The shadow is an equally important part of us to the persona that we hold in the front and show to the world, it is equally a part of our personal power.  The shadow is the parts of the past that have been suppressed or unrecognized.  It can also be oppositional to the image of us that we actively present to others. We live in a duality of our life of light and dark and our power goes to both places.  As much energy as some project out to the being they wish to actively present in the world the we supply the shadow side an energy as well.

Psychologist Carl Jung, creator of the shadow concept said,  “The Shadow must always have an avenue to be explored and expressed otherwise it will come out in a more animalistic way.”  The evidence of the shadow in an animalistic expression would be someone attacking another in a ‘road rage’ incident or beating his wife whom he loves yet cannot control his expression of anger.   It would be easy to assume that there is anger suppressed and unresolved in these attackers that suddenly comes out when triggered.

The expression of the shadow comes out in other ways than direct aggression.  Some may be passively expressing the aggression, obsessed, have addictions, depression and other behaviors.  It is our psychi’s way of using a behavior to not feel the suppressed parts of us AKA the  shadow side.   However, the unresolved pains of our past that are the creation of our shadow are the driving energy of our dysfunctional behaviors.  An important ingredient of resolving our negative behaviors is knowing how the creation of our undesired patterns is an expression of our shadow.

The more that we can look into the stories of our past and see the dynamics of how we created our shadow sides we can begin to integrate these parts within us so our life feels more whole.  We begin to see the shadow part that once came forth as intense, destructive anger is now a strong energy that can firmly advocate for a cause or tell another “No” in a firm way that no longer requires a physical force to back it.  Or someone who is addicted may come to terms with their shame so that now they have more self-esteem.  Though their awareness of  how they created themselves as feeling lesser than the humility that they have is an heart opening that opens them to be more aware of others and confront their addictions.

When we suppress an experience we often do so because it is too overwhelming and/or we do not have the tools to process the information.  When we judge the situation as bad because it is unbearable; a part of our self splits apart from us on an energetic level creating the shadow.  This memory separates as a sub-identity from us, as it is a part of us but exists as a wounded side of us in partial integration.   This is why after a traumatic experience we do not feel whole and a part of us incomplete.  All of this could be avoided if we could process this experience and reconcile it within us beginning in our childhood.

The shadow remains as a submerged part of our consciousness holding a anguished part of us hidden away in a suppressed state.  This past energy is not totally passive. When we encounter situations that are similar to the suppressed experience the behavior recreates itself in the image of the past emotional trauma that we originally had.  So we feel the same past intensity as the shadow part becomes alive and sparks the body to relive the sensation again.  Most people react in a negative way when they feel these old memories not knowing it is from their past.  For many they are reliving these past tape loops time and time again.  Worst yet, they judge something is wrong with them resulting in re-traumatizing themselves.

It is important when we encounter a situation that we feel distress and know that it is unreasonably greater than the present stimulus we may have memories of our past influencing us.  It is important not to react in a fearful way or judge us but to perceive the sensations occurring in our body.  When we observe what is occurring inside of us we begin the process of uncovering and dissolving the fears and energies that surround this past memory.

By paying attention to the uncomfortable sensations in our body be begin the process of identifying the body memory of our trauma.  Next ask your self what was it that stimulated the trauma to reappear.  It may have been a thought, comment or place that is associated with a past experience.  I find that people will often represent others that I have had unresolved conflicts with whose memories are stored away.  When I feel these emotions in my body I ask, “Where is the source of this from?” or “Where did this come from?”  Often a vision or short message comes up into my body, not from my mind that will let me know where the stress originated.

The more clarity I have with the situation where the suffering originated I can recall the event.  By identifying our self and the others in the event we can begin the process of forgiving our self and others.

When we experience events in life that overwhelm us a part of our psychi splits apart from us.  The trauma of the memory of the event is too much for us to hold in our body and/or we are unable to process it.  An example would be someone who is physically abused, the pain and suffering of the event creates the separation as a part of them begins to exist outside of themselves.  However the anxiety does not completely leave the body only a part of their persona.  However, the anxiety is directly connected to the split-shadow part of the person.  When the abused person encounters someone or thing that they associate with the abuse their body recreates the memory from the anxious wound of the split part of themselves.

In my work I help the person identify the trauma in their body, trace it back to the incident and identify this shadow part that has separated from them.  Once the split self is found it can be easily re-integrated back into the body.  Then the uncomfortable sensations immediately leave that once existed in our body memory.  More importantly the person feels that part of their life is whole and the fears that the original trauma has created in the person’s life disappear.  The split part re-energizes the body with a part of its innate intelligence or being that it has not known since the original incident.  The re-occuring patterns of anxiety, anger, guilt that are unconsciously created from that specific trauma go away.

The shadow is reintegrated more fully by realizing the suppressed traumas in our body.  When we become more aware of all the unconscious parts of us and the shadow becomes an inner strength instead of a undesirable part of us.  In addition, the fearful parts of the suppressed memories are no longer there giving us subtle and not so subtle negative messages about ourselves.

Without an aggressive or fear based shadow the joy that we all innately have becomes a regular aspect of us.  We find it easier to move forward in all parts of our life.

Physicists have proved that we affect everything around us by the attitude we are projecting to our surroundings. What scientist had found is that the smallest particles of an atom changes in response to the observer. Each time the observer elicited a positive emotion the particulates responded by becoming positively charged. Again when the person viewed the atom with a negative emotion the particulates changed to a negative charge.

This popular study demonstrates the potency we have to change our surroundings and the reality we function within. It all begins by what we are internally feeling. It does make a difference starting from the smallest particles that affects the fabric of the reality of our everyday life.

In each endeavor we choose to create is a life form in itself whether we are writing a book, creating a website, working a business, raising a family and/or planting a garden. When we interact with our creation directly or indirectly we influence how it will take form. There are the logistical physical things to do: for example we must write the pages if we wish to make a book. The creation also takes form in more subtle ways that are beyond our actions.

The life forms we create in their most basic essence are energy. What makes an energetic life form grow better is more positive energy. We are making the life from the molecules up.

What many do not realize is that our conscious and unconsciousness works together in this generative process. We may be putting a lot of energy into being positive in all of our conscious thoughts but if there seems to be a sabotaging force that prevents us from manifesting what we desire.

The negative unconscious could likely be issues of suppressed trauma, fears, anger, shame or others that we found overwhelming in our past. Most likely we were unable to process it therefore we hide it inside us. It is still working inside but for most people, they are unaware of now the unconscious affects their life. Sigmund Freud said that the unconscious mind affects ninety percent of our decisions made. Freud may have been correct as the unconscious does affect our lives in very subtle and sometimes obvious ways.

Suppressed emotions such as abuse, anger and fear generally have shame as the underlying base that perpetuates the defeating emotional pattern. The definition of shame is the belief we are less worthy or something is wrong with us. Often, shame is communicated to the child by their parents.

If shame is a part of the unconscious base of our self-image how can we expect the manifest the grand dreams we ask for?

If you are practicing the philosophies of “The Law Of Attraction” described in the popular movie “The Secret” your unconscious world may be sending a mixed message to counter react the “all is positive in my thoughts and actions” as our way to create more abundance. Exploring our anger, shame, abuse etc… may be the most important steps in manifesting a greater abundance in your life as the power of our thoughts will come more from our conscious mind in a greater way.

Bart Sharp, Therapy For The Body, Mind And Soul, L.C.S.W. specializes in a holistic approach to release suppressed emotions that are stored in our body’s memory. He currently practices at Hill Country Fitness Center.