A topic was brought up briefly today and I want to explore it a little further in this blog post. Everyone has many facets to their personalities , different selves. One being the “dark side”, the dark passenger, or shadow self. In the Wiccan traditions I have worked with getting in touch with the shadow self is essential to grow as a magickal practitioner. No, I did not spell magick wrong. Magick is different from magic. Magic is the stage show and slight of hand tricks. Magick refers to energy exchange, spell-work, and ritual work commonly found among Pagan religions. Speaking from my personal experience if I did not work on my shadow self I would not be able to connect fully with myself, others, or the spiritual planes. We all think dark thoughts and we are all capable of dark things. Dark does not mean bad; when I say dark I am speaking of things like violence and death, which are not necessarily bad. Violence and death can be bad under certain circumstances like mugging and killing someone for no reason. Violence and death can also be a blessing like if a police officer is stopping a domestic violent situation. Also death is part of the cycle of creation and destruction. So to me everything is on a spectrum, everything is gray, there is no black or white. To understand my higher self I need to explore my lower self. Exploring your shadow self or dark passenger can be scary and uncomfortable at the same time it is therapeutic to understand all parts of you. Once you understand something some of the fear goes away. Notice I said some fear goes away; it is good to have a healthy fear and understanding of the darker side of your being.This is a form of respect and acknowledgment of the power the shadow self does have and is capable of if/when released out into the world. It is healthy to meditate and have rituals of connection with all parts of your being (especially the darker parts) because if you can connect with yourself you have a greater chance and understanding of how to connect with others. In the sense that my weirdness understands and accepts your weirdness. If you would like to know more about connecting with your darker parts please feel free to contact me at 678-964-4739 or relationship.positive.therapy@gmail.com.
Book recommendation for rituals of connection with the Shadow Self:
Dark Moon Mysteries: Wisdom, Power, and Magic of the Shadow World by Timothy Roderick
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Moon-Mysteries-Wisdom-Shadow/dp/0738747211?SubscriptionId=AKIAJ2F6RDUSIYCWQMFQ&tag=sa-b2c-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=073874721
picture by: Rita Loyd
Nicki Line, LMHC, LAPC, NCC, CST 