When I first started Shadow Work, I was really scared to really get started
That was because I thought that Shadow Work meant facing and fixing the trauma that I faced as a child
I have been running from that trauma my entire life so the thought of facing it was terrifying
Deep Shadow Work is when you are facing those deep pains and traumas. These are the things buried that you may not be completely aware of or you don’t know all the ways they affect your life. This is a section of Shadow Work that addresses the things that are not as traumatic like limiting beliefs.
Shadow Work is the overall term used for every level of Shadow Work
Deep Shadow Work is a subsection of Shadow Work
The methods and strategies work the same, but you get more specific on what you are targeting
What is Shadow Work?
Shadow Work is a huge part of my practice
I don’t do it as much as I should, but my time is limited while my kids are so little
Shadow Work in the process of getting to know the deepest and darkest parts of you
Then either accepting what you find or healing what you find
Shadow Work was founded by the psychologist Carl Jung
He does have a book on it but it is a tough read for most people
There are many ways of doing Shadow Work but I recommend a few baseline
I recommend using journal prompts and recording your answer in some way
You can do this in a written journal, speech-to-text, or just record yourself
This allows you to go back and see the unhealthy patterns that you have in your subconscious
I also recommend doing your Shadow Work Solitary or with a therapist
This is because Shadow Work is digging into the most fragile parts of you and the things about you that you have exiled
You would be surprised who would use that information against you
I have had both a best friend and a close family member betray me when I confided in them
I did not see either one coming
So it is best to work on yourself in solitary or with a professional
Not to breed distrust, but to keep you safe
I also recommend doing Shadow Work during a time when you can focus
Even if that is only ten or fifteen minutes a couple of times a week
Shadow Work helps you learn about your reactions, habits, thought patterns, limiting beliefs, and everything else in your subconscious mind
It is a long process and never truly ends
What is deep Shadow Work?
Deep Shadow Work is exactly like Shadow Work except you are focusing on the deep and extremely painful parts of your shadow
When I started Shadow Work, I thought that all Shadow Work was deep Shadow Work
But it isn’t
Once I understood that I was able to plan what I worked on based on what I felt capable of handling
I started with the self-consciousness of my breasts
I grew up believing that women with fixed breasts are the beautiful ones and the ones that are attractive
And the fact that I am not one seriously harmed how I saw myself
To make it worse, I am the only woman in my family that doesn’t have large breasts
Does it affect my life?
Yes
Does it go into Deep Shadow Work for me?
No
It wasn’t scary to face
I didn’t have severe traumas to face and heal from to face this insecurity
Does that mean it is never a Deep trauma?
No
My sister has insecurities about her legs, but facing that would be Deep Shadow Work based on how those insecurities happened
Only you know what is a deep wound and what isn’t
What does deep Shadow Work do for you?
Deep Shadow Work helps you heal from those terrible things that happened to you
One of my Deep Shadow Work examples is my fear of firearms
I know logically they are just a tool
Just seeing them would make me go pale
Seeing a paintball gun made me go pale!
I got this fear when my father pointed a shotgun at me as a child and threatened me if I ever touched it again
I didn’t know it was in the closet when I went looking to see what Christmas presents were there
Facing that trauma was hard and I am still working on it
I don’t panic or go pale anymore, but I still see that memory every time I see or think about a firearm
And I still can’t touch anything similar to a shotgun
But it is a work in progress
Deep Shadow Work helps you find the deep wounds in your shadow so you can take steps toward healing
What should I start with, Shadow Work or Deep Shadow Work?
I recommend starting with Shadow Work that isn’t highly traumatic
I started with my self-consciousness because it did affect my life but facing it wasn’t terrifying
Give yourself some practice with doing Shadow Work before jumping into the deep stuff
That will increase your confidence and you won’t be facing something scary while learning how to do Shadow Work for yourself
And as I always recommend, if it is really deep and traumatic then you should consider doing your Shadow Work with a therapist
Some things are very painful to heal from
Even a wound on your skin hurts and itches when you are healing
Soul and shadow wounds work the same way
Don’t be ashamed to ask a professional for help
Just be careful when choosing one
My first therapist only wanted to give me medication
I am not against medication, but that wasn’t my goal
Your therapist needs to have the same goals and be on the same page as you
Don’t be ashamed of finding a better fit if you need to
If you want to learn more about Shadow Work, I have many articles to read and learn from!