by Regina Kaiser
Shadows can be described as negative thoughts or feelings that may be experienced as anxiety, fear, doubt, guilt, shame, resentment or uncertainty. These are just a few of the more common ones we experience.
Shadows have a way of creeping up, often erupting during a normal conversation or situation that suddenly turns into an anxious or uncomfortable situation. One minute you’re okay and suddenly you feel out of control, emotional and dread hearing anything more. You don’t know what to do, you want to run and you absolutely cannot talk about your feelings because you’re too upset. It doesn’t have to play out this way.
Distress is one way your spirit is bringing attention to something that wants to be released and healed. The clues and hints have been there for you to hear in the way your body feels and your mind processes thoughts. By listening you can decide how to work through things in a manageable way for you and anyone else involved.
Shadows lie deep within the recesses of the self. Everyone has them. Often people are in resistance to hearing this truth. It’s difficult to hear we carry something dark or negative around inside us. We take measures to ensure we are kind, compassionate, caring, loving, and respectful. The truth is there is both light and dark within us and denying and/or repressing the signals of the darkness actually feeds the shadows. When this goes on too long, uncomfortable ‘eruptions’ occur.
It takes more energy to hang onto or defend the shadows than it does to release them.
Fear that it may be too difficult, unbearable, embarrassing and damaging to your image is the shadow’s way of feeding the holding pattern. Releasing and healing can be done in a manageable, respectful and safe way. When shadows have been healed there is no longer resistance to hearing or listening. Self-realization has occurred. Feelings of anxiety, guilt, shame, fear or resentment have been released and become a distant memory. Inner calm has returned. There is an awareness of the effects of shadow versus light.
Ways to release shadows begin by answering internal questions identifying what you are feeling honestly and truthfully. Write down your feelings without stopping and include everything you are thinking and feeling. Do not worry about being right or wrong in what you are writing down because you are being truthful and by doing this you begin to release the shadows.
Keep it simple and brief. Not everything needs to be released at once. In fact, it’s safer and wiser to create a manageable ‘release time’ or ‘release meditation’. Validate the fact that you are releasing whatever is in your highest integrity however large or small it may be. Let your emotions be heard, felt and processed.
Should you realize you have unconsciously hurt others, validate your awareness of this truth. It happens to everyone. But it takes courage to face your own truth and to take any appropriate action if necessary. It may mean apologizing with sincerity to someone you’ve hurt. Even more importantly it means releasing and healing the guilt, shame and any other dark energies lurking around. Heal yourself first.
You may ask yourself “Had I known I was hurting someone would I honestly have done it the same way?” I doubt it. You did not know you were doing it and now you know. There’s no need to overreact and create an aura of shame or guilt around you. Take the appropriate action by acknowledging your pain, healing yourself and trusting the process. Forgive yourself. Do not invalidate yourself, question your worth or berate yourself. That’s the shadow talking!
Give yourself the time and energy to heal. And don’t be alarmed if, despite having done so much work already, you suddenly face another shadow or another layer of the same shadow. It’s a process that must be taken with care, love and understanding.
Imagine if every person in the world set aside personal time to release this way, how self-awareness, self-healing, self-responsibility and self-respect would blossom. But it all begins with you. The rest will follow as you lead by example without any expectations attached to the outcome. Everything you heal within you is experienced by your loved ones and the world in a positive way. It begins with you.
