Today I want to discuss shadow work. You may be wondering to yourself, what is shadow work? Well, allow me to explain. Shadows are usually subconscious and are often related to core beliefs. Core beliefs are negative thoughts we have about ourselves. They are often established in early childhood from the influence of our parents or other significant people in our lives. The most common ones are "I'm not good enough," "I am not worthy," or "I do not deserve..." These beliefs tend to control our lives without us knowing until one day, we become self-aware.
Self-awareness is probably the greatest gift you can give yourself because you can't fix something you are unaware of. Once you can be honest with yourself and admit that you have these negative belief patterns, you can then take steps to heal it. If you are naturally intuitive, looking at yourself may come easily to you, but if you don't consider yourself to be intuitive by nature, you can begin practicing mindfulness to help increase self-awareness.
To learn more about mindfulness, I highly recommend Jon Kabbat-Zinn. He defines mindfulness as "awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally" (Mindful Staff, 2017) This website will help you develop mindfulness within yourself and teach you how to apply it in daily life.
https://www.mindful.org/jon-kabat-zinn-defining-mindfulness/
Let's go back to shadow work. This type of healing requires you to face your deepest, darkest issues and resolve them head on. It is not for the weak or the mentally unstable. Facing one's shadows is probably the most difficult thing you will ever do on your journey. It is rarely pretty and can make you feel like you're going crazy at times. When this happens, it is important to seek a support group. There are several twin flame groups on Facebook and finding the one you resonate with the most will be crucial for your healing. Personally, I like the company Loner Wolf. It was started by Luna & Sol (twin flames) and they offer an extensive amount of guidance and workbooks to help make the process easier. I have included a link to their website below.
The most important thing to keep in mind while going through shadow work, is that "This too shall pass." Nothing bad lasts forever, and nothing good lasts forever. It is one of the divine rules of the Universe that everything adheres to the Law of Polarity. The perfect representation of Yin and Yang. So, when things feel like they can't get any worse, keep pushing forward. Tomorrow will be better, and if not, the next day will be. I only ask that you Never give up. Nothing will change if you quit when things get too hard. You must keep pushing forward no matter what, but keep in mind it is OK to take a break. Continuous self-care is vital for this period because it helps keep you going and makes the worst-case scenario bearable. If you feel tired, get some rest. If you need a mental vacation, take a nature walk, watch a movie, or sing a song. Be gentle, but firm, with yourself. And of course, if you ever feel like it is just too much to handle, do not hesitate seeking professional help. I have had to turn to psychiatrists during my journey more than once. It does not mean you are crazy, on the contrary, it means you are strong. Stronger than people who think seeking help is a weakness. If you open your heart, help will always be there for you when you need it. By nature, we are social creatures and, therefore, often need the support of loved ones to cope with life's challenges. If you have someone you can comfortably talk to in your life, who will understand what you are going through, or even if they don't understand but can listen without passing judgement, use them as a resource. Seeking professional help costs money but seeking advice from friends and family is priceless. Stay strong and remember to love yourself, always.
https://lonerwolf.com/shadow-work-demons/
About the Creator
Angela Love
My mission is to bring awareness to humanity, to help you realize that our reality is more than what we see. My gift to the world is love and with that, we can heal the world. I hope you find guidance in my writing, or at least, awareness.
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Loving Yourself
For my birthday this year, I decided to dedicate an entire year to just loving myself. I am studying to be a doctor and I've always spent more time caring for other people than myself. It wasn't until my recent mental breakdown that I realized how important taking care of myself was. For years people have been telling me that you can't love anyone until you love yourself. But what did that mean exactly? I had no idea until I started my own journey. Now I understand, you can never truly experience happiness until you love yourself and you cannot accept another person's flaws until you accept your own.
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Peanuts and Crackerjack
Bottom of the ninth inning. The game is tied with two outs, two strikes and a man on second. I tap the bat on home plate. The rigid vibrations it creates reminds my aching digits that this isn't over. The practice swing only adds to the heft of mental burnout... Man on second, willing to chance it. Pitcher eyes him but doesn't give in to the dangerous bluff. I kick up dust, readying the peculiar stance I've had since the days of little league. The bat lays stiff upon my cramping shoulder. Pain has no reason to be acknowledged; it's a fleeting afterthought. The sun sits passed high noon, but the stadium lights are on anyway. They trick my brain into believing they are the cause of this sweltering heat. Sporadic clouds are motionless, they too, don't want to miss this exhilarating predicament. Anticipating the next pitch, intensifying roars from the crowd rumble the stadium... Behind me, the crafty catcher adjusts his stance and spits to the dry dirt. Behind him, the staunch umpire doesn't flinch or even blink; he knows how important his call will be. The pitcher winds up, his grip tells me its gonna curve. The release is fierce! Beads of sweat from his hair and face disperse in every direction as the force of his might is unfailing. My left leg lifts—an instinctual move that will increase the power of my swing. It's all down to my two, bloodshot eyes. They lock onto the speeding, white dot as it instantly becomes the target I intend to destroy. The swing is late, but I manage a solid tip. The ball is taking a fast bounce toward the pitcher who is recovering from the almighty throw! Man on second leaves in a desperate rush! I fling the bat to the side with a sense of urgency and make a mad sprint to the only destination I have—first base. Three defenders race inward to be the first to retrieve the skidding ball. Man is almost on third! I watch the open glove of my adversary, wondering if I’ve done enough to win this race. I switch my attention to his eyes, looking for a clue, some kind of reaction that tells me the ball is in the air and heading his way. All I see is frustration. The deafening roar of the crowd spikes! Something happens that I can’t see! My opponent abandons his post right as my left stride touches the bag. I waste no time turning my head to see the pitcher laying on his stomach, pounding the mound with an open glove. He misses the opportunity to out me and the ball has quickly bounced past him. Excitement grows! This isn’t over yet... It's become an imperative fight to tag out the runner heading homeward. The catcher falls to his knees in obvious despair as he watches my teammate make the run of his life. He knows it’s going to be close when he sees the shortstop fumble the ball a second too long. I jump up and down with no plans on leaving first base. All my chips are on the speed and agility of the active runner. His cleats dig into the dirt, trailing a dust-filled cyclone from the rapid and strenuous strides. With a thrusting dive and an outstretched arm, he lands on his chest to begin the crucial slide to home plate. The shortstop fires the ball to the catcher! It immediately begins closing the gap! Nail-biting doesn't begin to describe the anxious vibe permeating the stadium. The bench begins to celebrate even before he reaches the plate. Forty thousand cheering fans reach maximum crescendo, filling the air with a glorious sound. Everyone knows how this story will end… My teammate is met by the entire bench as his fingers inch across home plate, instantly followed by the unmistakable motion of the catcher's glove attempting to tag him out—its milliseconds too late. The ump swings his arms outward, officially calling him safe.
By Lamar Wiggins4 days ago in Fiction
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