The topic of shadow work has been surfacing in my life quite a lot recently. Not only in my own practice but also in various activities I’ve been involved in. This September, I participated in the Empowered Modern Witches Summit organized by Teane Stewart, where I was a guest for a panel discussion on "Witch Wounds." I also recently participated in Catarina Esteves' podcast on shadow work and the witch wound.
After all these events I decided to create a mini-series of blog posts on shadow work.
In this post, we will explore the basics: definitions and understanding of shadow work.
What is shadow?
The shadow refers to the aspects of ourselves that we suppress or deny—limiting beliefs, blocks, or obstacles that hold us back from becoming our true selves. It could be negative self-talk, distorted self-image, or bad beliefs about ourselves that we adopted from others. In spirituality and witchcraft, the shadow can also represent our hidden power, fears, or even unrecognized gifts.
Imagine you're always second-guessing your abilities, telling yourself you're not good enough or creative enough. This constant self-criticism is part of your shadow. It likely stems from experiences where you felt belittled or rejected, either by others or even by your own inner critic.
What is a witch wound?
The witch wound is a specific type of shadow. It’s a collective, ancestral wound passed down through generations, coming from the witch hunts. Even if none of your direct ancestors were persecuted, this wound can still be inherited or absorbed through collective memory. Witnessing others being accused, or even being complicit in those accusations, leaves a mark in our psyche.
The witch wound manifests as fear of expressing your spiritual gifts, feeling unsafe in sharing your truth, or fearing judgment and rejection.
For example, you might feel nervous about sharing your spiritual practices with others, worried that people will judge or ridicule you for it. This hesitation comes from the witch wound, where past trauma around persecution or rejection prevents you from fully stepping into your power.
What is shadow work?
Shadow work is like a form of self-directed therapy. It’s the practice of exploring, understanding, and ultimately integrating your shadow. Someone once described it as "DIY therapy," which is a fitting term. The goal is to bring these hidden parts of ourselves to light and heal them so they no longer hold us back.
Steps for shadow work:
✨ Step 1 – Awareness: Recognize your shadow or witch wound.
Example: Start by noticing when you feel triggered or react strongly to something. These reactions are often clues to where your shadow are.
✨ Step 2 – Understanding: Dive into where it comes from. What is its source?
Example: Ask yourself, "Where did this belief or fear come from?" Perhaps it's rooted in childhood experiences, societal conditioning, or ancestral trauma.
✨ Step 3 – Action: There are three paths to deal with your shadow:
Release it: Work through and release the shadow, allowing yourself to be free of its influence.
Example: Through journaling, rituals, or therapy, you release past pain by forgiving yourself or others involved.
Accept it: Integrate it as part of you. When you stop resisting it, the shadow becomes less of an enemy and more of a teacher.
Example: Instead of shaming yourself for your fear of failure, you recognize that this fear has taught you resilience and perseverance.
Transmute it into a superpower: Transform the shadow into something that empowers you.
Example: If your shadow involves a fear of rejection, you might learn to use that awareness to build stronger, more authentic connections.
Shadow work is crucial for healing, reclaiming your power, and stepping into your authentic spiritual self. It’s deeply transformative, but it can also be intense. That’s why it’s important to approach it with care. Don’t stay in the shadows too long—limit your sessions and ground yourself afterward. Do something kind for yourself to bring balance, like a self-care ritual or spending time in nature. Remember, shadow work is about integration, not getting stuck in the darkness.
And sometimes, the shadow can feel too overwhelming to tackle alone. In these cases, seeking help from a therapist or spiritual guide is essential.
In the next post we will dive deeper into witch wounds.
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