Shadow Work is about taking a quiet journey inward, gently exploring those parts of ourselves we’ve tucked away or pushed aside. Often, these are the parts we had to hide as children just to feel like we belonged. And since then, they’ve stayed out of sight.
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But those hidden parts hold a surprising amount of power. We’ve buried them to protect ourselves from pain, but through Shadow Work, there’s an opportunity to begin reclaiming them. This isn’t just about healing old wounds, it’s also about reconnecting with strengths that have been waiting quietly beneath the surface.
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Everything you need to move forward is already inside you. In a session together, we’ll explore your inner world with care, and I’ll support you in rediscovering those lost parts and the potential they hold. You have the wisdom, I’ll walk beside you while you uncover it.
The Shadow Explained
Carl Jung spoke about the Shadow as the parts of ourselves we’ve tucked away or denied over time. When we’re young, we express who we are naturally and fully. But as we grow, certain parts start to feel uncomfortable or unwelcome. So, we learn to hide them in order to belong or be accepted.
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Many of us have carried messages to stay quiet, be agreeable, or suppress feelings that felt “too much.” These messages shape how we handle parts of ourselves that don’t seem to fit.​ You might have been told you’re “too sensitive,” or that your anger was wrong, or that you should tone things down. Over time, these ideas encourage us to push those parts away, thinking we need to change to be okay.
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Robert Bly talked about this in A Little Book on the Human Shadow, describing how we all have a full, 360-degree personality at birth. But as life goes on, we pack away parts of ourselves that don’t feel safe or accepted. He called this the Shadow Bag, a collection of hidden parts, both the ones we think of as “bad” and the ones we might secretly admire or need.
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Having a Shadow isn’t something to fear. Sometimes it’s necessary to protect ourselves by keeping parts at bay. But the problem comes when we bury so much that we lose connection with who we really are. We get stuck in old ways of thinking and behaving that don’t fit anymore, and that can leave us feeling disconnected from ourselves.
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If any of this feels true for you, it might be time to gently explore what’s been tucked away. By bringing attention and kindness to those parts, you can start to live in a way that feels more honest and true. If you’re ready, I’m here to support you every step of the way.
Ready For Some Honest Reflection?
The things that irritate or trigger you in others, maybe their confidence, the way they speak, or how they navigate the world can often reflect parts of yourself that haven’t yet been fully welcomed or expressed.
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We’re often taught by our culture to see these qualities in others before recognising them in ourselves, which can stir up judgement, envy, or discomfort. But it’s not just about the “negative” traits. When you admire someone’s strength or self-assurance, it may be because those same qualities are already within you waiting for permission to come forward.
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Another way your Shadow reveals itself is through the patterns that keep repeating: ways of thinking, feeling, or relating that feel familiar, but not quite right. These patterns often come from parts of you that were pushed aside long ago, usually as a way to feel safe or accepted.
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Meeting these parts of yourself with curiosity won’t magically change everything overnight, but it can change how you relate to yourself. Over time, this creates space for more honesty, self-acceptance, and a deeper sense of freedom.
Transform Your Inner World, Transform Your Outer World
Shadow work goes beyond ideas and conversations. Our inner world is alive with symbols, sensations, and stories, and the body responds to them as if they were happening right now. Think of how a dream can make your heart race, or how a memory can bring tears to your eyes - the mind and body don’t draw a firm line between what is “real” and what is represented.
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Because of this, meeting your inner parts in symbolic or imaginal ways can create very real shifts in how you feel and how you live. When a hidden part of you is finally acknowledged, or an old pattern is seen with compassion, the body relaxes. Energy that was tied up in keeping things suppressed begins to move again.
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As your inner world softens and opens, the outer world feels different too. A conflict that once left you reactive, you might meet with patience now instead. Qualities you admired in others begin to show up in your own behaviour. Relationships can feel less tense when you’re no longer fighting unseen battles inside yourself. Even ordinary moments - a walk, a meal, a conversation - take on a different texture when you’re not weighed down by what’s unspoken.
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These changes aren’t about instant fixes or sweeping away what feels difficult. They’re about slowly allowing more of yourself to come into the light, so your inner landscape feels less divided and more whole. Over time, this creates space for a different relationship with the world outside - one that feels more grounded, honest, and alive.