So far we’ve looked at the personal shadow as it relates to the Feminine Principle. As I think about it, working with shadow is the absolute core of the Feminine Principle. It is the most direct way to acquire insight and self-knowledge, not only personally but as a nation as well. Our nation has a consciousness and a shadow just like an individual has a personal one. It is what C.J. Jung called the ‘collective shadow’. As a nation we are currently deeply involved in shadow-work, discovering who we are and what we want to be as a nation. The Feminine Principle lives!
As a nation we are smack dab in the middle of an incredibly messy and uncomfortable shadow-work process that has the potential to transform us as individuals and as a nation. What is currently happening in our country is a perfect example of collective shadow-work. The collective shadow manifests in many ways, white collar crime, scapegoating, racism, power hungry, conniving politicians, water polluters, money laundering, and arms dealing to name just a few. As Pogo once said, “We have met the enemy and it is us.” That pretty much sums it up for the current national situation.
For this post, we’ll focus on how to easily identify shadow in daily life. It is a huge topic and for those interested in learning in more depth, I highly recommend Connie Zweig and Jeremiah Abrams book, Meeting the Shadow. In their book there is a chapter entitled, "Finding the Shadow in Daily Life," in which William A Miller lists five things one can do to facilitate, “traveling inward to gain insight into the composition of our shadow.” p. 38 Zweig and Abrams.
1. Solicit feedback from others.
2. Uncover the content of our projections.
3. Examine our “slips” of tongue and behavior, investigating what is really occurring underneath.
4. Check out one’s humor and identifications.
5. Study dreams, daydreams, and fantasies.
For this post, we will take a look at projection, (#2), in particular. Miller defines the C.J. Jung concept of projection as “...an unconscious mechanism that is employed whenever a trait or characteristic of our personality that has no relationship to conscious behavior, becomes activated. As a result of the unconscious projection, we observe and react to this unrecognized personal trait in other people. We see in them something that is a part of ourselves, but which we fail to see in ourselves.” p. 39 Zweig and Abrams.
Blaming or pointing a finger at another is a pretty sure sign that you are dealing with a projected piece of the unexamined shadow. Miller conveniently gives an exercise one can do on one’s own. Try it! I’m going to!
1. Make a list of all the qualities we do not like in others, for instance, greed, conceit, self-absorption, short temper, selfishness, sloppiness, bad manners, abrasiveness, whining, violence, arrogance, meanness, boasting etc. etc. etc.
2. Go through your lengthy list and create a shorter list of those characteristics that you not only dislike but hate, loathe and despise.
3. This short list of characteristics is pretty much an indicator of the personal shadow, as difficult as it may seem, and even harder to accept!
Out of my list, the ones that stood out for me were short temper, violence and arrogance. Believe me, I am working hard to recognize and acknowledge their presence within myself and how they manifest. I know for sure that my short temper manifests itself when my computer doesn’t work as I think it should! Violence goes steps beyond that and was a greater challenge. When I got to the very end, ie. killing someone, I identified that I could choose to do so if my children or grandchildren’s lives were threatened. I would not, however choose the behavior or killer subpersonality under the normal circumstances in my life. I plan work on identifying different degrees and types of violence of which I am capable if I so choose. Remember, choose is the operative word here.
The arrogance one is a little lighter. I recognize its language and tone of voice in my head and sometimes get an image or kinesthetic sense. My body feels like it’s in a haughty stance. I tried it and walked around like that for a few moments. In the end I found myself laughing at myself. I recognized her! This is a subpersonality I really need to get to know better and hope I can be laughing at the end, a sure sign of acceptance.
Try the exercise and share what happens with you if you wish.
Miller states, “Certainly our criticisms of others are projections of our own undesirable shadow traits, but anytime our response to another person involves excessive emotion or overreaction, we can be sure that something unconscious has been prodded and is being activated.” p. 40, Zweig and Abrams. Slight reaction to a behavior or word is awareness, severe reaction is a projection and a shadow piece.
I loved Miller’s conclusion that said, “...that entry into one’s shadow is a very personal thing, and will be unique to each person who sees it. Each of us must pursue our own path of entering and following through.” (to Insight). Some of us may choose to never go there. It is always a choice and if one does, I give you words that I say to myself when I am in a shadow-work process. “Be gentle with yourself for whether you know it or not, your world is unfolding as it should.” and “I am my own best friend.”
There must be a poet out there who has shared or read thoughts on the shadow. Share them if you will whether you find them somewhere or create them yourself!