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How to Merge With Your Shadow
“The enlargement of the light side of consciousness has the necessary consequence that the part of the psyche which is less light and less capable of consciousness is thrown into the darkness to such an extent that sooner or later a rift occurs in the psychic system. At first, this is not recognized as such and is therefore projected — i.e. it appears as a religious projection, in the form of a split between the powers of Light and Darkness.”
Carl Jung
When you think about your shadow, at least in my case, I tend to think about this dark, but the inherently cool part about myself, you know, kind of like the devil. Evil, but powerful. I tend to think that if I could just integrate it, I’d be more powerful, in a sense.
But no. The shadow is not this cool part about yourself. In fact, it’s all the opposite. The shadow is comprised of all the things that you’ve repressed and that you think are too shameful and disgusting for the world to see. It’s your shame of poverty and your social status. It is the jealousy you feel about your friends and brothers for having more money than you or being more successful. It is your cowardice and your frustrated sex life. It is all your fears and shames combined, as well as your anger and hate.
I’m telling you, it is not nice stuff.
