Imagine yourself in a far distant time, in a slightly unfamiliar place. Imagine yourself in a forest - you can see a mountain range, you can see an expansive field, you can hear the river in the distance. Feel the ground beneath your feet as you step gently, poised and nimble, between low brush and branches, over shed tree limbs and felled trees. Imagine you close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you, and when your eyes reopen you seek not the dappling of sunlight between the forest's crown but the deeper, darker shadows. You continue to move deliberately through the forest, searching, hunting for that place where the shadow is heaviest even in the light of day, even with the mountains some distance away. But why? What would you find in such a shadowed place? Why would you seek it out?
Aspects of Divine Masculine
When the Divine Masculine is archetypically described, it is observed naturalistically in the movements of the Sun and changes of the seasons and, then, personified. Looking at the 4-phase cycle of sunlight and seasons, we see the Child, or Son, of Spring growing to be a virile man in His prime creative flow as a Father-King in Summer. His strength and power and skill is put into everything He can do to provide for, protect, and nurture His creation; He is the Hunter (and the Hunted) in Autumn. And, finally, the wise elder, the Sage is waning in physical power and goes deep within - like death - at Winter, awaiting rebirth in the Spring.
Hunter & Warrior
In our earlier imaginings, we were viewing the unique perspective of the spiritual symbolism of the masculine Warrior-spirit in late summer, early autumn as the Hunter. Perhaps He seeks the Shadows because that is what is hunting Him. This is not the practical hunt of providing for the clan, family, tribe; instead of hunting for survival by resources, this is hunting for survival in defense. But, it is not an enemy to be sought and vanquished. It is a challenger, an elusive trickster, persistently eclipsing the light.
The persistence comes from the need to express some beauty, power, knowledge, or experience. It needn't be sabotage. It needn't be destruction. It needn't be feared or fought. It needs to be tracked, followed, observed, and graciously embraced with courage. Then, after laboring in the hot sunlight for a morning, we can bask in the quiet comfort and reverence of a Shadowed place with a breeze, a place that recharges us, allows us to release or express or exhale the build up of stress and tension.
This Shadowed place may not be very comforting in some ways. It could be too full, too much... a wasteland or landfill or cremation ground. But, what if it were transformed? What if we could see the somber quiet of a burial ground as peaceful? What if we could view the compost heap as a mound of transformative nurturance?
The persistence comes from the need to express some beauty, power, knowledge, or experience. It needn't be sabotage. It needn't be destruction. It needn't be feared or fought. It needs to be tracked, followed, observed, and graciously embraced with courage. Then, after laboring in the hot sunlight for a morning, we can bask in the quiet comfort and reverence of a Shadowed place with a breeze, a place that recharges us, allows us to release or express or exhale the build up of stress and tension.
This Shadowed place may not be very comforting in some ways. It could be too full, too much... a wasteland or landfill or cremation ground. But, what if it were transformed? What if we could see the somber quiet of a burial ground as peaceful? What if we could view the compost heap as a mound of transformative nurturance?
Shadow-work: How to Integrate with Integrity
When we courageously seek the Shadow within we are delving into the depths of what we're holding on to, even those things we try to "let go" by denying their natural existence. There are emotions, mistakes, memories of less than stellar moments, weaknesses, fear-born limiting beliefs, guilt-born false beliefs, and repressed desires that have become twisted into emotional conflicts and shuttered until they become seething masses. But, the forest is a dappling of light and shadow blended and entwined. There is beauty and nurturance in such harmony. We can call upon that active and courageous part of ourself who is like the Hunter and move stealthily as if in a game - a treasure hunt, a scavenger hunt - tracking down these Shadows and observing what they are expressing. Only then can we transform them.
An old tree topples with a strong wind, a lightning bolt severs a dying limb. Suddenly, those things no longer create a shadow there - and their substance is absorbed by the earth, and their energy dissipates into the surroundings. When we can observe our inner landscape without judgement, we can have flashes of inspiration, moments of peace, and a genuine gratitude and admiration for our beauty - which we can then, in turn, express to the world.
Even the darkness appears for a reason. It is the natural turning of the Earth. Even a Shadow appears for a reason. It is the call to look at what is eclipsing the light. They can't be pushed or pulled or maneuvered or bottled-up. All of that is wasteful inefficiency and useless, immature posturing. To seek, find, observe, learn, and do from a place of courage and honesty - that is a bit of integrity. That is the Warrior-spirit of The Hunter.
Take time in your day-to-day to observe those thoughts or actions (however justified or habitual they seem) which give rise to uncomfortable feelings: sadness, insecurity, possessiveness, aggression, anger, jealousy, fear, anxiety, frustration, distaste, disgust, vengefulness, regret, guilt, distrust, elitism, entitlement. Take a moment to explore what you are thinking of, what belief you have in mind, that allows you to feel such a way in such a circumstance.
Ask yourself if it is true, if it is real? Is an old experience or learned belief informing this principle, this belief? Is it useful, is it true, does it serve you to get to where you truly want to be in the right-here-right-now moment? When strong emotions rise within seeking expression, even if reasonably in response to circumstances, there is still a Shadow there holding sway over how we react, how we think, what we decide to do or not do. In this there is no freedom. If we make ourselves aware of the Shadow, accept its natural presence, we then have the power to will ourselves to do differently, to choose what to do or not do. We can courageously move forward with integrity, understanding the full value, result, and consequence of our actions, able to take responsibility, and able to handle challenges. We have growth and self-knowledge, change and new beginnings, opportunity and abundance.
An old tree topples with a strong wind, a lightning bolt severs a dying limb. Suddenly, those things no longer create a shadow there - and their substance is absorbed by the earth, and their energy dissipates into the surroundings. When we can observe our inner landscape without judgement, we can have flashes of inspiration, moments of peace, and a genuine gratitude and admiration for our beauty - which we can then, in turn, express to the world.
Even the darkness appears for a reason. It is the natural turning of the Earth. Even a Shadow appears for a reason. It is the call to look at what is eclipsing the light. They can't be pushed or pulled or maneuvered or bottled-up. All of that is wasteful inefficiency and useless, immature posturing. To seek, find, observe, learn, and do from a place of courage and honesty - that is a bit of integrity. That is the Warrior-spirit of The Hunter.
Take time in your day-to-day to observe those thoughts or actions (however justified or habitual they seem) which give rise to uncomfortable feelings: sadness, insecurity, possessiveness, aggression, anger, jealousy, fear, anxiety, frustration, distaste, disgust, vengefulness, regret, guilt, distrust, elitism, entitlement. Take a moment to explore what you are thinking of, what belief you have in mind, that allows you to feel such a way in such a circumstance.
Ask yourself if it is true, if it is real? Is an old experience or learned belief informing this principle, this belief? Is it useful, is it true, does it serve you to get to where you truly want to be in the right-here-right-now moment? When strong emotions rise within seeking expression, even if reasonably in response to circumstances, there is still a Shadow there holding sway over how we react, how we think, what we decide to do or not do. In this there is no freedom. If we make ourselves aware of the Shadow, accept its natural presence, we then have the power to will ourselves to do differently, to choose what to do or not do. We can courageously move forward with integrity, understanding the full value, result, and consequence of our actions, able to take responsibility, and able to handle challenges. We have growth and self-knowledge, change and new beginnings, opportunity and abundance.
And In The End...
Whether a simple exercise in watching your thoughts and dedicating yourself to a new way of self-acceptance & self-care, or a more meditative practice of self-healing and opening the heart-center to love and trust, what can be called Shadow work is a rewarding path to feeling whole and peaceful. The process opens new layers of emotional healing and self-knowledge. The practical benefits are innumerable because even the kindest of people still have difficult times and challenging feelings to process and certain habits that self-sabotage what would otherwise be the greatest of successes. Keeping a journal is always a good practice when sifting through thoughts and feelings. Talking to a trusted friend or advisor, a spiritual mentor or counselor, is also a good way to gain perspective.
The point is not to dwell with these thoughts and feelings or to wallow in resentment or memories or be a harsh and punishing self-judge. The point is to observe, accept, and attempt a different approach to whatever is at-hand from a place where you are more yourself and less in hiding. We don't let our weaknesses or desires or emotions take over the decision-making and action-taking process, but we do look to them for information, and it takes courage to accept the awareness they have to offer that we may gain self-knowledge. For those of us who would like to stop the same old patterns or the debilitating self-sabotage or just want yo feel more internal freedom and peace and satisfaction, calling out the Hunter aspect and seeking the Shadows may be the most beneficial exercise in self-awareness.
The point is not to dwell with these thoughts and feelings or to wallow in resentment or memories or be a harsh and punishing self-judge. The point is to observe, accept, and attempt a different approach to whatever is at-hand from a place where you are more yourself and less in hiding. We don't let our weaknesses or desires or emotions take over the decision-making and action-taking process, but we do look to them for information, and it takes courage to accept the awareness they have to offer that we may gain self-knowledge. For those of us who would like to stop the same old patterns or the debilitating self-sabotage or just want yo feel more internal freedom and peace and satisfaction, calling out the Hunter aspect and seeking the Shadows may be the most beneficial exercise in self-awareness.
Resources & Recommendations
Ann Moura's Green Witchcraft II: Balancing Light & Shadow, second in a wonderful triad
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