) can bring balance and harmony to your mind, body, and spirit.

Book of Shadows (incl. Shadow Work Journal) is your own special journal that you fill up with your energetic intentions as you scribe your own inner practices to be passed down to others.

Subliminal Bundle uses different hypnosis tracks to subconsciously improve your health, love life, motivation, self-love and much more.

These products are not affiliate links, we do not get a commission when you purchase these tools. We are supportive of our partnership with Sinful Goods for offering small websites a chance to promote their brands.

About:
Intro | Life Lessons | Newsletter | Coaching

Sensual Shadow Play is practiced through BDSM experiences. If you are 18+ and are interested, go here.

Subscribe to get your free ebook 30 Shadow Work Prompts