Today’s blog is all about shadow work, as a powerful eclipse window happens to be occurring as I write. Eclipses are wonderful times to retreat and look deep inside ourselves; they are moments to transcend the polarity of light and dark, release the old and bring in the new as the sun re-emerges from the shadows. During eclipses all our blockages and limiting beliefs rise to the surface, so that we can become untethered from the prison of our past and allow the miracle of new beginnings to arise.
In the Vedic tradition a solar eclipse is known as ‘Surya Grahan’, a moment of deep spiritual significance marking a time to go inward as the great luminary in our sky, is momentarily darkened. It is believed that during an eclipse, the Earth is infused with potent energies, making it especially conducive for meditation, spiritual practice and acts of charity. It’s a time to be still, to restore, to reset, to revitalise, to be centred and aligned with our higher self. From this place we can plant the seeds of our intention for our true potential to blossom. Eclipses are thus deeply transformative, enabling huge shifts in consciousness – if we do the work.
Doing the work means shining a light on our shadow, the part of ourselves that we deny or repress because it makes us feel fearful or insecure. It's important work, because when embrace our shadow and heal our wounds, we feel whole. In Gregg Braden’s book ‘The Divine Matrix’, he talks about three universal wounds of humanity;
1. The wound of abandonment
2. The wound of diminished self-worth
3. The wound of trust
Most of us suffer from at least two, if not all three of these wounds, and almost all of us have the third wound; lack of trust. Particularly in the West, we have been taught to be sceptical and distrustful of the world because our scientific worldview tells us that we are we are isolated beings in a random and potentially hostile universe where bad things can happen at any time. We no longer see ourselves as expressions of Source, a unified field of consciousness full of love and nurture for life – our cosmic Mother who always has our highest good at heart.
This means that instead of accepting the present moment and whatever difficulties that come our way, we are highly resistant, because we don’t accept that there is a higher order at play. If the universe is random, then unpredictable things can happen, and that scares the heebie-jeebies out of us. We want to stay in our comfort zones because that gives us the illusion of control over our lives – our safe little bubble where everything feels familiar and normal, even if the norm is really ‘the better the devil you know.’
Interestingly, ‘cosmos’ comes from the Greek word ‘kosmos’, meaning order. Enlightened masters from all spiritual traditions tell us that the universe is anything but random - underneath the illusion of chaos in the world is a hidden harmony. In Taoism this is called the Tao, or ‘the Way’’ which is symbolised by the balance of yin and yang. In Vedic and Buddhist thought this sacred order is knowns as ‘dharma;’ universal truth or natural law. The idea of dharma is highlighted perfectly by the Zen saying;
“Snow falls, each flake in its appropriate place”
If we accept that there is a hidden harmony to life, then when we experience challenges that shake the status quo, it is because the universe is agitating for change. In Eastern philosophy there is a sacred trinity of ‘creation, maintenance and dissolution’, which shows up in nature as the circle of life. When what was once new is past its sell-by date, it’s time for transformation and the manifestation of something different, lest stagnation occurs. Rather like a forest fire burning away all the dead wood, these transformative periods challenge us to move out of our comfort zone, to let go of what is outdated and embrace new horizons, so that there is room for birth and creativity in life.
To add a watery metaphor, when we resist change, it’s like paddling upstream - life will inevitably put obstacles in our way until we get the message to surrender and go with the flow. This is why the universe brings us challenges, so that we are shaken out of our stupor. As Eckart Tolle says:
“I’ve never heard of anybody who awakens in their comfort zone.”
So, during dark times, we are reminded to let go of what no longer serves us. When change comes late, it comes hard – like a dam that is broken when the force of the current becomes too strong. How do we avoid the dam being broken? By doing the work before it’s too little too late, embracing our shadows and recognising that we are two sides of a coin, both light and dark, perfectly imperfect.
Just think of a tree - it grows in two directions. While we see the tree standing tall with branches reaching high into the sky, underneath the ground there are vast roots systems that are just as big if not bigger than what grows above. The roots are in the dark, they grow by pushing down into the soil and feeling that resistance, but the roots are what feed the tree, they enable the tree to bloom in the light of the sun so that all creatures great and small get to enjoy its fruits.
Nature is a wonderful reminder of why we should never be afraid to do shadow work, because ultimately it is what nurtures us, catalysing the transformation and growth that leads the seed to become the mighty oak. There’s a quote by Debbie Ford which sums this up beautifully:
“The shadow is not a problem to be solved or an enemy to be conquered, but a fertile field to be cultivated. When we dig our hands into its rich soil we will discover the potent seeds of the people we most desire to be.”
Comments