Writing the Shadow: You are not alone

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”

—C. G. Jung

While in Part 1, I suggested methods you could use to start to explore your Shadow side, here in Part 2, we’ll examine how the Shadow can manifest in specific areas of life, which may help you investigate further. We’ll consider the creative wound and how it may still be holding you back in your writing life, as well as aspects of traditional and self-publishing. Then we’ll delve into aspects of work and money, family and relationships, religion and culture, the physical body and aging, death and dying.

Some of the chapters may trigger you or make you angry or upset. They will also help you prepare for difficult times — and hopefully, make you feel less alone when you find yourself in darkness.

The sections you respond to and/or want to skip may be the ones where you might find your Shadow hiding. Notice how you feel and try to work through the questions even if you don’t think something relates to you.

The whole point of exploring your Shadow is to bring aspects of it into the light so you can process things, integrate them, grow, and move on. But don’t worry, you don’t have to do it all at once.

Let’s get into the details.