Our true nature is always hidden. In order to protect our inner self we each present an image or personality in public which meets the expectations of others. This ‘mask’ also determines how we see ourselves. However, there are parts to our personality which we do not recognise, parts which are unconscious. These could be raw desires and emotions or thoughts and experiences which we are too ashamed to admit to. These will likely be dark aspects of our character which have been rejected or repressed due to our upbringing, or a disapproving society. Jung described this side of the personality as the shadow.
The shadow is an archetype, meaning that it exists in all of us. The shadow contains everything denied and despised, everything considered sinful and everything we find awkward or unnerving. Although the shadow is thought of as the dark side of the individual it should be noted that it could also contain undeveloped positive parts. Jung believed the shadow to be inferior and primitive in nature. Therefore since it is instinctive it is likely to have a disturbing influence on the personality of the individual unless it is confronted.
However, the shadow is difficult to perceive consciously. Since an individual will deny or ignore his or her shadow side, it is likely that it will be projected onto others. Instead of acknowledging their shadow the individual will unconsciously see it in people they encounter or even concepts, objects, ethics or groups. For example, the individual may find that they despise a specific person (or certain characteristics of that person) for no apparent reason. Where this hatred is emotionally obsessive, an irritation or an overreaction – where the emotions take control whenever this person is in close proximity – then it is likely the individual has stumbled upon parts of his or her own shadow. These characteristics that we find hideous in other people could in fact be our own repressed attributes. The shadow is most likely to infiltrate when the individual is tired, irritated or harassed.
The shadow is also encountered in dreams. It can be held accountable for the unpleasant thoughts or actions that seemingly violate the morality of the dreamer. The shadow may present itself as an unknown individual usually of the same sex as the dreamer. Equally, an unlikeable person who is known to the dreamer could also represent the shadow.
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If you take a good hard long look at your shadow what do you see? I see a place where I can dissappear to and maybe turn up somewhere in a totally different place. If people did not have shadows where would their shadows be? In the daytime we do not but at night we have them because the moolight manifests them our shadows are replicas of our own bodies, just replicas, just shadows, maybe. But everything has a reason. If I could leave my shadow I would dissappear none the less. So my shadow means to me that there are definantly figures that have yet been configured and added to the equation. Remains to be seen until someone solves this mathematical ‘error’?
I agree with the comment posted by farcharla and would add that the light escaping our body; really from our soul, is also entering the shadow world and contributes to those aspects of ourselves, the taboos; the self-restriction formulating from an oppressed childhood through our parents and society etc. that is then manifested in latent dreams and waking life to keep us from becoming our real selves. Those self-deluded notions imposed by a tyranny of choices and restricting our freedom is due to our unfulfilled aspirations of our ideal selves trickling into our actual selves but only finding happiness in that which we were intended to be in our real selves.
thank you, but the most important thing I want to know is how to practice in order to deal with our shadow.Please recommend me something.