You’re not alone if you thought that ‘shadow work’ meant working with actual shadows. So we thought we’d dispel the myths and take you through what shadow work really is, and why everyone should practice, not just those who follow witchcraft.
Put simply, shadow work is the unconscious aspects of you and your personality. It’s also known as the id, and it was theorised by Carl Jung along with the ego and superego. Think of it like your real shadow: it’s you in your entirety, but it’s just out of sight. It can be the things you don’t yet know that you want, and though it’s often considered “the dark side” of your personality, it doesn’t have to be negative.
Shadow work is used for lots of purposes, and is often merged with witchcraft and Wiccan practices. It’s deemed absolutely essential when practicing as learning about your shadow can help you to learn more about yourself: from there, you can begin to work out what areas of magick may be calling to you, and crucially, protect yourself from the powerful entities you’ll encounter on your journey.
Without working with your shadow and knowing your inner self deeply, you might feel off, like you can’t manifest your magick properly or without a lingering fear it could backfire.
Artwork by Christine Violet
Now remember, shadow work isn’t just for witches. If you don’t know yourself, the good and the bad included, your life might feel chaotic and out of your control. And confronting the parts of yourself that you’re not so comfortable with, the parts that make you feel upset, angry, or wounded, can also help massively with mental health and self-esteem issues.
Knowing yourself well can help to keep you out of danger, know when you need to prioritise yourself, and improve your relationships with others in your life. If you’ve found yourself picking up on unhelpful behaviours within yourself and want to improve upon them - that’s shadow work!
Now that we know what shadow work is, how exactly do we go about it? One of the most popular methods is using some sort of diary or journal to take notes according to prompts designed to help you make profound realisations about yourself. But you don’t need to rush out and buy a whole new notebook just yet.
Shadow work can also be done on your phone and even in your head: perfect for those still in the broom closet. The only thing you truly need is the willingness to learn more about yourself, knowing that it might make you feel uncomfortable but choosing to embrace it anyway.
There are thousands of prompts all over the internet, but here are some good places to start:
🟉 What is one fear that might be holding you back? Why is it holding you back?
🟉 Who are you, and who do you want to become?
🟉 If you could talk to yourself from five years ago, what would you say?
🟉 Do you take on lots of work at once? Are you able to finish the things you’ve started? Why or why not?
🟉 How do you deal with personal and professional failures?
What does your shadow work entail? What are some of your favourite prompts or ideas? Let us know through our socials!