What is the shadow? The shadow contains all the parts of ourselves that we try to hide, deny or suppress.
It is the keeper of all the aspects of ourselves that we dislike and the qualities that we judge as unacceptable. Most
of us expend huge amounts of energy trying to get rid of or control these unwanted aspects of ourselves.
Until we make peace with our shadow we will continue to be at war with ourselves. Our outer world will mirror our
inner struggle. What we resist persists - and we will create and attract from others that which we most dislike in ourselves.
Until we feel authentic compassion for each and every aspect of ourselves, we will continue to draw forth people and events
that will mirror the negative feelings we have about ourselves. Until we take back our power and forgive ourselves for being
human we will attract people who push our buttons and reactivate our emotional wounds. And, until we find the courage
to love ourselves completely, we will never truly be able to experience the love from those around us.
Embracing our shadows is the ultimate act of self love. There is no greater love than the one that allows us to
shine a light on the aspects of ourselves that we have judged and made wrong. Embracing our dark side gives us a new
found freedom to be with the darkness in others. When I can love all of me, I will love all of you.
Shadow work is not about perfection; it's about integration. It is the path of reclaiming each and every aspect
of ourselves and discovering how that aspect can serve us.
Each of us must make the conscious choice to step out of the belief that we are victims of our lives and open up to the
possibility that we have created our particular circumstances for a reason. We must commit to looking at our lives as
though each and every quality, person and circumstance has been drawn to us in order to give us specific insights and wisdom.
This requires us to examine each aspect of ourselves and our lives and ask, "Why would I need this? How could this be a catalyst
for my to grow and evolve? How could this quality or situation serve me in creating the life I desire?"
Transformation requires nothing more than having a shift in perception. It is choosing to look at our lives in
a way that empowers us rather than disempowers us. At its core, this process requires us to make the choice to see ourselves
through the eyes of the Divine.
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