> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.theartsybrain.rip/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Embracing Your Shadow Self - URL: https://www.theartsybrain.rip/embracing-your-shadow-self/ - Published: 2026-09-28T04:13:22.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-28T04:13:22.000Z - Author: Eric Ravenwolf - Tags: Shadow work, Jung, journal, psychology, therapist, self help, meditation There is a lot of talk in pop culture lately about Shadow work and Jungian psychology on dealing with your shadow self. I want to avoid all that and get to some in-depth stuff. For the last several years I've been doing shadow work. I didn't have a special journal or a course I paid for. I had help from a therapist, which I know isn’t accessible to everyone. I also practiced meditation and journaled in a simple notebook. I use a composition notebook because I like how it feels and it suits my needs, along with a Pilot fountain pen, which makes me feel fancy. Back to shadow self, a lot of us are afraid of our shadow self. I think for some we were told it was too dark or evil. For most of my life I didn’t even think I had a shadow self. Growing up, I was a Baptist. I got “saved” at around five or six years old and was told I only had light in me. That anything not of the light was of Satan. So, anytime I felt drawn to or felt anything at all that didn’t reflect light and happiness then I stuffed it away. Though in our church anger was also acceptable. Especially for the men and boys. Vulnerability, sadness and depression were all tools of the weak and tools of Satan. I remember talking to an assistant pastor after two classmates were killed in a car accident. For one, I wanted to know why, we were only 15 and also, I was just trying to understand my own mortality. His answer, “you’re saved, aren’t you? Don’t worry about it.” That was the end of the discussion. He wouldn’t even let me say anymore. This is why so many former evangelicals grow up with so many issues. They don’t let you deal with anything. You just shut up and stuff it. The Shadow Self is not one to be stuffed. Eventually it will rear its head. If you haven’t accepted it and learned to deal with it, things could get messy. For me, things got messy. I had run from it for too long and all that was left was for me to face it. It’s not fun. To face your shadow self, you also have to face your own faults, mistakes and shortcomings. That is the honest part, and it is HARD. And ugly. No one likes to see those parts of themselves, but if we want to grow and heal, we have to. Working through that muck can look different for everyone. If therapy is possible, I recommend it, but I know it’s not accessible to everyone. There are also a lot of terrible therapists out there. I know meditation sounds very generic, but I would go into a trance-like state, repeating mantras as I ventured deep into my psyche. I would let my shadow self reveal itself to me and take me on a journey through the dark, ugly parts of my mind. It was there that I would remember awful childhood memories, things I’d long forgotten about. Even embarrassing and cringy things from young adulthood. It made me shudder some of the things I said or thought when I was younger. It wasn’t anything illegal, mind you, just not very nice or sometimes very awkward and embarrassing. I somehow managed to repress all this crap for years and just tucked it away. What I also remember was terrible things that had been said and done to me. I grew up in the 80s and 90s and soon realized just how mean adults were to kids back then. I remembered how in Junior high I had teachers who had beef with me. At the time I guess I thought nothing of it. Now as an adult I’m like, I was a literal child, and this TEACHER was calling me a jerk, idiot, and other fun names. There were actually a few of them. I had some good teachers, but it was these that jumped out during shadow work. I had a coach when I was six for little league who told me I sucked. One teacher in high school asked how I’d make it through Marine boot camp because I was so fat. Encouragement was not a big thing among grown-ups back then. In my small town, a lot of them were bitter about where they ended up in life. So, they had to just shit on the kids around them. I don’t mean to sidetrack with old grievances. Just giving some examples of some things, you might encounter. All this was hard to comb through and often left me rattled. I would usually journal about it and express how it made me feel and how I’m different now. Just writing it out was really helpful. I know some uglier things will require more than journaling. I really don’t mean to be giving any superficial advice. I’m just sharing my own story. Everyone’s journey will look different, your shadow self will look different, and how you deal with it will be different as well. There is no single correct way to do this. How you do shadow work to me isn’t as important. I know the gurus won’t agree with this, but I feel we each know deep down what we need and our subconsciousness can steer us toward the best method for us. We need to learn to trust our instincts when doing things like shadow work. That may sound counterintuitive, But the whole process is very personal. I don’t think someone else’s book or workbook has the answers we need. That’s just me. If those tools help you, then great. I know some of this is a bit all over, but I don’t usually outline my blogs. I guess the main thing I want to drive home here is, do shadow work, face it, embrace it and own it. And find the way that best suits you to go through it. It’s a hard and painful thing to work through. So, you should use tools and methods you are comfortable with. Don’t let someone tell you that you’re doing it wrong. The only wrong way is running from your shadow self. If you like my writing and want to follow me down more rabbit holes, please subscribe to my newsletter. It’s free and I only send out a couple a week. If you want to help support this blog and hosting fees, then you can do a paid subscription. With either one, there won’t be any algorithm telling showing you what it wants. Just Unfiltered Artsy Brain! ## Sign up for The Artsy Brain Welcome to My Brain! Take a look around and hang on for the ride! Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.