Meeting the Shadow

Find a quiet, private space. This practice can bring up strong material—be gentle with yourself.

Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Take several deep breaths to ground yourself.

Bring to mind a quality that you strongly dislike or judge in others. What really bothers you about certain people?

This quality that triggers you likely exists, in some form, in your own psyche—hidden in your shadow.

Without judgment, invite this quality into your awareness. If it helps, imagine it as a figure or presence.

Ask this part of yourself: "What do you need? What have you been trying to tell me?"

Listen without judgment. Your shadow isn't evil—it's just rejected and hungry for acknowledgment.

Ask: "What gift do you carry that I've been missing?" Every shadow has a golden core—an essential quality that was distorted through rejection.

Thank this part for showing itself. Consider how you might integrate it: not acting it out destructively, but owning and expressing it consciously.

Close by placing your hand on your heart and accepting all of who you are—light and shadow together.